Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting
April 19, 2006
http://www.scsu.ctstateu.edu/organizations/facultysenate
________________________________________________________________________
The twelfth meeting of the 2005-2006 year was called to order at 12:10 PM.
Members Present:
Emenyonu (Accounting), Vu (Art), Slomba (Art), Lerud (Biology), Pang (Chemistry), Petroski (Communication), Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT), Smith (Couns/Sch Psych), Fullmer (Earth Science), Corbett (Education), Diamantis (Education), Mills (Econ/Finance), Madonia (Ed Leadership), Larocco (English), Blackmer (English), Johnson (English), Yang (Exercise Science), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Pelayo (Foreign Language), Sakalowsky (Geography), Amerman (History), Madison (History), Dunklee (Journalism), McGinn (Library Science), Hedreen (Library Services), Reynaga (Library Services), Stepanovich (Management), Prince (Marketing), Dennis (Mathematics), Brin (Math), O’Brien (Media Studies), Wagner (Nursing), Anderson (Part-time Faculty), Roman (Part-time Faculty), Capone (Part-time Faculty), Gilliland (Philosophy), Enjalran (Physics), Buterbaugh (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Brancazio (Psychology), Bulmer (Public Health), Smith (Recreation/Leisure), Keenan (Social Work), Bloch (Sociology), Brucker (Special Education/Reading), Major (Special Education/Reading), Nye (Theater), Fields (UCF)
Members Absent:
LaDousa (Anthropology), Maloney (Athletics), DaPonte (Computer Science), Lawler (Counseling), Piemontese (Foreign Language), Kuss (Music), Aaronson (Nursing), Young (Part-time Faculty), Cusato (Science Ed/Env Stud), Dripchak (Social Work).
The minutes of April 5, 2006 were approved.
Announcements:
Ř Senator Fullmer announced the 3-screen slide presentation, Patagonia Winter and Summer with a Traverse on the Patagonian Ice Cap, will be presented on Thursday, May 4th at 12:30-1:30 pm in MO 209.
Ř Senator O’Brien reminded everyone of the Cinema du Monde, Brazil, coming up on Friday, 4/28/06 in EN A120.
Ř Senator Hedreen reminded all of the Library survey that was emailed to all for feedback.
Ř Senator Dunklee announced that there will be a lecture on Freedom of Information Law in CT as it related to the university environment, on Friday 4/21, in MO 108.
Ř Senator Major reminded all senators of the open session for faculty and students to visit with the Police Chief candidate on Friday 4/21 in EN B120-121.
President’s Report:
The President’s Report was distributed. Senator Jirsa (in the absence of President DaPonte) highlighted the following:
Discussion followed on concerns that if such instructions on scheduling become a reality, then they should be in writing with an academic impact statement.
Senator Dunklee made the following motion and requested the sense of the Senate, that: Any discussion on rescheduling classes including weekend classes, must be discussed with Senate and faculty prior to decision making and it must include an academic impact statement.
The motion passed with 2 senators abstaining.
Lengthy discussion followed with concerns that the process of P & T is changing, shifting to a new direction. Senator Jirsa shared that when President Norton and Provost Williams met with the P & T committee they expressed concerns that the process lacks specificity and objectivity. The P & T document as well as the Senate document should be more specific with more responsibility to the chairs and DEC on specific requirements and explanations. In addition, there has to be some differentiation between promotion to Associate and to Full Professor. Senators expressed concerns that the understanding of what Creative Activity should be is being misinterpreted. The freedom to interpret creative activity to include a variety of events has allowed faculty to grow in areas specific to their fields. Is this interpretation of what Creative Activity is, changing?
Graduate Council Update – Jon Bloch
Standing Committees:
v Rules Committee: Senator O’Brien reported that the committee is examining the membership on the General Education Task Force.
v Student Policy Committee: Senator Madonia noted that Dr. Heron visited the committee and shared information on the alcohol policy and suicidal policy.
v Technology Committee: Senator Diamantis reported that the committee reviewed the survey from the Information Technology office and made some recommendations to Dr. Chai. The survey will be emailed to all faculty and the responses will assist the Information Technology Office to assess faculty needs and distribute future resources more appropriately. Senator Diamantis encouraged all senators to participate in the survey and announce to their colleagues to do the same.
v Academic Policy Committee: Senator Bloch announced that the committee will be presenting a resolution under Old Business.
v Election Committee: Senator Corbett announced that 139 faculty participated in the All-University Committee elections and 77 participated in the separate UCF elections. Senator Corbett announced that there will be a special election held in the fall 2006 for :
a. 1 member in Academic Standing Committee due to a three-way tie among Peter Intarapanich (Mathematics), Olivier J. C. Nicaise (Chemistry) and Meg Sargent (Communication).
b. 1 alternate member for the Terminations Committee
c. 3 additional members for the CSU Professorship Advisory Committee
d. 1 FASP member from the School of Health and Human Services, and
e. 1 FASP member from the School of Business
Senator Corbett announced that the committee will be meeting next Wednesday to formalize the process of elections.
v Finance Committee: Senator Brucker announced that the traveling funds are deplete, thus, there is a waiting list. She asked that all senators remind the faculty in their department to submit their receipts for payment within 90 days. Senator Brucker announced that at the next Senate meeting the committee will be presenting a resolution on Travel Funds for next year.
v Personnel Policy Committee: Senator Johnson noted that the committee is working on the Renewal document which should be coming to the Senate floor for approval early in the Fall 2006.
The P & T document will be forthcoming next year sometime.
v FASP : Senator Vu announced that the FASP members are discussing what role does FASP will play in the University Strategic Plan and Mission and Vision Statements.
Old Business: Academic Policy Resolution: Affirmation of Grading Policies.
The resolution was presented to the floor and after lengthy discussion there was a motion to postpone this resolution until next meeting. Motion was passed unanimously.
New Business:
Ř Some senators expressed concerns of the new positions created and filled at the Academic Affairs office without official searches being conducted. Concerns were raised on the genesis of positions or creation of such which will impact the current budget which will also negatively impact faculty lines. Other such positions of directors’ have been created elsewhere and a few senators expressed great concerns.
Ř An observation was made that the Fall 2006 last day of final exams is on December 23rd, 2006.
The senate adjourned at 2:00 PM.
Maria Diamantis