http://www.scsu.ctstateu.edu/organizations/facultysenate

The second meeting of the 2001-2002 year was called to order at 12:15 PM.

Members Present:

Brownell (Art), Lavin (Art), Coburn-Enquist (Communication), Jirsa (ComDisorder/MFT), DaPonte (Computer Science), Lawler (Counseling), Nwachuku (Couns/SchPsych), Fullmer (Earth Science), Thorson (Econ/Finance), Corbett (Education), Cairns (Ed Leadership), Petrie (English), Hood (English), Johnson (English), Mee (Exercise Science), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Verplaetse (Foreign Language), Sakalowsky (Geography), Judd (History), Petto (History), Dunklee (Jounalism), Bielefield (Library Science), Schofield-Bodt (Library Science), Prince (Marketing), Bennett (Math), Brin (Math), Wallace (Nursing), Young (Part-time faculty), Volkman (Philosophy), Broadbridge (Physics), Paulson (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Kahlbaugh (Psychology), Bulmer (Public Health), Grants (Recreation/Leisure), Cusato (Science Ed/Env Stud), Dripchak (Social Work), Skoczen (Soc & Anthro), Brucker (Special Ed/Reading), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Watts (Theatre)

Visitors:

Tait

Members Absent:

(Accounting), Maloney (Athletics), Martinelli (Biology), Puerschner (Chemistry),Sherman (Communication), (Education), Hernandez (Foreign Language), Wu (Library), Nodoushani (Management), Moss (Music), Prince (Part-time faculty), McCormack (Part-time faculty), Berman (Part-time faculty), Haymes (Social Work),

Presedent Paulson outlined the contents of his "State of the Faculty Senate" (available by request). He noted that this was a report submitted in response to a request at the Senate Retreat. It is a general statement of what he takes to be the shape of the agenda, not a concrete proposal for action. President Paulson called special attention to the following points:

• The Senate is a body whose job is to get things done. In pursuit of that goal, it is crucial that we get clear about what we are doing at each stage of the legislative process.
• The Senate is not a social club or a debating society, but a legislature. We are here to legislate. Some procedural rules may facilitate that process. For example, on certain controversial issues some rules of floor management may be appropriate.
• The Senate’s role in the shared governance of the university should not be thought of as a hierarchy, with the Senate at the top. Rather, the Senate can be seen as at the center of a wheel, with relationships to other faculty bodies that resemble the relationship between the U.S. Congress and the E.P.A. We create faculty bodies like the U.C.F., but we do not direct the day-to-day implementation of policy.
• It is important to take great care in our legislation, since even the misplacement of a comma could have a real affect on people’s lives and careers. It is very important that we do our job well.
• Education is what we do. As a university, we must not allow other considerations to trump our educational goals. Every policy is legitimate to the degree that it supports our educational mission, and illegitimate to the degree that it does not.
• Faculty is responsible for curriculum. We must not compromise on this principle.
• The specific details of our legislation have an impact on people’s lives and careers. For example, the P&T documents are now in serious need of repair. They are internally incoherent. How we craft the corrections to this document will have an impact for years to come, and we must be very careful to get it right.
• We are at a crossroads at SCSU–the likely introduction of an Ed.D. program, the current construction projects, and the fact that our campus is becoming more residential all speak to the changes we are going through.
• In all of this, we must not forget our mission to deliver a quality education. And we do that. In fact, we are the best educational institution for most of the students of Connecticut. We must not forget who we are. We are not Yale, nor should we be. For most students, we offer the best overall education. We must continue to do so.

Senator Hood announced that there will be a conference on writing, October 20.

J. Tait announced an AAUP-sponsored academic forum, "A Conversation on Boundaries Between Departments and Faculty Councils Concerning Curricular Issues," October 3, 1:05-1:55, EN 112.

President Paulson announced that the Presidential Dialogue scheduled for November 15 has been rescheduled for November 6.

J. Tait reported that the UCF will receive the final report from the Writing Board and a proposal for action at its September 27 meeting. There have been significant changes from earlier proposals. The UCF is soliciting input on this new proposal from the faculty. This should be an item for Departments to discuss with their UCF representatives. On the suggestion of Senator Schofield-Bodt, copies of the relevant documents will be put on reserve in the library for review by faculty.

The UCF is revising its constitution. A draft of the revisions has come out of committee, and is currently under discussion in the UCF. In an attempt to reach a consensus on the new constitution, the UCF would like wider faculty input. We should expect a public draft by the end of the semester.

Standing Committee Reports:

1. Rules: No Report
2. Personnel Policy: No Report
3. Student Policy:
• A proposed policy on student misconduct is under work. The committee requests feedback on the draft distributed earlier.
• The Disabilities Resource Office has been contacted about concerns that disabled students are finding it hard to navigate around campus, due to the renovations in progress. A meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 1 between those responsible for facilities and a group of disabled students. This is an ongoing issue, and new information will be presented to the Senate as it becomes available.
• Senator Schofield-Bodt spoke with a representative of the new food service about the closing of the Bagel Wagon and concerns over the recent price increases. Apparently, the choice of a food service provider was open to bids, item by item, and overall prices would have increased even if the old provider had been retained. If the price increases seem overly extravagant, perhaps the committee could become more investigative about this, but for now it seems that these increases would have occurred in any case. There is no good interim location for the Bagel Wagon until the Engelman rotunda is reopened. The operating hours of food service at Davis Hall are in a state of flux right now, since demand there has been inconsistent.
4. Technology:
• All the high-tech classrooms are currently up and running. However, some rooms were not completed to earlier specifications. ETAC will now decide whether to upgrade existing high-tech classrooms or create new ones with the remaining budget.
• About 200 faculty have had their computers replaced. More letters regarding upgrades will be sent in November to eligible faculty. Now is the time to offer input about the standard software package.
• Full prerequisite checking is not a standard feature of Banner, and it may cost a considerable sum to add this. Also, Banner currently reports GPAs differently than CSUSIS. Perhaps we should support a policy of getting Banner to handle GPAs as they were handled before.
• Web registration may be available by April, 2002. The Technology Committee would like a sense of the Senate’s views on the desirability of advisors using PIN numbers to authorize students to register online. Essentially, this would be a move to electronic signatures. After some discussion, the matter was sent back to committee to craft a more concrete proposal for further action.
• An AV policy is now in place and can be accessed online at http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/facultysenate/Resolutions/f-00-08.htm. If anyone has a problem, they are urged to document the problem by contacting Senator Petto, and other relevant parties.
5. Academic Policy:
• The committee discussed and revised a resolution to change the late withdrawal policy. The revised resolution is attached to the agenda for today.
6. Elections:
• Certain confusing results of past elections are being cleaned up. The committee will meet next Wednesday (October 3) at Student Center 207.
7. Finance: No Report

1. Elections 2 faculty must be elected to the Library Committee:

Senators R. Jirsa and P. Kalbaugh were nominated. The slate was elected unanimously.

2. Technology Banner Resolution:

1. And the registrar will notify both the student and the instructor and remove from the course rosters all students no longer meeting the prerequisites.

1. And the registrar will notify all students no longer meeting the prerequisites.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 PM

Respectfully submitted,