Discussions about when to begin the 2013-14 school year circled the Executive Committee meeting Thursday.

Traditionally, classes begin on a Monday, but with the University closed until Thursday, Jan. 2 school won’t commence until Tuesday, Jan. 6.

For some in the committee, this set back disrupts the flow of Monday classes.

Jan Hathcote

Jeff Dorfman, agriculture and applied economics professor, said there would only be one Monday in January for classes to meet.

Jan Hathcote, University registrar, said she has fiddled with the calendar four times, but there was no way to change it.

According to the 2013- 14 calendar, orientation begins Jan. 2, advisement is on Jan. 3 and registration is on Monday, Jan. 5. Hathcote said the dates are there for transfers and new admits to be advised.

Discussions on the calendar were tabled.

Major changes
The executive committee also voted to place termination and addition of majors, minors and certificates as well as name changes to majors on the University Council agenda.
The committee approved termination of the infectious disease major in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the career and technical education major in the College of Education.
The infectious disease major was originally a department within the college, but was combined with four others to create the Veterinary Biomedical Sciences master’s program.
The career and technical education major, which has only 11 students enrolled, was voted to be terminated as well. Those enrolled in the program will finish in Spring 2013.
In addition to terminating majors, the committee opted to approve a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and two graduate certificates in historic landscape studies and avian health.
Two majors were approved for name changes in the colleges of Family and Consumer Science and Veterinary Medicine. The veterinary anatomy and radiology major will be changed to veterinary bioscience and diagnostic imaging.
The committee also approved to change the names of seven majors in the language and literacy education department including the bachelor’s foreign language education degree to world language education, among others.

The committee also motioned to recommend adding more faculty and staff on the Board of Regents committees involving all University System employees’ health plans.
All action items from today will be voted on by the University Council on Feb. 16 for final approval.