Proposals for a Business major beginning in fall 2010 and a pilot program for an optional Justice Brandeis Semester, a semester-long, experiential-learning initiative, were passed in a first reading at yesterday's faculty meeting, according to Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe, chair of the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering Committee.The proposals will be on the agenda for a second reading at the next faculty meeting March 12. The Faculty Handbook states, "Except for amendments to pending motions, all legislation must be approved by two separate Faculty Meetings, normally consecutive."

The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee had approved both programs at its meeting last Thursday after they were submitted by two CARS subcommittees. A proposal for a Communications, Media and Society major was withdrawn because the specifics are still being revised, Jaffe said.

The exact vote count for both counts is still unclear, according to Prof. Peter Woll (POL), faculty meeting parliamentarian. "The votes were by raising hands so I do not know the totals," Woll wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

The proposals were passed in an effort to increase Brandeis' applicant pool to 1,000 over the next four years and increase the undergraduate student body by 100 students per year for four years, Jaffe said.

"I'm incredibly excited about the Business proposal. I think it will allow us to appeal to a lot of students who wanted to look at Brandeis but, because we didn't have a Business major, weren't looking at us the way they should have been looking at us," Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy said. "The Justice Brandeis Semester, I think, really highlights the things we do well in one spot," she added. "I need a way to put [these activities] in some framework that I can talk about to entering students [in a way] they [can] understand."

According to the motion for the JBS, students may enroll in a Justice Brandeis Semester any summer, fall or spring after they have completed their first spring term. The motion states that the program "will consist of at least 12 credit hours (or the equivalent of three courses) in an approved program providing intensive, inquiry-based courses and real-world experiential opportunities." The UCC will approve JBS programs proposed by faculty, and a committee of faculty, staff and students will then be formed to establish the framework for each program.

"We are suggesting an optional program initially, but we are seriously hoping that this will be so attractive that the majority of the students [will participate]", potentially leading to the suggestion of "a mandatory program in the long run," Prof. Sacha Nelson (BIOL), co-chair of the Subcommittee on the Summer Semester and Experiential Learning, said.

The subcommittee's co-chairs also explained how the JBS proposal would help increase the size of the student body while allowing the University to house students in the current dorms and avoid the issue of overcrowding on campus.

Co-chair Prof. Tim Hickey (COSI) explained that students could participate in the JBS through programs such as study abroad, participating in an Environmental Field Semester, completing a student teaching practicum, conducting extended scientific research or taking part in a Summer Arts Festival.

Many faculty expressed concern during the meeting that the plans for the JBS were premature.

"I don't think many of us know what we're voting for," Prof. Mary Baine Campbell (ENG) said during the discussion on the JBS. "Because I have so many questions about individual programs, . I really would hope that [the committee would talk to actual faculty in actual schools and come back with actual suggestions."

Prof. Jonathan Sarna (NEJS) said during the meeting that he supported the JBS proposal, stating that it was about "changing the name from 10 different things we already do to [the JBS]," noting an existing summer program in Hebrew.

The motion for the Business major reads, "Beginning in the fall of 2010, an interdisciplinary major in Business will be offered at Brandeis University for an initial period of five years. In academic year 2015- 2016, a review of both the Business major and minor will be conducted by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee on the question of the program's continuance." According to the agenda, the major will require 10-and-a-half courses, comprising five-and-a-half required core courses and five electives.

Jaffe explained that CARS envisioned capping the number of Business majors at 100 to preserve the academic character of Brandeis and to make do with the University resources available, such as the number of course sections. Jaffe suggested that students would apply to become Business majors as sophomores and be accepted based on academic performance if capping became necessary.

"I'm very glad that that the Business major that is being proposed is one which has an interdisciplinary focus," Prof. Thomas King (ENG) said. "What I would like to see happen-and I think our students would really appreciate it-is that a number of courses would be developed that would bring business together with the various disciplines. For example, I think [courses] in arts management, managing a nonprofit and maybe in publishing would be [big hits] at Brandeis

Before each vote, Student Union President Jason Gray '10 presented to the faculty Union Senate Resolutions supporting the changes. "It's fair to say, while a small number of students have questions about the Business major, the overwhelming majority are excited about the option. . They wished they had it when they were here," he said at the meeting.

Eddy said her office would add information based on the new programs to all admissions materials, such as a new viewbook and e-mails to prospective students. Aside from attracting students with the Business major, she said, "There are other students who basically say, 'Yes Brandeis is this great place, but tell me what's different about Brandeis.' Now I can tell them.