REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE

 

 

NOVEMBER 7, 2011 – 104 GORE HALL

 

 

 

 

October 21, 2011

 

 

TO:                  Senators and Executives

 

FROM:            Belinda Orzada, Vice President  

                        University Faculty Senate

 

SUBJECT:       Regular Faculty Senate Meeting November 7, 2011

 

            In accordance with Section IV, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, the regular meeting of the University Faculty Senate will be held on Monday, November 7, 2011 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:

 

AGENDA

 

 

I.                   Adoption of the Agenda

 

II.                Approval of the Minutes:  October 3, 2011

 

III.             Remarks: Provost Tom Apple

 

IV.              Announcements: Senate President Jeff Jordan

Reports:

Bernard McKenna, Chair, Committee on Instructional, Computing, & Research Support Services

                                                Joerg Busch, Chair, Ad hoc Committee on Scheduling

 

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 (Sheldon Pollack, Chair) and the Executive Committee (Jeff Jordan, Chair) for the request to revise the major in Wildlife Conservation  (UGS0108) (attachment)

       

 

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 ( Sheldon Pollack, Chairperson) and the Executive Committee (Jeff Jordan, Chairperson) for the request to have the University of Delaware accept American Sign Language as a language for admission to the university. (UGS0105)

 

Whereas,          the State of Delaware passed in Spring 2010 House Bill 345 allowing American Sign Language (ASL) to fulfill the high school foreign language requirement in Delaware public schools; and

 

Whereas,          the Linguistic Society of America affirms that sign languages used by deaf communities are full-fledged languages with all the structural characteristics and range of expression of spoken languages; and

 

Whereas,          our University’s strategic plan affirms the principle that "The University of Delaware will foster a robust educational environment in which all people are welcome and feel welcome—one that supports critical thinking, free inquiry, and respect for diverse views and values;" and

 

Whereas,          the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages passed a motion urging that educational institutions recognize ASL as a legitimate fulfillment of a language requirement; and

 

Whereas,          the UD Path to Prominence states that "Our global initiative will embrace the diverse regions and people of the greater United States as well as countries and cultures around the world;" be it therefore,

 

Resolved,         that the University of Delaware accepts American Sign Language as a language for admission to the university.

 

      1. Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chairperson) with the

concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education ( Sheldon Pollack, Chairperson) and the Executive Committee (Jeff Jordan, Chairperson) for the request to delete the Engineering Technology Major as well as the two concentrations in Natural Resources Engineering Technology(NRET) and Construction Technology and Technical Management(CTTM).  Also, delete the Engineering Technology minor. (UGS0104 ) (attachment) (attachment) (attachment) (attachment) (attachment)

 

Whereas,          in the spring of 2011, the Department of Bioresources Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources voted to disband the Department of Bioresources Engineering by September 1, 2016, and

 

Whereas,          disbanding of the Department of Bioresources Engineering will result in no further need to offer the B. S. Degree in Engineering Technology, and

 

Whereas,          the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the University of Delaware Faculty Senate has approved the discontinuation of the B. S. Degree in Engineering Technology, in a manner that allows all current students to complete their undergraduate degree programs, in a vote take in September of 2011, be it therefore,

 

Resolved,         that the Faculty Senate recommends the discontinuation of the B. S. Degree in Engineering Technology by September 1, 2016.

 

      1. Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (Fred Hofstetter, Chairperson) with the

concurrence of the Coordinating Committee on Education ( Sheldon Pollack, Chairperson) and the Executive Committee (Jeff Jordan, Chairperson) for the request to eliminate Saturdays for the regular scheduling of final exams during the Fall or Spring semester, except for extraordinary circumstances.

 

Whereas,          Saturdays are a day of worship for many, be it therefore

Resolved,         Saturdays will not be used for the regular scheduling of final exams during the Fall or Spring semester, except for extraordinary circumstances.

 

 

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.)

 

  

 

/khs