I. Minutes of the March 16, 2004 Meeting

A change was suggested to Senator Mowrey's report introducing the proposal from the Special Education Department requesting changes in the requirements for post baccalaureate certification students who enter the program seeking their initial certification. It should read "It is proposed that courses now designated as Block III (Special Education Core and Professional Block, SPED 561/562-Student Teaching or SPED 690 -Clinical Practicum) be designated as Advanced Professional Studies courses. This will help bring the program into compliance with Chapter 354". This change has already been made in the electronic version of the Minutes but was made after distribution of the paper copies of the Minutes.

The Minutes were approved as amended.

II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson

Chairperson Piperberg reminded the Faculty Senate that elections for Senators are to be held before May 31 for the following departments: Business Administration, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Economics, Wellness & Sports Sciences, Nursing, Physics, Psychology, Special Education, and Administrative Faculty.

Chairperson Piperberg congratulated President McNairy on her inauguration as the President of Millersville University on April 3, 2004.

III. Report of the Student Senate President

The Senate held elections on April 1. The new officers include Kristin Albright/President, Alex Brands/VP, Drew Schenk/Treasurer, Jeanne Couchman/Cor. Sec., and Fayth Balsam/Recording Sec. We had a little under 1,000 voters. Last weekend, two senators traveled to Kutztown for the spring BSGP. The Senate will have our banquet tomorrow evening at Dr. McNairy's house. The Senate just recently participated in SOLA's Quiz Bowl and did very well. The Senate has selected the Person of the Year Award Winners. The student is Shaun Gill and the faculty member is Dr. Buddy James. The Senator of the Month for March is Jeanne Couchman.

IV. Report of the Graduate Student Organization--None.

V. Report of Administrative Officers

President McNairy

President McNairy expressed her appreciation for the faculty participation in the Presidential Inauguration activities.

Acting Provost Shane

Acting Provost Shane reported that in order to improve the communication between the Faculty Senate and the Provost regarding proposals submitted for administrative approval, the Provost will inform the Chair of the Senate directly on their receipt and notify him/her about the status of proposals. Copies of the notification to the Faculty Senate Chair will also be sent to the Chairperson of the department from which the proposal originated. The Provost will also look into the possibility of placing a spreadsheet/document online that will show the progress of proposals.

A group of faculty members has been discussing a General Studies major. There is presently no formal procedure to set up such a major. For the time being, activities will be suspended until the Academic Policies Committee proposal on policies regarding interdisciplinary programs is considered at Senate and presumably passed at the April 20 Senate meeting. Senator Kerper presented this proposal later during the meeting. {see Item V, Academic Policies Committee below}

Acting Provost Shane commended the Library's Exhibit on Faculty Scholarship. He expressed the desire to continue with this exhibit after the Presidential Inauguration activities.

Dr. Weinstein will attend the April 20 Senate meeting to inform the Senate about degree specification and recent happenings having to do with assessment. His visit will be placed on the agenda. Three samples of degree specification documents will be distributed to the Senate prior to the next meeting.

Senator Wismer raised a question about the monies from the Summer Revenue Sharing which have not yet been distributed to departments. Senator Wismer explained the hardship that this situation has created in the Chemistry department; they have been unable to buy necessary chemicals and supplies for their labs. Acting Provost Shane responded by assuring the Faculty Senate that the money will be released soon. The delay is a result of some concerns raised at Dean's Council about the equity of the distribution of these monies to the Schools.

Executive Assistant to the President Phillips

Executive Assistant to the President Phillips provided copies of documents dealing with the Winter Session, including the Winter Session Survey Results. {see Attachment #1} She encouraged faculty members to consider Winter Session offerings since they fill a very real need for students. Many students schedule a Winter Session class to facilitate graduating on time. She also announced that a plan for the upcoming Winter Session (Winter Session 2004-2005) will be distributed. She requested that Senators ask their departments to think about what courses in their majors could be offered during the Winter Session, since students have expressed interest in courses in their majors being offered during the Winter session. She also noted that faculty will also have some flexibility, given the shortened time frame for next year, to begin or end classes at different times, in consultation with their Dean. Dr. Phillips also acknowledged the work of the Winter Session Task Force in addressing the new challenge presented by next year's abbreviated winter break.

In order to comply with the State System's Common Calendar Policy, MU is required to start and finish the semester on the same dates as the other State System universities; Spring Break at all 14 universities is also supposed to start and end on the same dates. For the oncoming Spring 2005 semester, in order to comply with the policy, MU will to add a week to the Spring 2005 semester. In order to maintain the same number of instructional days in the Fall and Spring semesters, after lengthening the Spring semester, 4 vacation days must be inserted into the schedule (a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). Executive Assistant to the President Phillips asked for suggestions from Senators about what form these vacation days might take. The Faculty Senate provided Dr. Phillips with a variety of suggestions.

VI. Report of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees

UCPRC

Senator McCotter, Chair of the UCPRC, presented the three following proposals for new undergraduate courses:

SPED 330 - Psychological Aspects of Disability - a new Perspectives (P) course (3 credits) to be offered every other summer starting summer 2005.

ECON 305 - Economics in Film - a new Perspectives (P) course to be offered as an economics elective with a desired effective date of Summer 2004.

HIST 470 - The Vietnam War, a new Perspectives (P) course (3 credits) with a desired effective date of Spring 2004.

GCPRC

Senator Mowrey, Chair of the GCPR presented the following proposal:

WSSD 621- Nutrition for Exercise and Sport, 3 credits. This is a new course to serve as an elective in the Masters in Sport Management program with a desired effective date of Fall 2004.

Senator Mowrey, Chair of the International Studies Curriculum Committee, on behalf of the committee moved that the Faculty Senate recommend a one-year extension in the term of Dr. Robert Bookmiller as the Director of International Studies. The motion passed without dissent.

Academic Policies Committee

Senator Kerper, Chair of the Academic Policies Committee, presented a proposal for Policies Regarding Interdisciplinary Programs to be discussed at the next Faculty Senate meeting. {see Attachment #2}

VII. Report of the Faculty Senate Special Committees--None

VIII. Proposed Courses and Programs

Changes in Courses/Curricula

Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Special Education - The proposal is to change requirements for post baccalaureate certification students who enter the program seeking their initial certification. It is proposed that courses now designated as Block III (Special Education Core and Professional Block, SPED 561/562-Student Teaching or SPED 690 -Clinical Practicum) be designated as Advanced Professional Studies courses. This will help bring the program into compliance with Chapter 354. Approved Effective Date - Spring 2005.

IX. Faculty Emeritus

A resolution supporting Dr. Linda Clark Newman for Professor of History Emerita passed without dissent after a Kervorkian/Newman motion. {see Attachment #3}

A resolution supporting Dr. Cynthia Dilgard for Professor of English Emerita passed without dissent after a Widmayer/Luek motion. {see Attachment #4}

A resolution supporting Dr. John C. Hibberd for Professor of Industry and Technology Emeritus passed without dissent after an Anna/Yalda motion. {see Attachment #5}

A resolution supporting Mr. S. Richard France for Professor of Mathematics Emeritus passed without dissent after a Fenwick/Wismer motion. {see Attachment #6}

A resolution supporting Dr. Guy L. Steucek for Professor of Biology Emeritus passed without dissent after a Piperberg/Luek motion. {see Attachment #7}

A resolution supporting Dr. George Stine for Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Emeritus passed without dissent after a Schaffer/Yalda motion. {see Attachment #8}

A resolution supporting Mrs. Sally Woodward-Miller for Adjunct Professor of History Emeritus passed without dissent after a Widmayer/Sciarretta motion. {see Attachment #9}

X. Ad Hoc Honor Code Committee: Honor Code Proposal and Implementation Plan

The summary submitted by Dr. Schreiber was briefly discussed and some comments and questions will be directed to her. More discussion will wait until some feedback is received from APSCUF.

XI. Timetable for Administrative Review of Course and Curriculum Proposals

Acting Provost Shane suggested earlier in the meeting that the Provost will communicate directly with the Chair of the Faculty Senate on the status of the proposals submitted for administrative approval. This action should remediate the problem of communication between the Faculty Senate and the Administration. It was suggested that in order to remediate the other issue of departments getting the information related to their proposals, department chairs will be sent copies of the memos in which that information is conveyed to the Faculty Senate Chairperson.

XII. Other/New Business--None

The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Elba I. Rohena
Senate Secretary