The Council on Academic affairs will be discussing and voting on five program changes during its meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually.

Three of the program changes revolve around special education programs.

The first of the programs to be voted on is the Special Education Early Childhood Education. The council will be voting on the deletion of several parts of the program.

Language Acquisition will be removed from the professional course work if the item is approved. Advanced Composition, Fitness Concepts for Teachers, Basic CPR and Health Concepts for teachers would also be removed.

Part of what the item is requesting is the deletion of a footnote saying:

“(Basic CPR) may be waived with current CPR card. A minimum of three semester hours of PUBH/KSR 3000 required.

Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester.

University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Licensure Program section of this catalog for more information.”

The Special Education Non-licensure program item is seeking to delete all of the same courses but will only delete a portion of the program’s requirements that says Basic CPR may be waived with a current CPR card and that a minimum of three semester hours of PUBH/KSR 3000 is required.

The Special Education Standard Program item seeks to delete the same course as the other two special education programs that will be voted on. It will also delete a section of the footnote that says:

“(Basic CPR) may be waived with current CPR card. A minimum of three semester hours of PUBH/KSR 3000 required… Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester.

University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Licensure Program section of this catalog for more information.”

Program revisions for the accounting major will also be voted on.

If approved the item would remove Governmental Accounting from the required electives course list and the addition Financial Data Analysis and Technical Communications to the required electives course list.

The proposal said the change is being requested because:

“The single biggest request that employers make of graduating accounting students is more exposure and ability using Excel and other accounting technologies. By changing ACC 3950 to a requirement, we will better serve and prepare our graduates for the business world. “

“The changes the AICPA is making to the CPA exam include technology adeptness with questions focusing on the  usage of MS Excel and other programs. Including ACC 3950 as a required course would better serve the students’ preparation for these new elements of the CPA exam.”

“AACSB accounting accreditation has a standard requiring exposure and usage of technology related to the accounting profession. The current major course structure only facilitates this objective if the students apply themselves to take ACC 3950 as an elective or other technology courses. By changing ACC 3950 to a required course, the discipline better meets the criteria of the AACSB accounting standard.”

The proposed changes also seeks a change in the Accounting Program’s mission statement to reflect the current name of the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology.

The item also proposes a change in the program policies to add language that reflects the current restrictions on the Certified Public Accountant exam. The item would add “Students in their final semester of courses, that would qualify them for the 150-hour requirement, may receive Provisional Approval to sit for the CPA exam from the Illinois Board of Examiners. Students are encouraged to verify educational eligibility with the Illinois Board of Examiners” to the end of the program policies.

The Construction Management Program will be the last item to be voted on at the meeting. The council is requested to approve the item so the program can reflect changes in the Mathematics Department, provide minor edits in the catalog and reflect that the FIN 3770 course is no longer a part of the Business Administration minor.

Under the major electives it currently says: “Two electives must be taken as part of the program. If selected properly, three  electives can result in a Business Administration Minor.”

The item asks that the section say: Three electives must be taken as part of the program. At least one course must have the CMG prefix from the list below. If selected properly, additional electives can result in a Business Administration Minor.

The next CAA meeting will be March 18.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].