I. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the June 24, 2008 meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved as revised.

II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson

Faculty Senate Chair Börger-Greco welcomed the Faculty Senate to a new school year. Introductions were conducted.

III. Report of the Student Senate President

Student Senate President Farrelly reported a good start to the year. Chairs have been elected for committees and nominees for university committees are being accepted. She also commented on student participation in Orientation and the Middle States review process and on feedback from the New York Times pilot program.

IV. Report of the Graduate Student Organization

Graduate Student Association Representative Randolph noted the GSA hopes to involve more students.

V. Report of the Administrative Officers

President

President McNairy expressed thanks to departments and faculty for participating in Orientation. She also highlighted the opportunity to collaborate with Millersville Borough and area schools in Vision 2020 during a series of discussion meetings. Dr. McNairy introduced Mr. Chip German, Vice President for Information Technology. She also reminded faculty about the combined Convocation and Garden Supper on Friday and welcomed spouses and family to join the celebration.

Vice President for Student Affairs

Vice President Breaux reported on participation of over 1300 students in Orientation. She also expressed grief over the loss of Dr. James Heffern, Director of Health Services and noted that operations of Health Services are under review and focus groups will be meeting to gather feedback about options. A question was raised about whether graduate students have been consulted. Dr. Breaux responded that their input is welcome. It was also requested that the Ishmael Beah lecture be recorded during simulcast if possible.

Provost

Provost Prabhu reported on work for the Middle States review and meeting the Chapter 49-2 mandates from the PDE. He thanked faculty who have been working to meet tight deadlines necessary to implement new programs in Fall 2009. Dr. Prabhu then invited Dean Jane Bray to comment on these changes. Dr. Bray explained conversion of the elementary program into PreK-4 and Middle Level (4-8) programs. She thanked Drs. Christine Anthony, Judy Wenrich, Cheryl Desmond, Cindy Ridley and Elba Rohena for leadership in the collaborative efforts needed to make the required changes. It was noted that some flexibility has been added to credit limits for these programs.

Associate Provost for Academic Administration

Associate Provost Burns commented that approval of some overall education program schedules and structure will have to be made prior to having individual courses in place to meet the timelines. Dr. Janet White explained plans for maintaining the integrity of our 2-meeting curriculum review process during the expedited program review. Dr. White requested on behalf of UCPRC that Faculty Senate meet on a fifth Tuesday, October 28 to allow for review of education program changes. A motion to hold a Faculty Senate meeting on October 28, 2008 was approved without dissent.

Dr. Burns reminded faculty of the upcoming lecture by Ishmael Beah. He also reported on deadlines for course reviews: September 26 for new UNIV103 FYI courses and November 15 for W recertifications from selected departments.

Executive Assistant to the President

Executive Assistant to the President McCollum highlighted a quick reference guide from the Threat Assessment Team to support prevention and preparedness for emergencies on campus. A question was raised about distribution to students. Dr. McCollum responded that it would be widely available, beginning in residence halls. Another question raised was whether the TAT would field concerns from students regarding faculty. The response was positive.

Interim Assistant Provost

Assistant Provost Redmond thanked departments for providing input as part of Orientation.

VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees

Dr. White distributed a summary of schedules, deadlines and procedures for submissions for course proposals and recertifications. [see Attachment #1] She stressed that proposals will not be forwarded to sub-committees unless accompanied by a pdf scan of the cover sheet with signatures of the proposer and department chair. She also requested that senators confirm with proposers of approved W recertifications that these cover sheets have been submitted.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
None.

VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs

Second Readings

(1) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
SOWK609: Introduction to Art Therapy, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course that explores principles and techniques of art therapy was approved without dissent.

(2-1) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT600: Inquiry for Teaching and Learning, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course about action research, assessment of student learning and evaluation of and reflection on teaching was approved without dissent.

(2-2) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT610/EDUC610: Critical Literacy in a Diverse Democratic Classroom, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to help students develop a personal perspective of critical literacy, encompassing reading, writing, speaking and listening, in the secondary classroom was approved without dissent.

(2-3) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
SPED610: Serving Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to prepare secondary educators to effectively teach students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms was approved without dissent.

(2-4) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT700: Seminar 1, 1 credit. Proposal to create a course to guide student development within the ACT program with mentoring from faculty and peers in Seminar 2 and 3 of the ACT program was approved without dissent.

Dr. John Ward confirmed that the ACT700, ACT701 and ACT702 seminars are each one credit only.

(2-5) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT701: Seminar 2, 1 credit. Proposal to create a course to guide student development within the ACT program with mentoring from faculty and peers in Seminar 1 and 3 of the ACT program was approved without dissent.

(2-6) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT702: Seminar 3, 1 credit. Proposal to create a course to guide student development within the ACT program with mentoring from faculty and peers in Seminar 1 and 2 of the ACT program was approved without dissent.

(2-7) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT641: Foundations of Multicultural Education, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to lay the foundational framework and knowledge of multicultural education was approved without dissent.

(2-8) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT642: Teaching About Diversity, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course that examines multicultural issues in contemporary society and how they impact the educational system, equity, inclusion and cultural tolerance was approved without dissent.

(2-9) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
EDFN513: Sexual Orientation and Schooling, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to build understanding of the history and school climate related to sexual orientation as well as knowledge of current laws, policies and recommended practices for supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and educators was approved without dissent.

(2-10) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT650: Science Teaching and Learning, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to critically examine the latest research about science teachers and learners and use this information to assess current instructional practices with an emphasis on inquiry teaching in science classrooms was approved without dissent.

(2-11) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
ACT651: Science Curriculum and Reform, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course to understand science curriculum and the implications of reform initiatives focusing on student learning and to examine how different assumptions and perceived goals of science education influence what is taught, how it is taught and how it is assessed and interpreted was approved without dissent.

(2) NEW GRADUATE CURRICULUM
MEd Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching. Proposal to create a program to train secondary education teachers the interrelationship of teacher inquiry including the use of student assessment data, action research and teacher reflection with content knowledge development, curricular planning and design and teacher-student interaction was approved without dissent. Two concentrations will be offered: Learning About Diversity and Pedagogical Content Knowledge.

Faculty and Student Athletic Committee

The proposed updated functions of the Faculty-Student Athletic Committee and new format for the FSAC bylaws document were approved without dissent. [see Attachment #2]

GCPRC

The proposed Masters Thesis Guidelines were approved with two abstentions. These guidelines will be available through the Graduate Studies website.

IX. Faculty Emeritus
A White Greenawalt/Luek motion that Leo E. Shelley be granted the honorary title of Associate Professor of Librarianship Emeritus was approved without dissent. [See Attachment 2]
X. Elections
Additional nominations for the third regular election were requested from the floor. A Mowrey/Luek motion to close nominations was approved without dissent. A Mowrey/Saunders motion to unanimously elect all unopposed candidates was approved without dissent.

Additional nominations were requested from the floor for persons willing to serve at-large. A Miller/Saunders motion to close nominations and unanimously elect all unopposed candidates was approved without dissent.

XI. Other/New Business

Dr. Joel Piperberg requested that the Spring calendar be discussed at the next Faculty Senate meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:46 p.m..

Respectfully submitted,

Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate

Action Summary

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