The meeting was called to order at 3:06 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Academic & Student Development, Communications & Theatre, Counseling & Human Development, Geography, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library, Music, Nursing, and Philosophy.
I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
III. Report of the Student Senate President
IV. Report of the Graduate Student Association
V. Report of the Administrative Officers
Provost Prabhu reported that summer enrollments are looking good. He also noted that depending on the budget passed by the State Senate, Millersville could face an additional $1.5 million deficit. Dr. Prabhu indicated that no tenure or tenure-track faculty positions will be lost but that administrative positions have been frozen. In response to a question about open faculty searches, Dr. Prabhu commented that all successful searches have been filled but that other positions will be reviewed carefully as they come up.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns introduced Dr. Beverly Schneller as the incoming General Education Coordinator. Dr. Burns also announced the bin mechanism planned for collecting departmental materials needed for the Rediscover MU 2010 site visit. Materials should be primarily from the last five years and include items like faculty CVs, course syllabi, 5-year review documents, and curriculum mapping. He also pointed out that writing of the self-study report is underway and that Dr. Donald J. Farish, President of Rowan University, has been named as our Site Team Chair.
Dr. Burns noted that the University Theme Committee has made six awards for proposals. He also encouraged faculty to volunteer to help with events during orientation events. Dr. Burns reported that Millersville was accepted to the Engaging Departments Institute through the AACU.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Senator Smith distributed a list of recertifications approved by UCPRC.
Courses maintaining a W label: ANTH226, 227, 322; BIOL204, 207, 256, 263, 281, 438, 446, 447, 462, 467; COMM326, 380, 426; EDTE391; EDUC316, 323, 403, 424, 430; ELED314, 376; ENGL322, 401, 402; FREN351, 352; HUMN210, 220, 270, 391; ITEC356, 392; NRSG426; PSYC256; RESP417; SOCY211, 230, 316; SOWK301; SPAN351, 352; SPED313, 315, 432.
Courses maintaining a P label: ANTH342, 344; COMM317; CSCI/PSYC350; ENGL430, 435, 462; ITEC301, 302; PHIL345, 391; PHYS302.
Courses adding a D label: BIOL207; CHEM372; COMM317; CSCI426; EDFN211, 376; EDUC316, 403; ELED314; ENGL280, 333, 334, 430; GOVT361; LATS201; MATH102; NURS360; PSYC318; SOWK350; SPED330.
Sections of UNIV103: The Story of Your Life; Political Engagement, Citizenship & Communication; Facing Fear; The Search for an Identity: The Puerto Rican Experience.
It was noted that the expedited review process approved for adding D labels to existing courses expires this year. GERC proposed extension of this process through August 2010 to allow faculty more time to complete self reviews and requested a waiver of the two meeting rule for approval. The request to waive the two meeting rule for this proposal was approved without dissent. The GERC proposal to extend the expedited review process for adding a D label to existing courses was approved without dissent.
GCPRC
Revisions to the functions for GERC listed in the bylaws were presented. [see Attachment #1] A report from GERC related to the Cultural Diversity and Community component of General Education was distributed. [see Attachment #2] It included an overlooked review of the 2008 Workshop on Cultural Diversity and Community in the General Education curriculum and a listing of courses approved for the D label as of June 2009.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ANTH220: Ethnographic Methods. Proposal to add W label was approved without dissent.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BIOL390: Natural History of the Mid-Atlantic Shore, 3 credits, P. Proposal to create an elective course serving as an introduction to biological communities of the mid-Atlantic coast was approved without dissent.
(3) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CHEM342: Physical Chemistry II. Proposal to change pre-requisites to CHEM341 with a D or higher or permission of the instructor was approved without dissent.
(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ECON318: Intermediate Microeconomics. Proposal to add MATH151 or MATH161 as a pre-requisite was approved without dissent.
(5) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ECON323: Games and Experiments in Economics, 3 credits. Proposal to create an elective course using economic theory to explain decisions of economic agents was approved without dissent.
(6) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
GEOG307: U.S. Environmental Policy, 3 credits, G3. Proposal to create an elective course examining major pieces of federal environmental legislation, including the role of interest groups and the public in environmental decision making was approved without dissent.
(7) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
PHYS101: Survey of Physics, 3 credits, G2. Proposal to create a course introducing fundamental concepts of classical and modern physics was approved without dissent.
(8) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SCMA391/WSTU491: Women in Mathematics and Science, 3 credits, P, D. Proposal to create a course exploring the lives and discoveries of women in math and sciences (three disciplines represented in each offering) was approved without dissent.
(9) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SPED237: Applied Foundations of Contemporary Special Education, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course required for the Foundations Bloc for the Dual certification “Early Childhood/Special Education” that explores contemporary and historical influences on special education in the American school system was approved without dissent.
(10) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC425: Robotic Systems. Proposal to revise description, objectives, outline, course requirements, evaluation, and bibliography and to add assessment section was approved without dissent.
(11) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC427: Designing Industrial Control Systems. Proposal to revise description, objectives, outline, text & materials, course requirements, evaluation, and bibliography and to add assessment section was approved without dissent.
(12) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC467: Microcontrollers. Proposal to revise description, objectives, outline, and bibliography and to add assessment section was approved without dissent.
(13) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC494: Total Quality Management. Proposal to add MATH130 or MATH235 or permission of instructor as pre-requisite was approved without dissent.
(14) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENVI: Industrial and Environmental Health minor. Proposal to modify the required and elective course blocks to create flexibility and reflect the increased options for environmental courses was approved without dissent.
(15) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENVI: Land Use minor. Proposal to modify the required and elective course blocks to create flexibility and reflect the increased options for environmental courses was approved without dissent.
(16) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENVI: Environmental Policy and Regulation minor. Proposal to modify the required and elective course blocks to create flexibility and reflect the increased options for environmental courses was approved without dissent.
(17) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENVI: Quantitative Methods in Environmental Science minor. Proposal to modify the required and elective course blocks to create flexibility and reflect the increased options for environmental courses was approved without dissent.
(18) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ENVI: Water Resources minor. Proposal to modify the required and elective course blocks to create flexibility and reflect the increased options for environmental courses was approved without dissent.
GCPRC
Discussion was held regarding the proposed formation of the Graduate Academic Appeals Committee. [see Attachment #3] A question was raised about specifying that members must be from at least two of the three schools rather than one from each. It was noted that this allows for more flexibility in finding members while still retaining diversity across the committee. It was noted that graduate students are not part of the membership because the dispositional level of review and responsibility to external licensure bodies made student members inadvisable. There was also discussion of clarifying the administrative involvement in the appeal process and indication that Deans’ Council and legal counsel would need to address related specifics. Senator Foster-Clark indicated the Psychology department wished to have additional time to review the proposal. A Foster-Clark/Hendrick motion to postpone approval of formation of the Graduate Academic Appeals Committee until September 15 was defeated. The proposal for formation of the Graduate Academic Appeals Committee, modified to delete “The decision of the GAAC will be final and not open to further appeal,” was approved with three abstentions.
IX. Faculty Emeriti
X. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate