University Senate

Memorandum

Date:    October 2, 2009

To:  The Academic Community

From:  Sharon Pitcher, Secretary to the Senate

Subject: September 21, 2009—Meeting of the University Senate

The second regular meeting of the University Senate was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.

• CALL TO ORDER

• ROLL CALL: The following Ex Officio senators did not attend: President Caret, Vice President Moriarty, Vice President Sheehan, Vice President Rubin, Vice President Brasington

• APROVAL OF AGENDA: Approved unanimously

• APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MAY 4th, 2009 and SEPTEMBER 14th, 2009: Minutes were approved unanimously with no changes.

• REPORTS OF EX OFFICIO SENATORS

Provost Welsh

• Football team won.  She promoted supporting our students. Whether arts or athletics.
• She is moving forward on setting up the textbook committee. We are waiting for names of faculty and have to move quickly on this.
• We closed on enrollment this week. We are up 10.1% for graduate enrollment and 4% for undergraduate. We are right where we should be.
• We have 130 students with flu like symptoms. 
• We encourage everyone to get the seasonal flu shots.
• Professor Zimmerman asked what is going on in other institutions.  She shared some statistics including those from College Park, which are much larger than Towson. The Health center is taking care of students with the flue in a nice place that they have set up for students. Flu shots are beginning to be given on campus.
• Furloughs –Faculty and staff will take anywhere from one to ten furlough days based on income.  We would have liked to buy this out with reserves but were told by the Regents that we will have to do furloughs.  Provost Welsh does understands that furloughs are really a pay cut and she respects that.
• Sabbatical Leave – Any that was approved for this year will be funded.  We are accepting proposals for next year but we will fund as many as we possibly can.  The costs for sabbaticals this year are a quarter of a million dollars to replace the faculty in the classrooms. The proposal application is online.
• Professor Bergman asked what is happening to Chapter 3.  Provost Welsh has reviewed it.  It is at the Towson’s Attorney’s office and then will come back to the Senate sub –committee overseeing the revision and the PTR&M Committee of the Senate.
• REPORTS OF OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

Professor Sullivan, Senate Chair

• We need to elect a representative from the Senate to the PTR&M Committee. Professor Bergman, who served as our representative last year, was re-elected to represent the Senate on this committee (20-0-0).
• Professor Sullivan then asked for a volunteer to the Police Community Relations Council.  Professor Manasse was elected to represent the Senate for this group (20-0-0).
• Nominations were requested for the Regents Award.  Professor Zimmerman shared that he co-chairs the committee that makes the decision on who we put forward and he encouraged us to make nominations.  The Provost also encouraged nominations.  Professor Zimmerman requested help from the Provost Office to put together these nominations together.  Kate Dennison will be helping with this and suggested that everything be sent in Word to facilitate putting them together.
• No Smoking Policy is close to be going forward.  Professor Pitcher suggested that the posting of the policy be bigger than the one that we have now.  Professor Manasse voiced concern that the university take into affect the consequences of the policy since students may be going in places that are not safe to smoke. Professor Marronick also asked about the policy since we only discussed this but did not vote on it.  We need to make the policy clear to those coming to the University.

 

Senator Graf, SGA Report

• The SGA has also questioned how the No Smoking Policy is going to be enforced and how the message is getting out.  The date that has been set for the Smoke Free Policy is August 1, 2010.
• They are working on getting committee reps for the different committees.
• SGA meetings attendance has really gone up with standing room only. 
• Professor Ballengee pointed out that Time, Place and Management policy has to come back to the Senate also. Senator Elfreth asked for clarification on what policy this was.  Professor Ballengee referred to the one brought before the Senate last year.

            Professor Siegel, CUSEF 

• Executive committee wrote a letter to the Chancellor that he be forceful with the campuses about enforcing shared governance in furlough policy.  The Chancellor called the committee and agreed that he would do this.
• Coming before the legislature is a bill about unions on campuses.  The concern is that the groups with unions meet about furloughs before meeting with faculty.  We need to be careful about this because there is only a small pot.  We need to be concerned because we have a lot of grad assistants and adjuncts and this is a group that they are talking about unionized. 
• The Textbook policy is coming quickly. She asked that we expedite the formation of our committee to handle this.
• The Pornography policy is still in the discussion stage.  An expert that they brought in suggested that there should be educational purposes for anything questioned as pornography. 
• They also discussed the amount of students we are talking about with STEM.  There are obstacles to this. They are working hard to make the Chancellor aware of this. 
• The Chancellor  is meeting with Senate chairs and CUSEF next month.

           Professor Ballengee,AAUP

• Crab feast and Vegetable Extravaganza will be this Friday.  Professor Matt Durington is doing the music. Families are welcome. It is membership drive.
• October 31 from 9AM to 10PM Towson is hosting regional meeting of AAUP in the Loch Raven Room.
• October  will be the local meeting. 
• There will only be a few Friday meetings this year.We have invited Dr. Welsh to speak at the December Friday meeting.  In the Spring, the Friday meetings will be about mentoring and financial affairs.
• The three goals for the year are compensation, family issues (family leave, etc.), and faculty development.
• New head of Junior Faculty Committee is Prof. Pamela Lottero-Purdue, Physics.

• NEW BUSINESS
• Motion 09/10 – 01:  To Accept the Annual List of Faculty to be Awarded Emeritus Status.  (Senate Executive Committee)

Together the following have given six centuries of service: Man Maloo, Department of Accounting; Allan Miller, Department of Marketing; A. Karen Blair, Educational Technology & Literacy; Georgia Baker, Department of Theatre Arts; Charles Flippen, Department of Mass Communication & Communication Studies; Barry Moore, Department of Electronic Media & Film; Henry Chen, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences; David Larkin, Department of Chemistry; Marilyn Tuls Halstead, Department of Nursing; Jack Osman; Department of Health Sciences; Carl Runk, Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice; Samuel Litov, Baltimore Hebrew Institute; George Berlin, Baltimore Hebrew Institute; Rela Mintz Geffen, Baltimore Hebrew Institute; Robert O. Freeman, Baltimore Hebrew Institute; Arthur Lesley, Baltimore Hebrew Institute.  Motion carries 21-0-0

• Motion 09/10-02: Professor Ballengee put forward a motion that the One Card should list the emeritus status. Motion carries 21-0-0.
• Motion 09/10 – 03:  To Approve the creation of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree program within the Art + Design major.  (Senate Executive Committee)

Professor Miller, Department Chair of the Department of Art and a representative from Painting shared that the BFA will enhance our students’ career opportunities since it is the traditional degree and is offered by other universities in the system.  This is the professional degree for many of the programs we offer.  Professor Zimmeman asked about the budget and the Department Chair answered that this would require no new resources.  By offering this degree, some students will be able to double major. Professor Anthony shared that they did this in music and it was very popular.  Professor Siegel asked if the credits required included Gen Ed requirements. The answer was that Gen Ed was additional.  Motion carried 21-0-0.

• Motion 09/10 – 04:  To Accept the Annual Report of the Academic Standards Committee.  (Senate Executive Committee) Professor Siegel asked about Latin Honors.  The Provost answered that she was meeting with them and it will be decided this year.  Motion carries 21-0-0.

4.  Motion 09/10 – 05:  To Accept the Annual Report of the Admissions Committee.  (Senate Executive Committee) Professor Lawson asked about the committee not having a student representative. Senator Graf answered that the SGA will looked into this. Professor Siegel asked about the system looking at standards.  Professor Zimmerman answered that these we have are the minimal standards.  Professor Siegel asked the Provost about Salisbury doing without the SATs.  The Provost replied that Salisbury has been successful with this.  Lony Dowell explained that if the students apply for scholarship that they still have to submit the SATs.  He shared that we have found that the GPA is a better predictor.  This could be a problem with programs such as the Top 10% Program.  For this group, the SATs did predict those that would struggle.  We would have to modify that program if we did this.  Senator Elfreth shared that Salisbury found that as a result of the change that they have a more diverse student body and it did not affect their overall GPA.  Motion was passed to accept the report 21-0-0. 

5.   Motion 09/10 – 06:  To Accept the Annual Report of the Teacher Education Executive Board (TEEB).  (Senate Executive Committee) There were no questions. Motion accepted 21-0-0.

6.   Motion 09/10 – 07:  To Accept the Annual Report of the University Assessment Council. (Senate Executive Committee. Professor Zimmerman asked if there was a representative of the committee. There was not a representative. He was concerned about the evaluation that we discussed last year, but since there was no representative, the question could not be answered.  Professor Ballengee also had questions.  Professor Siegel put forward a motion to table the report.  Motion to table the report was passed 21-0-0. Professor Zimmerman will contact the committee for a representative at our next meeting.

7.   Motion 09/10 – 08:  To Accept a Resolution on the University’s Furlough Policy.  (AAUP Executive Committee).  Professor Siegel shared that we do not have the guidelines that were passed by the board.  The original guidelines contained the possibility for this.  Senator Elfreth responded that those guidelines were passed.  Professor Zimmerman suggested that he supported this. Professor Maronic shared that he did not want to close the university because it would affect students.  Senator Elfreth suggested that she wanted to see the results of California.  She voiced a concern about RAs, who work everyday, would not have support.  Professor Ballengee voiced a concern that the budget cuts do affect students and this needs to be addressed.  Professor Ballengee suggested that the same safety of emergency personnel that are available on snow days would be available and Senator Elfreth’s issues would be considered.  This is being done at University of Maryland and University of Baltimore.  Senator Graf voiced a concern because he could not imagine the university shutting down.  Provost Welsh shared that she understands that these budget cuts do affect students.  She pointed out that if we decide to do this that we would be going against the Regents who emphasized that the furloughs should have no affect on students.  Professor Webster emphasized that unless we have a work stoppage that students and the legislature will not take notice on how this affects the work of the university. Professor Bergman shared that he heard that their will be more budget costs.  If we don’t take a stand, we will be an easy target.  Towson has been offering a quality education on the cheap for many years.  Professor. Manasse suggested that we would close the campus for a snow day except for emergency personnel, which is how this would be. Professor Cox shared that other state offices are closing and we should be able to do the same thing.  Professor Ballengee shared that the original amendment included the day before Thanksgiving, which would have less impact on the students.  Professor Maronick suggested that this could have an effect on future funding.  Professor Tabak shared concern about how this will affect promotion and tenure.  P&T documents have not been changed but we are suppose to miss days for furloughs and travel has been cut.  Senator Elfreth shared that the emphasis should be on budget cuts and furloughs.  Professor Burks was concerned that we are suppose to still attend meetings and she asked about requirements for merit.  She was also worried about past times when programs were cut.  Professor Zimmerman suggested the importance is that this makes a point.  Senator Graf asked what other system institutions were doing.  Professor. Manasse suggested that our salaries are lower than virtually most of the institutions in University of Maryland System schools.  Faculty here have made do for less and still produced a quality education.  Senator Graf shared that he understands that these budget cuts do affect students and that if we go forward with this, we should close on  a day with less impact to students.  He believes that we have to put the emphasis on the budget. Provost Welsh suggested that we have to be careful with this because parents could say that they are paying tuition and are not getting what paid for. Professor Maronick agrees.   The Seate proceeded to vote on the motion. Motion carries 15-4-3.

8    Discussion Item.  Faculty representative on Textbook Policy Committee. Provost Welsh shared that Senator Puglisi is  representing the students.  She would like representation from the Sciences and Liberal Arts.  The policy is clear but we have to see how we can make this work for our institution. Professor Bergman suggested that we need someone from the Fine Arts, also.

9.   Discussion item.  The composition of the Resource Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC).  Committee set up by Senate to give advice to the Office of Finance and Administration.  Senator Elfreth asked about clarification on what the committee does.  Dean Vanko, who chaired the committee, shared that the committee advised the president.  Vice presidents were on the committee but did not vote. A committee member shared that the committee advised the president on the budget. Professor Sullivan shared that concerns were brought to him about the composition of the committee. Professor Ballengee shared that Vice President Sheehan also voiced concern. Professor Zimmerman asked about the composition of the committee, and if we have gotten reports from the committee.  Professor Sullivan shared that he went to a meeting and it was voiced that this committee has not been effective.  Professor Siegel asked if there is one recommendation for a representative of each college. Professor Ballengee asked that we ask Chris about the problems.  Chris answered that the last two years the committee has been very effective because it initiated adding additional fees for some classes’ policy that was brought to the Senate last year.  Professor Lawson spoke to her college representative of the committee who shared that the committee is very committed and in the Middle States report suggested that the committee is very important.  Professor Zimmerman suggested that if it is working that maybe this should not be changed.  Chris answered that the committee is big so that all important groups are represented.  Dave shared that the according to the Senate, when the committee was set up, each College should elect a member but that is not always being done. Senator Davis made the Senate aware that the Library was not represented and should be.  Professor Ballengee suggested that Vice President Sheehan must have a good reason for suggesting that there is a problem. Provost Welsh suggested that we need to go back to the Senate minutes to see what the purpose of the committee is suppose to be.  Professor Zimmerman suggested that we need to put this on the next agenda and we should make this a committee of the Senate.  Dean Vanko shared that he electronically has copies of the amendments.  Professor Sullivan will put this on the next agenda.

10. Discussion item.  The USM’s free speech and expression policy. Senator Elfreth shared that this originally came up because of a pornographic film that was going to be put shown and State Senator Andy Harris demanded that we needed a policy.  An expert on this type of policy wrote the policy for the system. Senator Elfreth has been speaking to students about this.  Right now it only affects films shown by students.  The concern is this affects students’ freedom of speech.  This is a problem.  It is a very difficult policy although this was written by an authority on free speech.  Professor Sullivan asked about what we are going to do.  Professor Siegel shared that she found the system document to be very informative. It was localized on profanity in film with suggestions of wording that was acceptable.  It has to be acceptable to the state legislature.  There were three suggestions and she found two of them unacceptable. What we could do is to suggest we do our own policy.  Provost Welsh spoke to the legal council about this. She sent it to the deans and they were very informative. The more input the legal council gets the better.  Senator Elfreth shared that the policy will be voted on by Dec. 1.  Provost Welsh shared that then we can write our own document.  Professor Vatz shared that when Andy Harris suggested this, the budget was also in question. He suggested that this is bigger than first considered.  Professor Anthony asked if this was just restricted to film.  Senator Elfreth answered that this was film and materials. What the materials are is not clear. Professor Vatz suggested that the film that prompted this is not one that you want the issue of free speech discussed in relation to. Professor Bergman shared that he has looked at this issue as part of his research.  He suggested that it is a slippery road when we consider what is pornography and felt that we should write our own policy here because we should not trust the board. Professor Sullivan will provide more information for discussion of the issue at our next meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:56.

The University Senate will reconvene on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.