Curators discuss possible new degree programs in film, science

Posted to Board of Curators meeting: Oct. 22-23, 2009 by Alex Silverman at 2:28 p.m., Oct. 22, 2009

The Academic, Student and External Affairs Committee of the UM System Board of Curators discussed the potential addition of two new degree programs at MU.

The first proposed program is a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. In developing the program, Vice President of Academic Affairs Steve Graham said MU's overall academic approach was kept in mind.

"It fits in very well with MU’s strategic plan," he said. "There's a growing focus on new media."

Graham also stressed that the program in Film Studies is in very high demand.

The second new program proposed by Graham is the addition of both a Masters and Doctorate program in Clinical and Translational Science.

"This program will bridge the gap between basic sciences and clinical practices," Graham said.

The committee will vote on the addition of both of these programs during tomorrow morning's sessions.

During his presentation, Graham also discussed the evolution of how students learn and screened a student-made video titled A Vision of Students Today.

Board of Curators Student Representative Laura Confer responded to the short film by concurring with several of its points and by sharing some of her own classroom experiences.

"It's a different way of learning today," Confer said. "E-learning is the future."

The committee also discussed a new plan to allow the UM system's information technology professionals to access faculty accounts, which would include faculty member's e-mails and documents. If approved, the plan would grant the information technology departments access to the accounts with the approval of a superior faculty member.

"There is a system of checks and balances," Graham said.

Community college trends were also on the agenda as the curators discussed how these schools fit in with the UM system.

"These institutions are different by nature than ours," Graham said.

The curators also acknowledged the high level of transfers into the system from community colleges and recongnized the increased role that community colleges are playing on both state and national levels.