The meeting was called to order at 4:09 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Academic & Student Development and Wellness & Sport Sciences.
I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
III. Report of the Student Senate President
Ms. Farrelly expressed appreciation for the Senate decision to allow students to continue serving on ASC hearing subcommittees. She encouraged faculty to increase the student representation to four members.
IV. Report of the Graduate Student Association
V. Report of the Administrative Officers
Associate Provost Burns reminded faculty of the Spring Convocation planned for February 19, that applications are being accepted for the General Education Program Coordinator, and about the First Friday event on February 6. Dr. Burns also noted that focus groups are being planned to get faculty feedback on issues relevant for the Middle States Self Study. A question was raised about whether information in the online governance manual is complete. Dr. Burns noted that documents that have been updated are available in the new format but that not everything has been converted yet. The 1997-2007 format is still accessible via the faculty information website.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
First Readings
(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
GOVT323: Government and Politics of the Middle East, 3 credits, G3, D. Proposal to create a course that examines Middle Eastern politics and the impact of national, economic, gender and religious perspectives.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC303: Technology Assessment: The Amish and Others, 3 credits, P, D, web. Proposal to create a course to explore how the use of technology is assessed, contrasting the approach of certain Anabaptist groups to those of North Americans in general.
UCPRC reported approval of the FYI course “The Search for an Identity: The Puerto Rican Experience.”
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
IX. Student Photo Rosters
Ms. Farrelly commented that she believes students would benefit from professors making quicker connections between names and faces. She also noted that there might be security benefits of such a quick reference option. Another comment made was that photos would help faculty when connecting with former students, for example when writing reference letters. There was general support for exploring how to implement photo rosters.
X. Update on the Middle States self-study
XI. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate