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
Provost Prabhu noted that several options to address changes to spring semester scheduling will be submitted to APSCUF and Faculty Senate for feedback.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns commented on deadlines for departments scheduled for W and D reviews this year: W courses on February 28; D courses on April 4. He noted there are discussion sessions planned regarding the D label and there will be some flexibility on the D deadline.
Dr. Burns also informed faculty that working groups for the Middle States self study have started meeting and that students will be recruited from Student Senate to contribute. A Middle States liaison is scheduled to be on campus April 11 to discuss the self study design.
Dr. Burns noted the University Theme Committee is soliciting proposals for activities that support the current “Reason and Hope in an Age of Uncertainty” theme. He specifically encouraged advisors for student groups to consider connections to student organization activities.
Dr. Burns requested that faculty complete the HERI survey.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
First Reading
(1) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SOCY303: Classical Sociological Theory. Proposal to change the pre-requisites to SOCY101 and 9 credits of SOCY courses at 200 level or higher.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
UNIV103: First Year Inquiry Seminar, 3 credits. Proposal to create the core course structure for the FYI Seminar designed to introduce freshmen students to the process of intellectual inquiry as part of the Connections and Exploration area of the new General Education curriculum.
Discussion was held regarding the possibility of approving this proposal immediately. Several senators expressed a desire to allow departments to review the proposal before approval because of the breadth of the impact of this shell course. A reminder was given that, once this general format is approved, specific FYI courses would be presented by the proposer to a sub-committee of UCPRC for approval. A White/Igyor motion to waive the 2-meeting rule for approval of the UNIV103 proposal was defeated by a vote of 5 yeas, 16 nays and 4 abstentions.
Faculty-Student Athletic Committee
Senator Mollah-Hardy noted that she will be meeting with members, appointed participants and the new Athletic Director to review and redefine the functions of the FSAC.
Educator of the Year Award Selection
Senator A. Miller commented that a review of Senate minutes clarified that the Joint Senate Conference was charged by Senate with oversight of issues related to the Educator of the Year Award Selection Committee. The committee composition was proposed by the JSC and approved. However, the ongoing role of the JSC was inadvertently overlooked. Dr. Miller indicated that some related documents have been drafted so that organization of the committee could move forward but noted that a chair was not specified for the committee.
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
WSSD482: Coaching Effectiveness, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to introduce the fundamental principles and basic techniques used by athletic coaches was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
CHEM, minor: Environmental Chemistry. Proposal to create a minor focused on environmental aspects of chemistry was approved without dissent.
(3) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CSCI395: Computer Networks. Proposal to add the W designation to the existing course was approved without dissent.
(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENGL. Proposal to make ENGL110 a pre-requisite for all 300- and 400-level English courses and ENGL110 or 110H a pre- or co-requisite for all 200-level courses except ENGL220 and ENGL230.
Senator Rosenthal noted that many students are unprepared for literature courses until they have completed ENGL110. A question was raised about whether ENGL110H should also be listed for the 300- and 400-level courses. The administration noted that this proposal potentially has significant scheduling implications. A question was raised about whether incoming students are placed into higher courses because there are not sufficient ENGL110 sections. It was noted that some new scheduling software may help to identify what some of the problems are and how they could be addressed. A question of whether FYI courses would open up options for freshman was raised. However, Dr. Burns noted that there is not enough flexibility in complement for this to adequately compensate. Dr. Rosenthal commented that English has considered dropping the requirement for the 200-level courses but would really prefer to retain it. A suggestion was made for a placement test that could be used to identify incoming students who might be able to bypass the 110 pre-requisite. The current tool in place is an online self-assessment done by the student. No action was taken on this proposal.
(5) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENGL. Proposal to make ENGL237 a pre-requisite for all 400-level literature courses except those designated P or G1 was approved without dissent.
First Reading
(3) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
EDTE majors. Proposal to allow OSEH120 (G3) to be counted towards fulfillment of the G3 block.
A proposal to separate OSEH from ITEC/EDTE when counting General Education courses had been previously approved by Faculty Senate but was not approved by the administration. On their recommendation, the proposal was narrowed to address only OSEH120.
X. Elections of Senate Officers
Dr. Ana Börger-Greco was nominated to serve as Faculty Senate Chairperson. A Mowrey/J. Miller motion to close nominations and unanimously elect Dr. Börger-Greco as Chairperson was approved without dissent.
Dr. Becky Mowrey was nominated to serve as Faculty Senate Chairperson Pro-Tempore. Dr. Aimee Miller was nominated to serve as Faculty Senate Secretary. A Luek/J. Miller motion to close nominations and unanimously elect Dr. Becky Mowrey as Chairperson Pro-Tempore and Dr. Aimee Miller as Secretary was approved without dissent.
As Senator Mowrey has been serving as Parliamentarian for Faculty Senate, a question was raised about whether that service could overlap with that as Chair Pro-Tempore. Dr. Mowrey responded that there is not any specific limitation. She noted that the Parliamentarian is appointed by the Chair and requested that anyone willing to serve contact Dr. Börger-Greco.
XI. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate