The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Communications & Theatre, Computer Science, English, Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing, and Philosophy.
I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) NEW GRADUATE POLICY
Dual-Numbered Course Policy. Proposal to require a separate syllabus and clear specification of different expectations or assessment relevant for students at the graduate level was approved without dissent.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
RESP 461: Clinical Practicum I, 1 credit. Proposal for a course providing 60 hours of supervised clinical experience was approved without dissent.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
RESP 462: Clinical Practice II, 2 credits. Proposal for a course with clinical and diagnostic skill labs in critical care therapeutics and patient management followed by a supervised clinical practice rotation was approved without dissent.
(4) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
RESP 463: Clinical Practicum II, 2 credits. Proposal for a course providing 120 hours of supervised clinical experience was approved without dissent.
(5) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
RESP 464: Clinical Practicum III, 10 credits. Proposal for a course providing 600 hours of supervised clinical experience devoted to refinement of skills through practice was approved without dissent.
(6) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
BIOL 140: Introductory Ecology, 4 credits, G2, L. Proposal for course studying the interactions of living organisms with the environment was approved without dissent.
(7) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, Allied Health Technology, options in Medical Technology, Nuclear Medicine Pre-Athletic Training. Proposal to align courses with new biology curriculum, reduce credits to meet 120-credit limit, and add minimum grade pre-requisites for BIOL100/101 was approved without dissent.
(8) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, Allied Health Technology, option in Respiratory Therapy. Proposal to align courses with new biology curriculum, reduce credits to meet 120-credit limit, and waive the Perspectives requirement was approved without dissent.
It was suggested that the three open elective credits for General Education be waived instead of the Perspectives requirement. It was noted that several other programs already use the P waiver.
(9) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, Biology, option in Respiratory Therapy. Proposal to align the clinical courses with the BS ALHT Respiratory Therapy option was approved without dissent.
(10) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, Biology, option in Medical Technology. Proposal to correct oversight of PHYS131 in approved curriculum revision and reduce biology elective credits from 9 to 8 was approved without dissent.
(11) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ERCH 315: Family and Community: Aspects of Diversity, 3 credits, W, D. Proposal for course focused on collaborative relationship building between home, school, and community that positively impacts child development was approved without dissent.
(12) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ENGL 241H: Explorations in World Literature, 3 credits, G1, W. Proposal for a course investigating connections among a selection of literary works from diverse traditions, periods, and cultures to be required for all students entering the University Honors College was approved without dissent.
III. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
IV. Report of the Student Senate President
V. Report of the Graduate Student Association
VI. Report of the Administrative Officers
Provost Prabhu commented on the collaborative process used to review low-enrollment programs at Millersville as requested by PASSHE. He noted that three programs have been placed in moratorium: 1) Associate of Science in Chemistry; 2) Associate of Science in Computer Science; 3) Master of Science in Biology. Dr. Prabhu also noted the challenges that still remain for programs in foreign languages and commented on ways that collaborations with other PASSHE schools are being explored.
It was noted that removing some low-enrollment degrees, like the AS CHEM, do not save any resources because all their courses are still being offered as part of other degrees. Discussion was held regarding the future of programs and faculty in foreign languages. It was noted that minors in these programs were not part of initial discussions with PASSHE. A comment was made about how foreign language courses play a key role for programs like International Studies. The effect on Special Education has not been addressed directly yet. The concept of collaborative programs and partnerships, like the MSW program with Shippensburg, was emphasized as part of future program changes.
Dr. Prabhu also discussed issues related to the unclear state of the budget and the need for work with Deans and departments to find more ways to cut costs or generate income. He noted that some cuts will be implemented but avoiding faculty retrenchment is a priority. Dr. Prabhu indicated that increased student enrollments in courses will be needed and the importance of transfer students for this. The effect of the budget on sabbaticals was questioned and noted to be reduced to help avoid faculty retrenchment. Concerns were expressed about the difficulties that transfer students have getting into classes that are already full and how HACC students specifically can be encouraged. Dr. Prabhu agreed that issues of class sizes and accommodating more students are serious problems we will need to continue to address.
Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Associate Provost Burns indicated that Middle States will vote on Millersville reaccreditation this month. He also commented that MU will be pursuing different areas in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Director of Distance Learning and Off-Campus Education
Mr. Anspacher reported on D2L implementation, fall course conversions, and installation of an upgrade (Version 9). He encouraged faculty to take advantage of training resources. Senator Mowrey expressed appreciation for the efforts to support faculty and students during the accelerated implementation of D2L on campus.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
Dr. Schneller reported on several campus initiatives, including speakers, pilot studies with faculty on STARS (Student Artifact Repository Study) Project, a second pilot study of diversity courses, and Wabash teacher-scholar workshops on liberal arts.
First Readings
GCPRC
(1) CHANGE TO GRADUATE COURSE
EDTE 590: Information Literacy Through Guided Inquiry, 3 credits. Proposal to allow EDTE 590 to be offered in online format.
A GCPRC request that EDTE 590 be granted a waiver of the two-meeting rule was approved without dissent.
(13) CHANGE TO GRADUATE COURSE
EDTE 590: Information Literacy Through Guided Inquiry, 3 credits. Proposal to allow EDTE 590 to be offered in online format was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE TO GRADUATE CURRICULUM
Masters of Arts, History. Proposal to adjust admissions, course, and testing requirements for the Masters of Arts in History.
UCPRC
Senator Smith thanked members of UCPRC for work over the past year, noted that UCPRC does not meet over the summer, and reminded faculty that D-course proposals for expedited review will be accepted through August. Dr. Smith also announced new course proposal forms are available online.
(3) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ENGL 487: Seminar in Teaching Writing, 3 credits, W. Proposal to add the W label to ENGL 487.
(4) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BSE, English. Proposal to instate ENGL 311: Advanced Composition as a pre- or co-requisite for ENGL 487: Teaching Writing.
(5) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BSE, English. Proposal to require ENGL 486: Teaching Reading and ENGL 487: Teaching Writing as prerequisites for ENGL 488 (renumbered from 485): Teaching English.
(6) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
HIST 206: World to 1500, 3 credits, W. Proposal to retain the W label for HIST 206.
(7) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SSCI 203H: Explorations in the History of Ideas, 3 credits, G3, W. Proposal for a course studying topics in intellectual history, with an emphasis on the development of the ‘West’ and its interactions with other civilizations and cultures.
(8) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 351[456]: Digital Imaging, 3 credits. Proposal to renumber ITEC 456 to ITEC 351 and revise/update the syllabus to serve as a replacement for the ITEC 350 elective for Communications majors.
(9) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 355: Contemporary Printing, 3 credits. Proposal to change the course title and revise/update the syllabus.
(10) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 357: Packaging & Specialty Printing, 3 credits. Proposal for a course to study the problems and processes related to printing and converting in package, label and specialty printing industries.
(11) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, ITEC major, Graphic Communication option; BS, ITEC major, General Industrial Technology option; AT, ITEC major, Graphic Communication option; BSE, Technology Education major; ITEC minor, Graphic Communication option; ITEC minor, General Industrial Technology option. Proposal to modify ITEC programs to incorporate new and revised courses.
UCPRC proposed a waiver of the two-meeting rule for several courses. The proposal to waive the two-meeting rule for HIST206, SSCI203H, ITEC351, ITEC355, ITEC357, and ITEC program changes was approved without dissent.
(14) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
HIST 206: World to 1500, 3 credits, W. Proposal to retain the W label for HIST 206 was approved without dissent.
(15) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SSCI 203H: Explorations in the History of Ideas, 3 credits, G3, W. Proposal for a course studying topics in intellectual history, with an emphasis on the development of the ‘West’ and its interactions with other civilizations and cultures was approved without dissent.
(16) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 351[456]: Digital Imaging, 3 credits. Proposal to renumber ITEC 456 to ITEC 351 and revise/update the syllabus to serve as a replacement for the ITEC 350 elective for Communications majors was approved without dissent.
(17) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 355: Contemporary Printing, 3 credits. Proposal to change the course title and revise/update the syllabus was approved without dissent.
(18) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ITEC 357: Packaging & Specialty Printing, 3 credits. Proposal for a course to study the problems and processes related to printing and converting in package, label and specialty printing industries was approved without dissent.
(19) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS, ITEC major, Graphic Communication option; BS, ITEC major, General Industrial Technology option; AT, ITEC major, Graphic Communication option; BSE, Technology Education major; ITEC minor, Graphic Communication option; ITEC minor, General Industrial Technology option. Proposal to modify ITEC programs to incorporate new and revised courses was approved without dissent.
Senators were reminded of the importance of two meetings for review of proposals and asked to limit requests for waivers.
VIII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Special Committees
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ryan Wagner
Acting Secretary of the Senate