REGULAR MEETING OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE FACULTY SENATE

Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2008

104 Gore Hall                                                                                                  4:00 pm

 

I.             Adoption of the Agenda

Approved

II.          Approval of the Minutes: April 7, 2008

Approved

III.       Election of Senate Officers and Selected Committee Members – A slate of nominations prepared by the Committee on Committees and Nominations (Jack Baroudi, 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 – Cihan Cobanoglu  (Statement)

B.     Vice President – Charles Mason

C.     Committee on Committees Chairperson – Jack Baroudi

D.     Committee on Committees Member At Large – Jack Baroudi and Evelyn Hayes

IV.        Remarks:  Provost Dan Rich.  Dr. Rich announced that Honors Day is this Friday, May 9 and the Delaware Forum is Saturday, May 10.  All faculty, staff, and students are invited to the day long forum.  May 1 was the deadline for deposits for freshmen.  The incoming class will have the largest average SAT score and grade point average of any preceding class. 

The University has announced a number of new administrative appointments.  Michael Gamel-McCormick was named interim dean of CHEP, replacing
Timothy K. Barnekov who will retire at the end of the current academic year.  Michael Chajes was named dean of the College of Engineering.  Susan Foster is retiring as vice president for Information Technologies, and Carl Jacobson has been named interim vice president.  Carolyn Thoroughgood vice provost for Research and Graduate Studies is also retiring.  Mark Barteau, Robert L. Pigford Chair of Chemical Engineering, will become senior vice provost for Research and Strategic initiatives and Debra Hess Norris, Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, will become vice provost for Graduate and Professional Education.

President Harker recently signed two sustainability agreements.  This year’s graduating class gave a financial gift to look at The University of Delaware’s carbon footprint and for ways to decrease it.  A University Diversity task force has been formed; a report is due December 2008.

V.           Announcements: Senate President Alan Fox. Dr. Fox presented Matt Robinson with the Faculty Senate award for distinguished service.  Dr. Robinson has been a senator for four years, and he chaired the Faculty Senate Student Life Committee this year while on sabbatical. This was a significant time commitment involving meeting with students and faculty.

VI.        Consent Agenda 

A.     Announcements for Challenge: None 


VII.     Regular Agenda

A.     Old Business: Update on Breadth Requirement Issue (attachment)

B.     New Business

1.      Confirmation of Appointments: (attachment)

Approved

2.      Standing Committee Annual Reports (attachment)
Rev to GUR guidelines. Did not ift UDRF or GUR, made changes to give more flexibil to reaseach scholarship. Cmt would accept reguest for over $6000. Preference given to assit prof.

3.      Resolutions

a.       Recommendation from the Coordinating Committee on Education (Amy Johnson, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Alan Fox, Chair) for the name change of the Individual and Family Studies Department to Human Development and Family Studies (attachment)

Whereas,          the Department of Individual and Family Studies has conducted research and instruction in the area of development of individuals from birth to death since its inception in 1979, and

Whereas,          the Academic Program Review team visiting the department in October 2007 recommended a change of the department name to “Human Development and Family Studies,” and

Whereas,          the department has a masters of science degree in “Human Development and Family Studies,” and

Whereas,          the department has a Ph.D. in “Human Development and Family Studies,” and

Whereas,          the name change will emphasize the lifespan emphasis of the scholarship in the department better enabling the department to recruit high quality students and faculty; and

Whereas,          over 90 universities throughout the world house departments with name “Human Development and Family Studies,” and

Whereas,          the faculty of the Department of Individual and Family Studies voted unanimously to change the name of the department, be it therefore

Resolved,         that the Faculty Senate recommends that the name, Department of “Individual and Family Studies,” be changed to Department of “Human Development and Family Studies.”

Approved

b.      Recommendation from the Coordinating Committee on Education (Amy Johnson, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Alan Fox, Chair) for the move of the HRIM program from the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy to the Lerner College of Business and Economics

 Whereas,            the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees state that the faculty shall be given the opportunity to consider and make recommendations for proposed changes in the University organization including the transferof a department from one college to another before final action is taken by the Board of Trustees.

Whereas,          the faculty of the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRIM) have expressed their interest to transfer to the Lerner College of Business and Economics, and

Whereas,          the Lerner College faculty have voted to support the transfer of the HRIM program to the college,

Whereas,          the Deans of the Lerner College and the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy support this transfer, and

Whereas,          this transfer will provide for enhanced recognition of academic programs and opportunities to HRIM students and faculty and create collaborative opportunities between Lerner College and HRIM faculty, students and staff, be it therefore

Resolved,         that the Faculty Senate recommends the transfer of the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRIM) to the Lerner College of Business and Economics effective July 1, 2008.

Approved              

c.       Recommendation from the Committee on Rules (Don Lehman, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Alan Fox, Chair) for the revision to the FACULTY HANDBOOK Section 2:  Academic Program Organization Academic Organization and Roles of Academic Officers Department Chairpersons (and School Directors) (attachment)

Whereas,          the department chairpersons and school directors are appointed by the President and Provost, and

Whereas,          the appointments are renewable for five-year terms, and

Whereas,          the advice of a majority of the faculty within the department or school is required for the appointment or reappointment of the chairperson or school director, be it therefore

Resolved,         that the Faculty Senate recommends that the formal vote of the faculty must be communicated to the dean of the college and by the dean to the provost upon the occasion of any recommendation for appointment or reappointment.

Approved

d.      Recommendation from the Committee on Rules (Don Lehman, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Alan Fox, Chair) for the revision to the FACULTY HANDBOOK Section: 3 Conduct of Academic Programs (attachment)

Whereas,           the University Faculty are engaged in basic and applied research, and

Whereas,           the University Faculty do not engage in research that cannot be published due to limitations by the funding organization or is classified, and

Whereas,           there are situations when unclassified externally funded research with limits on publication can be significant and meet the best interests of the University, be it therefore

Resolved,          that the Faculty Senate recommends changing the Faculty Handbook to specify situations when the Provost may approve a faculty member to engage in unclassified externally funded research with limits on publication.

Friendly amendment, This Handbook change will be reexamined and brought back to the Faculty Senate in two years.

Approved

e.       Recommendation from the Committee on Student Life (Matt Robinson, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Alan Fox, Chair) for the endorsement of the attached Residence Life Proposal (attachment)

Whereas,          faculty review of any educational plans involving students is a proper function of the University Faculty Senate, and

Whereas,          the University Faculty Senate was charged by the Provost to review the educational plans proposed by the Residence Life Office for the academic year 2008-09, and 

Whereas,          the Resident Education Advisory Committee, an Ad Hoc committee formed by the Faculty Senate President, the Student Life Committee of the Faculty Senate, and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate have all reviewed the educational plans proposed by the Residence Life Office, and

Whereas,          those plans have been revised at each level of the Faculty review, be it therefore

Resolved,         that the Faculty Senate of the University of Delaware has reviewed and recommends for approval the attached Residence Life educational plans for 2008-09 

A lengthy discussion ensued.  Comments from senators included a concern about the meaning of “sustainability.” Some senators feel that this has become a word with different meanings that could be controversial.  The Resident Life Residence Program is referring to environmental sustainability.
 
Even though the program is voluntary, some senators are concerned about peer-pressure and pressure from RA’s.  Michael Gilbert, vice president for Student Life, sends a letter to all freshmen in the fall semester.  He will clearly state that the program is voluntary, and if any student feels pressured to participate, he or she should contact Dr. Gilbert.

A senator also questioned the lack of a goal of the program concerning environmental sustainability.  This topic is an important aspect of the program; therefore, a goal would be appropriate.

It is customary for the Faculty Senate to adjourn by 5:30.  A vote was taken at 5:30, and a majority of the senators voted to adjourn.  A special meeting of the Faculty Senate will be held next Monday, May 12 at 4:00 in the same location.  The motion to approve the Resident Life Residence Program will be the only item on the agenda.

VII.  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.)

 

Adjourned 5:30.

Submitted by Donald Lehman