The meeting was called to order at 4:12 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Communications & Theatre and History. I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Wabash National Study-Teagle Scholars
III. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
SOWK 611: Children and Youth At-Risk, 3 credits. Proposal to offer a course to study the concepts, policies, practices, and research in the field of child services was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
PHYS 131: Physics I with Algebra, 4 credits. Proposal to change pre-requisite to MATH 101 or equivalent placement testing/evaluation before registration was approved without dissent.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SPED 346: Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings: Educational & Social Implications, 3 credits. Proposal to offer a course to prepare secondary education majors to effectively teach students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms was approved without dissent.
(4) REVISED COURSE APPROVAL DOCUMENTS
Revised course approval documents from UCPRC: Instructions for Forms, Record of Approvals, Course Proposal Form, General Education Curriculum Application, Writing (W) Label Application, Perspectives (P) Label Application, Cultural Diversity and Community (D) Course Application were approved without dissent.
IV. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
V. Report of the Student Senate President
VI. Report of the Graduate Student Association
VII. Report of the Administrative Officers
Provost Prabhu expressed enthusiasm at what might be learned from the Wabash Study. He also noted that the 11 pm Tuesday deadline for fall grades this year is because of the short time between the end of the semester and the holidays. He encouraged faculty needing an extension to noon Wednesday to contact their dean.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns indicated that the Wabash Study allows us to learn about ourselves and evaluate how our practices might be adjusted to positively impact our students. A comment was made whether schools with smaller student response ranges might have systemic good practices we could emulate. However, it was noted that Millersville probably had greater diversity in responses than some institutions because of the larger survey size, including all freshman, about 900 students. A larger than typical decline in positive responses about diversity at Millersville was speculated to be backlash from too much emphasis on diversity as part of the first Orientation schedule. A comment was made about whether lower studying times reported might reflect Millersville’s population of first-generation college students. Dr. Burns responded that there are many ways to interpret specifics but that understanding perceptions of students can help us adapt our practices. Dr. Prabhu emphasized the importance of good implementation strategies for new programs to keep experiences meaningful.
Assistant Vice President for Academic Services
Vice President Redmond reminded faculty of the restructuring of the AIM program to the Pre-Scholars summer program and the MU Scholars program.
Coordinator of General Education
Dr. Schneller commented on the recent presentation on campus on student-centered learning, noting the presentation will be available on the GenEd website. She also encouraged faculty to attend a follow-up Brown Bag session.
VIII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
First Readings
(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SOCY 308: Sociology of African American & Latino/a Education, 3 credits, D label. Proposal to offer a course focused on the secondary and post-secondary educational experiences of African American and Latino/a youth in the United States.
X. Faculty Emeritus
X. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate