UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
ACADEMIC PLANNING COUNCIL

Bulletin #3


March 7, 1994


APC has received comments and questions via E-mail from faculty, students, and staff. Most have been questions about the composition of the APC from groups who would like to participate. The APC responded by deciding that, in addition to representatives of groups discussed at earlier meetings, they will invite the Chair of the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) to brief the APC periodically on staff concerns and issues as they pertain to planning.

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment Planning

In reviewing the paper on access prepared for the Regents' discussion at their March meeting, the APC members expressed clearly their concern that none of the options are very good ones and emphasized the importance of taking into account the implications that the University's choices may have on the other segments and on the Master Plan for Higher Education. At its next meeting, the APC wants to devote substantial time to discussion of these issues and of a staff paper outlining the issues in undergraduate enrollment planning which will be completed and distributed shortly.

2. Intercampus Cooperation

The APC is asking several UC groups to implement recommendations of the Task Force Report on Intercampus Programs and Distance Learning (IPDL). After a discussion with Provost Carol Christ (Letters and Science, Berkeley), who chaired the Task Force, the APC identified the actions most likely to support expanded intercampus cooperation and referred selected recommendations to specific groups for implementation:

Recommendation 1: AVP for Student Academic Services Galligani will work with the registrars to implement a course-sharing mechanism, once the Divisional Senates have removed any policy barriers.

Recommendation 2 asks the Universitywide Senate to work with the Divisional Senates as soon as possible to develop policies which facilitate the course approval process for courses shared between campuses.

Recommendations 3, 6, and 7 address academic personnel policy issues. AVP for Academic Advancement Switkes will draft language for discussion and resolution with appropriate Academic Senate committees.

Recommendation 5 focuses on enabling faculty to serve on Universitywide dissertation committees and therefore will require CCGA action.

Recommendation 8: AVP Smith will work with the Letters and Science Deans to develop one or more models for intercampus coursework. Provost Massey, AVP Smith, and Director Merritt met with the Letters and Science Deans on March 10-11 to begin this process.

Recommendation 10 addresses issues related to expanding the use of summer session and University Extension and implementing programs for parttime degrees. OP and the Chancellors will ask summer session directors and University Extension deans about the feasibility of this recommendation. The APC will ask that CCGA develop policies on degree-related issues and that UCAP examine related academic personnel issues.

Recommendation 11 asks that the University ensure that intercampus networks are current. Provost Massey and Senior Vice President Kennedy have established a task force to develop a five-year plan for expanding and upgrading the telecommunications network. It will submit its report in June 1994.

At its April 11 meeting, APC will review a proposal that OP and the Academic Senate sponsor an All-University conference on intercampus cooperation.

Copies of the Task Force Report may be ordered by E-mailing or telephoning Cherly Lofton-Brown (E-mail: cherly.brown@ucop.edu or telephone: (510) 987-9469).

3. Health Sciences Committee

Vice President Hopper provided the APC with a new draft charge for the Health Sciences Committee (HSC). The HSC will be a standing subcommittee of the APC and will serve in an advisory capacity to it and to the Vice President of Health Affairs. The HSC will serve as a locus for coordination and coherence in planning for the health sciences. It will identify, study, and make recommendations on health sciences-related issues relevant to the University.

The Chair and the Vice Chair of the APC will appoint the members of the Health Sciences Committee and its Chair from nominations submitted by the Chancellors. HSC members will be drawn primarily from the health sciences faculty and administration, will reflect a broad disciplinary spectrum, and will include representation from the clinical faculty and hospital administration. When issues related to the health sciences are on the agenda of the APC, the HSC Chair will be invited to attend.

4. Reducing Course Work Generally Taught in High School (Subcommittee Chair Malcolm Nicol)

This subcommittee is continuing to work with OP staff and campus experts to identify ways to increase students' preparation in English composition.

The APC is requesting that the subcommittee examine the possibility of improved placement examinations in commonly studied foreign languages. There is concern that some students
are repeating high school work for college credit.

APC members Blakely and Nicol will report to APC on the current requirements for enrolling undergraduates in beginning language courses at UC campuses and will recommend a new approach.

5. Expediting Decision Making Processes (Subcommittee Chair Aimee Dorr)

The CCGA has created a process for Senate review of Transfer, Consolidation, Discontinuance, and Disestablishment actions (TCDD). UCPB, UCEP, and CCGA have endorsed the process, which has been favorably received by the Academic Council. AVP Smith has sent the new procedures to the campuses. At the APC's April meeting the Dorr Subcommittee will present a comprehensive plan for simplifying all current review procedures.

In discussing the APC's own role in program review, the members agreed that the purpose of the APC was to do systemwide strategic planning, to discuss and coordinate resolution of major systemwide issues, and to initiate studies that will inform planning for the system. Consequently the APC will act as a facilitator for campus and systemwide TCDD processes, not another review layer. However, to identify potential obstacles, highlight systemwide issues, and assist campuses in moving expeditiously through systemwide review, the APC will need to
know about proposals as early as possible and will ask campuses for presentations about major restructurings that raise systemwide issues. In this context, the APC decided to talk with UC Irvine and UC Davis as soon as it is feasible to do so.

The next meeting of the Academic Planning Council will be held on April 11, 1994.