Faculty Senate Minutes

MINUTES FACULTY SENATE MEETING 19 June 1997

Chairperson D. Eidam called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. in Myers Auditorium of McComsey Hall. All departmental senators attended except those from Art, Business Administration, Chemistry, Counseling and Human Development, Developmental Studies, Earth Sciences, Educational Foundations, Elementary Education, Foreign Languages, Geography, Health and Physical Education, History, Music, Nursing, Sociology/Anthropology, and Special Education.

Minutes

Senate approved the 6 May meeting minutes with the following correction: the Academic Policies Committee did recommend that Perspectives Course credits be waived for students who study abroad.

Reports

Chairperson’s Report

D. Eidam reported that R. Mainzer, senator from the Department of Special Education, has accepted another position. He will, therefore, no longer be a senator and will no longer chair the Outcomes Assessment Committee. Three committee chair vacancies must be filled by senators in the fall: Faculty/Student Athletic Committee, Graduate Course and Program Review Committee, and Outcomes Assessment Committee.

Committee Reports

Academic Standards Committee

Academic Standards Committee chairperson, J. Piperberg, reported on the committee’s June meeting. The number of appeals heard and approved were very much in keeping with previous averages. Of 119 students dismissed, 64 appealed their dismissal. The committee approved 39 (61%) of the appeals. It also approved 6 of 6 requests for academic amnesty.

University Theme

J. Piperberg reported that the committee met with the provost who asked that they develop a handbook for academic theme chairpersons.

Proposed Courses

Senate approved five undergraduate courses under the 2-meeting rule:

HNRS/BIOL 266:

COMM 217:

COMM 342:

COMM 441:

HUMN 370:

Senate approved seven undergraduate courses under the 1-meeting rule:

BIOL 424:

BIOL 428:

CHEM 381:

CHEM 482:

MATH 471:

OSHM 321:

OSHM 422:

Senate approved the following programs:

An Academic Minor in Computer Science

A Policy from the Biology Department about Retention in the Major

Actuarial Science and Statistics Options in Mathematics

An Option in Botany (with two accompanying courses)

Business

Revisions of Governance Manual Due to Implementation of Plus/Minus Grading System

Academic Policies Committee Chairperson, K. Bookmiller, presented a series of five motions (see Attachment A). After general discussion, action on each motion was taken individually and in order.

Motion #1

Motion #2

excellent

an "A" grade

excellent

a grade above A-

Motion #3

Motion #4

Motion #5

An additional motion (see Attachment B) was proposed by the Academic Policies Committee:

Motion #6

Further discussion revolved around the question of departmental policies that specify grade requirements for retention in the major and completion of the major. Senate recommended that current departmental policies that make reference to letter grade minima be changed to the minus version of that grade.

Amendment to the Governance Manual Option Policy

Academic Policies Committee Chairperson, K. Bookmiller, presented a motion (see Attachment B of the 6 May 1997 minutes) to extend to options the current policy regarding majors and minors, stating that 50% of work required must be completed at Millersville. The motion carried.

Senate adjourned at 4:05 p.m. The next meeting will be Tuesday, 2 September 1997 from 4:05-5:45 p.m. in Chryst 210.

Respectfully submitted,

Marjorie M. Warmkessel
Acting Secretary

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