The meeting was called to order at 4:09 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Athletics, Business Administration, and Library.
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 commented on Act 50, the transfer articulation being mandated by the PA state legislature. This law requires that AA and AS degrees be accepted with a minimum of 60 credits. He noted that there is no funding to aid implementation and that the planned time line is short. Dr. Prabhu indicated that there is a need for faculty to participate in related discussions with faculty from other PASSHE schools and community colleges. These program area panels will provide important direction to the PDE about how to effectively integrate this mandate on top of the previous 30-credit transfer articulation started in 2006. Dr. Prabhu noted the suggestion of articulations based on competencies rather than in a course-by-course fashion. Related discussion was held touching on the integrity of General Education, completion of bachelor’s degree in a parallel field with only 60 additional credits, the need to adhere to requirements of accrediting bodies, interest in creating a system that meets student needs, and concern about a sense of uniformity among higher education institutions.
Dr. Prabhu reminded faculty that Millersville has a local agreement with APSCUF to allow continuing education courses on campus with fewer than 12 undergraduate/6 graduate students.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns shared that 250 faculty have successfully used the online textbook adoption process for spring classes, adopting more than 1000 textbooks for almost 800 courses. He welcomed feedback on how the process worked for faculty and students.
Assistant Vice President for Academic Services
Vice President Redmond reminded senators that registration for spring classes was nearly over and requested all faculty encourage their students to register.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Senator Mowrey introduced a document outlining the trial use of an electronic add/drop registration system for the Winter 2010 session as approved by APC. [see Attachment #1] The goal is to better accommodate student needs related to processing refunds for dropped classes, difficulties finding faculty to sign drop/add requests in person, different terms for different classes, and issues with offices being closed over holidays. Discussion was held, noting the importance of maintaining size caps to ensure space for students in classrooms, the need for students on wait lists to be given priority based on the order they added their names, and the possibility of some sort of electronic signature or faculty approval. A concern was raised about testing procedures that become expected by students without sufficient review and approval. Faculty were encouraged to provide feedback on the process.
GCPRC
(1) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
RDED626: Literacy Leadership, 3 credits. Proposal for a course focused on the role of the reading specialist as a literacy leader.
(2) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
RDED798: Advanced Theoretical Pedagogy of Reading, 3 credits. Proposal for a course focused on advanced theoretical pedagogy of reading and the supervision of literacy instruction.
(3) CHANGE IN GRADUATE CURRICULM
ELED, Reading Specialist certificate. Proposal to include the new RDED626 course into the program to fulfill NCATE/IRA standards.
(4) CHANGE IN GRADUATE CURRICULM
ELED, Reading Supervisor certificate. Proposal to include the new RDED798 course into the program to fulfill NCATE/IRA standards.
UCPRC
Senator Smith reminded faculty of the extended period for adding a D label to current courses and encouraged participation in an upcoming social addressing teaching D courses.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) CHANGE IN GRADUATE POLICY
The proposal to change the Course Repeat policy change to fit with PASSHE commonalities and also to remain consistent with the MU policy that graduate students are dismissed on earning a third C was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE IN GRADUATE POLICY
The proposal to modify the policy on Advisement to better refer to the variety of graduate programs on campus was approved without dissent.
(3) CHANGE IN GRADUATE POLICY
The proposal to change the Withdrawal from a Course policy to addresses the existence of out-of-term courses was approved without dissent.
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate