If you missed the April 28 and final Academic Senate meeting of the academic year 2025 or need a refresher, keep reading for the highlights from the meeting. For more information on the Academic Senate, click here.
Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the “university faculty shall have authority ... to legislate on matters of educational policy. ... The faculty has a right to a meaningful role in the governance of the University; ... it has a right to participate in decisions relating to the general academic operations of the university, including budget decisions and administrative appointments.”
“The legislative power of the University faculty collectively will normally be exercised by the faculty through their representatives in the Academic Senate and the college and Graduate and Undergraduate councils ...”
See Academic Policies 6-001-III-B-3, 6-002 and 6-300 to read the policies in full.
Executive Committee Report
Click here to learn more about the Executive Committee's role and membership.
Consent Calendar
New Degree: Bachelor of Music Education
The new degree would reduce the program to 120 credits and combine the previous majors in choral and instrumental music education. The current major has more courses than required for a teaching license, so it aligns with licensure as well. The proposal simplifies the major, creating a single track for the first two years, after which students can specialize in general, instrumental or choral music education. General Music is an area of growth in the nation that is underserved in Utah, so it aligns with workforce needs as well.
Program Restructure: Parks, Recreation and Tourism
The restructuring would align the major with the 120-credit requirement.
New Minor: Hospitality Management
This minor responds to industry and workforce needs and would not require additional resources. As an 18-credit minor, it would work well with other majors and represents a great opportunity for students both within and from outside the College of Health, for example for students in the David Eccles School of Business. Hospitality is a $24 billion industry in Utah. Preparation for the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2034 will only increase demand.
Discontinue Program: Bachelor of Arts in Recreational Therapy
The program currently offers both a B.A. and a B.S. To date, only 3 of 130 majors have chosen the B.A., there are currently no students in the B.A. program, and there have been none since 2020. The B.S. will remain available, so students will still be able to major in Recreational Therapy.
Special Order
Annual SPEC Report and Elections
Brent Milne from the School of Dentistry was elected president-elect for AY 2026. He will serve as president in AY2027.
All candidates for the Executive Committee were elected.
Reports
Reports from the administration
President report
President Randall joined the meeting from Washington, DC., where the presidents of the AAU institutions are meeting. He celebrated the 8908 students from 27 Utah counties and 70 countries graduating from the University of Utah this year, a record number.
President Randall will be testifying while he is in Washington for HR 2876, the University of Utah Redevelopment Act for Research Park—clarifying the use of the park.
President Randall gave updates on the AAU institutional actions.
Randy Mcrillis provided an update on international students who recently had their visas revoked by the State Department: 21/22 students had their visas reinstated by the time of the meeting.
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences report
Wes Sundquist, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biochemistry, was named to TIME’s 100 most influential list based on his research that led directly to a drug—lenacapavir that prevents HIV infections with 99-100% efficacy.
Multiple programs in the top across the country—a number in the top 10.
Provost report
Discussions about collaboration across the Big 12—libraries and languages were reported.
Randy McCrillis was thanked for his efforts on behalf of international students. His team is working on better capacity to support international faculty as well by creating a single point of contact.
The senate also received the Associated Students of the University of Utah report and the University of Utah Staff Council report.
Debate Calendar
Nursing Program Restructure Proposals
The B.S., M.S. and DNP programs require substantial restructuring to incorporate a competency-based attainment approach that aligns with updated standards outlined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This alignment is necessary to maintain accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The revisions do not increase credit load and do not require additional funding.
The doctoral program is implementing a problem-based learning approach that integrates content across courses, making learning focused, complementary and scaffolded. It is designed to be consistent with the doctoral programs in other disciplines and the University of Utah standards. No new funding is required.
Programs that update curricula to be more relevant, competency-based attainment focus and aligned with industry may become more attractive to prospective students in a field with substantial workforce needs.
Joint Letter of Collaboration Proposal
Academic Senators share a deep concern for the recent revocations of international student visas and educational records by the State Department, and recognize the advocacy by the university administration and Utah Congressional Delegation on their behalf. Michael Mejia, associate professor of English, came to the EC with a proposal to send a letter to the Utah Congressional Delegation, “offer our support and our efforts as a collaborative resource toward constructive engagement with the Department of State in resolving any further actions on international student and faculty status.” While Randy McCrillis provided positive news today that student visas are being reinstated, these reinstatements could still be reversed, making this collaboration still pertinent for the ongoing support of international students and faculty.
New Program: Electrical Engineering Minor
Electrical Engineering has become an important tool for all branches of engineering. The minor allows engineering majors to acquire the needed expertise for their future careers.
Information and Recommendations Calendar
Revision to Policy 1-011 to Comply with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act
The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), signed into federal law in December 2024, requires institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents, implement prevention programs and publicly disclose hazing policies and violations. This proposal is to modify the University of Utah Policy 1-011 to include the elements of the Stop Campus Hazing Act to comply with federal law.
Policy 3-030, R3-030A, & R3-030B: Travel Policy and Rule Updates
Like the umbrella Research Administration Policy, this updated policy consolidates numerous existing rules and guidance into one umbrella policy to make information and requirements easier to find and to update terminology, without substantially changing processes.
Open Enrollment Changes
Advance overview of proposed health plan changes and premium rates for the 2025-26 plan year. Final materials will be on UHRM’s Open Enrollment web page by May 1.
Senate President Closing Remarks
President Harriet Hopf thanked the senators, the staff, the Executive Committee and the administration for their energy, experience, perspective and knowledge they brought to each senate meeting this year.