REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
MAY 2, 1994
MINUTES
Senators excused were: Kenneth Biederman, Karen Curtis, Philip Flynn,
Jeff Gillespie, Ajay Manrai, Thomas Meierding,
Frank Murray, Roger Murray, Betty Paulanka,
David Roselle, Barbara Sheer, Cruce Stark,
Carolyn Thoroughgood
Senators absent were: Kent Price, Scott Silberfein
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved as submitted by voice vote.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the April 4, 1994 meeting were approved.
III. ELECTION OF SENATE OFFICERS AND CERTAIN COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
President Scott commented that by tradition the election of Senate
officers and certain committee members is the third item of
business of the May meeting. The election was held, votes
counted, and the following results were announced later in the
meeting:
President-Elect Thomas Calhoun (English)
Vice President Thomas Angell (Mathematical Sciences)
Secretary Jon Olson (Chemical Engineering)
Committee on Committees
and Nominations Charles Boncelet (Electrical Engineering),
Chair
Elaine Safer (English)
Rules Committee: Carol Denson (Textiles, Design, & Cons.
Ec.)
Frank Dilley (Philosophy)
Nicolas Gross (Foreign Languages &
Literatures)
IV. REMARKS BY VICE PROVOST ANDERSEN
Provost Andersen reviewed academic achievements of the past
year.
1. The Provost's Office initiated a new program for academic
orientation of first year students. Faculty will participate in
the expanded program on Monday, August 29 from 9:00
a.m. until noon. Two videos have been prepared by
Academic Services Center on note taking in lectures and
reading text books. The Professional Theater Training
Program (PTTP) is preparing a skit on the pitfalls of not
following academic procedures. The efforts this year are
intended to inspire other programs for first-year students.
2. Academic advising is being enhanced through a program
"On Course Advisement System." The program sorts the
student's transcript against the requirements of the
student's major. The program is operational in Engineering,
under development in Education, Human Resources and
Nursing, and planned for the remaining colleges. The
program develops a list of the courses needed to complete
the major.
3. The Provost's Office has a strong commitment to teaching
in all forms. As examples students in the Undergraduate
Research Program learn and develop sophisticated research
techniques. Candidates for the third Alumni Distinguished
Professor are being sought; the selection will be announced
in the Fall. Six professors were given Excellence in
Teaching or Excellence in Advising Awards this year. They
include: Ajay Manrai, Business Administration; Andrew
Zydney, Chemical Engineering; Brian Ackerman, Psychology;
Errol Lloyd, Computer and Information Sciences; Roland
Roth, Entomology and Applied Ecology, and Pamela
Beeman, Nursing.
Vice Provost Andersen thanked Dr. Richard Murray for his two
terms of service as Interim University Provost. He exhibited strong
commitment to excellence of academic programs and to faculty
governance. He was careful with details and had a strong drive to
do the right thing. Dr. Murray will return to Physics this Fall to
continue research and teaching. There was spirited applause as
Vice Provost Andersen closed by saying faculty and deans
appreciate his service.
John McLaughlin was recognized to introduce a resolution thanking
Richard Murray for his dedication and service to Delaware. The
resolution passed by acclamation.
V. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Robert Brown presented a preliminary report from the Ad Hoc
Committee on Freedom of Expression in Public Events. His
remarks were informal because the committee had not yet
agreed on the language of the report.
Public events are defined as those sponsored or presented by
constituent groups of the University. These events are open
to the general public. The committee was formed in response
to a controversial art exhibit in Fall '92 and to the Leonard
Jeffries lecture later that year. The committee members are:
Robert Brown, Joann Browning, Belena Chapp, Vernese
Edghill, Thomas Harr, Bernard Kaplan, Scott Mason, Frederika
Schmitt, and Gary Smith.
The committee was charged with five elements upon which to
make recommendations. The first task was to draft a
statement on freedom of expression in an educational setting.
They have drafted a ringing endorsement of freedom of
expression without censorship. It will support the right of
groups to sponsor programs and speakers of their choice. At
the same time others have the right to protest these programs
so long as these protests do not interfere with the event. This
statement will come to the Senate in the Fall.
The second charge was to suggest ways in which dissenting
or a full range of opinion related to a specific event can be
given forum. The committee decided not to address this issue
and instead to let the free market prevail. It remains
appropriate for the University to sponsor events in which a
diversity of opinion is expressed. The third charge was to
suggest ways for encouraging coordinated exhibits or public
lectures in times of constrained budgets. The committee has
declined to endorse lecture series by high profile individuals
because the costs are too high. The fourth charge was to
suggest ways that the full schedule of exhibits, performances
and events can be better communicated. This task has been
subsumed by the Events and Entertainment Committee. The
last charge was to provide guidance to student organizations
in the selection of guest speakers. The committee found that
relatively small amounts of University funds are spent in these
activities and that the student groups are advised very well by
the Student Activities Office. Thus no action is needed on
this item.
In humor Robert Brown closed by asking if this report excused
him from another oral report when the final draft is completed.
President Scott responded that the written report will be
distributed to the Senate, and the recommendations
considered in consultation with the committee.
2. President Scott advised that Jackson Gillespie is to be chair of
the newly-formed Task Force on Smoking, a large group of
faculty, professionals, students and staff.
The election results reported in Item III were given.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR CHALLENGE
The following items were approved without discussion:
1. Revision of the B.A.S. in Engineering Technology
2. Revision of the B.S. in Human Resources: Apparel Design or
Textiles and Clothing: Merchandising
VI. OLD BUSINESS - None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Executive
Committee, with the concurrence of the Committee on
Committees and Nominations (F. Dilley, Chairperson), for the
creation of a new standing committee of the University
Faculty Senate.
The charge of the proposed committee (Attachment 5 of the
Agenda) was read by President Scott. In the discussion that
followed, Provost Murray, Frank Dilley, Charles Boncelet and
David Bellamy spoke on behalf of the resolution as a helpful
input to long-range planning. Senator Hobbie requested that
a student representative be added, and John Burke, President
of DUSC, noted that he served on the Coordinating Committee
on Education, the source of the members of the proposed
committee. Senator Bonner observed that the committee
members would serve for five years without review by the
Senate and took exception to this structure. Senator Taggart
asked why the current and past four chairs of the Coordinating
Committee on Education were more appropriate committee
membership than the Executive Committee. President Scott
replied the proposed group have experience and historical
prospective. Senator Grubb said this service does not provide
the font of wisdom, and Senator Boncelet replied that while
Senator Grubb's observation may be true, his experience with
the Committee on Committees and Nominations showed that
experience is a virtue. Senator Haslett questioned how the
proposed committee would interact with the similar committee
proposed for Arts and Science. President Scott replied that
these committees are expected to exhibit teamwork.
In response to the students' desire for membership to the
committee Senator Bellamy proposed the following
amendment to follow the first "Resolved:"
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Senate encourages
DUSC to form a parallel
committee of students for
similar liaison with the
Office of the Provost.
The amendment passed by a vote of 26 ayes and 25 nays.
Senator Klaff introduced a substitute description of the
composition of the committee: The past three chairs of the
Coordinating Committee on Education, a member elected by
the Senate to serve one year, and a student member elected
by DUSC for one year. The chair of this committee will be
selected by the committee. After some discussion
on the specifics of a proposal by Senator Klaff's, Senator
McCoy introduced a resolution to return the proposal to the
Executive Committee for further consideration. This resolution
was approved by a vote of 32-23.
The following resolution was recommitted:
WHEREAS, faculty need to have an advocacy position
directly with the Provost concerning long-
term planning, and
WHEREAS, faculty members who have chaired the
Coordinating Committee on Education and
have been on the Executive Committee have
a broad perspective of problems and priorities
of the University, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the University Faculty Senate approves
the creation of a Faculty Senate committee
to be called the Academic Priorities Review
Committee, effective immediately, and
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Senate encourages DUSC to form a parallel
committee of students for similar liaison with the Office of
the Provost.
B. Request from the Committee on Committees and Nominations
(F. Dilley, Chairperson) for Senate confirmation of committee
appointments.
The amended list (attachment 1) of committee appointments
was confirmed by voice vote.
C. Election of a chairperson for the Committee on Committees
and Nominations to be chosen from the committee members
elected by the Senate.
Charles Boncelet was elected chairperson, please see Item III.
D. Recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate
Studies (B. Viera, Chairperson), with the concurrence of the
Coordinating Committee on Education (J. McLaughlin,
Chairperson), for revision of the Credit-by-Examination Form.
The discussion of this proposal concerned the mechanics by
which the grade is assigned. B. Viera explained that the
current grade choices are A, B or Pass. These are to be
replaced by A, B, C, or D and that if the student fails the
examination, the failure does not appear on the academic
record. Senator Boncelet proposed that the student be
allowed to decide to accept the credit and grade. There was
sufficient confusion on the grading processes that the
following resolution was recommited to the Committee on
Undergraduate Studies by voice vote.
WHEREAS, some abuses of the credit-by-examination
option have been noted, and
WHEREAS, the current credit-by-examination application
form contains a misleading option as a basis
for request, and
WHEREAS, the current credit-by-examination application
permits only three grades (A, B, P), and
WHEREAS, a broader range of grades can be achieved in
most University courses, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the relevant paragraph in the Academic
Regulations section of the Undergraduate
Catalog, page 21, be amended as follows:
[Deleted text is double underlined and added
text is in bold type.]
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
The University provides to all matriculated
and Continuing Education students the
opportunity to obtain college credit by
examination for demonstrated competence
attained through professional experience,
independent study, or some similar learning
experience, but not by previous enrollment in
a University of Delaware course. General
inquiries concerning credit by examination
should be directed to the department offering
the course for which the student seeks
credit. Credit by examination is not allowed
in experimental courses or independent study
courses. A credit-by-examination form,
available at the . . . .
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that any legal grade may be assigned to
performance in credit-by-examination
substitutions and that the application form
reflect that range of grades.
E. Recommendation from the Committee on Undergraduate
Studies (B. Viera, Chairperson), with the concurrence of the
Coordinating Committee on Education (J. McLaughlin,
Chairperson), for a change in policy to the Dean's List
requirement.
After a very brief discussion in which it was established that
the proposed change would lower the fraction of students
attaining the Dean's List by two percent to yield a range of 18
to 20 percent, the following resolution was passed by voice
vote:
WHEREAS, the current grading system in force at the
University quantifies a B+ grade as 3.33
while the current criterion for inclusion on the
Dean's list is 3.25, and
WHEREAS, some confusion exists about whether a
student's semester average or cumulative
average should be used to include or exclude
a student from the Dean's List, and
WHEREAS, a student should be rewarded for
improvement in performance, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the criterion for inclusion on the Dean's
List be a semester grade average of 3.33,
and further be it
RESOLVED, that the new criterion for inclusion be phased
in beginning with students in the Class of
1998.
President-Elect McLaughlin requested a suspension of the rules to
introduce the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that members of the University Faculty
Senate express their thanks to President
Bonnie Kime Scott for her energy and
leadership in the 1993-1994 year.
This resolution was approved heartily by voice vote.
F. Introduction of new business - None introduced.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Olson
Secretary
University Faculty Senate
JO/rg
Attachments:
1. Committee Appointments
2. Annual Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees