Faculty Senate Minutes, 1 October 1996

MINUTES

FACULTY SENATE MEETING

1 October 1996

Chairperson D. Eidam called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in Chryst Hall, Room 210. All departmental senators attended except those from the Political Science and Sociology and Anthropology Departments. Student Senate President P. Leahy attended.

Minutes

Senate approved the 17 September 1996 meeting minutes with the following correction on page 4084, Faculty Senate Elections, fifth line down, change "acclimation" to "acclamation."

Reports

Chairperson's Report

Chairperson D. Eidam said the faculty senate mailing list has been updated. He has tried to remove duplicate names. He asked if part time faculty should be included in the mailing of the minutes. He thought they should. Senators had no objections to including the part time faculty. Senate was to receive the General Education Task Force Report today. J. Sheridan said the report was not ready. There will be an approximate draft available this fall. The proposals that are being made will include rationales. The committee meets weekly.

Student Senate

Student Senate President P. Leahy reported on the last student senate meeting. Student senate was one member short of reaching a quorum. A group of 7 to 9 students did not attend and had not informed student senate that they would not attend. by the constitution, the 7 to 9 students are no longer members of student senate. On 10 October Coach S. Kabacinski will make a presentation to student senators.

Administrative Officers

President

President J. Caputo said that last week Governor T. Ridge officially released funds, $7.74 million, from the Commonwealth for the new science addition. Over a million and a half dollars have already been expended. The whole project will cost $12 million. MU can now look forward to the sequentially but painfully long steps of bidding, construction, etc.

Starting Thursday of this week and running through the middle of Friday, MU will for the first time host the association of the Council of Trustees semiannual meeting. The organization represents the Council of Trustees from the fourteen SSHE schools. The attendees will stay at the Inn. Look for them to be on campus at that time.

Vice-President for Academic Affairs

Vice President for Academic Affairs F. McNairy said the recent open house was successful. People stood in the lobby in Lyte Auditorium. Feedback from students and parents was of a positive experience. She said to give words of appreciation to colleagues in the departments for a successful open house.

McNairy wanted to clarify for senators a statement in the report of actions that have been approved (see Attachment A). The statement that came out from the Provost's office said that Humanities 302 (HUMN302: Confession, Apology, Memoir: Autobiographical Writings in the Greco-Roman World) had been withdrawn at the request of the Dean.

The course cam over the summer after the interim Dean left. There had not been an opportunity to have a discussion between the proposing department and the new Dean until relatively early in the fall semester about resource implications. the original course that came through senate identified as prerequisites one year of college Latin or ancient Greek. For MU to sponsor and approve the course, there would be considerable concern about resource implications. At best, three or four students would have ever met the prerequisites. It was a good idea to talk to the department; it has revised the prerequisites. The course can have more enrollment, one that complements MU's expectations. Dean's Council has discussed the revised course and is preparing a memorandum recommending approval.

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs J. Stager discussed the withdrawal policy that was passed--wp/wf is now plain w. MU has already implemented the policy this semester. The Registrar has a new form. Students may withdraw up through the ninth week of the semester. MU will enforce the deadline of 4 PM of the last day of the ninth week. There will be no more drops after that point.

Committee Reports

Undergraduate Course and Program Review Committee

Undergraduate Course and Program Review Committee chairperson R. Wismer introduced two new curricular proposals:

BSE English Education Degree

Music Department Proposal--Revised Options Within the BA Music Degree Wismer asked that the two curricular proposals be listed on next meeting's agenda.

Graduate Course and Program Review Committee

Graduate Course and Program Review Committee chairperson, F. Erickson, introduced one course under the one meeting rule:

SPED618:

Academic Outcomes Assessment Committee

Academic Outcomes Assessment Committee chairperson, R. Mainzer, submitted the minutes of the committee's last meeting (see Attachment B).

Cooperative Education Committee

Cooperative Education Committee chairperson, W. Dorman, said the committee met last week in a special meeting. The cooperative education department will undergo a self-evaluation this semester.

Faculty Emeritus

A M. Houlahan/S. Peters motion to recommend Professor Karl E. Moyer of the Music Department for faculty emeritus status passed unanimously (see Attachment C).

Proposed Courses

Senate approved one undergraduate course:

PSCI412:

Business

Senate Elections

completed additional nominations from the floor. A. W. Dorman/J. Piperberg motion to elect the candidates for uncontested positions by acclamation passed.

Election Results (see Attachment D)

Academic Policy Committee

Chair: V. Hauck appointed acting chair
Non-School(98): Declared Vacant

Noonan Fund

Non-School(97): E. Pease, Library

Academic Outcome Assessment Committee

Non-School: K. Backels, Counseling and Human Development

Undergraduate Course and Program Review Committee

Social Sciences (97 and 98): Declared Vacant

Appropriate Curricular Review Process for Departmental Guidebooks and Handbooks--Returned to the Agenda

Senator R. Benson will move that senate refer to the Academic Policies Committee the question of the appropriate curricular review process for departmental handbooks and guidebooks.

Blue Sheets for Departmental Degree Requirements--Returned to the Agenda

Senator R. Benson will move that senate refer to the Academic Policies Committee the determination of a requirement that a department that offers an undergraduate degree must specify and distribute to students the degree's requirements.

Senate adjourned at 4:25 PM. The next meeting will be Tuesday, 15 October 1996, from 4:05-5:45 p.m. in Chryst 210.
Respectfully submitted,

Marvin Margolis, Secretary
Faculty Senate

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