ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes
Apri 1 28, 1972
Members present: V.A. Richley, A.R. Curran, J.A. Scriven, E.E. Eminhizer,
M. Siman, M. Brunner, J. Roderick
The minutes of April 7, 13 and 21 were approved as distributed.
In response to a memo from Dr. Kohn, (Business), regarding audit grades,
the Chairman informed the committee that he sent Or. Kohn copies of the committee's
minutes, which pertain to previous discussion of the audit grade. Present
practice is that a transcript containing a mark of AU is accompanied by a sheet
which reads, "AU-Audit." J. Scriven reported that when the current supply of
such sheets is depleted, the new form will contain: ''AlJ-Audit:Attendance not
required." Thus, the employer will know that the auditor m.ay or may not have
attended class.~
A memorandum was received from Emily Mackall, (Economics), in which she
suggested that the letter Wbe eliminated from class rosters for those students
who drop a course prior to the first day of class. The committee felt that this
matter is not a problem in view of the fact that following the first class day,
a 7-day roster is issued, with deletion of a student in this category.
The Chairman reported that he has contacted Larry Simko twice to request
specific details regarding tir. Sinko's claim in a letter that"a problem exiSts
in the matter of class attendance and coursegrade~.To date, no information has
been received.
Considerable discussion was held with regard to the request by the School
of Education that traditional letter grades, A, A, C, etc., in student teaching
and laboratory experiences be replaced with the marks, Cr, V, and I. J. Scriven
suggested that an ad hoc committee be appointed to study not only this request,
but all grading practices throughout the University. As a member of the
Education faculty, J. Roderick stated that a change of grade policy by the
School bas been under study for a considerable length of time, that a decision
is urgent, and that the proposal should not be absorbed into a larger study,
but should be treated separately. The Chairman and M. Siman asked whether the
possible adoption of the Pass/Fail system would meet the needs of the School
of Education. J. Roderick felt that the writers of the proposal may have
already considered this alternative and that they should be invited to appear
before the committee. At this point, the committee decided to postpone further
discussion until the Pass/Fail proposal has been acted upon by the University
Senate.
J. Scriven raised the question whether persons who attend Academic Affairs
committee meetings should be permitted to engage in discussion. He felt that
guests should limit their remarks to the item(s) on the agenda which prompted
them to attend, or to items of specif ic in terest to them. Hh i1e the comm ittee
as a whole agrees that every guest should he heard, it also recognizes that
random discussion can hinder the work progress of the committee. E. E. Eminihzer
Academic Affairs Committee Minutes
Page -2-
moved, seconded by A. R. Curran, that guests at an Academic Affairs committee
meeting shall be non-participants, unless invited by the committee to engage
in discussion. Motion carried.
J. Scriven reported that on April 25, 1972, the Academic Deans Council ruled
that when a student repeats a course in which he received the grade, "F," only
the second grade shall be included in the computation of the student's c.p.a.
J. Scriven felt strongly that this matter is the purview of the Academic Affairs
committee, and that it should have been referred first to this committee. The
committee unanimously concurred.
Another possible p.'blem posed by a student registered for audit was raised
on the floor of the University Senate several weeks ago by President Pugsley.
The President had stated that a student who needs a course for credit, that
involves laboratory classes or work, should not be displaced by a student en 
rolled in the course as an auditor. Members of this committee made the
following remarks: A. R. Curran and J. Roderick expressed the opinion that
requirements for laboratory experiences vary among departments, therefore,
control over who may use laboratory facilities may bedtfficult to exercise.
J. Scriven stated furthermore that a policy relating to auditors and the use
of "labs" could not be implemented until 1973. The Chairman recommended that
J. Scriven develop a vehicle or procedure through which such a polley could
be effected. The Chairman also stated that Or. Behen, (History), had informally
mentioned some of his concerns about the status of an auditor. The committee
suggested that Or. Behen be invited to attend a meeting to express his viewpoints.
To help resolve the dilemma posed by students enrolled as auditors, J. Roderick
stated that perhaps enrollment should be defined in three categories: (1) credit 
a student is expected to attend class, to complete all required course work,
including taking the finalexamination,~aridhe will receive a grade; (2) non 
credit - a student may participate in class discussion, engage in laboratory
Work, he may take hourly exams, but he is not permitted to take the final
examination, and he will not receive a final grade; (3) audit - a student is
a non-participating member of the class, he Is entitled only to listen to lectures
and discussion; he is not permitted in courses which require laboratory experience,
and, unless otherwise indicated in the Bulletin, he must receive permission from
the instructor to audit the course.
The Chairman then presented the committee with a letter received from
President~ugsley,dated April 3rd, which describes the temporary restraining
action taken by Ohio State University against three enterprises in Columbus
engaged in the selling of academic term papers. In accordance with President
Pugsley's suggestion, i.e., that Youngstown State University express a position
on the selling of term papers, the Academic Affairs committee formulated the
following policy statement, which will be presented to the University Senate
for approval, and thereafter will be included in appropriate University puplications:
A student enrolled at Youngstown State University who secures
the services of an enterprise engaged in the selling of term
papers, and who submits the paper as his own work to an
instructor, is committing plagiarism, and is subject to the
disciplinary action described on page 47 of the Youngstown
State University Bulletin. 1971-72.
Academic Affairs Committee Minutes
Page -3-
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
The next meeting will be held Friday, May 5. 1972. 3:00 p.m.
Secretary
CC: V.A. Richley
A.R. Curran
LE. Eminhizer
R. Kreutzer
F. Rosenberg
M. Siman
Eo E. Edgar
J.A. Scriven
M. Brunner
President Pugsley
Mrs. Schnuttgen