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Senate News, November 23, 2020

Senators continued a discussion on changing the TCPL hiring process. A resolution (below) was then passed. Senate was presented with two new degrees: Master of Medical Science (Physician Associate) and Master of Athletic Training. Both degrees were approved (below) and will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for the February 2021 meeting. Senate formalized posthumous degree guidelines into policy.

The November 9, 2020, minutes were approved.

The following reports and minutes were received on the Consent Calendar:

  1. Curriculum

  2. Graduate Council Minutes - October 13, 2020

  3. Student Life Council Minutes - October 7, 2020

  4. CTE Committee Meeting Notes, September 10, 2020

  5. CTE Committee Meeting Notes, September 28, 2020

  6. Undergrad Student Classification – Policy Revision

  7. CUC Annual Report

  8. I.T. Policy Committee Annual Report

With the approval of the November 23, 2020, Abbreviated minutes, the following resolutions were approved:

SR 21-12

November 23, 2020

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse the proposed degree and major, Master of Medical Science (Physician Associate), College of Arts and Science.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the endorsement by University Senate of the proposed degree and major will be forwarded to the Miami University Board of Trustees for consideration.

SR 21-12 was approved: 52 yes; 1 no; 3 abstentions

SR 21-13

November 23, 2020

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse the proposed degree and major, Master of Athletic Training, College of Education, Health, and Society.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the endorsement by University Senate of the proposed degree and major will be forwarded to the Miami University Board of Trustees for consideration.

SR 21-13 was approved: 52 yes; 2 no; 3 abstentions

SR 21-14

November 23, 2020

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate adopt revisions to the Teaching, Clinical Professors and Lecturers (TCPLs) (MUPIM 7.11) as stated below

Appointment to a TCPL position requires a competitive search.

the approval of the Provost upon the positive evaluation and recommendation of the department if required by departmental governance, the department chair, the program director (when appropriate), and dean for a person currently holding another instructional staff position at Miami University.

SR 21-14 was approved: 44 yes; 4 no; 5 abstentions

SR 21-15

November 23, 2020

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate adopt the following Posthumous Degree Guidelines as policy:

Background:

A deceased student may be considered for a posthumous degree whether or not s/he was currently enrolled at the time of death. These guidelines are considerations for the awarding of Posthumous Degrees; they are not meant to be exhaustive nor absolute, as each request is considered on its own merits.

Considerations:
  1. The student was in good academic standing with Miami at the time of death. Good standing is defined as not being on academic probation, continued probation, suspension or dismissal.
  2. The student did not have a record of misconduct that resulted in suspension or dismissal.
  3. The student’s major and degree for the posthumous degree have been officially declared on the academic record at the time of death.
  4. The student is enrolled at time of death (winter and summer terms excluded), or their continuous enrollment was interrupted by their injury, illness, deployment, etc.
  5. The dean of the academic division of the student recommends the awarding of a posthumous degree to the Provost.
  6. Student Classification:
    • Per University policy, an undergraduate student must have earned at least 25% of credits at Miami University: for an associate’s degree, 16 of 64; baccalaureate degree, 32 of 128. An undergraduate student should be within one semester of graduating, typically within 20 Miami semester credit hours.
    • A graduate student must have completed sufficient research/work toward a thesis, dissertation or comprehensive project to be considered within one semester of defending the research/work as determined by the department/program and division in which the student was enrolled. A graduate student in a non-thesis master’s program should be within one semester of degree completion, typically within 9 Miami credit hours.
Nomination/Approval Process:
  1. Anyone may identify a candidate for a posthumous degree, but a subsequent recommendation must be made by a University official to the dean of the appropriate academic division or the Provost for consideration and to begin the formal process.
  2. The appropriate dean shall request of the Provost shall request that the student’s academic record be reviewed by the division and University Registrar to verify academic degree and major and satisfactory progress toward degree completion. The Provost shall then direct the division and University Registrar to conduct the review.
  3. Upon the completion of the review, the dean of the academic division in which the student was enrolled will recommend the candidate for a posthumous degree in the form of a formal written request to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The request must include the name and Banner ID of the student, the degree/major to be awarded, and the recommended graduation date for degree conferral. The posthumous degree may not be awarded for a prior term. The Provost may choose to present this to the Council of Academic Deans for review/discussion.
    • The Provost will notify the University Registrar to begin the process for degree posting and commencement proceedings, if applicable.
    • The Provost dean will inform the immediate family of the University’s decision and desire to recognize their student with this honor (this process should be kept confidential until and unless approved at all levels). If the family desires to represent the student and receive the diploma at a Commencement ceremony, this must be relayed to the President’s Office for planning.
Additional Information:
  1. A posthumous degree will be printed in the Commencement program within the appropriate academic division section unless explicitly requested otherwise by the family, provided publication deadlines can be met.
  2. The statement "awarded posthumously" will be noted on the student’s academic record and transcript, but not on the diploma.
  3. The graduation application fee for the degree is waived.

SR 21-15 was approved: 55 yes; 1 no