Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting
May 10th, 2006
http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/facultysenate
________________________________________________________________________
The fifteenth 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), DaPonte (Computer Science), Smith (Couns/Sch Psych), Fullmer
(Earth Science), Mills (Econ/Finance), Corbett (Education), Diamantis
(Education), Madonia (Ed Leadership), Larocco (English), Johnson (English), Yang
(Exercise Science), Pelayo (Foreign Language), Piemontese (Foreign Language), Sakalowsky
(Geography), Amerman (History), Madison (History), Dunklee (Journalism), McGinn
(Library Science), Hedreen (Library Services), Wagner (Nursing), Young
(Part-time Faculty), Capone (Part-time Faculty), Gilliand (Philosophy), Enjalran
(Physics), Buterbaugh (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Brancazio
(Psychology), Bulmer (Public Health), Smith (Recreation/Leisure), Cusato
(Science Ed/Env Stud), Keenan (Social Work), Bloch (Sociology), Brucker
(Special Ed/Reading), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Nye (Theatre)
Members Absent:
LaDousa (Anthropology), Maloney (Athletics), Lawler
(Counseling), Blackmer (English), Rinehardt (Exercise Science), Reynaga
(Library Services), Stepanovich (Management), Prince (Marketing), Dennis (Mathematics),
Brin (Mathematics), O’Brien (Media Studies), Kuss (Music), Aronson (Nursing),
Anderson (Part-time Faculty), Roman (Part-time Faculty), Dripchak (Social Work)
The minutes of April 19th, 2006 were approved as amended.
Announcements:
- President DaPonte asked retiring senators to stand and be
acknowledged for all of their work this past semester.
- Senator Sakalowsky announced that there will be a
geography open house on Thursday, 5/11/06 from 12:00 to 3:00 PM in Morrill 122
- There will be a Gen Ed taskforce workshop in Pelz Gym from
9:30 – 2:30 on Thursday May 11, 2006.
President’s Report:
The President’s Report was distributed. President DaPonte
highlighted the following:
- President DaPonte has been working with the Academic
Affairs department to determine the balance in the faculty retraining
fund. There is currently approximately $4,000 in the fund that can be
transferred to the travel account.
- President DaPonte met with Provost Williams and discussed
a variety of issues. President DaPonte reported on the executive
committee’s breakfast meeting with President Norton, Provost Williams, and
Vice President Blake. The entire meeting was devoted to a discussion of
the promotion and tenure process.
Old Business:
- Senator Bloch re-introduced the Academic Policy Resolution
on the Enforcement of Grading Policies
- The question was called, and the resolution was approved
unanimously
Guest Speakers:
- Dr. Ron Herron, VP for Student and University Affairs
- Dr. Heron shared his views and impressions from his first
semester on campus as well as his plans for the future.
- Following his presentation, he answered questions from
the senators.
- Dr. Al Chai, CIO, Office of Information Technology
- Dr. Chai provided an update on WebCT/Vista
- Following his presentation, he answered questions from
the senators.
- Ms. Amanda Pysh, Office of Human Resources and Dr. Robert
Vanden-Goad, Advisory Committee for Employee Climate Survey.
- Ms. Pysh and Dr. Vanden-Goad provided a description of
the Employee Climate Survey.
- Following the presentations, they answered questions from
the senators.
New Business:
- Promotion and Tenure Letter Discussion – Senator Larocco
- Senator Larocco presented a letter addressed to President
Norton that he drafted as President-elect of the AAUP. He wanted to present
the letter to the Senate and have a straw vote from the senate indicating
their support of the letter.
- There was much discussion, both yea and nay, regarding
the contents and the purpose of the letter.
- Following discussion, President DaPonte called for a
straw vote. The results of the straw vote in support of the letter
were: 14 yea, 8 nay, and 4 abstentions.
The senate adjourned at 2:00 PM.
Robert E. Jirsa, Ph.D.
Secretary of the Senate