Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

September 24, 2008

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

________________________________________________________________________

 

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

 

Members Present: Emenyonu (Accounting); Rogers (Anthropology); Vu (Art); Lavin (Art); Maloney (Athletics); Feng (Biology); Madlock (Communication); Jirsa (Com Disorders/MFT); DaPonte (Computer Science); Fopiano (Couns/Sch Psych); Fleming (Earth Science); Mills (Ecom/Finance); Diamantis (Education); Goldberg (Education); Madonia (Ed Leadership); Larocco (English); Shea (English); Johnson (English); Petrie (English); Swartz (Exercise Science); Calahan (Exercise Science);  Pelayo (Foreign Language); Olson (Foreign Language); Heidkamp (Geography); Paddock (History); Metaxas (History); Dunklee (Journalism); Bielefield (Info & Library Science); Hedreen (Library Services); Toce (Library Services); Yang (Management); Prince (Marketing); Scheuermann (Mathematics); Gubitose (Mathematics); O’Brien (Media Studies); Rebeschi (Nursing); Goldblatt (Part-Time Faculty); Pettigrew (Philosophy); Horch (Physics); 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).

 

Members Absent:  Pang (Chemistry); Lawler (Counseling);  _______ (Music); Nelson (Nursing); Carrano (Part-Time Faculty); ________ (Part-Time Faculty); ________ (Part-Time Faculty); _________ (Social Work).

 

The minutes of September 10, 2008, were approved.

 

The three new senators, Dr. Goldberg (Education) ~ Dr. Calahan (Exercise Science) ~ Dr. Rogers (Anthropology), introduced themselves and President Johnson welcomed them to the Senate.

 

President’s Report  ~~ No report distributed at this meeting.

 

Announcements:

ü       Senator Nye announced that the Theatre Department and Crescent Players present Chicago, one of Broadway's most popular hit musicals and one of the hottest musicals…

ü      The first Presidential Dialogue will be held tomorrow at 12:30 at the Adanti Student Center Ballroom.

At this time President Johnson opened the floor for discussions on any Senate related topics until President Norton arrives to address the Senate.

 

Senator Dunklee raised concern on the financial support that will be needed when the General Education proposal gets accepted; he questioned if there has been any information on the implementation plan of the program.

 

Another concern from the floor was the program review and assessment and senate’s role in that.  The question raised was why don’t we have integrated program review for both undergraduate and graduate programs instead of the separate reviews? 

 

President Norton arrived and highlighted the following topics:

v     Governor Rell will be taking back another 2% from the budget by the end of this quarter. 

v     The need for the CSU system to establish a system wide enrollment management plan to address system needs.

v     President Norton will also serve as Interim CIO as of Monday, September 29.  She expressed her appreciation for Lorraine’s work in the past months.

v     The interview process is wrapping up for the director of health services.

v     The 1st pilot of FYE has been proven a productive and educational experience as it reflected an 80% retention rate for that class.

v     The number of students at the junior level are dropping, unknown reasons yet.

v     New focus this year will be at the Graduate School’s enrollment, which seems to be dropping. 

v     New creative ways should be investigated to offer graduate courses and assist students to complete their education according to their needs.

v     The issue of having a daycare on campus was discussed but it is not feasible at the present time.

 

After President Norton departed, President Johnson asked for a volunteer to serve on the Academic Affairs subcommittee of the BOT. This committee meets on Wednesdays once a month at 10 am.  Senator Emenyonu volunteered to serve on that committee.

 

President Johnson also asked for two volunteers to be representatives of the Senate at the University Library committee which meets once a month on Monday’s at 1 pm.  Anyone interested, should contact President Johnson.

 

President Johnson distributed the ballots for the Faculty Senate Colloquia.  Senators were asked to write their top choice for two topics on the ballot for consideration. 

 

Standing Committee Updates:

  1. Elections ~  Senator Swartz announced that the self nomination call has been emailed for the Part Time Faculty Senators and for the All University Committees.

 

  1. Finance ~ Senator Brucker announced that the travel budget was determined to be $1200 for full time faculty and $600 for part time faculty.

 

  1. Personnel Policy ~ Senator Cusato urged all senators to remind their colleagues to read the revised P & T document.

 

  1. Rules ~ Senator O’Brien no report at this time.

 

  1. Student Policy ~ Senator Madonia  announced that the committee met and discussed agenda items such as:  (a) seeking information on the implementation 911 Emergency Notification System; (b) the CONN Hall services; (c) the level of services/accommodations for special needs students

 

  1. Technology ~ Senator DaPonte  announced that the committee met with Stan Walonoski to get information on the new department that was formed in IT. The committee will be meeting with John Young and Joe Brignola to get an update on the status of EXCHANGE.  Help Desk concerns were raised on their hours of operation, especially for Saturday and Sunday services.  Senators expressed their gratitude on the services that Tom Struble has offered to faculty in the high technology classrooms.

 

  1. Academic Policy ~ Senator Bloch announced that the committee has prioritized topics as:  (1) research resources; (2) reassigned time for university assessment reports; (3) Honors graduation requirements.

 

 

UCF ~ no report

 

Graduate Council ~ the senate needs a representative to the council which meets once a month on Monday at 1-3 pm.  Senator Shea offered to serve as senate’s liaison to the council.

 

Old Business:

ü      None

 

New Business:

ü      None

 

The Senate adjourned at 2:05 pm.    

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Maria Diamantis

Secretary of the Senate