09/23/98 Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting

Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting 23 September 1998

The second meeting of the 98-99 year was called to order at 12:15 pm

Members Present: R. Jirsa, T. W. Carr, C. Rinehardt, A. Rao, C. Wieder,
M. Dodge, S. Martinelli, G. Puerschner, T. Sherman, M. Orner, , T. Seyed, R. Landino, U. Nwachuku, J. Fullmer, B. Eldridge, J. Ensign, C. Dickinson, D. Burow, B. Gustafson, S. Misasi, D. Kemler, S. Grant, P. Sakalowsky, S. Judd, B. Sugar, C. Schofield-Bodt, V. Mick, D. Prasad, K. Laird, J. Kavanagh, T. Bennett, M. Moss, S. Bochain, F. Hatcher, L. Prince, D. Pettigrew, A. Bidarian, A. Paulson, P. Kahlbaugh, B. Worden, M. Ryan, P. Major, M. Watts, A. Vicenzi

Not Present: Educational Leadership, Foreign Language (Arboleda),
Journalism, Part-time faculty(2-Mack, Fontana), Psychology (Hurlbut), Public Health, Recreation & Leisure, Science Ed/Environmental Studies, Social Work (Colon), Special Ed/Reading (Granfield)

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs J. Philip Smith:

Reviewed the status of several Administrative searches, including Director of Alumni Affairs, Director of Public Affairs, Director of Library Services, Dean of Continuing Education (now "School of Extended Learning", which has been filled by J. P. Thompson), Chief Technology Officer, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and of Student and University Affairs.

Described the content of the CSU report "What Have Connecticut High School Students Been Doing". This document may need to be considered in our future planning, as it predicts an increase in enrollment. Though our current enrollment is lower than projected, our standards for enrollment have been maintained by the Admissions Office. Graduate Student enrollment is also down.

The Board of Governors has asked each campus of the CSU System to define their missions & roles in higher learning by way of a single sentence which encapsulates their strengths. SCSU will likely place emphasis on programs of advanced study.

Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting of September 9 1998 were approved
as presented

Executive Committee Report:

A proposal for an ad hoc Committee on Technology was distributed with the minutes of September 9^th.

The Fall semester calendar of Senate meetings has been approved and distributed.

The Grade Appeals policy has been approved and will soon be distributed by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Senate President’s Report:

President Adanti has not signed the Senate Resolution regarding extension of the Academic Community Hour. A Faculty Referendum may be pending.

A program in Judaic Studies will be forthcoming for Senate endorsement.

Senate President has met with President Adanti and Henry Hines regarding the potential formation of an EdD Program. A sub-committee will be formed out of Academic Policy to evaluate any Doctoral programs.

Standing Committee Reports

Academic Policy: Vice President Phil Smith will be meeting with
Academic Policy regarding Distance Learning Programs and the

University Library Committee.

Elections: Results for the Special Election have been determined and
notification of results will be forthcoming.

Finance: (Finance committee report will be attached and filed with
approved minutes)

Personnel Policy: Will be re-examining the Promotion and Tenure
Document to see if it accurately reflects the process established in the
contract, as well as identify the nature of past grievances.

Rules : Currently reviewing Standing Committees of the Senate for structure
and effectiveness. Opinions will be solicited from standing Committee Chairs.

Student Policy : A representative from the student body will be invited to future meetings of the Student policy committee to serve as a liaison.

Old Business:

Revised versions of Promotion & Tenure document are still forthcoming

New Business:

The proposal for an ad hoc Committee on Technology was brought forward for discussion:

Concern was raised that there were issues that overlapped with previously extant committees (ETAC).
A distinction was made that ETAC represented faculty and Administration. The proposed Senate committee would reflect concerns of faculty only.
The ad hoc Committee would help in establishing priorities. Decisions affecting students should be made by faculty, not by Computer Center personnel. Software installation should be consistent and campus-wide.
An amendment to the proposal to increase the number of members on the committee from 3 to 5. was made, seconded and APPROVED by voice vote.
Language in the last two sentences of the last paragraph was modified to read: "…the senate members currently serving on the ad hoc committee would automatically function as members of the permanent Standing Committee for Technology."
Discussion on the ad hoc Committee for Technology was POSTPONED by majority vote until the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate on October 7, 1998.
Senator Eldridge spoke of the pending formation of a Mainframe Migration Committee through the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

MOTION was made as follows: "That Senator Eldridge and Vice-President J.P. Smith drop plans for the formation of a separate Technology Committee, and that the proposed ad hoc Committee move forward". MOTION was seconded.

Discussion of the motion followed:

It seems premature to scuttle plans for a committee at this point.
A Vice-Presidential Committee would answer only to the Office of the Vice-President, not the Faculty Senate
Approving the MOTION would make the Senate appear fragmented.

MOTION was defeated by a vote of 12 in favor, 20 opposed.

Meeting was adjourned at 2:05PM Respectfully submitted,

T. Wiley Carr

Senate Secretary

Back to Minutes homepage Back to Faculty Senate homepage