Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

September 10, 2008

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

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The first meeting of the 2008-2009 year was called to order at 12:10 PM.

 

Members Present: Emenyonu (Accounting); Vu (Art); Lavin (Art); Feng (Biology); Pang (Chemistry); Madlock (Communication); Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT); DaPonte (Computer Science); Lawler (Counseling); Fopiano (Couns/Sch Psych); Fleming (Earth Science); Mills (Econ/Finance); Diamantis (Education); Madonia (Ed Leadership); Larocco (English); Shea (English); Johnson (English); Petrie (English); Swartz (Exercise Science); Pelayo (Foreign Language); Heidkamp (Geography); Paddock (History); Metaxas (History); Dunklee (Journalism); Bielefield (Info & Library Science); Hedreen  (Library Services); Toce (Library Services); Page (Management); Prince (Marketing); Scheuermann (Mathematics); O’Brien (Media Studies); Nelson (Nursing); Rebeschi (Nursing); _____ (Part-Time Faculty); _______(Part-Time Faculty); Pettigrew (Philosophy); Buterbaugh (Political Science); Sherman (Psychology); Colwell (Psychology); Faraclas (Public Health); Smith (Recreation/Leisure); Cusato (Science Ed/Env Stud); Cameron (Social Work); Bloch (Sociology); Brucker (Special Ed/Reading); Tamura (Special Ed/Reading); Nye (Theatre); Weiss (UCF).

 

Members Absent:  Rogers (Anthropology); Maloney (Athletics); _____ (Education); _____  (Exercise Science); Olson (Foreign Language); Gubitose (Mathematics); _______ (Music); ________ (Part-Time Faculty); Goldblatt (Part-Time faculty); Horch (Physics); _______ (Social Work).

 

Each faculty senators introduced themselves and President Johnson welcomed all to the Senate and the new academic year.

 

President Johnson reminded all senators that we follow the Roberts Rules of Order; the meetings start at 12:10 with refreshments before that; meetings end at 2 pm but there is a time limitation for voting purposes that doesn’t allow any votes to take place after 1:45, “the 1:45 rule”.

 

President’s Report

 

President Johnson distributed his report and highlighted the following items:

 

o       Full Senate Meetings at the Facilities Building, 12:10-2 pm: Sept. 10, Sept 24, Oct 8, Oct 22, Nov 5, Nov 19, and Dec 10.

o       The subcommittees of the senate will meet the alternate Wednesdays.

o       The suggestion that departments should construct a statement of expectations or guidelines for the P and T might be helpful but it might be troublesome also. 

o       The Provost discussed with President Johnson and Senator Bloch the approved Senate’s resolution on New Grades Superseding the Old grades.  There will be a committee that will iron out details and help implement this resolution quickly.  

o       Concerns were raised on the issue that each department should submit a statement highlighting the P & T guidelines/expectations.  A dean of one of the schools mentioned that if a department doesn’t complete such statement, the department will not get new faculty lines.  Lengthy discussions followed and President Johnson recommended that department DEC’s meet with junior faculty to prepare them with P & T issues.

o       President Johnson highlighted that all resolutions were approved by the President last year with only one needing revisions before it was also approved.

o       The Shared Governance ad hoc committee submitted a policy in draft form to President Norton and Provost Williams, hopefully it will be accepted soon.

o       There are three Presidential Dialogues this semester, with one open month for a colloquium.  Last year’s colloquiums were on assessment and workload, this year’s topics are not defined yet.  The senate will have a discussion with ballots for suggested topics at the next meeting.  The first colloquium is in November.  

 

At this time, President Johnson asked the previous chairs of each standing committee to explain their responsibilities and meet briefly to elect a new chair.  They should also discuss their goals for the year.

Standing Committee Updates:

  1. Academic Policy ~ Senator Bloch  was reelected chair.  The committee had 10 members.
  2. Elections ~  Senator Swartz  was reelected chair.  The committee has 4 members and there are elections to be completed this fall.
  3. Finance ~ Senator Brucker was reelected chair.  The committee has 4 members.
  4. Personnel Policy ~ Senator Cusato was reelected chair.  The committee has 11 members.
  5. Rules ~ Senator O’Brien was reelected chair.  The committee has 5 members.
  6. Student Policy ~ Senator Madonia  was reelected chair.  The committee has 6 members.
  7. Technology ~ Senator DaPonte  was reelected chair.  The committee has 7 members.

 

Old Business:

ü      None

 

New Business:

 

ü      None

 

The Senate adjourned at 1:45 pm.    

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Maria Diamantis

Secretary of the Senate