REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
MAY 2, 2005
– 104 GORE HALL
TO: Senators and Executives
FROM: Joann Browning, Vice President Joann Browning
University Faculty Senate
SUBJECT: Regular
Faculty Senate Meeting
In
accordance with Section IV, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, the regular
meeting of the University Faculty Senate will be held on
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:
I.
Adoption of the Agenda
II. Approval of the Minutes: April 11, 2005
III.
Election of
Senate Officers and Selected Committee Members – A slate of nominations
prepared by the Committee on Committees and Nominations (Carmine Balascio,
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 –
b. Secretary – Donald Lehman
c. Committee on Committees Chairperson – Barbara Settles and Eric Rise
IV. Remarks: Provost Dan Rich
John Courtright and Martha Carothers – Update on General Education Initiative
V. Announcements: Senate President Charles Boncelet
A. Report on Grade Inflation at the
VI. Item for Information:
A. Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Program Policy (attachment working document) (attachment clean copy)
VII. Consent Agenda
A. Announcements for Challenge: None
B. Resolutions:
1. The Faculty Senate Committee on Faculty Welfare and Privileges (Gordon Direnzo, Chair) and the Committee on Rules (Dallas Hoover, Chair) with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Charles Boncelet, Chair) propose the following revisions to the Faculty Handbook under Section IV: Policies and Procedures for Faculty, Academic Freedom and Standards of Conduct, Sexual Harassment (attachment) (Suggested language)
Whereas, the purpose of the policy against harassment is to promote an academic and work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment whether that discrimination or harassment is because of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law and is designed to ensure a safe and nondiscriminatory environment that protects both the constitutional and civil rights of students, faculty and staff; be it therefore
Resolved, that the Faculty Senate recommends the Faculty Handbook be revised as indicated (attachment above) in order to ensure freedom from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment at the University of Delaware.
2. Recommendation from the Committee on Faculty Welfare and Privileges (Gordon Direnzo, Chair) and the Rules Committee (Dallas Hoover, Chair) with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Charles Boncelet, Chair) to revise the Faculty Welfare and Privileges Termination and Complaint Procedures document (attachment)
Whereas, there has been past confusion in the Faculty Welfare and Privileges Termination and Complaint Procedures regarding instruction on the conduct of termination hearings by the hearing chair; be it therefore
Resolved, that the
Faculty Welfare and Privileges Termination and Complaint Procedures document be
revised as indicated (attachment above) in order to clarify duties of the
hearing chair for hearings involving faculty termination.
VIII.
Regular Agenda
A.
Old Business: None
B. New Business:
1. Confirmation of Appointments: (Attachment)
2. Resolutions:
A. The Faculty Senate ad hoc committee on Grade Inflation (Don Lehman, Chair) with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Charles Boncelet, Chair) propose the following resolution: (friendly amendment attached)
Whereas, the Faculty Senate ad hoc committee on grade inflation has found evidence of significant grade inflation at the University, and
Whereas, the grade inflation committee has conducted three open hearings, solicited comments, and generated discussion across campus, and
Whereas, the most important mechanism identified for controlling grade inflation is faculty accountability, and recognizing that grading is a faculty prerogative, and
Whereas, many faculty believe that transparency in grade distribution is an important goal, and
Whereas, grade distributions can be made public without violating students’ rights of privacy; be it therefore,
1. Resolved,
that the Faculty Senate recommends
that faculty discuss grade distribution on an annual basis; and be it further,
2. Resolved, that the distribution of grades in classes and across departments be made public.
IX. 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