Faculty Senate Minutes, 18 November 1997

Millersville University, Faculty Senate

Minutes

Faculty Senate Meeting

18 November 1997

Chairperson D. Eidam called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. in Chryst Hall, Room 210. All departments were represented except Developmental Studies, Earth Sciences, and Social Work. Shelby Linton, Tanya Murphy, and Melissa Dinofia represented Student Senate.

MINUTES

The minutes of 4 November 1997 were approved with the following correction on p. 4311: EDFN 587 should be EDFN 590.

REPORTS

Chairperson

D. Eidam distributed a proposed revision of the Academic Proposal form (see Attachment 1). He announced that C. Counihan (term expires 1999) and B. O'Hanrahan (term expires 1998) have been added as administrative appointments to the International Selection Committee. The November 3 administrative approvals are available on the Faculty Senate website at: http://muweb.millersville.edu/~fsenate/Senate_Docs/Admin/1997/11_03_97.html He asked senators if there was need to schedule an extra meeting of Faculty Senate on January 27, 1998. Since there was no special request, there will be no January meeting.

Student Senate

M. Dinofia reported that she attended a dinner at the Union League in Philadelphia with President McNairy and other MU representatives. She and other MU students attended the Student Leadership Conference in Harrisburg. Student Senate recently held a meeting in Burrowes Hall at which time they elected six new senators. There are currently two vacancies to be filled.

Student Senate is still debating whether or not to make emergency allocations to athletic teams. The relationship between Student Senate and The Snapper is improving. A meeting will be held this week to discuss off-campus housing. M. Dinofia is considering applying for the open student position on the SSHE Governing Board.

Administrative Officers

Provost

Provost Stager announced that there will be an Open House on Saturday, November 21.

Associate Provost

Associate Provost Casselberry reported that three departments have selected courses which require a minimum grade of C rather than C-. Those departments are Communication and Theatre, Nursing, and Special Education.

Committees

Undergraduate Course and Program Review Committee

Chairperson R. Wismer presented one program under the one-meeting rule:

Minor in Anthropology

Admission, Advisement, and Student Affairs Committee

Chairperson J. Lynch reported that the committee has met with Associate Provost Roller to discuss enrollment management. A memo from Associate Provost Roller was distributed (see Attachment 2) and will be placed on the agenda for discussion at the 2 December meeting of Senate.

General Education Review Committee

Chairperson C. Stameshkin explained that the committee is in the process of redefining the goals and objectives of general education. Nine working groups are addressing various topics (see Attachment 3). Each group is composed of two members of the Committee and is soliciting help from interested faculty. Any faculty member interested in being a member of a working group should contact C. Stameshkin. There is an interactive webstie for the GERC Assessment Working Papers at http://marauder.millersville.edu/~resound/frames/gerc/gerc.html

University Honors Program Committee

Chairperson M. Warmkessel provided information on the Honors College concept document (see Attachment 4). The Director and Assistant Director of the Univeristy Honors Program drafted the document which will be used by University Advancement to attract potential donors. At its meeting on 3 November the committee voted to support the concept of an honors college.

Academic Outcomes Assessment Committee

Chairperson C. Desmond reminded senators that resources for departmental outcomes assessment activities are available from a special grant as well as from the Associate Provost's office. Further information will be posted to the Senate website.

Academic Standards

Chairperson J. Piperberg reported that several issues have come up recently regarding the letters sent to students on academic probation. The committee has met to discuss the possibility of toughening the language of these letters. The committee considered the possibility of limiting students on probation to registering for fewer credits, a suggestion which will be forwarded to the Academic Policies Committee. Other specific issues discussed include limiting the number of times a student can repeat the same course and increasing the penalties for students who are dismissed after having earlier appeals upheld. The committee determined that there must be better coordination between the Academic Standards Committee, the Admissions Office, and the Financial Aid Office.

Cooperative Education Committee

Chairperson B. Dorman mentioned that the committee is working on two projects: revising the student handbook and revising the faculty handbook.

Faculty Emeritus

A Sykes/Yelagotes motion to recommend Professor Gordon Wise for faculty emeritus status passed unanimously (see Attachment 5).

A Dorman/Piperberg motion to recommend Professor Paul Talley for faculty emeritus status passed unanimously (see Attachment 6).

Business

Proposed Course

ENGL 416: The Woman Writer and Her World