I. Minutes of previous meetings
II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
III. Report of the Student Senate President
IV. Report of the Graduate Student Organization
V. Report of the Administrative Officers
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Senator White reported that a Technology Competency survey has been sent to departments for feedback regarding what this means within different academic fields. She noted that members of AOAC are available to answer questions about this.
UCPRC
Senator White noted that there were 21 proposals submitted for review at the final meeting of UCPRC. She indicated that UCPRC will try to address as many as possible and will review them according to the order they were received. First Readings
(1) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
PSYC 212: Proposal to change prerequisite to completion of PSYC 211 with a grade of C- or higher.
(2) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
PSYC 314, 315, 316: Proposal to change prerequisite to completion of PSYC 212 with a grade of C- or higher.
GERC
Senator Warmkessel and Dr. Foster-Clark addressed questions regarding the final proposal for the Revised General Education Curriculum. Regarding the ballot language, GERC noted faculty would be given the choice of approving the revised curriculum or retaining the current curriculum. A question was raised about how the specification for elective courses being outside a student’s major would affect International Studies students who take courses in a wide range of departments. GERC clarified that this is meant to include any courses other than those listed as part of the student’s program.
Concern was expressed about the fact that the implementation subcommittee has not presented any plans to make the revised curriculum functional in a practical sense. GERC indicated that they have discussed implementation issues but were not able to begin without endorsement of the proposal. A question was raised about reviewing courses with respect to the new goals to ensure that we continue to meet them. Dr. Foster-Clark responded that there are plans for ongoing 5-year review of designated courses within the Gen Ed curriculum. He also indicated a need for GERC to consider options for making smaller updates to Gen Ed on a regular basis. Senator White pointed out that a periodic review for Gen Ed courses could be implemented whether or not the revised curriculum proposal is adopted.
Concerns about the writing requirements in light of the administrative realities of the 25-student cap were discusses. Senator Kevorkian shared that History would like to suggest that the requirement for “revised prose” be changed to “revisable prose” to make it more flexible, particularly for untenured faculty. She clarified that this would leave the revision process to the discretion of the individual faculty member teaching a W course. Dr. Foster-Clark responded that revision of prose can be done in more ways than direct professor editing and suggested that faculty not wishing to do writing revisions opt to have the W designation removed. He further pointed out that there are currently sufficient numbers of W courses to accommodate this since many students take more than the minimum number of W courses. Dr. Warmkessel stressed the fact that there was strong endorsement at Senate of greater rigor in W courses. The administration was asked whether it will be possible to support the recommended cap of 25. Dr. Prabhu indicated that it is good to have this stated as a goal even if it cannot be currently guaranteed due to other influencing factors. He noted that an issue like this can become a top priority with faculty support. Concern was expressed that faculty should not be voting on a stated 25-student cap given the current situation with class size caps.
Discussion was held regarding whether the proposal could be considered in parts rather than collectively. A Luek/West motion to substitute the GERC motion with an ad seriatim consideration of the proposal points was made. Dr. Warmkessel noted that the proposal represents compromises addressing viewpoints of different groups and indicated that the recommendations represent interlocking issues. Specifically, it was noted that an elective block cannot be created without the change to a 3-3-3 distribution in G blocks. Dr. Prabhu commented that it is important for the faculty to move forward on the issue of Gen Ed revision with the understanding that modifications can be made as needed. He pointed out that the expectation, particularly from Middle States, is for the Gen Ed program to be assessed and improved continuously. The Luek/West motion to substitute was withdrawn.
The need for Senate to endorse the proposal to allow for presentation to the entire faculty was stressed. A Wismer/Igyor call to previous question on the motion from GERC was approved. The GERC motion to endorse the proposal for a revised General Education Curriculum and approve the scheduling of a vote by the faculty on the proposal prior to the end of the Spring 2007 semester was approved by 22 yes, 3 no and 3 abstaining votes.
Senator Warmkessel indicated that she would work with APSCUF to arrange for the Gen Ed vote to be scheduled along with spring APSCUF elections. She also invited any suggestions of mechanisms for informing faculty about the Gen Ed proposal in preparation for voting.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BA INTL majors. Proposal to update the International Studies program was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BA INTL minors. Proposal to update the International Studies program was approved without dissent.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
COMM 311: Environmental Advocacy, 3 credits, G1. Proposal to create a course to explore how citizens and public groups influence policies and practices affecting natural and human environments was approved without dissent.
(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ENGL 483: Politics, Film and Electronic Media. Proposal to add a P designation was approved without dissent.
(5) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ELED 376: Assessment for Instructional Planning. Proposal to add a W designation was approved without dissent.
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Mr. John Baltzer, Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD) Counselor
XI. Other/New Business
XII. Adjournment
Respectfully submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Faculty Senate Secretary