Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

March 1st, 2006

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

________________________________________________________________________

The tenth meeting of the 2005-2006 year was called to order at 12:10 PM.

Members Present:

Emenyonu (Accounting), Slomba (Art), Vu (Art), Maloney (Athletics), Lerud (Biology), Pang (Chemistry), Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT), DaPonte (Computer Science), Smith  (Couns/Sch Psych), Fullmer (Earth Science), Mills (Econ/Finance), Corbett (Education), Diamantis (Education), Madonia (Ed Leadership), Larocco (English), Johnson (English), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Pelayo (Foreign Language), Piemontese (Foreign Language), Sakalowsky (Geography), Amerman (History), Madison (History), Dunklee (Journalism), McGinn (Library Science), Hedreen (Library Services), Stepanovich (Management), Prince (Marketing), Dennis (Math), Brin (Math),  O’Brien (Media Studies), Wagner (Nursing), Aronson (Nursing), Anderson (Part-time Faculty), Capone (Part-time Faculty), Gilliand (Philosophy), Enjalran (Physics), Buterbaugh (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Brancazio (Psychology), Smith (Recreation/Leisure), Cusato (Science Ed/Env Stud), Dripchak (Social Work), Bloch (Sociology), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Nye (Theatre)

Members Absent:

LaDousa (Anthropology), Petroski (Communication), Lawler (Counseling), Blackmer (English), Yang (Exercise Science), Reynaga (Library Services), Kuss (Music), Roman (Part-time Faculty), Young (Part-time Faculty), Keenan (Social Work), Brucker (Special Ed/Reading)

The minutes of February 15th, 2006 were approved.

Guest Speaker:

• Mrs. Marcia Smith-Glasper, Office of Diversity and Equity was the guest speaker and she began by discussing the role of the Diversity and Equity Office.  She indicated that she has responsibilities in four areas:
• Evaluation and Review of the SCSU Diversity Plan
• Diversity Training
• Contract Compliance
• Complaint Processing
• Mrs. Smith-Glasper also discussed the ongoing diversity training programs at SCSU and indicated that she is concerned by the lack of faculty attendance.  She noted that diversity training is mandated by state law since that was enacted in 2003.  She asked the senators why they felt more faculty did not attend and also responded to questions from the senators.

Announcements:

· Senator Fullmer indicated that a comet is now visible in the Eastern sky between 3:30 – 4:30 am.

· Senator Diamantis asked senators for feedback on ways to increase faculty participation at commencement.  While she indicated that they should email her with suggestions, there was some discussion indicating that two major reasons for low attendance centered around having commencement at the Tennis Center rather than on campus and not having an indoor back-up in the event of inclement weather.  Some senators felt that the football stadium would be a much better choice than the Tennis Center and that the field house could be used in the event of rain.

· Senator Nye announced that Pippin will be presented the next two weekends.

· Joe Fields announced that on March 8^th, Branford Marsalis will present a concert highlighting music by Senator Kuss of the Music Department.  The concert will be at Woolsey Hall at Yale University.

President’s Report:

The President’s Report was distributed.  President DaPonte highlighted the following:

• President DaPonte met with President Norton on 2/23/06 and discussed a number of issues including the pending resolution on sufficient student courses.
• President DaPonte met with the Athletic Board and learned that a Policy on Workplace Threats and Violence was established in 1998.
• President DaPonte urged senators to attend the CSU Lobby Day on March 29, 2006

UCF Update – Joe Fields

• There was no report.

Graduate Council Update – Jon Bloch

• There was no report.

At this point, Senator Johnson made a motion to move the agenda to Old Business.  The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business

• Senator Bloch reintroduced the Academic Policy Resolution in Support of Moving the Deadline for Submission of Final Grades to a Later Date.
• This resolution was a revision of the resolution that was postponed from the February 15^th senate meeting.
• Following brief discussion, the question was called.  There being no objection to calling the question, the main motion was put to a vote. 
• The resolution passed by unanimous vote.

New Business

• President DaPonte asked for a motion to waive the 48 hour rule to permit discussion of the ad hoc committee’s Resolution in Support of the Provost’s Role in Mediation and Disciplinary Action Concerning Faculty.  The motion passed by unanimous vote.
• Senator Larocco provided an overview of the rationale for the resolution and following discussion and the acceptance of four friendly amendments, the question was called.  There being no objection to calling the question, the resolution was put to a vote.
• The resolution passed by unanimous vote.

• Senator Bloch introduced the Academic Policy Resolution in Support of New Grades Replacing Old Grades When Students Retake a Course.
• There was extensive discussion both pro and con concerning the resolution.  Some senators felt that the resolution would actually result in lower standards by permitting students to re-take a course to replace the old grade.  Other senators felt that the resolution afforded students a better opportunity for academic success and increase student motivation to re-take the course successfully.
• During discussion, Senator DaPonte asked for a motion to waive the 1:45 pm rule.  This motion passed unanimously.
• Senator Dunklee introduced an amendment to the resolution stating that when a student re-takes a course, the highest grade be used to calculate the GPA.  The motion was seconded by Senator Mills.  Following discussion on the amendment, the question was called, and the amendment was defeated.
• Following, discussion resumed on the original resolution until the question was called.  There being no objection to calling the question, the resolution was put to a vote.
• The final vote was:  17 yea, 17 nay, and 5 abstain.  With the tie vote, the motion was defeated.

The senate adjourned at 2:00 PM.

Respectively Submitted,

Robert E. Jirsa, Ph.D.

Secretary of the Senate