Inside Iowa State

Feb. 14, 2007

Senate eyes new degrees

by Erin Rosacker

Two new degree programs and recommendations for changes to the policy on Distinguished and University Professorships topped the agenda at the Faculty Senate's Feb. 13 meeting. All three will be voted on at the March 6 meeting.

Suzanne Hendrich, chair of the academic affairs council, introduced a pair of degree programs for consideration. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences would house the proposed bachelor of science degree in bioinformatics and computational biology. The interdisciplinary program involves three departments - computer science, mathematics and genetics, development and cell biology. Iowa State already offers a Ph.D. program in bioinformatics and computational biology.

A proposed Ph.D. degree in business and technology would be the first Ph.D. offered by the College of Business. Three areas of specialization - customer relationship management, management of information technology and supply chain management - would be established.

"It expands the scholarly opportunities for the faculty in the college of business," Hendrich said. "It aligns the college a little bit more closely with Iowa State being a Research I university."

University and Distinguished Professorships

The conference committee created to review the 2005 policy outlining recognition of Distinguished and University Professorships, presented recommendations for consideration.

A change in the procedure for the selection of Distinguished Professor sends the nomination review committee's recommendations directly to the provost, bypassing the Faculty Senate executive board.

The definition of a University Professor was altered to focus on the individual's contributions to institutional change, rather than a measure of institutional service.

Business and finance review

The senate task force to review the office of business and finance presented its findings, which included three recommendations. The recommendations - acknowledge the positives, improve communications and look to the future - already have produced a faculty advisory committee.

"The president and the vice president for business and finance Warren Madden agreed enthusiastically to forming this faculty advisory committee," said Jack Girton, editor of the report and chair of the new committee. "It's been formed and it's one of the committees operating under the [Resource Policies and Allocations] Council."

The Faculty Senate will vote on two proposed degree programs at its March 6 meeting, including a Ph.D. in business and technology and a bachelor of science degree in bioinformatics and computational biology. Recommended changes to the University and Distinguished Professor policy also will be considered.