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THE
April 21, 2023 Vol. 98, No. 16
Online at TheLink.Harding.edu
Searcy, Ark., 72149
Provost announces policy change for degree programs EMMA JONES editor-in-chief
The Office of the Provost announced a change in University policy March 29 that will more easily allow undergraduate students to add a minor to their degree program. The email, sent from University Provost Marty Spears, stated that courses counted in a major can also be counted toward a minor as long as the degrees are in different academic departments. Previously, policy upheld that the same course could not be counted toward both a major and minor. Along with the policy change, the email also announced the addition of three new minors that can be used as an accelerated pathway to a master’s degree. Students who add the accelerated minors to their degree program can take up to 12 hours of graduate classes as part of the minor that
counts for both undergraduate and graduate credit. The new accelerated minors are counseling, history, and leadership and innovation. “When we created the accelerated programs, initially we weren’t thinking about the minors,” Spears said. “We were thinking about students taking 12 hours and being able to count those both for the undergrad and the grad. So we created these programs like in the College of Business with students being able to earn a BBA and MBA. … Really the idea for the minor started because we had several programs outside the College of Business who wanted to take advantage of that.” Along with the three accelerated minors, four new minors that can be used to supplement an undergraduate degree
were added. The four new minors include communication sciences and disorders, human-centered design, mechanical engineering and speech-language pathology. Spears said the University’s intention with the new minor programs is to potentially open doors into more specialized areas for a student’s future career. “We’re really trying to innovate and think about all our programs … we could offer that would lead directly to a job,” Spears said. Registrar Tod Martin said adding a minor to a degree program can be a benefit to students if they choose wisely. “Now that the rule of ‘majors and minors cannot share courses’ has been done away with, students have many more options open to them … but it’s now
up to the student to make wise choices in what their combined major and minor communicate to potential employers,” Martin said. “We definitely want students to add minors if they can, but they should be strategic about it and have a good reason for doing so.” Senior media production major Gabe Hosticka had dropped a minor in light and sound design after finding out earlier this semester that he wouldn’t be able to graduate with the minor due to the overlap in his classes. He said after he found out about the policy change, he contacted his advisor about potentially finding a way to add the minor back to his transcript. “I’d still like to add it if [my adviser] can figure it out,” Hosticka said. “I had done pretty much everything for the minor already.”
Graphic by COOPER TURMAN
Cox appointed associate dean of arts, sciences
Photo by MADISON MEYER
Art and Design Department Chair Amy Cox passes a wall of displayed art pieces in a gallery of the Stevens Memorial Art Building. Cox’s appointment to serve as associate dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences was announced April 12. EMMA JONES editor-in-chief University administration announced April 12 the appointment of Amy Cox as the associate dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences. An email with the announcement was sent to the faculty from Associate Provost of Academic Affairs Dana Steil, who will be serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences when the colleges of Arts and Humanities and Sciences merge, starting in the 2023-24 academic year. “Amy was selected for this position because of her proven leadership and management skills, professionalism, care for our students and faculty, experience with program development, excellent communication skills and ability to challenge the status quo thoughtfully,” Steil said in the email. “Associate Dean Cox will
work closely with the dean and department chairs to provide academic and administrative leadership.” Cox currently serves as an associate professor and chair of the Art and Design Department, where she started as faculty in 2001 and as chair in 2020. She is also currently the Faculty Leadership Council vice president and will be serving as FLC president next year. “I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside many talented and dedicated fellow faculty members, and I look forward to continuing my service in this new role,” Cox said. According to Steil, the majority of Cox’s role at the University will continue to be teaching. As associate dean, her main duty will be ensuring faculty members have a voice and play a role in the administration of the college, and assisting Steil as he develops
policies and a strategic vision for the college. “My roles as both a program director and chair have given me a better understanding of the unique responsibilities and workload these important jobs require,” Cox said. “One of my goals is to foster a collaborative environment between faculty, departments and administration as we enter this next chapter in Harding’s history.” Steil, who currently serves as an associate professor of computer science, said he thinks his and Cox’s varied backgrounds will work well together. “I believe we bring together a combination of artistic design [and] creativity and analytical design [and] creativity that God will use as a blessing for the college,” Steil said. Assistant professor of art Tessa Davidson has worked with Cox since Davidson began teaching in the art department in 2011. Davidson said Cox’s traits as a strong, caring
and personable leader will lend themselves to her role as associate dean. “We are excited about this opportunity for her, and we are glad her skills and gifts can be used for the broader community,” Davidson said. “We will miss having her as our department chair — but I guess we can’t hog her gifts all to ourselves.” The leadership team for the College of Arts and Sciences will consist of Steil, Cox, Drs. Debbie Duke and Jim Miller as assistant deans, and department chairs. Steil said in his email that a chair search for the Department of Art and Design will begin soon.