Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

September 27, 2006

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

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The second meeting of the 2006-2007 year was called to order at 12:10 PM.

Members Present:

Emenyonu (Accounting), Manzella (Anthropology), Slomba (Art),  Maloney (Athletics), Lerud (Biology), Pang (Chemistry), Petroski (Communication), DaPonte (Computer Science), Smith (Couns./Sch Psych), Fullmer (Earth Science), Mills (Econ/Finance), Diamantis (Education), Madonia (Ed Leadership), Larocco (English), Blackmer (English), Johnson (English), Reinhartd (Exercise Science), Swartz (Exercise Science), Pelayo (Foreign Language), Piemontese (Foreign Language), Sakalowsky (Geography), Amerman (History), Madison (History), Dunklee (Journalism),  Clerc (Library Services), Reynaga (Library Services), Stepanovich (Management), Prince (Marketing), Dennis (Mathematics), Brin (Mathematics), O’Brien (Media Studies), Wagner (Nursing), Aronson (Nursing), Young (Part-time Faculty), Capone (Part-time Faculty), Gilliland (Philosophy), Enjalran (Physics), Buterbaugh (Political Science), Sherman (Psychology), Cameron (Social Work), Keenan (Social Work), Bloch (Sociology), Brucker (Special Ed/Reading), Major (Special Ed/Reading), Nye (Theatre), Fields (UCF)

Members Absent:

Vu (Art),  Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT), Lawler (Counseling), McGinn (Library Science), Kuss (Music), Anderson (Part-time Faculty), Roman (Part Time), Brancazio (Psychology), Smith (Recreation/Leisure), Cusato (Science Ed/ Env. Stud).

The minutes of September 13, 2006 were approved.

Announcements:  No announcements.

Guests:  President Cheryl Norton and Provost Selase Williams.

Dr. Norton commented on the great start of the academic year with the Fall Convocation and the Adanti Center dedication.  It was an event that was celebrated by many who attended.  Dr. Norton also announced the conference scheduled for October 6 presented by the United Way and hosted at Southern Connecticut State University, at the Adanti Student Center Ballroom.  Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat and a Pulitzer Prize winning author will be the speaker.

President Norton also announced information on Chancellor’s Carter Inauguration, which will take place on October 20, 2006 at Central Connecticut State University.  Busses will be leaving Southern to bring faculty and staff to the Inauguration.  She urged faculty to attend since Dr. Williams is in charge of presenting the faculty for the event.

Provost Williams updated the Senate on the University Strategic Planning and announced the two Town Hall meetings that are scheduled to allow feedback from the Southern community.  The first Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 29, 1-3 pm, in EN A 120.  He encouraged all to attend to provide feedback on the Mission statement, Vision statement, Core Values, and the Overarching Goals that the Steering committee has drafted.  The second Town Hall meeting will be on November 3, 2-4 pm, in EN A 120.

Provost Williams announced the reinstatement of the midterm grades and announced that they will be entered on Banner starting this semester.  This will allow students to access their midterm grades and it will also strengthen our retention rates.  The midterm grades reporting is a mandatory event for all undergraduates and it is a voluntary event for graduate students.  The Graduate council is going to examine the midterm reports for the graduate level.

Provost Williams also announced that the university is planning to start a First Year Experience program starting fall 2007.  This will also strengthen our retention and graduation rates and it will provide students academic and advising support through their first year at Southern.

President Norton announced the Sophomore Success program, which was offered this summer for first time to 125 invited sophomores.  Forty five of them attended, most of them with their parents, at which time they were advised on GPA, matriculation, minimum grades to succeed, etc.  In addition, they were offered to sign a contract, an agreement, to be followed next academic year to put them back on a successful track for graduation.  This program was designed and delivered by Dr. Heron and Dr. Williams along with advising staff and faculty.

Provost Williams also announced that there will be an examination and strategic conversion of Part Time Faculty to Full Time status to assist academic departments. 

A lengthy period on questions and answers followed at which time senators voiced their concerns on the reporting of midterm grades.

A question also was raised on the over-enrollment of students for this academic year.  The Enrollment Management Committee saw this coming early in the year and alerted the Deans to take action on adding more sections of the courses in need.  The budget was approved to find additional faculty to cover those classes.  In addition, the Enrollment Management Committee closed the application process on July 1, 2006, once the admissions office reached the numbers desired and they are looking into closing the admissions by June 1, 2007, with possible extension if numbers are not reached. 

Although there is a head count of 330 that reflects an increase of student this year, the FTE didn’t increase, which yields that the part time numbers were increased.  In addition, graduate enrollment is decreased, meaning that the 330 more students were undergraduates and the “stress point” for the university’s enrollment was at the lower level of classes for freshmen and sophomores.

The history with housing was discussed.  In the past students were guaranteed housing even if they were not full time or in good academic standing.  There were simply no housing requirements but as of now the full time students will be given preference along with the transfer students.  

President Norton also addressed questions on the P & T process confirming that she followed the direction of the CBA to evaluate all candidates.   Clear evidence is needed for the quality of teaching.  Lengthy discussion followed on the value of peer review and the evidence required for the P and T file. 

President’s Report:  The President’s report was distributed and the President highlighted the following items:

• President DaPonte announced that he is serving on the steering committee for Chancellor Carter’s Inauguration and urged all faculty to participate.  Bus services will be provided from Southern for all who are interested.
• The remaining Senate meetings for the fall 2006 are:  October 11, October 25, November 8, November 29 and December 13. 
• The December Dialogue date has been changed from Tuesday 12/12/06 to Friday 12/15/06.
• President DaPonte announced that during the Executive committee’s meeting with President Norton, Provost Williams and Vice President Blake, the topics of discussion were the Sense of the Senate on enrollment management and faculty travel funds.
• President DaPonte also announced that the Provost would like two senators to volunteer on a task force committee to review the undergraduate programs.  Two senators wish to volunteer, Judith Mill and Corinne Blackmer.  The elections committee will run off ballots for the next Senate meeting to decide which Senator will be participating in this committee.
• President DaPonte announced that the faculty and staff climate survey will be conducted in the near future.  This year the faculty senate survey of administrative effectiveness will be completed at the same time and urged every faculty to participate.

UCF Update –  Joe Fields:

Ø UCF has no UA at the present time, therefore, Joe is trying to fill that position temporarily from 9:30-12 daily.

Graduate Council – Senator Bloch

Ø No report

FASP Committee – Senator Vu

Ø No report

Standing Committee Reports

• Elections Committee
• Since this committee has no chairperson, Senator Dan Swartz volunteered and there is no report at this time.  He will prepare the ballots for the two senators running for one position to participate at the Undergraduate program review committee.  The elections will take place at the next full Senate meeting.
• Finance Committee – Senator Brucker
• There are 112 application approved for Full Time members for traveling and 23 applications for Part Time faculty.  She urged senators to announce to their departments to unincumber funds not used and submit receipts for reimbursement as soon as possible after the travel occurred.

• Personnel Policy –Senator Johnson
• The committee is fine tuning the renewal document and will be bringing the document for approval soon. 

• Rules Committee -- Senator O’Brien
• The committee will be bringing a resolution to the senate floor on the constitution on general education task force.  He suggested that a member of the general education task force be invited to come at the next senate meeting.

• Student Policy -- Senator Madonia
• The committee had Dr. Heron visit them and update them on the student affairs initiatives.

• Technology -- Senator Diamantis

o The committee will be presenting a resolution at the next meeting on Information Technology communication issues for the high technology classrooms.

• Academic Policy Committee -- Senator Bloch.
• Senator Bloch requested that senators provide feedback on the CIS that was emailed to all with the agenda last week.  He invited all comments to be sent to him.
• There is a resolution to be presented later under New Business.

New Business: 

Ø There was a motion and a second to postpone the Academic Policy Resolution until the next full Senate meeting due to time limitations.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Ø There was discussion on steps to be taken in the future, such as discussions between the senate and union on shared governance; P & T process – what should be included in the file; etc. 

Ø There was a proposal to have the union representatives come and speak to the senate, such as president Walsh.

Ø It was agreed that discussions need to continue on this topic.

The senate adjourned at 2:05 PM.

Respectively Submitted,

Dr. Maria Diamantis

Acting Secretary of the Senate