New major proposal, minor approved
Corporate communication major to be recommended; music minor adopted
By Brittany Clement
After more than an hour of executive session, the University Academic Senate opened its doors and approved new undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
The Senate unanimously approved, with one abstention, a new corporate communication major.
Provost Madeline Wake said the proposal will be sent to the Office of Finance, the Office of the Provost and University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild for approval. She said it would probably be brought to the board of trustees for final approval in December.
College of Communication Dean John Pauly said the major would help students pursue communications positions in the business field.
"It's for people interested in sites of corporations where communication is an issue," Pauly said.
He said students in the major would take courses in the College of Communication, as well as a business foundations course, which would be put together by the College of Business Administration.
Although the major was approved, Carla Hay, associate professor of history, raised questions about its potentially limited scope.
"It seems to be kind of a narrow focus for a major, but a wonderful concept for an interdisciplinary minor," she said.
Hay said her concerns stemmed from prior discussion at the meeting of the Yardley Report, an in-depth study of the university's Ph.D. programs that took place earlier this year. The report was discussed during the Senate's executive session, but was not released to the public.
Hay said the Yardley Report said the university should be more creative with combining different academic fields and that an interdisciplinary minor in corporate communication might be an opportunity to do so.
The Senate also discussed a music minor that will be launched in the College of Communication. The minor has already been approved by the Board of Undergraduate Studies and was presented to the Academic Senate. It did not need approval from the Senate.
The Senate unanimously approved, with one abstention, a new corporate communication major.
Provost Madeline Wake said the proposal will be sent to the Office of Finance, the Office of the Provost and University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild for approval. She said it would probably be brought to the board of trustees for final approval in December.
College of Communication Dean John Pauly said the major would help students pursue communications positions in the business field.
"It's for people interested in sites of corporations where communication is an issue," Pauly said.
He said students in the major would take courses in the College of Communication, as well as a business foundations course, which would be put together by the College of Business Administration.
Although the major was approved, Carla Hay, associate professor of history, raised questions about its potentially limited scope.
"It seems to be kind of a narrow focus for a major, but a wonderful concept for an interdisciplinary minor," she said.
Hay said her concerns stemmed from prior discussion at the meeting of the Yardley Report, an in-depth study of the university's Ph.D. programs that took place earlier this year. The report was discussed during the Senate's executive session, but was not released to the public.
Hay said the Yardley Report said the university should be more creative with combining different academic fields and that an interdisciplinary minor in corporate communication might be an opportunity to do so.
The Senate also discussed a music minor that will be launched in the College of Communication. The minor has already been approved by the Board of Undergraduate Studies and was presented to the Academic Senate. It did not need approval from the Senate.
Published: 10/16/07 Section: News
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