The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Athletics, Business Administration, and Interdisciplinary Studies.
I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
A discussion was held about changing the regular meeting order to address curriculum issues earlier in the agenda. It was noted this could be easier for faculty attending just to answer questions about curriculum proposals. Other issues raised were the fact that administrators also sometimes need to leave after reporting and that faculty may be teaching in the 4:00 hour. A Hardy/Shelor motion to make Proposed Courses and Programs the second item on the regular agenda schedule was approved without dissent.
Dr. Börger-Greco reminded BUAD, CSCI, ESCI, ECON, NURS, PHYS, PSYC, SPED, WELL departments to elect one senator and one alternate for service 2010-2013.
III. Report of the Student Senate President
IV. Report of the Graduate Student Association
V. Report of the Administrative Officers
Provost Prabhu urged all faculty to attend the Site Visit Team’s report on their observations Wednesday at 10:00 and the celebration event Friday 2:00-4:00.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns thanked faculty for their involvement in the Middle States review and reminded faculty to RSVP for the Spring Convocation.
VI. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Senator Baker reported on feedback from the electronic add/drop process used in Winter term. Student response was positive and several faculty concerns will be considered by a working group for which volunteers are needed. Primary issues noted were needs for faculty to be notified about changes, an automated wait list, and automatic updates between Banner and Blackboard. Ms. Deen noted that the faculty who taught during winter were surveyed about what kind of notification would be best. It was pointed out that broader input should be sought on these issues. Ms. Deen indicated that the Registrar’s Office would like to try the process again in summer for a broader perspective and to address the variability and short time frame of add/drop periods for summer courses. The possibility of doing drops automatically but adds in person was raised. Ms. Deen noted difficulties with this because of the integration of registration information with financial aid and billing processes. A concern was expressed about competition for students among faculty when salary is determined by enrollment numbers. Dr. Prabhu noted that such cases should not happen.
Discussion was held on problems related to the waitlist process. Ms. Deen noted that changes are possible, particularly with a new software feature, but that implementation is more complex. She suggested trying the feature in a few key courses first. Faculty raised concerns about misperceptions of how our waitlist works. A key factor related to this is that faculty currently retain control over which students are given priority for enrollment.
It was also noted that pre-requisite checking is not always in effect during summer because of the broad population taking courses. Faculty may need a reminder that this should be done manually in the summer. Another option is to put a permission requirement on courses where pre-requisites are critical.
Bylaws
Senator A Miller distributed a proposal to drop the requirement that chairs of curriculum-related committees be senators. [see Attachment #1]
UCPRC
(1) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUMM
GEOG: BSE Social Studies major. Proposal to require GEOG120: Human Geography rather than GEOG101.
GCPRC
Senator Edeh Herr reported on a proposal to remove the Graduate Dean from the membership of the GAAC.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) NEW GRADUATE CURRICULUM
ELED, Online Certificate in Gifted Education. Proposal to offer an entirely online certificate program in gifted education was approved with one abstention.
Concern was raised about the lack of face-to-face interaction. However, it was noted that this is a certificate program and also contains a clinical project based on field work. Dr. Kim Heilshorn noted that this meets the needs of persons involved in gifted education through courses that are currently taught online.
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Special Elections
XI. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate