I. Minutes

The draft of the minutes from the November 16 meeting were approved as distributed.

II. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson

Elections for the Faculty Senate Officers will be conducted in the January 18, 2005 meeting. Chairperson Kerper encouraged all senators to consider their candidacy for the leadership positions to be filled.

III. Report of the Student Senate President

The Student Senate will be holding the last meeting of the fall semester this Thursday. We will be meeting with Mayor Moriarty and President to the Borough Council, Maryann Gerber, on how to improve town and gown relations as well as why it's important for students to be engaged in borough matters. We also will be having our secret buddy gift exchange. Last week, the Senate voted Jon Brosey as Senator of the Month for his continuous contribution and initiatives in the Senate. We are currently working on an advocacy campaign for the PASSHE and BSGP in efforts to keep tuition rates low for the next budget year. The Student Discount Card is coming along very nicely. Our launch date is projected to be January 10th. This is an effort to improve town and gown relations, and so far, all businesses have been positive with this!

IV. Report of the Graduate Student Organization

A survey was prepared and distributed to graduate students. The survey is asking for students' input on what they want the Graduate Student Organization to do. An open house is scheduled for graduate students and faculty for December 18, 2004. All are encouraged to attend.

V. Report of Administrative Officers

President McNairy

President McNairy encouraged the Faculty Senate to attend December commencement.

Provost Prabhu

Provost Prabhu reminded the Faculty Senate that the deadline for announcement of sabbaticals is December 15. Faculty contracts for the upcoming winter session should have been issued by the date of this meeting.

VI. Report of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees

UCPRC

Second Reading
New Courses- EDFN 386, 387, 388 - Topics of Educational Foundations Effective Date: Summer 2005
The proposal was approved.

GCPRC

First Reading
New Course- EDSE 521- Contemporary Issues in Secondary Education
Discussion of the course, proposed to carry a prerequisite of admission to Advanced Professional Studies (APS), will wait until a program proposal for the course to be included in APS is approved.

VII. Reports of Faculty Senate Special Committees

Academic Standards

Senator Piperberg, chair of the Committee, informed the Faculty Senate that hearings for students being dismissed from the university will not be conducted during winter break. Due to the shortness of the break this year, there will not be enough time to conduct these hearings.

VIII. Faculty Emeritus

None.

IX. Other/New Business

Senator Rosenthal asked for clarification on the vote from last meeting on the First Year Seminars Pilot proposed by the General Education Task Force. It was clarified that the vote was to endorse the proposal to pilot test 10 First Year Seminars Sessions in the fall of 2005.

Senator Wismer informed the Faculty Senate that the issue regarding the checks that students are not receiving directly is being resolved. This refers in particular to students in the Biology Department.

Senator Sciarretta asked for clarification on the hearings that will not be conducted during the winter session. Piperberg/Williams motion that read as follows "For students who have been dismissed from the university, no hearings to appeal the decision will be conducted during the 2004 winter break. These students will be allowed to remain in the university if they wish." The motion was passed and approved unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m..

Respectfully Submitted by,

Elba I. Rohena
Secretary