I. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the April 1, 2008 meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved as corrected to indicate the approval of the proposal for adding the +/- grading system to graduate courses.

II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson

Chairperson Börger-Greco noted that faculty interested in serving as facilitators for the common reading program should contact Laurie Hanich. She also encouraged faculty to attend graduation in regalia if possible. Dr. Börger-Greco also reminded chairs of Faculty Senate committees that annual reports should be submitted electronically to Faculty Senate Chair and Secretary by June 2.

III. Report of the Student Senate President

Student Senate President Terenzoni announced the election of Ms. Shannon Farrelly as the new Student Senate President and passage of referendum questions on instituting a green fee and introducing a university ring. She also noted that appeals for allocation requests are underway. Ms. Terenzoni encouraged faculty and families to visit the UAB Superfest event this week. She also reminded faculty of the upcoming Safety Day on April 25.

IV. Report of the Graduate Student Organization

Graduate Student Association Representative Randolph requested that faculty encourage graduate students to participate in the Graduate Research Symposium on April 24.

V. Report of the Administrative Officers

Provost

Provost Prabhu noted that the Cabinet has been working to address safety issues that became apparent during the April 1 emergency situation. Dr. Susan Komsky, VP of Information Technology shared a planned website design that will load 95% faster than the normal home page to allow for increased traffic during an emergency situation. She noted that it still maintains critical links and that, as traffic drops, a second stage version with more functions will be used. A question was raised about whether the linked map would be interactive. Dr. Komsky indicated that the map would allow for clarification regarding a specific location relevant to an emergency but would not be interactive. The successful use of the MUAlert system and increased enrollment in the program was also mentioned. While this is not a required system, with a critical mass of persons aware of an emergency, the campus collectively can respond appropriately.

Plans for an outdoor siren/announcement system and phone system update that allows speaker phone announcements were described. When asked why the current phone messaging system is not being used, Dr. Komsky indicated that these messages are not delivered in real time. She noted that e-mail is also not ideal for initial alert notifications but is used for follow-up information. It was clarified that classrooms with non-speaker phones will be updated and that phones can be requested for classrooms without one currently.

A question was raised about whether enrollment might be affected by this event. Dr. Prabhu indicated that media coverage portrayed the University in a positive light and no changes in applications have been observed. Further discussion addressed how issues related to safety affect the classroom.

Mr. Wayne Silcox, Chief of University Police, thanked the faculty for their response despite no real training for an emergency situation. He noted that information relating to the three levels of emergency situations will be distributed and posted in campus buildings and that any campus group interested in holding an active shooter training session could contact Mr. Silcox or Melanie DeSantis.

The role of the Threat Assessment Team in consolidating and following up on reported safety concerns was described. Mr. Silcox clarified the Millersville University Weapons Policy banning weapons on campus and indicated that it is available on the University Police website.

Mr. Pat Weidinger, Director of Safety and Environmental Health, noted that summarized information about the University’s Emergency Response Plan will be distributed as a resource across campus. When asked about a quick guide that could be posted in classrooms, he noted that they would be available by request.

VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees

UCPRC

First Readings

(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
WSSD454: Leadership Development in Sports, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course that covers key leadership issues and skills relevant to coaching.

(2) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
PHYS: BS majors. Proposal to reduced credit hours in PHYS233 and PHYS334 and add PHYS471 to required courses.

(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BIOL352: Nutritional Science, 3 credits, W. Proposal to create a course that emphasizes biological and biochemical aspects of nutrition to be taken by Biology majors/minors instead of BIOL256.

(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BIOL256: Nutrition. Proposal to specify that course does not count towards Biology major/minor.

(5) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BIOL291: Marine Biology, 4 credits, G2, L. Proposal to change course credits from 3 to 4 and add G2 and L labels.

(6) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BUAD364: Cost Accounting. Proposal to add C- or better in BUAD306 as a prerequisite.

(7) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BUAD362: Intermediate Accounting II. Proposal to add C- or better in BUAD341 as a prerequisite.

(8) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BUAD: BS majors. Proposal to create an 8-course “Business Foundations Block” that must be completed by BUAD majors with grade and QPA restrictions before taking upper-level business courses.

(9) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ENGL280: Rhetoric of the Color Line, 3 credits, W. Proposal to create a course that studies how rhetorical principles can be used to critique the way race relations have been shaped through racial dominance and resistance arguments.

(10) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENGL: Writing Studies option. Proposal to create an option for ENGL BA or BSE majors to study the discipline of writing and its sub-fields.

(11) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENGL: Writing Studies minor. Proposal to change the minor name from Writing to Writing Studies and introduce a new course of study.

Joint Senate Conference

Senator Rosenthal reported that the Graduate Student Association and Student Senate have been instructed to elect representatives to the Educator of the Year Award Selection Committee.

None.

VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs

Academic Policies Committee/General Education Review Committee

GERC Chair Ward distributed a document noting key points relating to the proposed Governance Manual General Education Curriculum. [see Attachment #1] A question was raised about whether the restriction to “outside of the primary major” would apply to the new course requirements being added by PDE for education majors. Dr. Ward indicated that there has been no change to the definition passed by the faculty last year that restricts education classes from counting towards Gen Ed. He emphasized a footnote that addresses the definition of a “meaningful oral and written component” questioned previously at Senate. Dr. Ward also clarified that the Diversity requirement is not waived by study abroad as discussed recently at Senate because an experiential exposure to culture does not fit the rationale of D courses as stated in the new curriculum. He also indicated a change to the prerequisites for Perspective courses that makes it possible for DARS to enforce them during enrollment. The proposed revision to the Governance Manual General Education Curriculum was approved without dissent.

Senator Anna returned the EDTE proposal discussed previously along with a new cover sheet and consolidated information that clarifies the change in the proposal to a single course exception. Dr. Anna noted that there is no overlap in the courses or content of these areas within ITEC. The proposal to allow EDTE majors to count OSEH120 as a G3 course was approved without dissent.

None.

X. Senate Committee Elections

Additional nominations were requested from the floor. A Saunders/Mowrey motion to close nominations and unanimously elect all unopposed candidates was approved without dissent.

XI. Other/New Business

A suggestion was made that senators have some kind of name card or identification for meetings.

Meeting was adjourned after elections.

Respectfully submitted,

Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate

Action Summary