The sixth meeting of the semester was called to order at 12:10 pm

Members Present A. Rao, D. Prasad, C. Fontana, A. Guagliumi, W. Carr, G. Puerschner, B. Wein, T. Sherman, T. Seyed, B. Matthews, U. Nwachuku, J. Fullmer, J. Ensign, R. Cretella, S. Larocco, D. Burow, M. Shea, R. Pelayo, S. Judd, J. Mullins, P. Holmer, K. Grant, J. Kavanagh, E. Beatty, D. Pettigrew, C. Rinehardt., R. Luquis, P. Major, F. Hatcher, D. Boehnert, L. Prince, A. Vicenzi

Vice President Pinciaro

 
The minutes of the November 5th meeting were accepted as amended.

Executive Committee Report

• In regard to new faculty computers, Department Chairs should be encouraged to inform prospective hires that there may be a delay in the delivery of a computer for their use.
• Monies realized through the Early Retirement Incentive Program have been reallocated. The Budget and Planning Committee has been informed. There were no real surprises in the allocation. There was some discussion as to whether $120,000 would be enough money to carry out effective searches.
• Are basement rooms in Morrill hall being converted into computer labs? Will this cause a net loss of classrooms? Where will the new Dean of Continuing Education and his/her staff be housed?
• The Grad Committee, Budget and Planning Committee, The Undergraduate Curriculum Forum, and SPAC all have Senate representation on them. The representatives will be asked to update the Senate on a rotating schedule under new business.

• Bob Eldridge has drafted a letter to Department Chairs asking for copies of the Vacancy Allocation Request Form. Some positive responses have already been received. The four criteria for the reallocation of faculty lines has been forwarded by the Academic Vice President.
• Several letters of support for expanding Community Hour have been received by the Senate President. Looking at the history of the Community Hour in the Senate Minutes, there are no criteria for its utilization. It was intended to enhance Student/Faculty involvement, the sense of community, and to motivate the return of commuter students.
• Discussion has begun about re-establishing a Department of Recreation and Leisure.
• Kathy Newman, President of SCSU-AAUP, Academic Vice President Pinciaro, President Adanti, and Faculty Senate President Chuck Rinehardt, met last week to discuss the Full-time Part-time faculty ratio and how to go about bringing it in line with the collective bargaining agreement. The Academic Vice President is looking to add 4 to 5 new faculty lines each of the next two years. It was pointed out that we need to add full timers, not reduce the number of part timers.
• Dean Smith, D. Fredeen have developed a campus wide writing proposal; it has been forwarded to the Academic Policy Committee.

Personnel Policy

• There was extensive discussion (see the attachments to the agenda for the meeting of 11/5/97) about how to change the membership of the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and if any change was necessary. Is it true that wider representation implies better representation? There were supporters for both sides.
• Some departments within a school are more dissimilar than departments in distinct schools, Math and Computer Science for example.
• Would forced distribution result in some members being implied "spokespeople" for applicants from their departments or schools?
•  There was a motion to divide the issue into four proposals. This motion passed by a voice vote.

All four options failed by voice vote after minimal debate.
• The second issue should the DEC be given more direction in how to write their letters, is referred to committee.

Student Policy no report

Academic Policy no report

Elections please return the circulated questionnaires.

Finance no report

Announcements

Respectfully Submitted,
G. Robert Wein
Secretary