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DRAFT MOTION

Review and discuss any issues or concerns regarding NSU’s program modification requests

prior to them moving forward upon final review and approval by the System Vice President

for Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM: 3 – A (2)

DATE: January 23, 2020

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SUBJECT

Program Modifications – NSU

CONTROLLING STATUTE, RULE, OR POLICY

BOR Policy 2:23 – Program and Curriculum Approval

AAC Guideline 2.3 – Substantive Program Modifications

AAC Guideline 2.3.A – Institutional Substantive Program Modification Requests

Summary

BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION

Northern State University has submitted the following program modification proposals

provided in Attachment I. These are under review by the System Vice President for

Academic Affairs. These requests are also available on the Institutional Substantive

Program Modification Requests Webpage.

Existing Program: Substantive Program Modification

American Indian Studies (Minor) – request to change total credits of elective

course work, total credits required for the program, and program name

Political Science (BA) – request to change program name

IMPACT AND RECOMMENDATION

Upon approval by the System VPAA, the proposals will move forward for entry into

Colleague.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I – NSU: Substantive Program Modification Requests Summary Form

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FORMS

Institutional Substantive Program Modification Requests

Institution: Northern State University Date: 1/9/2020

Institutional representatives should provide direct links to PDF documents for each of the program modification requests represented below. All requests should be posted on the campus Curriculum and Instruction website one week prior to the Academic Affairs Council meeting where the program modification request is being considered. Program Title Approval American Indian Studies Minor Political Science (BA)

Program modifications referenced above for approval have been reviewed by the Academic Affairs Council and the System Vice President for Academic Affairs and may be advanced forward for entry in Colleague. For those program modifications listed above that did not receive approval, additional clarification or justification will be necessary and should be re-routed through the review process on a separate “Institutional Substantive Program Modification Requests” form once all issues have been resolved.

Signature: System Vice President for Academic Affairs Date

ATTACHMENT I 2

Program Forms: Substantive Program Modification Form (Last Revised 08/2016)

7

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FORMS

Substantive Program Modification Form

Use this form to request minor changes in existing programs (majors, minors, certificates, or specializations).

UNIVERSITY: NSU

CURRENT PROGRAM TITLE: American Indian Studies Minor

CIP CODE: 050202

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT: History and Social Sciences

UNIVERSITY DIVISION: College of Arts and Sciences

University Approval

To the Board of Regents and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this proposal, that

I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university

policy.

12/18/2019

Vice President of Academic Affairs or

President of the University

Date

1. This modification addresses a change in (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

☐ Total credits required within the discipline ☐ Total credits of supportive course work

☒ Total credits of elective course work ☒ Total credits required for program

☒ Program name ☐ Existing specialization

☐ CIP Code ☐ Other (explain below)

2. Effective date of change: 8/24/2020

3. Program Degree Level (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

Associate ☐ Bachelor’s ☒ Master’s ☐ Doctoral ☐

4. Category (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

Certificate ☐ Specialization ☐ Minor ☒ Major ☐

ATTACHMENT I 3

Program Forms: Substantive Program Modification Form (Last Revised 08/2016)

5. If a name change is proposed, the change will occur (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

☒ On the effective date for all students

☐ On the effective date for students new to the program (enrolled students will graduate

from existing program)

Proposed new name: Native and Indigenous Studies

Reminder: Name changes may require updating related articulation agreements,

site approvals, etc.

6. Primary Aspects of the Modification (add lines or adjust cell size as needed):

Existing Curriculum Proposed Curriculum (highlight changes) Pref. Num. Title Cr.

Hrs.

Pref. Num. Title Cr.

Hrs.

Required 9 Required 9

AIS 422 Issues in Contemporary

Indian Life (3 credits)

INDG 404 Issues in Contemporary

Native and Indigenous Life

(3 credits)

ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology (3

credits)

HIST/

INDG

368

History and Culture of the

American Indian (3 credits)

HIST 368 History and Culture of the

American Indian (3 credits)

INDG/

HIST/

CJUS

333 Federal Indian Law (3

credits)

Electives 11 Electives 9

ANTH 322 Culture of the Plains Indian

(3 credits)

SS/

INDG

361 Traveling Classroom: A

Native Cultural Immersion

Experience (3 credits)

HIST 476 History of South Dakota (3

credits)

SOC/

INDG

265 Global Indigenous Media (3

credits)

SOC 350 Race and Ethnic Relations

(3 credits)

SPCM/

SOC/

INDG

335

Native Identity and

Resiliency (3 credits)

SS 391 Independent Study (1-3

credits)

ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology (3

credits)

SOC 350 Race and Ethnic Relations (3

credits)

AIS 101 Introductory Lakota I (4

credits)

Total number of hours required for

major, minor, or specialization

20 Total number of hours required for

major, minor, or specialization

18-

19

Total number of hours required for

degree

7. Explanation of the Change: The current American Indian Studies minor at Northern State University requires 20 credits, and

the revision changes it to 18 to 19 credits in compliance with SDBOR guidelines. The variability in

credits depends on whether the student chooses Introductory Lakota I (AIS 101) as an elective.

ATTACHMENT I 4

Program Forms: Substantive Program Modification Form (Last Revised 08/2016)

Additionally, changes are needed in the courses and title because the current minor provides

limited academic topics and stems from a Eurocentric perspective.

The title change to Native and Indigenous Studies reflects how the revised minor will enable

students and faculty to make connections among and across Native and indigenous populations on

a broad range of topics, including history, sociology, law, and language. The substantially modified

minor offers the development of interdisciplinary knowledge through the lens of Native American

and indigenous perspectives and acknowledges a clear break from the Eurocentric approach of the

former American Indian Studies minor. Courses are offered across disciplines and incorporate

Native and indigenous knowledge, theories, perspectives, and case studies, which provides a

broader space for students to think about the importance of indigenous knowledge in the twenty-

first century. The inclusion of Lakota language in the revised minor reflects Northern’s

commitment to indigenous knowledge and our understanding that language and culture are

intertwined (Treuer 2012).

Northern’s Native and Indigenous Studies Minor is designed to work with multiple majors.

Students who take courses in history, criminal justice, sociology, education, and political sciences

can use at least one course from the minor toward credit in their major. Northern is committed to

growing our students’ knowledge of Native and indigenous perspectives in order to build better

communities in our region of the state. Of the SDBOR institutions, Northern State University has

the highest proportion of graduates who stay and work in South Dakota after graduation. We

designed our Native and Indigenous Studies Minor and the new courses, including syllabi, in

consultation with elders from surrounding tribes and student focus groups. Our students are excited

to begin the coursework included in this minor and recognize how invaluable earning Northern’s

Native and Indigenous Studies Minor will be to their work as educators, social workers, public

servants, and professionals in our region. Students who earn a minor in Native and Indigenous

Studies will approach their work through a more robust cultural lens that is inclusive of the fastest

growing demographic segment of South Dakota and the region.

ATTACHMENT I 5

Program Forms: Substantive Program Modification Form (Last Revised 08/2016)

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FORMS

Substantive Program Modification Form

Use this form to request minor changes in existing programs (majors, minors, certificates, or specializations).

UNIVERSITY: NSU

CURRENT PROGRAM TITLE: Political Science

CIP CODE: 451001

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT: History & Social Sciences

UNIVERSITY DIVISION: College of Arts & Sciences

University Approval

To the Board of Regents and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this proposal, that

I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university

policy.

12/18/2019

Vice President of Academic Affairs or

President of the University

Date

1. This modification addresses a change in (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

☐ Total credits required within the discipline ☐ Total credits of supportive course work

☐ Total credits of elective course work ☐ Total credits required for program

☒ Program name ☐ Existing specialization

☐ CIP Code ☐ Other (explain below)

2. Effective date of change: 8/24/2020

3. Program Degree Level (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

Associate ☐ Bachelor’s ☒ Master’s ☐ Doctoral ☐

4. Category (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

Certificate ☐ Specialization ☐ Minor ☒ Major ☒

ATTACHMENT I 6

Program Forms: Substantive Program Modification Form (Last Revised 08/2016)

5. If a name change is proposed, the change will occur (place an “X” in the appropriate box):

☒ On the effective date for all students

☐ On the effective date for students new to the program (enrolled students will graduate

from existing program)

Proposed new name: Government

Reminder: Name changes may require updating related articulation agreements,

site approvals, etc.

6. Primary Aspects of the Modification (add lines or adjust cell size as needed):

Existing Curriculum Proposed Curriculum (highlight changes) Pref. Num. Title Cr.

Hrs.

Pref. Num. Title Cr.

Hrs.

Total number of hours required for

major, minor, or specialization

Total number of hours required for

major, minor, or specialization

Total number of hours required for

degree

Total number of hours required for

degree

7. Explanation of the Change:

The program faculty believe that the name change to Government will make the degree more

relevant and understandable to students. It is a more accurate reflection of the field as well as the

academic, intellectual, and methodological interests of our students and faculty. Ideally, it will

help recruit students to classes and the major.

The program has generated increased prominence both on and off campus as it has concentrated

its efforts on more experiential learning opportunities for students and worked to bring elected

officials to campus for lectures and talks. The program’s great success in placing students in

internships at, especially, the state level also buttresses the program’s strengths in applied

governmental work.

ATTACHMENT I 7