1. Academic Uses of Information Technology
Guests Stuart Lynn, Associate Vice President for Information Resources and Communications, and Associate Provost
Elliot Brownlee announced that the Committee on Informational Networking and Instructional Technology for Academic
Purposes (CINITAP) is organizing an All-University Conference on Instructional Technology, to be held no later
than Spring 1997. In recognition that effective new uses of technology require teams of staff working with faculty,
a broad cross-section of the University will be invited, including faculty, administration, staff, and students.
In preparation, CINITAP will make position papers and other conference information available through a special
World Wide Web home page attached to the Office of the President home page.
The APC then probed some of the complex issues surrounding ownership of copyrights to multimedia works. UC is both
a producer and consumer of knowledge and needs to protect its interest in both roles. With multimedia courseware,
typically produced by faculty working in partnership with technical teams and including many segments authored
by others, ownership is even more complicated. UC Press has been approached to consider a new role in multimedia
publishing. The Association of American Universities is providing national leadership in monitoring federal legislation
that could have a negative impact on access to media-based knowledge.
CINITAP's goal is to assure that UC's policies support the widest possible dissemination of knowledge. CINITAP
will present policy options for APC consideration at its April 29 meeting. To prepare the Academic Senate and Council
of Vice Chancellors for review of those policy options, the APC has forwarded to them a background paper, "Copyright
Considerations for Faculty-Authored Multimedia Instructional Materials." The paper is available on the World
Wide Web at
http://moby.ucdavis.edu/Distance-ed/Copyright.html
2. Programmatic Analysis of UC's MFA in Theater Programs
The Academic Planning Council concluded its deliberations on a matter referred to it in January by the Executive
Budget Committee. The Los Angeles campus proposed a Professional Fee Differential for its two MFA programs in the
School of Theater, Film and Television. This would require an exception to the policy of charging the same fees
for similar programs, since the Davis, Irvine, and San Diego campuses also offer MFAs in Theater. The Academic
Planning Council asked that CCGA do an analysis of the four Theater MFA programs.
CCGA Chair Norris reported the results of CCGA's analysis. Campus data led to the conclusion that the Los Angeles
MFA in Theater has a professional orientation to the Southern California entertainment industry and an integration
with UCLA's program in film and television that sets it apart from the MFA in Theater programs at Davis, Irvine,
and San Diego. Thus, the programmatic distinction justifies the Los Angeles proposal to charge a professional fee
differential as an exception among UC's MFAs in Theater. The APC voted to approve this finding, with three dissenting
votes: student members Welner and Wells and UCPB Chair Anderson.
The APC concluded that the Los Angeles proposal raised larger issues about criteria for judging which programs
were justified in charging professional fee differentials and expressed a desire for greater clarification.
3. Experiential/Clinical Learning
Academic Council Chair Leiman introduced the concern of Student Regent-Designate Jess Bravin that UC faculty are
not as engaged as they should be in offering and supervising experiential learning opportunities. APC members decided
to request more information from UC's well-developed network of experiential learning specialists on what UC does
now and how experiential learning relates to UC's academic programs. If any systemwide issues emerge from this
review, the APC expects to refer them to UCEP.
4. On-going Activities
a. Part-Time Professional Degree Programs
APC members expressed interest in consolidating and clarifying the policies that govern part-time programs at all
levels that charge regular fees, as a companion to the draft Policy on Self-Supporting Part-Time Graduate Professional
Degree Programs. Provost King will consult with the Council of Vice Chancellors on the benefits of drafting such
a companion policy.
b. UC's Influence on School Improvement
The APC found the new OP publication, "The Schools and UC: a Commitment to the Future of California,"
an impressive compendium of UC's efforts. Nevertheless, APC members recognized that much more UC involvement is
needed in influencing better student preparation for college and in helping to address large-scale problems in
the schools. The publication is available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/ace/html
or can be requested in hard copy from Georgia Robinson at 510-987-9506.
c. Reports: Systemwide Planning Issues on Administrative and Senate Agendas
Among the many planning issues in progress were two new activities of special note.
The Council of Vice Chancellors is sponsoring an April retreat of UC history faculty, chairs, and deans to plan
intercampus collaborative initiatives. Los Angeles Professor Joyce Appleby, President-Elect of the American Historical
Association, will be the keynote speaker.
In addition, Provost King announced that the Research Vice Chancellors, members of the UC Council on Research,
are also initiating regular meetings as a group.