Millersville University, Faculty Senate
Minutes
Meeting of the Faculty Senate
May 2, 2000
Chairperson Piperberg called the meeting to order at 4:10 PM in Chryst
210. All departments were represented.
Hearing no objections, the Minutes for April 18,
2000 stand approved.
Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
Announcements
(1) Chairperson Piperberg announced that the Summer meeting of the Senate
will be held in Myers Auditorium in McComsey on June 13 at 3:00 p.m.
(2) By the June meeting, Chairperson Piperberg said that he would make
available a list of vacancies on Faculty Senate committees that we will
need to fill at the first meeting in the Fall, including chairmanship
duties. He expressed the desire to fill all Committee chairmanships with
Faculty Senators this year and encouraged members to consider being
nominated for these vacancies.
(3) Chairperson Piperberg said he received the results of the faculty
senator elections for five of the 10 departments. The elections are
supposed to be held prior to May 31. He told members to feel free to
e-mail him with the results when made available and not to forget to
include the names of alternates as well.
(4) Bev Schneller, Chair of the Women's Studies Curriculum Committee has
asked Chairperson Piperberg to distribute a communiq from the committee.
It mentions the approval of 4 courses for the Women's Studies curriculum:
Communications 429-Gender and Communication
English 429/629-The Black Woman Writer
Economics 327-Women and Global Development
Sociology 339-Gender and Law
Also a new syllabus was approved for the Introduction to Women's Studies
course which will be taught by Dr. Schneller. Another course, Psychology
327 (Acquiring Gender-Developmental Perspectives) was approved as a
Women's Studies course, pending approval by UCPRC.
The committee also approved Carole Counihan to continue serving as Acting
Director through 2001. Applications for the position of Director of
Women's Studies will be sought by March 2001 for the three-year term to
follow that will expire in 2004.
(5) Chairperson Piperberg said he had received a couple of annual reports
from committee chairs. If Chairpersons were unable to bring them today,
he asked that they get them to him as soon as possible. He said he would
have them ready to distribute to the Senate at the June meeting.
(6) Chairperson Piperberg announced that he had received one nomination
for a Science seat on the Honor Code committee so we will add that to the
end of the agenda and take any other nominations for open seats at that
time. Report of the Student Senate President
Student Senate President Baker reported that the allocations process was
completed. It was also announced that President Baker had won the Student
of the Year award for which he was congratulated by Faculty Senate.
Report of the Graduate Student Organization
President. None.
Report of Administrative Officers
Provost McNairy announced a conference that will be held in the Fall
concerning Faculty Professional Development and Scholarship. Provost
McNairy also expressed appreciation to faculty for their efforts this
past year as the year has been particularly demanding.
Mary Glazier spoke briefly about strategies for strengthening the
Freshman year, how to expand Freshman orientation, how to encourage
improved study habits, and how to better deal with student alcohol use.
The FYE Committee had met earlier in February to brainstorm some
solutions. (see attachment).
Dr. Phillips added that it was imperative that faculty stress the
importance of academic integrity to their students and encouraged this
emphasis to be clearly articulated in all syllabi. The Provost also
encouraged members to take this message back to our departments.
Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Jim Fenwick who is Acting Chair for UCPRC presented the following
proposals:
(1) Communication and Theatre: Change in course title from Acting to
Acting II. Change in number from 211 to 230.
(2) Psychology 335: Personality Theory; Gen. Ed G3 designation is sought
effective as of Fall 2000.
(3) Chemistry 110: Course description has been changed for CHEM 110 and
the course will now count toward elective block.
(4) Ed Foundations: To raise the GPA prerequisite for student teaching
from 2.00 to 2.5.
These proposals will be considered at the meeting of Senate on June 13.
Reports of the Faculty Special Committees
Dr. Kathy Schreiber reported that the Honor Code Ad Hoc Committee had met
for a second time and planned to keep in touch by e-mail over the summer
months.
Proposed Courses and Programs
The following courses were approved by the Senate:
(1) New Undergraduate Course: ART 327-Art for the Exceptional Child, 3
credits. An elective for Special Education, Elementary and Art Education
majors. Effective Fall 2000. Note: The original cover page for the
proposal has the course listed as Art 127. The number has been changed to
Art 327, which more accurately reflects the rigor and sophistication of
the course content.
(2) New Graduate Course: NURS 530-Medically Vulnerable Populations and
the Health Care System, 3 credits. A graduate elective. Effective Fall
2000.
Faculty Emeritus
A Mowrey/Luek motion recommending that the title of Assistant Professor
of Wellness and Sport Sciences Emeritus be granted to Sandra L. Peters
(see attachment) passed unanimously.
A Mowrey/Dorman motion recommending that the title of Professor of
Wellness and Sport Sciences Emeritus be granted to Dr. William V. Kahler
(see attachment) passed unanimously.
A Kruse/Warmkessel motion recommending that the title of Assistant
Professor of Social Work Emeritus be granted to Dr. J. Robin Robb (see attachment) passed unanimously.
Change in Membership of the Faculty-Student Athletic Committee
A Frerichs/Rosenthal motion to approve Changes 1 & 2 (see below)
regarding membership of non-coaching faculty on the Faculty-Student
Athletic Committee was passed.
Change 1 1b-Change from "Three non-coaching faculty members are elected
by the Faculty Senate for overlapping terms of three years." to
"Three faculty members, who do not have assigned responsibilities in the
athletic program, are elected by the Faculty Senate for overlapping terms
of three years."
Change 2 1g-Change from "The chairperson is a faculty senator elected by
Faculty Senate at the first senate meeting of the Fall semester for a
three year term, provided he/she retains Senate membership. This person
is in addition to the three non-coaching faculty members elected by
Faculty Senate." to
"The chairperson is a faculty senator, who does not have assigned
responsibilities in the athletic program, elected by Faculty Senate at
the first senate meeting of the Fall semester for a three year term,
provided he/she retains Senate membership. ,This person is in addition to
the three faculty members, who are elected by Faculty Senate and do not
have assigned responsibilities in the athletic program."
The motion passed unanimously.
Approval of Updated Undergraduate and Graduate Course/Program
Cover Sheets
The updated cover sheets (See Minutes from April 18, 2000) were approved.
They will be available on disk in the office of each Dean, from Dr.
Stager, from Dr. Piperberg and in most Department offices.
The Wearing of Stoles and Cords at Commencement
In her capacity as Chairperson of the Joint Senate Conference Committee,
Melinda Rosenthal made the following recommendations: (1) that graduating
members of University sanctioned academically-based honorary
organizations be permitted to indicate their membership in those
organizations by wearing cords in colors other than gold, silver or other
colors that have been previously approved for University/Departmental
honors. and (2) that students chosen for membership in such organizations
receive public recognition of this distinction (e.g., receiving their
cords or having their names read at the Honors Convocation just prior to
their graduation).
There ensued a lengthy discussion of the feasibility of implementing this
change for the May Commencement. Dr. Stager declared unequivocally that
it was too late to enact such a substantial change to the Commencement
ceremony for this year. It was also argued whether it was fair that only
academically-based organizations should be able to award such
decorations. It was further noted that many organizations were already
giving out decorative cords without permission of the Commencement
Committee. Becky Mowrey suggested that we postpone a vote until more
information was made available. The motion to postpone was seconded by
Jim Fenwick and passed unanimously.
Other/New Business None.
The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jen Miller
Recorder
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