If you missed the Academic Senate meeting on Jan. 6, 2020, or need a refresher, then keep reading for the highlights from the meeting. For more information on the Academic Senate, click here.
Debate Calendar
Moving Expense Policy revision
Interim Associate Vice President of Financial and Business Services Laura Howat, Deputy Chief HR Officer Wendy Petersen and Payroll Associate Director Susie Bird presented on the deletion of Policy 3-032: Reimbursement of Payment of Moving Expenses, and the replacement of the policy with guidelines attached to Policy 5-403: Additional Compensation and Overload Policy.
They propose to delete from the University Regulations Library existing Policy 3-032, which has become obsolete as a result of changes made in federal law. The changes to federal law resulted in the university implementing a new process for departments assisting new employees with expenses of relocation. The new process is administered by Financial and Business Services and Human Resources, and details of the process will be described in detail in a guidance document which is being attached under Policy 5-403.
The Senate voted to approve the revision.
Veteran Studies Certificate
Dr. Paul Morgan, director of the Veterans Support Center, and Dr. Martha Bradley-Evans, senior associate vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of Undergraduate Studies proposed a Veterans Studies Certificate.
Many veterans face emotional and physical challenges or feel misunderstood by those who have not served in the military. The proposed Veterans Studies certificate will provide students with foundational knowledge to enable them to better serve or relate to veterans in our communities, workplaces, and care facilities. The certificate comprises 24 credit hours (eight courses, including a capstone) in four themes: Government & National Security; History of War & Violent Conflict; Social/Ethical Aspect of War; and Social & Health Topics. The certificate supports the University’s mission of “preparing students from diverse backgrounds for lives of impact as leaders and citizens” and to “engage local and global communities to promote education, health, and quality of life” by preparing students to work with any of the 18.2 million veterans. The certificate will be one of only four in the nation, and it can be implemented at no additional cost to the university.
The Senate approved the proposal.
Name change of Graduate Certificate in Big Data to Data Science
This certificate established in 2014 serves graduate students in non-computer science disciplines who wish to gain relevant experience in advanced data science techniques, as well as community members (e.g., software engineers) aiming to retool their expertise towards these topics. It requires graduate courses in machine learning, databases, data mining, and visualization which are live-streamed and moving towards being fully online. The nomenclature for this domain has shifted since 2014, and settled on the term data science. So aligning with the School of Computing’s new undergraduate and its graduate degrees, as well as other efforts on campus, we seek to change the name of this certificate.
The Senate approved the change.
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Pacific Island Studies
Hokulani K. Aikau proposed an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Pacific Island Studies.
The School for Cultural and Social Transformation seeks to create a new undergraduate Interdisciplinary Certificate in Pacific Islands (PI) Studies, effective Fall 2020, open to all majors. The Certificate will provide formal recognition of concentrated coursework and proficiency in the geography, history, culture, politics, and contemporary concerns of the Indigenous Pacific and the global Pacific Islander diaspora. This 18 credit undergraduate certificate is comprised of three courses (9 credit hours) offered by the two Divisions within the School for Cultural and Social Transformation and three courses (9 credit hours) taught by affiliated colleges and departments. The Certificate sets a foundation for further development and expansion of the field of Pacific Islands Studies, while also providing students with opportunities to engage with local communities and global forces. It also supports the U's commitments to student success and engagement, diversity and community.
The Senate approved the proposal.
Name change of MST in Computational Science to MST in Computational and Data Science
Ray J. Hoobler proposed a name change of the MST in Computational Science to MST in Computational and Data Science.
Developing mathematical models, employing numerical methods, and using data visualization has become increasingly important for a variety of businesses and industries. The Computational Science degree program incorporates coursework from different mathematical and computer science disciplines to reflect the breadth of computational and data science employed by scientists and engineers to solve real-world problems.
The Master of Science and Technology (MST) degree in Computational Science is part of the Professional Master of Science and Technology (PMST) program. The degree was approved in 2002 and enrolled its first students in 2003. The PMST program currently has five programs: Biotechnology, Computational Science, Earth Resource Management, Environmental Science, and Science Instrumentation. This name change will allow the PMST program to more effectively attract scientists and engineers who are looking to expand their knowledge and develop the skills needed to work in the broad field of data science.
The Senate approved the change.