REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
OCTOBER 2, 1995
MINUTES
Senators excused were: Kenneth Biederman, Maurice Cope, Steven
Helmling, Betty Paulanka, Shawn Phillips, Willy
Riemer, Roland Smith, Carolyn Thoroughgood
Senators absent were: Christine Heyrman, Arnold Kerr, Bill Lawson,
Duane Milne, Lynn Snyder-Mackler
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved as submitted.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the September 11, 1995 meeting were approved as
written.
III. REMARKS BY UNIVERSITY PROVOST SCHIAVELLI
Provost Schiavelli spoke about the budgetary problems of the
library. Citing that we have an excellent library, the Provost
called attention to the fact that the library has continued to
receive a large percentage increase in its budget each year for
the last five or six years in an attempt to keep pace with the
approximately 15% increase each year in the cost of library
materials. However, the projected 23% increases that are
predicted for the coming years clearly outpace the 5% or 6% annual
increases at the University.
The Provost remarked that the library must provide access to the
continually increasing amounts of information for the scholars and
students on campus. It will be periodically necessary to review
the way we spend the library materials budget. He asked that the
faculty cooperate in the next few months with library staff as
they try to find ways to balance the expenditures on the monograph
collection and serial subscriptions, and to find effective ways to
provide access to information in a timely manner.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Professor John Burmeister made remarks on the certification
of the athletic programs of the University. He explained
that the National Collegiate Athletic Association has
embarked on a new program of certification which will
involve an in-depth study of all athletic programs in
Division I.
The certification procedure includes a one-year self-study
followed by visits to campus of an evaluation team next
October. He requested that the Senators alert their
constituents to the fact that the certification program has
started, and he described the committee structure that has
been set up to consider the several aspects of the
certification procedure. Much data must be gathered,
assistance will be needed, and comments and concerns about
the athletic program are welcome and should be directed to
the appropriate committee.
Associate Provost Andersen commented that we should also be
aware that we are in our five-year periodic review from the
Middle States Higher Education Program. Some of the efforts
to provide the required study will be dovetailed with the
work of the committees overseeing the athletic
certification. Other faculty will be called on to help with
the Middle States certification as well.
2. President Hall then reminded senators to identify themselves
for the record during any debate on issues before the Senate
and to please call the Senate Office, in advance if
possible, if it is necessary for a senator to miss a Senate
meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS - None
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Recommendation from the Committee on Graduate Studies (K.
Koford, Chairperson) for revision to the Graduate Catalog.
Professor Koford informed the Senate that the recommendation
was intended to update and clarify these rules in light of
the experience of the Graduate Studies Office over the last
several years. He explained that the changes were not
substantial. The following motion carried unanimously
without debate:
WHEREAS, the policies for academic probation and
termination and separation from graduate
study require updating, clarification, and
revision, and
WHEREAS, procedures for dismissal require clear
specification of the rules faced by
students and administrators, and
WHEREAS, rules for probation and dismissal should
not treat students on assistantship
differently from other students, while
students who have GPAs below 3.0
throughout their academic career should
face termination before completion of
their coursework, and
WHEREAS, at the request of the previous Associate
Provost for Graduate Studies, Carol
Hoffecker, the Graduate Studies Committee
of the Faculty Senate considered numerous
alternatives and found clearly that the
existing policies required change, be it
therefore
RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate approves the
following rules for probation, dismissal,
and separation from the University, to
replace the current rules for "Review of
the Graduate Grade Point Average,"
"Academic Probation Policy," and
"Termination of Enrollment" in the
Graduate Catalog, page 30, with the
following:
[The policies updating the Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures are
attached.]
Academic Deficiency, Probation and Dismissal Policy.
The cumulative G.P.A. after every 9-hour increment determines
academic standing. A student's academic status is determined by
cumulate G.P.A. according to the following chart:
If a student is on: And gets an The status
index of: will become:
Any status (or clear) 3.0 or above Clear
Clear 2.99-2.5 Warning
Clear 2.49-2.0 Probation
Probation Below 3.0 Termination
Warning Below 3.0 Probation
Any status (or clear) Below 2.0 Termination
Graduation and Separation from Graduate Studies.
A: GRADUATION
The Office of Graduate Studies notifies students when they have
met all degree requirements.
B: SEPARATION FROM GRADUATE STUDY
The Office of Graduate Studies notifies students when they are
dismissed from graduate programs without completing a degree.
Dismissals usually take place at the end of a term. Students may be
dismissed for the following reasons:
o Upon the expiration of the five-year time limit for master's
degree programs or for those students in a doctoral program who
were admitted with a master's degree. Upon the expiration of the
seven-year time limit for doctoral students who were admitted
without a master's degree.
o Upon the completion of nine graduate credits or two years as a
visiting student who has been admitted with visiting (transient)
status for the purpose of transferring credits earned to another
institution.
o Upon the completion of ten consecutive semesters for an Unlimited
Nondegree student.
o Upon the failure to meet the grade point average requirements as
stated in the policy on Academic Deficiency, Probation, and
Dismissal.
o Upon written notice to the Office of Graduate Studies of voluntary
withdrawal from the program.
o Upon the failure to pass the preliminary, language, or candidacy
examinations, dissertation proposal defense, or dissertation
defense when a department of the University has a policy that such
failure leads to dismissal from the program.
o Upon the failure to achieve a cumulative grade point average of
3.0 upon the completion of the stated number of required credits
for a degree.
o Upon the failure to meet the stated minima in specific course
requirements as identified by individual programs when a
department has a policy that such failure leads to dismissal from
the program.
B. Recommendation from the Committee on Budgetary and Space
Priorities (L. Mosberg, Chairperson) on the relinquishment
of a portion of University land for the construction of a
new train station.
Professor Bellamy asked for an explanation of the location
of the land. Professor Mosberg, chairperson of the
Committee on Budgetary and Space Priorities, deferred to
Professor Dohms from the College of Agriculture for an
explanation. Professor Dohms explained that the plot of
land in question was to the left of the railroad bridge on
South College Avenue and is presently the site of an
experimental corn breeding plot. The access point that is
being requested is through land around the dairy farm. He
explained that there are a number of faculty research
efforts in that area.
President Hall said that it was his understanding that the
administration's proposal is that land presently devoted to
parking at the Chrysler plant should be used instead of
University research land.
There being no further discussion, the following resolution
was carried unanimously:
WHEREAS, the Delaware Department of Transportation
has proposed an option which would require
the University of Delaware to relinquish a
portion of its land for the construction
of a new train station in Newark, and
WHEREAS, this land constitutes substantial acreage
of land assigned to the College of
Agriculture for research purposes, and
WHEREAS, important agricultural research is
conducted at this and adjacent sites and
will so continue in the foreseeable
future, and
WHEREAS, the University has suggested reasonable
alternatives to DELDOT which would not
interfere with the use of University
agricultural research facilities, be it
therefore
RESOLVED, that the University Faculty Senate is
resolutely opposed to relinquishing this
valuable research facility,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the University Faculty Senate
strongly supports the University
Administration's decision and efforts to
maintain this land for University research
purposes.
C. Introduction of New Business
No new business was introduced. The meeting was adjourned
at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Angell
Secretary
University Faculty Senate
TA/rg
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