MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 16-18, 2005
TO: Montana Board of Regents
FROM: Roger Barber, Deputy Commissioner for Academic & Student Affairs
SUBJECT: Level I Approvals and Announcements
This memorandum is intended to inform you of the Level I changes in academic programs that have been approved in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education since the September 2005 meeting of the Board of Regents. It also includes announcements that may be of interest to the Board. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them with the help of my colleagues in academic affairs.
The University of Montana-Missoula:
· ITEM 129-1001+R1105: The University of Montana-Missoula asked for permission to revise its Bachelor of Arts Education degree in Business and Information Technology Education. Students currently in that degree program complete a set of courses that is different from the requirements for a non-teaching degree in Information Systems. The proposed revision will eliminate the teaching major. Instead, students will complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an Option in Information Systems, and also take the additional educational coursework necessary to be certified as a licensed teacher in Montana. The revision will bring the program into line with other secondary education majors that require students to complete the degree requirements specific to their major field, in this case Information Systems.
· ITEM 129-1003+R1105: The University of Montana also asked for permission to revise its teacher preparation programs in history, history/political science and comprehensive social science, using the same model and rationale described in the previous item. Instead of taking a separate, teacher education major in those discipline areas, teacher education students will complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, for instance. They will also complete the necessary coursework in education that is required for teacher licensure and accreditation of teacher education programs in the State of Montana.
· ITEM 129-1004+R1105: The University of Montana-Missoula submitted a Level I request, with Level II documentation, asking permission to offer a new option in International Resource Management in the existing Master of Science degree in Resource Conservation. The College of Forestry and Conservation at The University of Montana-Missoula proposes an option in International Resource Conservation to provide opportunities for Masters-level graduate students to develop an integrated understanding of ecological and social aspects of international conservation, development and management, and to apply that knowledge through professional work in a foreign country. Request Summary Proposal Appendix
Montana State University-Bozeman:
· ITEM 129-2010+R1105: Montana State University-Bozeman requests approval to establish a minor in Electrical Engineering. The minor will be of interest primarily to Engineering majors who wish to increase the breadth of their preparation. Many students are already taking significant numbers of courses in these areas for this purpose. The minor would provide a way to formally acknowledge that practice. The minor will likely also serve students in other science fields and in mathematics.
· ITEM 129-2011+R1105: Montana State University-Bozeman requests approval to establish a minor in Computer Engineering. As with the minor in Electrical Engineering, this minor will be of interest primarily to Engineering majors already taking a significant number of courses in this area.
· ITEM 129-2012+R1105: Montana State University-Bozeman requests approval to eliminate the Justice Studies option within the Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Currently two options are offered within the BS in Sociology: the Justice Studies option and the Sociology option. The requirements for these two options substantially overlap and the two options do not provide distinct curricula. This notice of intent has been filed to satisfy the public notice requirements associated with the termination of a program of study in the Montana University System.
· Montana State University-Bozeman notified the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education that it intends to "reactivate" its Minor in Computer Science. MSU-Bozeman has had authority to award the Minor for several years, but it has not actively promoted the credential. Students have expressed an interest in such a minor, however, particularly from majors within the College of Engineering. The minor is also expected to draw students from other science disciplines, and would be attractive to any student who would like to develop computer science skills to become more marketable upon graduation.
Montana State University-Billings:
· ITEM 129-2704+R1105: The Department of Health and Human Performance within the College of Allied Health Professions at Montana State University-Billings requests that the name of the Master of Science in Sport Management be changed to Master of Science in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management. This change will allow students to expand their internship and occupational opportunities to encompass work with park and recreation departments, fitness facilities, golf and tennis clubs, outdoor recreation organizations and other similar settings. The current curriculum supports preparation for these opportunities and will be individualized for each student's area of interest through a personalized plan of study that is constructed with the assistance of graduate faculty in the Department of Health and Human Performance.
· ITEM 129-2702+R1105: Montana State University-Billings College of Technology requests approval to re-name the Associate of Applied Science in Computer Application Development to Associate of Applied Science in Computer Programming and Application Development. This name change will better reflect the curriculum and competencies of the degree and will allow for more precise marketing in order to attract potential students.
· ITEM 129-2703+R1105: Montana State University-Billings College of Technology seeks approval from the Montana Board of Regents to offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Construction Technology-Carpentry. The proposal is submitted as a Level I request, with Level II documentation, which permits campuses to offer the program on a two-year temporary basis. Summary Proposal Budget Attachment
The Carpentry program will provide graduates with skills required of a carpenter in a variety of building construction settings common in both rural and metropolitan areas. Students will earn a national certification after each level and the two year Associate of Applied Science degree. Upon successful completion of this program, students will be eligible for certification with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) National Registry. Under procedures approved by the Montana Board of Regents, Associate of Applied Science and certificate programs ". . . offered . . . at the request of private or public sector partners and the decision point to offer the program is not consistent with the regular Board of Regents program approval process . . . " may be submitted as Level I proposals.
· ITEM 129-2705+R1105: Montana State University-Billings College of Technology seeks approval from the Montana Board of Regents to offer a Medical Coding and Insurance Billing Certificate. The proposal is submitted as a Level I request, with Level II documentation, which permits campuses to offer the program on a two-year temporary basis.
The Medical Coding and Insurance Billing program is designed to provide a recommended curriculum through which students may earn a two-semester certificate. This new certificate will train students in the areas of medical procedure and diagnosis coding and will prepare the student for employment in either the inpatient or outpatient medical setting as an integral part of the healthcare team in a medical office, dental office, hospital, clinic, or independent billing company. Under procedures approved by the Montana Board of Regents, Associate of Applied Science and certificate programs ". . . offered . . . at the request of private or public sector partners and the decision point to offer the program is not consistent with the regular Board of Regents program approval process . . . " may be submitted as Level I proposals. Summary Proposal Budget Attachment
Announcements:
· The University of Montana-Missoula received notice this summer from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that its accreditation has been reaffirmed. The decision followed the regular five-year interim evaluation report and visit completed earlier in the year by the Commission. The University of Montana-Missoula has been asked to make a progress report on two recommendations contained in the Northwest Commission’s follow-up evaluation document. That progress report is due in Spring 2008.
· Montana Tech of The University of Montana received notice this summer from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that its accreditation has been reaffirmed. The decision followed the regular five-year interim evaluation report and visit completed earlier in the year by the Commission. The Northwest Commission had no recommendations to Montana Tech that require follow-up reports or visits.
· The University of Montana-Western received notice this summer from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that its accreditation has been reaffirmed. The decision followed the regular five-year interim evaluation report and visit completed earlier in the year by the Commission. That visit also included a review of four new degree programs. The University of Montana-Western has been asked to prepare a focused interim report and host a Commission representative in Spring 2007, based on one of the recommendations in the Northwest Commission’s evaluation report.
· The University of Montana-Helena College of Technology received notice this summer from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that its accreditation has been reaffirmed. The decision followed the regular five-year interim evaluation report and visit completed earlier in the year by the Commission, along with several focused reviews involving specific academic programs and the collaborative partnership with Granite High School. The University of Montana-Helena College of Technology has been asked to prepare a progress report in the Spring of 2006 on one of the recommendations in the Northwest Commission’s evaluation report. The institution is also expected to prepare an interim report and host a Commission representative on two other recommendations contained in the evaluation report. That visit will take place in Spring 2007.
· Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology received notice this summer from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that its accreditation has been reaffirmed. The decision followed the full 10-year, comprehensive evaluation report and visit in Spring 2005. That visit also included review of two new degree programs at the Great Falls College of Technology. Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology is expected to prepare a progress report in Fall 2006 on one of the recommendations in the Commission’s evaluation report. The Northwest Commission has also requested a focused interim report and visit in Spring 2007 on four other recommendations included in the evaluation report that grew out of the accreditation visit. The Great Falls College of Technology received several commendations from the Commission, as part of the evaluation report. The commendations included special mention of the innovate distance-learning program at the College, efforts to enhance the institution’s visibility and collaboration in the community and region, the “decidedly ‘Student Centered Climate’” of the institution, the library staff, and “. . .the exemplary leadership of the dean and administration. . .”