Time: Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Lubar N116 and Microsoft Teams
Present: Anja Blecking, John Boyland, Dave Clark, Sandeep Gopalakrishnan, Matt Knachel, Emily Kuhnen, Linnae Laestadius, Yura Lee, Kim Litwack, Jesse McLean, Mike Newman, Hong Min Park, Matt Petering, Ionel Popa, Sara Riforgiate, Nathan Salowitz, Nicholas Silvaggi, Gwyn Wallander, Jonathan Wipplinger
Guests: Sonia Bardy, Jill Baum, Sara Benesh, Suzanne Boyd, Philip Chang, Qingsu Cheng, Jennifer Doering, Amy Harley, Ralph Janes, Kerry Korinek, Nadine Kozak, Chris Lyons, Lia Medeiros, Nora Miller, Stuart Moulthrop, Shabnam Nikravan, Renee Scampini, Cheryl Scherkenbach, Hilary Snow, Matt Steigerwald, Dimitri Topitzes, Dorrie Van Kerkvoorde, Elizabeth Watson
I. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 8:01 a.m.
Announcements moved to the end of the agenda.
II. Auto consent
Remove the following items from auto consent: Art History, BA/MA and BME 102.
1. Approval of the meeting minutes from April 14, 2026 (PDF).
2. Curricular changes – Review in CourseLeaf
a. New Courses (Requesting GER)
ANTHRO 100X General Anthropology
BIO SCI 141X Heredity
ENGLISH 237X Digital Storytelling
FILM 105 Cinematic Content Creation (Humanities and Arts)
MUSIC 273X Jazz History and Appreciation
PSYCH 281X Deviant Minds
SOCIOL 220 Cultural Sociology of Milwaukee
WLC 501 Using Language Skills in Our Community
b. Changed Courses
ACTSCI 391 Investment Mathematics I
ARCH 601 Special Topics: (subtitle)
ART ED 328 Art Education Theory and Practice: Secondary
BME 296 Fundamentals of Biomaterials
BME 306 Introduction to Engineering Biomechanics
BUS ADM 452 Applied Portfolio Management
CHPS 103 Life Balance: An Understanding of Leisure
CHPS 203 Human Lifespan
CHPS 245 Cultural Diversity in Health Care
CHPS 250 Interprofessional Communication in the Health Sciences
COMPSCI 361 Introduction to Software Engineering
COMPSCI 422 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
COMPSCI 423 Introduction to Natural Language Processing
COMPSCI 425 Introduction to Data Mining
COMPSCI 444 Introduction to Text Retrieval and Its Applications in Biomedicine
DANCE 192 First-Year Dance Student Seminar
DANCE 233 Improvisation for Dancemaking
DANCE 601 Senior Project
ELECENG 201 Foundations of Electrical Engineering
ENGLISH 406 Advanced English Grammar
FILM 346 Documentary Projects: doc/UWM
HIST 294 Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques
HIST 370 Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (subtitle)
HIST 386 Africans in World History
HIST 392 The History of Southern Africa
HIST 419 America Since 1945
HIST 436 Immigrant America Since 1880
JAPAN 370 Mastering the Kanji
MUSIC 152 Intermediate Guitar
PH 100 New Student Experience in Public Health
PSYCH 412 Psychological Disorders and Mental Health
c. Courses Requesting/Changing GER
i. Humanities and Arts
HIST 284 Buddhism Across Asia
ii. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
ED PSY 324 Quantitative Methods for Social and Behavioral Sciences
d. Inactivated Courses
ITALIAN 155 Masterpieces of Italian Literature in Translation
ITALIAN 192 First-Year Seminar: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 243 Topics in Italian American Film: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 296 UROP Apprenticeship
ITALIAN 329 Italian Cinema
ITALIAN 335 Political Theory, Historiography, and Scientific Thought in Italy
ITALIAN 460 The Italian Novel from Manzoni to the Present
ITALIAN 463 Italian Poetry from Romanticism to Hermeticism
ITALIAN 466 Italian Theatre from the Commedia Dell’Arte to Pirandello
ITALIAN 551 Literature of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
ITALIAN 552 The Renaissance: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 556 A Literary Period: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 570 Outline of Italian Literary History
ITALIAN 659 The Divine Comedy
ITALIAN 660 The Divine Comedy
ITALIAN 670 Studies in Italian Literature: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 671 Major Italian Authors: (subtitle)
ITALIAN 675 Literary Theory and Critical Perspectives
MUSIC 273 Harpsichord Technique for Pianists
NURS/GLOBAL 620 Global Food Security and Systems
NURS/GLOBAL 690 Global Health Governance: Key Players, Financing, and Challenges
e. Curricular Code Changes
CES – move all courses and programs to Geosciences.
GEOG – move all courses and programs to Geosciences; dissolve Department of Geography.
GEO SCI – change the name of the Department of Geosciences to Department of Earth, Environment, and Society.
f. Minor Program Changes
Actuarial Science, BA
Animation Arts, BA
Animation Arts, BFA
Anthropology, BA/Anthropology, MS
Applied Computing, BS
Applied Math and Computer Science, BS
Architectural Studies, BS
Architecture, BArch
Bilingual Education (Supplemental), Minor
Biological Sciences, BS/Biological Sciences, MS
Biomedical Engineering, BSE
Biomedical Sciences, BS: Biomedical Sciences/Biomedical Sciences, MS
Biomedical Sciences, BS: Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Civil Engineering, BSE
College of Letters and Science Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
College of Letters and Science Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Communication Sciences and Disorders, BS
Communication Sciences and Disorders, BS/Communication Sciences and Disorders, MS
Computer Engineering, BS
Computer Science, BA
Computer Science, BS
Criminal Justice and Criminology, BS
Dance Arts Requirements
Dance BA and BFA Admission and Retention Requirements
Dance, BA
Dance, BFA
Data Analytics and Applied Artificial Intelligence, BS
Economics, BA/Economics, MA
Education, BS: American Sign Language Studies
Education, BS: Elementary and Middle Education
Education, BS: English as a Second Language Education
Education, BS: Mathematics Education
Education, BS: Science Education
Education, BS: Social Studies Education
Education, BS: World Language Education
Electrical Engineering, BSE
Engineering, BS
English as a Second Language Education, Minor
Environmental Engineering, BSE
Exceptional Education, BS: K-12 Special Education
Film Arts Requirements
Film, BFA
French, BA
Freshwater Sciences, BS
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Aquatic Science
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Aquatic Science/Freshwater Sciences, MS: Aquatic Science (Professional)
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Aquatic Science/Freshwater Sciences, MS: Water Policy (Professional)
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Water Policy
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Water Policy/Freshwater Sciences, MS: Aquatic Science (Professional)
Freshwater Sciences, BS: Water Policy/Freshwater Sciences, MS: Water Policy (Professional)
General Letters, BA
Industrial Engineering, BSE
Industrial Engineering, BSE/Engineering, MS: Industrial Systems Engineering
Information Science and Technology, BS/Information Science and Technology, MS
Information Science and Technology, BS/Library and Information Science, MLIS
Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies, BA/Communication, MA
Kinesiology, BS/Athletic Training, MS
Kinesiology, BS/Kinesiology, MS
Kinesiology, BS/Physical Therapy, DPT
Liberal Arts, AAS
Materials Engineering, BSE
Mechanical Engineering, BSE
Mechanical Engineering, BSE/Engineering, MS: Mechanical Engineering
Music Education BFA Arts Requirements
Music Education BFA Major Requirements
Music Education, BFA
Music Performance Ensembles Transfer Credit
Music PSOA Requirements
Music, BA
Music, BFA: Versatile Voice
Music, BFA: Collaborative Piano
Music, BFA: Guitar
Music, BFA: Music Composition and Technology
Music, BFA: Music History and Literature
Music, BFA: Piano
Music, BFA: Strings
Music, BFA: Voice
Music, BFA: Winds, Brass, and Percussion
Nursing, BS
Nursing, RN to BS Program
Occupational Science and Technology, BS
Physics, BS/Physics, MS
Political Science, BA
Political Science, Minor
Pre-Pharmacy
Psychology, BA
Psychology, BS
Public Health, BS
Public Health, BS/Public Health, MPH: Community Health Equity Promotion
Public Health, BS/Public Health, MPH: Environmental Health Sciences
Public Health, BS/Public Health, MPH: Epidemiology
Public Health, BS/Public Health, MPH: Public Health Policy and Management
Religious Studies, BA (Inactivation)
Social Work, BS
Theatre BA and BFA Advance to Major and Retention Requirements
Theatre BFA PSOA Requirements
Theatre Practices, BA
Theatre Practices, BA: Theater Education
Theatre, BFA: Performance
Theatre, BFA: Production
Therapeutic Recreation, Undergraduate Certificate (Inactivation)
Urban Studies, BA/Urban Planning, MUP
World Language Education, Minor
III. New Business
1. Stage Directing, Undergraduate Certificate (PDF)
This is a new certificate designed to fill a growing need. Previously, there was just one stand-alone class. The certificate utilizes existing courses and has crossover with other departments. The capstone, along with experiential courses, provides a continuation of the initial directing course. Students will be primarily Theatre majors.
Jonathan Wipplinger moved to approve the certificate. Ionel Popa seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
2. Advanced Analytical Techniques for Linguistic Data, Undergraduate Certificate (PDF)
There were no representatives from the program to present this certificate or answer questions from the committee.
Matt Knachel moved to approve the certificate and Gwyn Wallander seconded. The motion carried with one nay and one abstention.
3. Astrophysics, Minor (PDF)
The minor will replace the Astrophysics Emphasis for Physics majors. It will also be open to all students, increasing access to this popular field. The minor will use existing courses.
John Boyland moved to approve the minor. Matt Petering seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
4. Peer Support Specialist, Microcredential (PDF)
The microcredential consists of three existing social work courses and will qualify students for the Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist registered apprenticeship. The program contributes to a federally funded project that expands the number of certified peer specialists in Wisconsin.
Matt Knachel moved to approve the microcredential and John Boyland seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Art History, BA/MA
The committee had concerns about the plan of study and suggested creating guidelines for plans of study.
John Boyland moved to approve the program change. Jonathan Wipplinger seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
6. BME 102: Critical Thinking for Solving Problems
John Boyland moved to approve the course without GER and Nathan Salowitz seconded. The motion carried.
Communication and Literacy courses must be focused primarily on teaching speaking and writing. Though this course has strong components for speaking and writing, it isn’t focused on TEACHING speaking and writing.
John Boyland moved to approve the course for Communication and Literacy GER. Ionel Popa seconded and the motion failed with three abstentions.
7. Elect new Chair
Ionel Popa nominated Mike Newman to serve as chair. Dave Clark seconded. John Boyland moved to close nominations and Nathan seconded. Both motions passed unanimously.
8. Authorize Chair to Act Over the Summer
Dave Clark moved to authorize the chair to act over the summer. Jesse McLean seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
IV. Announcements
GER Exceptions
There is a lack of uniformity in applying GER exceptions across schools and colleges. Some schools and colleges refuse to make exceptions while others are quite liberal in granting exceptions. The current policy relegates student appeals to the schools and colleges with monitoring by APCC. The committee is considering whether there should be university-wide guidelines.
V. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.