2.  University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction Report

February 2, 2007

The membership of UCUI had a very favorable response to the proposal from the School of Health Sciences to create a new major in Applied Health Sciences. It commends SHS on the thoroughness of the proposal that provided substantive information about the new program. The committee recognizes that licensing is moving in the direction of requiring a bachelor degree in many of the occupations that would be impacted. The proposal also builds on Oakland University�s desire to develop stronger relationships with Macomb Community College. After a thorough discussion of the proposal, UCUI found no significant problems and voted to support approval of the Applied Health Sciences proposal.

However, UCUI has one question that it believes should be answered prior to the proposal being taken to the Senate:

How will students who complete an associate�s degree in one of the specializations under the MACRAO agreement be handled? Note that these students are exempt from many of the general education requirements. Will they be required to take other elective courses at OU?

UCUI also has one question just for consideration of SHS?

Is SHS setting a sunset (time limit) on the age of prior credits taken in the specialization (page 13)? This is not a requirement of the university. However, in the health sciences this may be of concern and SHS may want to set restrictions.

3.  Senate Budget Review Committee

The Senate Budget Review Committee positively endorses both the budget and the Proposal for a New Major in Applied Health Sciences. The figures in the budget do appear to be incremental, justified, and quite conservative (and yet quite positive). The committee actually recommends that a more optimistic scenario be evaluated, with increased enrollments along with estimates of the resulting increased costs. An estimate of any increased costs of classroom space (in any budget) can apparently be obtained from the Provost�s office for renting Macomb Community College classrooms. In all events, an estimated inflation rate (such as about 3% based on recent estimates implied from T-bond prices) should be included for maximum accuracy.

In addition, the committee believes it might be useful to evaluate a budget that added a new full-time faculty position in the later part of the program instead of the addition of part-time instructors planned for that time. In addition, it was suggested that the budget assuming the part-time instructors should clarify how many courses the part-time instructors will be teaching and provide any possible indication of the effect on quality. The university could then make a decision later on which route to go.

Some other minor details/corrections have been provided orally (such as incorporating the assumptions behind the budget in a footnote to the budget, as well as clarification on the additional full-time faculty line that is required for the program). Based on the oral responses, it is anticipated that adjustments to the proposal will be made accordingly.

Budget Committee, memo 2.

The Senate Budget Review Committee positively endorses both the budget and the Proposal for a New Major in Applied Health Sciences. The figures in the budget do appear to be incremental, justified, and quite conservative (and yet quite positive).

 The committee actually recommended that a more optimistic scenario be evaluated, with increased enrollments along with estimates of the resulting increased costs. A new budget was sent that also was quite conservative and had positive cash flows.

4.  Senate Planning Review Committee

The School of Health Sciences (SHS) is proposing a new major  entitled Applied Health Sciences.  This new major is the result of an articulation agreement between OU and Macomb Community  College to add a baccalaureate, professional education to several pre-professional majors, including Pre-Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Health Information Technology, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy and Medical Assistant.  These students would receive all of their clinical training at MCC.  Upon transferring to OU, the graduates of the above programs would take a core (46 credits) set of courses and 66 credits in general education.

Currently, there are 450 students enrolled in the 6 pre-professional majors referenced above.  It is expected that 5-10 students will enroll the first year, with a projected enrollment of 15 students each year there after.  It is also anticipated that some of the pre-professional majors, in an effort to upgrade their discipline, will establish their own criteria for a baccalaureate degree sometime in the future. 

No new courses and no new faculty are requested for this degree.  Students will take current courses being offered by the SHS, including such courses as Human Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Pharmacology, Law, Values and Health Care and Social, Cultural and Economic Perspectives In Health.  Students will also take their general education courses at OU.  The major difference between this proposed degree and the current SHS Degree in Health Sciences is that the degree in  Applied Health Sciences has different courses in the core requirements and more importantly, nearly all credits from the Associate Degree will provide the foundation for students� professional training.

Strengths

SPRC recognizes that this proposal provides a unique and wonderful opportunity, both for the students and the university.  The fact that students will take their general education courses at OU is a major concession that is advantageous to the university.    It is also recognized that the upgrading of these health-related pre-professional majors is important to the health care industry.  The proposal has been corrected to reflect that these students will be prepared for graduate study.  This is an exciting opportunity for OU and with 450 students in these pre-professional majors, this could prove to be a tremendous boost for the SHS.

Concerns

While this proposal has the support of SPRC, there are some serious concerns that we would like the Senate to discuss.  With 450 students in these pre-professional majors, it is not clear why only 15 students a year are expected to transfer to OU.  That�s barely 3.5% of the students enrolled in these majors at MCC.  The reasons for such a low enrollment is something that should be discussed with MCC.

A second, concern relates to the courses these students will take at OU.  It is understood that these students will take and complete all of their discipline-related courses at MCC.  The program at OU is to add a �professional� layer to their pre-professional education. 

The proposal references a letter from Rand J. O�Leary, VP of Clinical & Support Services for St. Joseph�s Healthcare (p. 13-14) where he identifies the skills these students will need, including experience with Strategic Planning, leadership development, excellent communication skills, conflict resolution skills, knowledge of best practices and an in-depth knowledge of laws and regulations governing health care.  These thoughts are echoed by several letters of support.  However, a review of the required OU courses shows some disconnect between the skills these students will need and the courses they will take. For example, it is not clear why a student who is a surgical technician needs a course in nutrition or exercise physiology.  While both are good general knowledge courses, they don�t add a professional layer to the student in accordance with the skills the letters of support identify.  There are no courses in leadership (although some of the required courses may have a lecture or two on the subject), no courses on organizational behavior, health care organizations, group behavior, health care ethics, evidence base practice or strategic planning.  It is recognized that there are courses on social, cultural, and economic perspectives in health (HS 202),  and AHS 450, a course on law, values and health care that probably meet some of this deficiencies.  However, it is not clear how the other courses add a �professional� layer to these pre-professional students.

The Chair of SPRC met with Ken Hightower, the Dean of SHS to discuss some of these concerns.  The first students from MCC are expected to transfer to OU Fall, 2007.  At least one of the pre-professional majors is already planning to upgrade to a baccalaureate degree and is close to identifying specific courses these students will be required to take for professional recognition.  The SHS did not have much time to give consideration to the development of new courses and the outcomes of what a professional upgrade would provide for these transfer students.  It is the expectation of SPRC that such consideration will take place as an ongoing part of assessing the value of this new degree.

6.  Assessment Committee Report

April 11, 2007

To:          Tamara Machmut-Jashi

               Secretary of the University Senate

From:      Frank Lepkowski, Chair

              University Assessment Committee

Subject:   Response to Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Sciences. Assessment Plan

 The University Assessment Committee (UAC) has reviewed and accepted the assessment plan for the proposed Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Health Sciences.  We therefore support the program�s approval by the University Senate.

Cc:       Richard Rozek, Health Sciences Assessment Coordinator

            Ken Hightower, Dean, School of Health Sciences
UAC records

posted 3/14/07
updated 4/12/07