Unapproved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

September 11, 2002

 

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

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The first meeting of the 2002-2003 year was called to order at 12:15 PM.

 

The minutes of May 8, 2002 and the August 22nd Senate retreat, 2002 were approved.

 

Members Present:

Rogers (Antrhopology), Brownell (Art), Lavin (Art), Martinelli (Bioloby), Puerschner (Chemistry), Ullian (Communication), Jirsa (ComDisorder/MFT), DaPonte (Computer Science), Lawler (Counseling), De Barbieri (Counseling/School Psychology), Fullmer (Earth Science), Corbett (Education), Diamantis (Education), Diffley (Ed Leadership), Pritchard (English), Hood (English), Johnson (English), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Hernandez (Foreign Language), Verplaetse (Foreign Language), Amerman (History), Petto (History), Dunklee (Jounalism), Bielefield (Library Science), Klassen (Library Services), Wu (Library Services), Oppedisano (Management), Prince (Marketing), Bennett (Math), Brin (Math), O’Brien (Media Studies), Kuss (Music), Wagner (Nursing), Prince (Part-time faculty), Dobbins (Part-time faculty), Young (Part-time faculty), Pettigrew (Philosophy), Broadbridge (Physics), Paulson (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Kahlbaugh (Psychology), Bulmer (Public Health), Dripchak (Social Work), Keenan (Social Work), Brucker (Special Ed/Reading), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Watts (Theatre)

 

Members Absent:

(Accounting), Maloney (Athletics), Thorson (Economics/Finance), Mee (Exercise Science), Sakalowsky (Geography) Jexey Jack (Part-time faculty), Grants (Recreation/Leisure)

 

Visitors

James Tait, UCF

 

President’s Report:

President Paulson reported on the new location for senate meetings, the faculty senate retreat, the dates for the Presidential Dialogues (9/30, 10/29, and 12/2 at 1:00 PM in the Faculty Dining Room of the Student Center), the dates for the Presidential Breakfast meetings with members of the Executive Committee (9/24, 10/23, and 12/5).  Also the dates of future senate meetings were presented subject to Executive Board approval.  President Paulson also announced that President Adanti, Executive Vice President Jim Blake, and Vice President J. Philip Smith, will visit the Senate on 9/25 to discuss the fiscal condition of the state, the university budget, and the impact of the budget on academic affairs.

 

 

The State of the Faculty Senate (2002) (attached):

President Paulson presented his State of the Faculty Senate Report.  In his report, President Paulson reviewed many of the issues discussed at the Faculty Senate Retreat in August 2002.  He noted that the primary focus of the university should be on academic issues and that the Faculty Senate should be at the forefront in shared governance where education is the number 1 priority for all institutional decision-making.  President Paulson stressed five initiatives for this academic year.

·        Establishment of an alliance with the Office of Academic Affairs

·        Ensure that an academically driven Academic Strategic Plan is brought to fruition.

·        Pass a Senate Resolution for Presidential approval requiring that all administrative decisions on university policy be accompanied by an Academic Impact Statement

·        Ask the Academic Policy Committee to develop language, to be inserted in the “whereas” paragraphs of all resolutions, that states the primacy of academic priorities in all university policies

·        Continue to assume an increased responsibility for faculty governance with specific responsibility for coordinating activities between Standing Committees of the Senate and related autonomous faculty committees to prevented wasted duplicity of function.

 

Announcements:

Kerry Grant, former faculty member and senator, is visiting campus and wished to extend his greetings to members of the Senate.  The Senate returned the greeting.

 

Minutes

The minutes of May 8, 2002 were approved as well as the minutes of the Faculty Senate Retreat of August 22, 2002.

 

UCF Update

Jim Tait reported on the status of the UCF Constitution.  A draft of the constitution has been sent to the Senate; however, Jim Tait requested a delay to permit the UCF to modify the proposed constitution to include a means for a faculty referendum on UCF proposals.  This generated discussion among senators over the need for a referendum provision in the UCF constitution since, as an autonomous committee of the Senate, the UCF constitution would be subject to the referendum procedures specified in the Senate Constitution.  It was pointed out, however, that the Senate referendum protocol is quite restrictive and that, consequently, it would be good for the UCF to have its own policy.  A sense of the senate was taken and there was no objection to giving the UCF a couple of more weeks to work on the constitution; however, a majority of Senators felt that a separate UCF referendum policy was not required.

 

Standing Committees

The senate recessed for 15 minutes to allow the standing committees to meet, elect chairs, and review agendas for the coming year.

 

Standing Committee Reports:

 

1.                  Academic Policy:

·        Senator James Fullmer was re-elected Chair

·        In setting priorities, the committee will work initially on the Academic Impact Statement and wording to establish the primacy of academic priorities in all university policies

 

2.                  Elections:

·        Senator Kay Corbett was elected Chair

·        The first order of business will be to hold a referendum on the Constitutional changes approved last spring

 

3.                  Finance:

·        Senate Treasurer, Pam Brucker, will assume the Chairpersonship of the committee

 

4.                  Personnel Policy:

·        Senator Arlene Bielfield was re-elected Chair

·        A primary focus this year will be the development of the Tri-annual Faculty Satisfaction Survey

 

5.                  Rules:

·        Senator Karl Rinehardt was elected Chair

 

6.                  Student Policy:

·        Senator Sandy Bulmer was elected Chair

·        Primary focal points this year will be improve customer service for students and the allocation of student fees

 

7.                  Technology:

·        Senator Len Brin was elected Chair

·        Primary focal points this year will be: Banner, on-line SCSU, MyScsu, Faculty computer acquisition program, continued integration of technology into the curriculum, and high tech classrooms.

 

Senator Paulson thanked outgoing chairs:  Patricia Major (Rules) and Christine Petto (Technology) for their past dedication and outstanding service as standing committee chairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Business:

There was no old business

 

New Business:

1.      Senator DaPonte expressed concern regarding the tuition discounts given summer school students for general education courses.  First, these decisions were made without faculty input.  Second, because Computer Science does not have any general education courses in the summer, 13 of 21 Computer Science courses were cancelled because of low enrollment.  Senator DaPonte would like the Senate to look into this policy.

 

2.      Senator Kalbaugh indicated a problem in Psychology in that the university does not offer enough courses for the number of students wanting the courses.  This has the effect of restricting the number of majors in Psychology.  This policy needs to be examined and remedial action taken.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 1:54 PM

 

Respectively submitted,

 

Robert E. Jirsa

Secretary of the Senate