UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

November 17, 2003

 

 

MINUTES

 

I.                    Adoption of the Agenda:  Approved as written

II.                 Old Business:

A.                 Confirm committee for privacy policy:  Carmine Balascio (Chairman Committee on Committees and Nominations) contacted Sheldon Pollack and David Saunders (Bob Caviness was unavailable) in order to communicate his conversation with John Kushman (Chairman of Faculty Welfare and Privilages) concerning their temporary membership to the FW&P committee.  John Kushman indicated that the appropriate way to proceed would be to have those concerned bring their issues forward and then allow the committee to take up such issues/concerns.  Sheldon and Dave agreed.  Dave also volunteered to contact Bob Caviness and inform him of these discussions. K. Stein will summarize, for the Committee, faculty concerns that have already been raised, and will also forward relevant emails for the Committee's consideration.

B.                 Establish ad hoc committee on grade inflation:  Those currently interested are: Rivers Singleton (Biological Sciences); Don Lehman (Medical Technology); Jan Blits (Education); Gabriel Bauer (CTE) and Lidia Rejto (Statistics).  The members of the Executive Committee confirmed the above and suggested contacting Hal White (to represent someone with expertise in PBL and non-traditional teaching methods), a member of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, someone representing the arts (studio-based instruction), and someone (non-voting) from Institutional Research (possibly a designee of Dr. Gempesaw).  Given that Jan Blits is also on FW&P, which has an extensive assignment regarding privacy issues, the Executive committee felt he should be asked as to whether he also wished to serve on this ad hoc committee.  If not, we will ask him to suggest another faculty member with similar expertise.  The Ad hoc committee will be given a charge, similar to what was developed by the Executive Committee at our previous meeting.  Karen Stein reported that the Provost is pleased with this avenue for investigating grade inflation.

C.                 Name change of the College of Arts and Science to College of Arts and Sciences – It will be placed on the December Senate agenda as a sense of the senate resolution.  

 

 

 

 

III.               New Business: 

A.                 Karen Stein gave a report on a meeting with Provost Rich and Jim Brophy (President of the A&S Faculty Senate) on increasing faculty attention to recycling: possible open discussion at December Faculty Senate meeting.  After some discussion it was decided that the College of Arts and Science Faculty Senate interest in this matter would be announced at the December Senate meeting for faculty awareness; and to encourage faculty to act as role models in helping improve our work environment.

B.                 Master of Science –Organizational Effectiveness, Development and Change – New degree program approved contingent upon course approvals.

C.                 Revision of existing major: BS in General Agriculture – Proposal to change name of major from General Agriculture to Agriculture and Natural Resources, to change the total credits required for the degree from 130 to 124, and to make changes in the academic requirements – It was decided that Karen Stein would discuss with Tom Sims the possibility of further strengthening the major by requiring additional 300 level courses etc. However, we would leave it to the unit to decide to strengthen (or not) the revised curriculum.  If they decide to leave the proposal as is, there is no reason to reject it. Nonetheless, it will not be on the December agenda.  K. Stein will report on the conversation.

D.                 Department of Biological Sciences:

1.      Revision of existing major: Biological Sciences – Honors Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Ecology and Organismic Biology – Approved

2.      Revision of existing major: Biological Sciences – Honors Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics – Approved

 

IV.               Other: None

V.                 Adjournment:  Meeting adjourned at 10:40

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Karren Helsel-Spry