If approved by the board of trustees, teaching majors and minors in physics, communication studies, journalism and theater arts, as well as the teaching in economics minor, will be unavailable to Marquette students beginning with the class of 2011.,”The Academic Senate voted unanimously Monday to eliminate several majors and minors in teaching in correlation with the School of Education's shift to college status.

If approved by the board of trustees, teaching majors and minors in physics, communication studies, journalism and theater arts, as well as the teaching in economics minor, will be unavailable to Marquette students beginning with the class of 2011.

Students in the College of Education will be required to complete the University Core of Common Studies and education courses along with a second major in either the College of Arts & Sciences or College of Communication.

Peggy Bloom, vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching, said juniors and seniors will be able to continue with the programs set for elimination.

"Most of them will be so far along that they will not want to switch, and they will be finished off in their current majors," Bloom said.

Some of the majors and minors were vacant and enrollment was low for others, Bloom said.

The Senate unanimously approved a motion to add an undergraduate student on the Core Curriculum Review Committee. The committee is responsible for the development, maintenance, assessment and evaluation of the University Core of Common Studies. The motion was submitted jointly by the Core Curriculum Review Committee and Marquette Student Government. The student representative, to be appointed by MUSG, will serve a one-year term as a voting member.

MUSG President Brock Banks, a College of Arts & Sciences senior, said the committee raised concern that having a student serve would breach the confidentiality of syllabi and courses discussed.

"Students have served on other committees where the information is sensitive and I have full confidence in the discretion of student reps appointed by MUSG," Banks said.

The Senate also unanimously approved a motion to allow the Committee on Research to self-appoint a faculty member to chair the committee. The Committee on Research is an Academic Senate committee that allows for faculty participation in decisions concerning research.

Previously, the vice provost for research chaired the committee. The new motion called for the vice provost and the director for research and sponsored programs to serve as non-voting members.

A resolution honoring the service of departing Provost Madeline Wake was also unanimously approved at the meeting. The resolution, citing Wake's "tireless work to promote Marquette University and its faculty," was proposed by the Senate's executive committee.

Wake, who did not attend Monday's meeting, will step down as provost at the end of the year.

The Senate also unanimously honored Kristina Ropella, chair of the biomedical engineering department and recipient of this year's Wisconsin Professor of the Year honor. The award, sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and administered by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, recognizes educators for their influence on teaching and their commitment to teaching undergraduate students.

"We express our appreciation for all of her contributions to all of Marquette University and its students," said Christine Krueger, associate professor of English.

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