REGULAR MEETING OF THE
UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
NOVEMBER 1, 2010 – 104
GORE
October 22, 2010
TO:
Senators and Executives
FROM:
Belinda Orzada, Vice President
University Faculty Senate
SUBJECT:
Regular Faculty Senate Meeting November 1, 2010
In accordance with Section IV, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, the regular
meeting of the University Faculty Senate will be held on Monday, November 1,
2010 at 4:00 p.m. in 104 Gore Hall.
I certify that hard copies of the
approval page for each undergraduate and graduate studies academic item on the
agenda are filed in the Faculty Senate Office with the appropriate signatures
of approval up through the Chair of the Faculty Senate Coordinating Committee
on Education. The Agenda will be as follows:
MINUTES
I. Adoption
of the Agenda
Senator
Morrison raised the question regarding the structure of the agenda and if the
order should be changed to make certain important matters are allowed
sufficient time for discussion.
A motion to adopt was made seconded and
passed.
II.
Approval of the Minutes: October
4, 2010
A
motion to approve was made seconded and passed
II.
Remarks: Provost
Tom Apple
Reported on a
discussion with the chairs regarding writing across the disciplines and
academic rigor. The need for better methods to evaluate
teaching was mentioned along with a brief presentation of grade data from
Institutional Research indicating that grade inflation may have become a
problem over the past several years.
Professor John Morgan made the following
statement: “ I guess I would first say that I do think that the data needs to be
checked because I’ve seen some reports from the Registrar’s Office where
averages have not been computed correctly. I have been very concerned about the issue of
grade inflation on this campus ever since the mid 1980’s. I
think it’s fair to say that when the studies were done back in 2004/2005 they
showed a steady increase…. a few 100ths of a point per year which when
multiplied by 20 or 25 years would amount to maybe about ½ a letter grade. Now, of course, we think that our students are
getting better during that time and I think it’s important that each department
try to develop some procedures to try to make sure that the grades it’s assigning
correspond with actual increases in performance which could be measured by such
things as performance on standardized exams that students take after they
graduate such as particularly a subject test in a specific area which some
departments such as Physics and Chemistry, English and, I think History, are
able to do. There may be other criteria such as placement of your students in good
graduate schools; maybe performance on law school admission tests, or medical
college admission tests. I think wherever
possible departments should be trying to factor those criteria into their
procedures for determining whether their grade distributions are appropriate and
whether their faculty are in deed doing a much better
job of teaching better students.”
Professor Bowers mentioned that in her
experience over the past several years many students who get a grade
below a C on the first exam drop her courses.
IV.
Announcements: Senate President John
Madsen
Presentations by:
Dean Conrado Gempesaw – Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics
Dean Kathleen Matt – College of Health
Sciences
Dean Nancy Targett
– College of Earth, Ocean and Environment
Senate
President Madsen provided an overview of the current pipeline of issues and
motions currently under consideration by the senate and its various
committees. They are as follows:
Faculty Senate Announcements – 11/1/10
1)
Proposal to Faculty Senate to consider the
listing of particular religious holidays on the University academic
calendar. Has been reviewed by Rules
Committee, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees and Executive
Committee, and will be sent back to the Rules Committee for a recommendation.
Expect to have on agenda for December Faculty Senate
meeting.
2) At the April 2010
meeting of the University Faculty Senate a motion presented by Senator James
Morrison to appoint an ad hoc committee to investigate the impact that
responsibility based budgeting (RBB) is having on faculty governance and
academic quality at the University was seconded and approved.
The
Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate is working with the Committee on
Committees and Nominations (COCAN) to select the members of this ad hoc
committee.
3) At the April 2010 meeting of the University Faculty Senate a motion presented by Senator James Morrison that, when there are plans by the administration for reorganization of units within the University, the faculty members of the affected units be informed within one week and the faculty members have an opportunity with sufficient time to discuss the proposal and respond with their recommendations to the Dean and Chair of those units.
Currently
in review by the Executive Committee
4)
Resolution sponsored by Senators Galileo, Bruening,
Hastings, Morgan, Izard introduced at 9/13/10 Faculty Senate Meeting -
Stipulates new conditions necessary for changes to be made to the University of
Delaware Faculty Handbook.
This
resolution has been sent to the Rules Committee for discussion.
5)
Faculty Survey on Classroom Scheduling System
E-mail
sent to faculty Monday, Oct. 18th. 391
responses received so far. Deadline was
Nov. 1st – E-mail will be sent to all faculty
tomorrow Nov. 2nd encouraging participation in survey. Deadline will be extended to Nov. 5th.
Similar
survey will be sent to Administration (Provost, Deans, Chairs, etc.) later this
week.
After
initial evaluation, similar survey will be sent to all students later this
month.
6)
Faculty Senate consideration of Student Evaluations of Courses and Evaluations of Teaching
The
Coordinating Committee on Education will hold initial discussions at their next
meeting.
V.
Consent Agenda
1.
Announcements for Challenge:
a.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chair) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to revise the
Advertising minor in Business Administration (attachment)
b.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chair) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to revise the
International Business Studies Major in Business Administration ( attachment)
c.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chair) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to revise the
Operations Management Major in Business Administration (attachment)
d.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chair) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to revise the
Management Major in Business Administration (attachment)
e.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chair) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to revise the
Marketing Major in Business Administration (attachment)
The
motion was approved.
VI.
Regular Agenda
1.
Unfinished Business:
a. Resolutions:
1.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chairperson) with
the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff Jordan, Chair)
and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request to add a Major
in Marine Science with a Concentration in Marine Biology (resolution
attachment revised) (attachment
revised 10-20-10)
Whereas, The
State of Delaware and the University of Delaware have rich traditions connected
to the marine environment and the study of marine science; and
Whereas,
We are a coastal state and as such, it is imperative
to have a citizenry that is well versed in the issues that impact our marine
and coastal areas; and
Whereas,
there are currently limited opportunities for undergraduate students to study
marine ecosystems, species and the rich biodiversity in the region; and
Whereas,
A Marine Science degree with a
concentration in Marine Biology best reflects the interdisciplinary nature of
the field, and is philosophically consistent with our graduate academic
programs; and
Whereas,
the Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science provides students with a solid
academic foundation and a complementary pathway for success for entrance into
graduate programs or careers in the field; and
Whereas,
the Marine Programs within the
College of Earth Ocean and Environment are internationally renowned academic
programs taught by faculty that are leaders in the field, the Undergraduate
Major capitalizes on this valuable resource and provides undergraduate students
with an intellectually rigorous experience enabling them to emerge as the next
generation of leaders; be it therefore
Resolved,
that the Faculty Senate approves provisionally, for five years, the
establishment of a new major entitled Bachelor of Science in Marine Science
with a concentration in Marine Biology effective February 7, 2011.
The motion was approved
2.
Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chairperson)
and the Committee on Graduate Studies (Bob Opila,
Chair) with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education (Jeff
Jordan, Chair) and the Executive Committee (John Madsen, Chair) for the request
for a move of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy to the College of
Arts and Sciences and a name change to School of Public Policy and
Administration (attachment)
(revised
attachment 10-14-10 name change explanation)
Whereas,
The University of Delaware has undertaken a reorganization of certain programs
and activities, and the faculty in the School of Urban Affairs and Public
Policy has voted to approve a plan to move in toto,
the faculty, personnel, academic and other programs and activities in the
School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and its affiliated Centers including
the Center for Community Research and Service, the Center for Applied
Demography and Survey Research, the Institute for Public Administration, and
the Center for Historic Architecture and Design to the College of Arts and
Sciences; and
Whereas,
The School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy wishes to strengthen its existing
academic programs and raise their prominence externally and at the University;
to better connect faculty to students; and to improve the management of
subvention resources under the University’s responsibility based budgeting
system; and
Whereas,
The faculty and staff in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy has
voted to recommend the transfer and to change the School’s name to the School
of Public Policy and Administration; and
Whereas,
The School has agreed to submit undergraduate curriculum change proposals to
allow undergraduate requirements in the Organizational and Community Leadership
major and the Public Policy major to be aligned with undergraduate requirements
and expectations of the College of Arts and Sciences; be it therefore
Resolved,
That the Faculty Senate recommends the transfer of the
faculty, personnel and programs of the
The motion was approved
2.
New Business: None
VIII.
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.)
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded
and approved.