REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE

March 6, 2000

Minutes

SENATORS EXCUSED: Fred Masterson, Paul Mettle, Lawrence Nees, John Nye, Daniel Rich, T. W. Fraser Russell, Melvyn Schiavelli, Rivers Singleton, Carolyn Thoroughgood, John Weiss

SENATORS ABSENT: John Elias, Dan Most, Nancy Nobile, Margaret Smith

I    ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was adopted with minor changes. (1) Item 15 was listed as Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Arts and Science and should be corrected to read College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2) A memo was placed in the voting cards from Marcia Watson-Whitmyre requesting revisions to the teacher education program in order to meet state certification requirements. The revision will be presented and pre-approved pending documentation and approval of the appropriate committees.
II.    APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the February 7, 2000 meeting of the Senate were approved as distributed.
III.    REMARKS BY PROVOST SCHIAVELLI
There were no remarks by Provost Schiavelli.
IV.    ANNOUNCEMENTS
    President Huddleston announced that a sample Aconsent@ agenda was placed in the voting cards noting that the Board of Trustees and private organizations have adopted this procedure. The purpose of the consent agenda is to give the Senate more time to concentrate on important matters. Non-controversial resolutions would be grouped with Announcements for Challenge, and approved as a block if there are no objections. Any Senator would have the right to ask that any item in the block be removed for separate discussion and vote.

    Carl Jacobson was not present to speak on Internet Portals.

    Beth Haslett, Chair of the Committee on Committees and Nominations, raised a point of order. She stated that the recommendation for changes to the election procedure for officers of the Faculty Senate (approved by the Faculty Senate on February 7, 2000) be declared null and void. Dr. Haslett indicated due notice and due process was violated. President Huddleston denied the point of order. Dr. Haslett appealed noting that the proposal was well intended but not accurate. The appeal was seconded by Senator Phil Goldstein. After considerable debate there was an affirmative vote to declare changes to the election procedure for officers of the Faculty Senate null and void.

    The following announcements for challenge were unanimously approved.

    1. Revision to Agricultural Education major, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

    2. Recommendation to change the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture to Bachelor of Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

    3. Revision to the Athletic Training major, College of Health and Nursing Sciences

    4. Revision to the Educational Studies major, College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy

    5. Revision to the Food Science and Technology major: Food Science concentration and the Food Technology concentration, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

    6. Revision to the Health and Physical Education major, College of Health and Nursing Sciences

    7. Revision and title change to the Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Resources major: Human Services, Education and Public Policy, College of Human Resources, Education, and Public Policy

    8. Revision to the minor in Management Information/Decision Support System, College of Business and Economics

    9. Revision to the Music Education major, College of Arts & Science

    10. Recommendation to change the title Physical Education Studies concentration to Exercise and Sports Studies, College of Health and Nursing Sciences

    11. Revision to the Wildlife Conservation major, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

    12. Recommendation to change the name of each of the following degrees to Bachelor of Science: Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health Education, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education Studies, and Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Park Administration, College of Health and Nursing Sciences

    13. Recommendation for changes to the Ph.D. track course requirement in the History Department Graduate Program, College of Arts and Science

    14. Revisions and title change to the Political Science graduate program, College of Arts and Science

    15. Revision to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Program, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    V.    OLD BUSINESS

      There was no old business.
    VI.    NEW BUSINESS
      A.     A recommendation to establish a minor in American Material Culture Studies, College of Arts and Science, was presented from the Committee on Undergraduate Education with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education and the Executive Committee. The motion, the text which follows, was approved by the Senate.

      Whereas there are many resources on and off campus for the interdisciplinary study of North American material culture, and

      Whereas a number of the University=s departments and programs seek new ways to collaborate in this study, including ways that enhance the educational opportunities of undergraduate students, be it therefore

      Resolved that a new minor be established in American Material Culture Studies, under the aegis of the College of Arts and Science.

B.     A recommendation to establish a new minor in Music: Church Music, College of Arts and Science, was presented from the Committee on Undergraduate Education with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education and the Executive Committee. The motion, the text which follows, was approved by the Senate.

Whereas a number of music students seek employment as musicians for religious congregations, and these students justifiably wish to be better positioned to gain such employment by obtaining a credential suited to this goal, and

Whereas the Department of Music has the faculty, the courses, and the desire to sustain the offering of such a credential, be it therefore

Resolved that a new minor in Church Music is hereby established.

 C.     A recommendation from the Committee on Graduate Education with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education and the Executive Committee to delete the M.A. in International Relations major, College of Arts and Science. The motion, the text which follows, was approved by the Senate.  
Whereas the Department of Political Science and International Relations has undertaken a lengthy review of its graduate program in response to an Academic program Review, and

Whereas this review has found a need substantially to restructure the graduate program in the direction of greater substantive focus, a commitment to doctoral rather than master=s level education, and more sophisticated methodological training, and

Whereas the proposed revisions, especially the sharp focus in global governance, hold the promise of increasing the quality of the program, the marketability of its graduates, and the national reputation of the department, and

Whereas the requirements for the M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science have been revised as set forth in the attached document, be it further

Resolved that the M.A. in International Relations be disestablished.

  D.     A recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate Education with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education and the Executive Committee to establish a General Education Program was discussed. Jon Olson, Parliamentarian, reviewed the procedures for considering this resolution, noting that we will proceed paragraph by paragraph, amending each as necessary as we go along. After all paragraphs have been discussed and amended individually, we will proceed to a vote on the resolution as a whole. President Huddleston began with the ten goals. There was no discussion.

1. Resolved that the Faculty Senate adopts the ten goals of undergraduate education set forth by the Ad Hoc General Education Committee Report as follows:

  Undergraduate Education at the University of Delaware aims to ensure that every student will: 1. Attain effective skills in oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning, and the use of information technology.   2. Learn to think critically to solve problems.   3. Be able to work and learn both independently and collaboratively.   4. Engage questions of ethics and recognize responsibilities to self, community, and society at large.   5. Understand the diverse ways of thinking that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences.   6. Develop the intellectual curiosity, confidence, and engagement that will lead to lifelong learning.   7. Develop the ability to integrate academic knowledge with experiences that extend the boundaries of the classroom.   8. Expand understanding and appreciation of human creativity and diverse forms of aesthetic and intellectual expression.   9. Understand the foundations of United States society including the significance of its cultural diversity.   10. Develop an international perspective in order to live and work effectively in an increasingly global society. 2. Resolved that the Faculty Senate endorses in principle the following major components of the GEP
  1.     Freshman Year Experience (FYE) such as Freshman Interest Groups, Pathways courses, and other integrated and interdisciplinary freshman experiences.   2. Basic Skills in computers, math, and written and oral communication.   3. Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) such as directed thesis, research, creative projects, internships, study abroad, service learning, and field work.   4. Capstone Experience (CE) which integrates the undergraduate experience such as a senior seminar, group project or similar experience. 3.     Resolved that all incoming University of Delaware student be strongly encouraged to take advantage of an integrated FYE, as opportunities become available. 4. Resolved that each department or program responsible for administering undergraduate majors is encouraged to directits students to acquire basic skills, avail themselves of discovery learning, and participate in a capstone experience.

5. Resolved that a standing Committee on General Education be created with the responsibility for setting guidelines, standards, and academic policies for the General Education Program. The Committee shall also be responsible for approving and evaluating the components of the program.

6. Resolved that the membership (17) of the Committee on General Education will be as follows: one faculty representative from each college offering undergraduate degrees, except Arts and Science which will have three representatives, who will be selected by the Committee on Committees and Nominations. Other committee members are the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Planning, Undergraduate Studies Committee representative, Admissions representative, Registrar=s representative, Residence Life representative, one graduate student representative, one representative from the Center for Teaching Effectiveness and two undergraduate students. The college representatives will be different from those members currently serving on the Undergraduate Studies Committee. This committee will report its decisions to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. The Committee on Committees and Nomination will select the chairperson of the Committee on General Education and will stagger the initial terms of office of the college representatives who will serve two-year terms and who may be reappointed. Prior to adjournment, Dr. Haslett proposed to amend paragraph 6 by raising the number of Arts and Science representatives from 3 to 6. The Senate agreed to consider this amendment when we reconvene.

 Senators voted to resume the Faculty Senate meeting on Monday, March 13 at 4:00 pm in 104 Gore Hall. The meeting adjourned at 5:44 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Rita Girardi for
Karen F. Stein, Secretary
University Faculty Senate

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