The Faculty Senate gave its approval for Georgia Tech’s latest bachelor’s degree program at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The bachelor of science in music technology will let students pursue an undergraduate degree in Tech’s School of Music, merging the disciplines of computing, engineering, and music in one program.

“This makes us one of the only places you can get a degree in music with a concentration in science or engineering,” said Frank Clark, professor and chair in the Georgia Tech School of Music. 

The degree will combine professional training in music with interdisciplinary study in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or industrial design. Within the mechanical engineering concentration, students can focus on acoustics and vibrations or controls and robotics. Accompanying the approval of the degree program was the approval of 15 new music courses to round out its curriculum. The degree program will next seek approval from the Board of Regents.

The Faculty Senate also approved housekeeping updates and other course additions for the catalog. 

In other news:

• Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students John Stein provided a brief update on James Hubert, the aerospace engineering undergraduate student who recently went missing in Atlanta for two days. Hubert remains hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery, and the Atlanta Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident. Campus administrators remain in contact with the student, his family, and his friends who helped locate him. 
• Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Rafael L. Bras mentioned undergraduate admissions, with the Early Action application deadline for the 2016 freshman class having passed on Oct. 15. The Office of Undergraduate Admission reports that applications are up 27 percent over last year.   
• Joe Hughes, professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and chair of this year’s Charitable Campaign, reminded attendees of the campaign’s goal and why they should give this year. “A surprising number of people right here on campus benefit directly from the campaign,” Hughes said. The campaign closes Nov. 15. Learn more at www.charitable.gatech.edu. 
• All standing committees provided annual reports. The Faculty Benefits committee has been working with the Staff Council and USG on the impending transition to defined contribution plans for health care. 
• Nathan Moon, research scientist and associate director for research of the Center for Advanced Communications Policy, provided an update from the Faculty Honors committee, encouraging more faculty members to submit and nominate others for wards. Most recently, the awards committee reviewed 26 nominations for nine awards, but hopes for more nominations in the future. “There’s a great deal of excellence going on in the faculty, and we want to honor it,” Moon said. 

The next meeting of the Academic Faculty Senate will take place Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Clary Theater, Bill Moore Student Success Center.

www.facultygovernance.gatech.edu