REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
May 3, 2004 – 104 GORE HALL
TO: Senators and Executives
FROM: Charles Mason, Vice President Charles E. Mason
University Faculty Senate
SUBJECT: Regular
Faculty Senate Meeting
In
accordance with Section IV, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, the regular
meeting of the University Faculty Senate will be held on
I certify that hard copies of the approval page for each undergraduate and graduate studies academic item on the agenda are filed in the Faculty Senate Office with the appropriate signatures of approval up through the Chair of the Faculty Senate Coordinating Committee on Education. The Agenda will be as follows:
I.
Adoption of the Agenda
II.
Approval of the Minutes: April
12, 2004
III.
Election of
Senate Officers and Selected Committee Members – A slate of nominations
prepared by the Committee on Committees and Nominations (Carmine Balascio, Chairperson) is presented in Attachment 1. Biographies of the nominees are presented in Attachment
2. Senators are reminded that
additional nominations may be made from the floor and that senators making such
nominations are responsible for determining that a nominee would serve if
elected.
A. President Elect – Avron Abraham (Statement)
B. Vice President – Irene Davis and Joann Browning
C. Committee on Committees Member At Large – Carmine Balascio
D. Committee on Committees Member At Large – Connie Vickery
E. Committee on Committees Chairperson – Carmine Balascio and Connie Vickery
IV. Remarks: Provost Dan Rich
V. Announcements: Senate President Karen Stein
Item for Information:
A. Electronic Privacy Policy Number 1-19 (Attachment)
VI. Consent Agenda
A.
Announcements
for Challenge:
1. Recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Tomas Leitch, Chair) with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Charles Boncelet, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Karen Stein, Chair) for a revision to the CHEP major (Attachment)
2. Recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Tomas Leitch, Chair) with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Charles Boncelet, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Karen Stein, Chair) revision of B.A. in Secondary Mathematical Education (Attachment ) (Attachment)
3. Recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Tom Leitch, Chair) with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Charles Boncelet, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Karen Stein, Chair) for the establishment of an Interdisciplinary Minor in Interactive Media (Attachment)
B. Resolutions:
1. Grade
Inflation at the
Whereas a review of data, in depth analysis, and
summary findings by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Grade Inflation clearly show
that there has been a steady upward shift of grades awarded to students during
the period 1987 through 2002, and
Whereas
the increase in high
grades appears to outstrip the improvements in the academic quality of students
and the quality of instruction, and
Whereas
even if there were no
grade inflation at the University of Delaware, data show that there would still
be grade compression; even if the entire increase in grades reflected improved
student performance, there would be a need to distinguish better among levels
of that performance, and
Whereas
although the quality of
students entering the University of Delaware is improving, faculty should be
encouraged to challenge students more, thus maintaining the University’s
reputation as an institution of high academic standards, and
Whereas
the Faculty Handbook
presently does not state what each of the letter grades means, be it therefore
Resolved
that the Faculty Handbook be
amended to state that a grade of A means an excellent or distinguished level of
achievement; B, a good or above-average
level of achievement; C, a satisfactory or average
level of achievement; D, a poor or below-average
level of achievement; and F, failure to fulfill minimum requirements. Pluses and minuses indicate falling high or
low within each category, be it further
Resolved that a committee meet in 2004-2005 to consider additional means to address grade inflation.
(Note:
all red and red strike through(deletions) are friendly amendment changes to
the resolution proposed and voted upon at the
VII. Regular Agenda
A.
Old Business:
1. General Education Report - Undergraduate Studies (Tom Leitch, Chair) with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Karen Stein, Chair) (Resolution) (Attachment)
2. Resolution Regarding Senate Endorsement of Electronic Privacy Policy Number 1-14 – Faculty Welfare and Privileges (John Kushman, Chair) with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Karen Stein, Chair) (Attachment)
Whereas issues pertaining to electronic communication have been evolving in our society in the past few years, and
Whereas the impact of electronic communication policy on privacy and freedom of expression is a concern of the faculty, and
Whereas the Electronic Communication Sub-Committee of the Faculty Welfare and Privileges Committee was charged last fall to review the current University policy on electronic communications privacy and make recommendations to the faculty, and
Whereas revised statements for Policy Number 1-14 have been jointly developed and recommended by the Faculty Welfare and Privileges Committee and the Office of the Vice-President For Administration, be it therefore
Resolved
that the Faculty Senate endorse
Policy 1-14, Policy for Responsible Computing at the
B. New Business:
1. Confirmation of Appointments (Attachment)
VIII.
Introduction of New Business
Such items as may come before the Senate. (No motion introduced under new business, except a motion to refer to committee, shall be acted upon until the next meeting of the Senate.)
/khs