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 President McNairy was in Harrisburg for a Board of Governors meeting. He shared some budget information related to the request from Governor Rendell that PASSHE institutions hold 4.25% of state appropriation funds (about $1.6 million for Millersville) in reserve to help meet state expenses this year. He noted that this is significant because only about $4-5 million of Millersville’s budget is actually flexible enough to be returned. A question was raised about positions that are currently unfilled. Dr. Prabhu indicated that current searches will be continued, but that Academic Affairs positions will be reviewed carefully before being returned. He also confirmed that money “floating” due to personnel vacancies is already incorporated into our current budgeting. Dr. Prabhu also stressed that we need to do our best to be prepared for possible budgets cuts next year since we do not control student tuition and fees or appropriations. Another question raised was whether performance funding would be affected. Dr. Prabhu commented that there may be some upcoming changes to the performance funding approach. However, he pointed out that we have historically performed well, but need to be aware of the difficulty improving on our top rankings.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns reminded faculty that the promotion deadline this year will be November 3 because the 1st falls on Saturday; the tenure deadline remains December 31. Dr. Burns also noted the upcoming Third World Studies Conference and that departments doing W recertification this year should submit those files electronically by November 15 to UCPRC@millersville.edu.
Dean of Education
Dean Bray noted that several education faculty are present today to introduce the curriculum proposals being brought forward to meet new PDE Chapter 49-2 requirements. She indicated that, while the proposals would be sent to PASSHE by November 10, our Council of Trustees expects to vote on the proposals in December before PASSHE actually moves forward with their approval.
Interim Assistant Provost
Assistant Provost Redmond reminded faculty of the Early Intervention System being implemented to electronically notify freshmen and sophomores about academic problems. He noted that training sessions will be conducted to inform faculty about the process.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Senator Skinner and Dr. Fred Foster-Clark distributed a proposed Perspectives (P) Course Expedited Review Process, including Criteria for Perspectives Courses and the Evaluation Form to be used when submitting existing P courses for recertification. [see Attachment #1]
UCPRC
First Readings
(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CSCI412: E-Commerce: Concepts and Programming, 4 credits. Proposal to create a course that teaches design and development of e-Commerce websites.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CSCI415: Computer and Network Security, 4 credits. Proposal to create a course dealing with data integrity, encryption, authentication, and other security issues related to computer usage.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
GEOG180: Geo-Graphics, 1 credit. Proposal to create a course to develop or enhance skills in PC-based presentation of geographic information.
(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: majors. Proposal to allow students in the Department of Earth Sciences to minor in other distinct programs within the department.
(5) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: BSE Earth Science major with Geology minor. Proposal to specify that ESCI222 be replaced by three credits of earth sciences elective credit to avoid program overlap.
(6) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: Earth Science minor. Proposal to change required ESCI245 course to three elective credits of 34X or 44X meteorology courses.
(7) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ESCI442: Advanced Weather Analysis and Forecasting Practicum, 2 credits. Proposal to change the course title, credit hours and contact hours, and to formalize the scope and content.
(8) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ESCI348: Broadcast Meteorology, 2 credits. Proposal to change the course credit hours and contact hours to allow for studio time.
(9) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
PSYC427: Childhood Disorders, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course offering an in depth look at the psychological disorders that occur in childhood.
(10) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ECON488: Seminar in Economics, 3 credits. Proposal to add the W designation.
(11) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 Certification. Proposal to create the program outline for certification of pre-K to grade 4 teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2.
(12) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Middle Level Certification. Proposal to create the program shell for certification of grade 4 to grade 8 teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2 with outlines of the Mathematics Concentration and English Language Arts Concentration.
(13) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Special Education PK-8/Pre Kindergarten to Grade 4 (Dual) Certification. Proposal to create a program outline for certification of special education teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2 with two strands related to a focus on low incidence and high incidence disabilities.
Senator Smith also reported that UCPRC has approved the D designation for the following courses: SOWK350: Encounters in Human Diversity; GOVT361: The Politics of Race and Ethnicity; SPED330: People with Disabilities: Social Discrimination and Oppression; The Social, Political and Cultural Realities of Living as a Person with a Disability; ELED314: The Parent Teacher Relationship in Early Childhood Education; EDUC316: The Parent Teacher Relationship in the Elementary School.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
Senator Sikora noted that additional time is needed for further discussions between the Academic Standards Committee and Administration about the proposed changes. A Sikora/Hardy motion to postpone discussion of the proposed revisions to the Academic Standards Committee document until October 28 was approved without dissent.
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Other/New Business
Nominations were accepted for the vacant chair position on Academic Policies Committee. A Luek/Edeh Herr motion to close nominations was approved without dissent. Election was conducted.
Dr. Fred Foster-Clark announced that a D-course workshop will be held October 28. He also noted that there is a new General Education website (www.millersville.edu/gened) with access to all General Education documents.
A Edeh Herr/Luek motion to ask representatives from the School of Education to briefly outline the new certification programs being proposed was approved without dissent.
Dr. Judy Weinrich described the Middle Level program. She highlighted the goal of PDE for early-stage teachers to be well prepared in their content area and for all subjects in grades 4, 5, and 6. A comment was made that Introduction to Writing Studies might not be the best fit for the English Language Arts Concentration.
Dr. Lillie West reported for Dr. Christine Anthony on the PreK to Grade 4 program. She noted the overarching principles, required competencies, requirement for a number of new courses to be developed and several field experiences.
Dr. Elba Rohena commented on the replacement of a Special Education Certification with a Special Education Dual program offered in tandem with another major. She highlighted two professional strands within the program that correlate to whether students focus on more severe disabilities or milder disabilities.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate