University Senate

Memorandum

Date:    November 30, 2009

To:  The Academic Community

From:  Sharon Pitcher, Secretary to the Senate

Subject: November 2, 2009—Meeting of the University Senate

The third regular meeting of the University Senate was held on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.

• CALL TO ORDER  

• ROLL CALL – Vice President Rubin and Vice President Brasington were absent.

• APROVAL OF AGENDA – approved unanimously

• APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR October, 2009  - approved unanimously

• REPORTS OF EX OFFICIO SENATORS

President Caret

• The fiscal year budget could be significantly cut. The cut to the campus could be $16 million. Everyone seems to be in favor of allowing a tuition increase.  This could help us, but the cut will still be significant.  This is why we are tightening the budget this year and if we have a surplus, it could be applied to next year. 
• The good news is we did not significantly grow and we will shoot for this again next year.
• The legislature is looking at the possibility of allowing adjunct faculty and graduate assistants to unionize. There is a report that looks at this over the country with other suggestions.
• There is a push-back of the pornography policy.  There is a draft policy, but no groups are indorsing it.  The System will  have to negotiate an outcome with the legislature.
• UMUC has been asked to develop an on-line educational leadership program to meet the needs of the shortage of administration for community college.  Morgan has challenged this.  MHEC has ruled with Morgan.  Now UMUC can offer this in 49 states, but not in this state.  MHEC  voted  5-4-1 vote.  It is not clear if the vote fulfilled MHEC quorum requirements. 
• Professor Sullivan asked about the Office of Civil Rights Report on this and President Caret answered that this report included many issues, but there has not been a response.
• Senator Elfreth shared that the Board will be taking a stand on November 11 at UMUC on the film policy.
• Professor Ballengee asked about our response to the film policy.  Professor Bergman shared that the committee has met, but have not come to agreement on a policy.  Professor Sullivan suggested that the statement could be circulated by email to the Senators and voted on that way.
• Professor Sullivan asked about the Office of Civil Rights Report on this and President Caret answered that this report included many issues, but there has not been a response.

• Senator Elfreth shared that the Board will be taking a stand on November 11 at UMUC on the film policy.
• Professor Ballengee asked about our response to the film policy.  Professor Bergman shared that the committee has met, but have not come to agreement on a policy.  Professor Sullivan suggested that the statement could be circulated by email to the Senators and voted on that way.

Provost Welsh

• The Latin Honors committee has met and decided that they will stay with the 10% decision. Information about the decision will be sent to all of the students.
• An Executive Committee has been set up for the Cherry Hill Project and Dean Lorion will chair the committee.
• The textbook committee is close to closer on a policy.
• She met with the faculty leadership committee and they shared concerns about communication and she is going to work on this.
• Professor Pitcher shared concerns about the new policies on travel for faculty stating that in her college that only first authors or one author from Towson is being allowed to go to a conference.  Often tenured faculty are mentoring non-tenured faculty by including them on presentations. This is very difficult for non-tenured faculty.  She asked if non-tenured faculty are not being funded for conferences, isn’t this going to hurt them for Annual Review and tenure.  Provost Welsh answered that if a faculty member contributed to a presentation, but is not being funded to go, they could still put the contribution on their Annual Review.          
• Professor Manesse asked about when a conference involvement also includes service to an association. Provost Welsh responded that she had indicated that if a faculty member is involved with the conference or doing committee work, that they should be funded for the conference.
• Professor Siegel was concerned about how Foundation Funds could be used to support faculty travel. President Caret responded that Vice President Rubin will present where the Foundation Funds go, but often foundation money cannot be used this way and that maybe some contract and grants could go there. 
• Professor Guerrero suggested that maybe conferences could be done here so that faculty could present and give faculty other opportunities to present.
• Professor Sullivan asked about Chapter 3. Provost Welsh answered that she has been working with faculty council on some points.

Vice President Moriarty

• The H1N1 priority vaccine clinic is taking place at this time and we are working on getting more vaccine.
• The No-Smoking Policy is almost finished and then an advertising campaign will be launched so students know this is coming.
• They have been working on diversity climate issues.
• Professor Ballengee asked who the H1N1 vacine is being targeted for by CDC and who the second clinic will be for.  Vice President Moriarty answered that we got 3,000 doses so we are looking at priorities. The next will be students with medical problems.  Professor Ballengee asked about faculty who will need the vaccine to keep on teaching.  Professor Zimmerman asked if the next clinic would be only for students with medical conditions and not the faculty with conditions.  She answered yes.
• Professor Vatz asked about the No Smoking Policy.  He asked how this will this be enforced.  She answered that they will work on how to advertise the policy, how to approach a violator, and then what will be done to violators.  He then asked if the violations will be for failure to follow the policy or failure to respond to enforcement.  She answered both.  Professor Maronick asked about how this became a policy when the Senate did not vote on this.  President Caret responded that this is a policy put into place because it is for the good of the campus.  He also shared that in addition to smoking being unhealthy, smokers leave messes all over the campus.  Professor Ballengee also brought up the concern for the safety of students.  President Caret and Vice President Moriarty responded that they are concerned about this, too, and are working on this issue.  Professor Sullivan shared that we did voice our concerns and they have been taken into consideration.

Vice President Sheehan

• The Division of Administration and Finance has merged the University Police, Office of Environmental Health and Safety and a new unit, Security Access Control into a new Office of Public Safety. Police Chief Bernie Gerst will head up the department.
• Salary reductions are in place.
• We are planning for a new parking garage so parking fees will go up.
• Professor Pitcher shared again concerns about handicapped walking paths to Hawkins Hall.  She shared that as she came down to the meeting, one of her colleagues in her college fell going down the hill. She reminded that Vice President Sheehan that she sent him concerns about lack of accessibility to Hawkins Hall, that COE suggested alternatives in the email attachment sent to him and at the town meeting, but after two months of complaints from Hawkins Hall faculty and staff, still nothing has been done. He agreed to look into this.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

Jon Graf, SGA

• The SGA shares the  same concerns as the Senate about the No Smoking Policy, which we are very involved with.
• They are responding to the Film Policy and want to at least have the right of law.
• He also acknowledged how great it is that we now get the Baltimore Sunpaper and USA Today in addition to the New York Times.  USAToday.com has ideas for how it can be used in class.  The location of the paper distribution boxes is in the Towerlight today.
• Establishment of a Black Studies Department has come forward as a resolution and a revised resolution has gone forward, but this also has problems. SGA leadership met with Provost Welsh and Dean Cloney about this. The resolution is on the SGA website.  Professor Sullivan asked whether the motion is about the major or department.  The resolution asks for a five-year effort to create a department working towards a minor and a major in the future.  Professor Zimmerman asked if Morgan would object to this.  Professor Sullivan shared that College Park is the only one with this major.  Professor Siegel asked if there is any faculty involved in this.  Provost Welsh suggested that faculty are involved and at the present time there is not enough minors involved in this. There are many working on this project.  Professor Bergman shared that in the past it has been difficult for us to recruit African American faculty because of our low salaries, so this may be a problem.

Professor Siegel, CUSF

• There have been some layoffs in some other system schools.  CUSF was concerned that those laid off were escorted out of their buildings, which was not very dignified.
• They are working on getting the Porn Policy rescinded
• They are also concerned about the budget issues.
• For strategic planning, we will be launching into a new phase of planning for the next ten years and issues of on-line and off-campus teaching will be part of the document. CUSF wants faculty to be very involved in this.  President Caret explained that this will move very quickly so groups need to share their concerns about this.
• Professor Vatz asked about what CUSF opposes about the film policy that Andy Harris has been put forwarded.  Professor Siegel shared that CUSF is concerned about who is going to make these decisions, since this is so difficult. One decision was that one policy would be put out for every occasion and this would be impossible. Professor Vatz asked whether this was not being allowed. Senator Elfreth shared that even the best policy written by the foremost authority on this issue does not even meet what Andy Harris wanted and would be impossible to enforce because of constitutionality.  Vice President Moriarty clarified that the policy only covers film.

Professor Ballengee, AAUP

• We hosted an event on Saturday the AAUPs and we had small but good turnout.
• The panel emphasized the importance of AAUP in these crucial times.
• Our membership has increased every year.
• The TU-AAUP Fall meeting will be on Thursday, November 19, 3:30-4:40 PM in University Union 315-316.
• The Second Friday event this Fall will be Friday, December 11, at 3 PM in the Burkshire Marriott. Provost Welsh will be the featured speaker.

OLD BUSINESS

• Discussion Item: Report of the New Course Reporting Committee (Executive Committee) Professor Zimmerman reminded the Senate that they asked for this last month and the committee report is part of the attachments along with requirements. Professor Gastrick, the chair of the committee, answered questions.  Professor Siegel asked whether the college curriculum committees have this information.  Professor Gastrick answered that they do, but there are still problems. Professor Burks asked about the procedure for how a new course appears in the catalog.  Professor Gastrick answered that once the course is approved, it is sent to the registrar. Then, it is automatically put into People Soft, incorporated into the catalog, and paperwork is sent back to her and the chair of the department.  Professor Zimmerman shared that it is the responsibility of the department to make sure all courses are correctly listed in the catalog.  Professor Gastrick shared that if it is not in the catalog, the department can get back to her and she will follow-up.  Professor Burks asked why it takes so long to change the on-line catalog since it is a PDF.  Professor Gastrick shared that it would make it a moving target if it was always being updated. Professor Burks also shared that trying to find something on People Soft often frustrates students.  Provost Welsh shared that she will look into this.  Professor Zimmerman then asked Professor Gastrick about the difficulty of getting new members on to the committee.  She answered that when she first started she would just ask people to be on the committee, but this was not an effective way.  Then they went to the Deans and the Senate to voice concerns about this. Then they waited for two years without any policy in place and so some of the colleges were not represented.  Professor Ballengee asked whether the AAUP should oversee this. Professor Sullivan suggested that we bring back a proposal to the Senate next month to make this process more efficiently.  Professor Zimmerman asked that when we come up to this on the Agenda, he would like a sense of the Senate of how to bring this back to the committee. Professor Manassee asked about what options we have to get members of the committee. Professor Ballengee explained the AAUP process is to ask for nominations and sometimes we have to get help from the Deans.

NEW BUSINESS

• Discussion Item: Disability Support Services (Executive Committee) - Vice President Moriarty gave out the pamphlet developed for faculty and pointed out page She introduced Susan Willemen, Director of Disabilities Support Services.  Ms. Willemen shared that approximately 1,200 students are registered with Disability Support Services.  Approximately half have learning or cognitive (e.g., traumatic brain injuries) disabilities.  Students with ADHD, psychological and medical disabilities comprise a total of 40 percent.  Only 10 percent have physical and sensory (e.g., blind, deaf) disabilities; therefore, the vast majority of students have disabilities that are hidden rather than visible. Vice President Moriarty shared that we have staff members with different specialties. Ms. Willemen shared the different types of specialists that we have. Vice President Moriarty shared that the staff works well with faculty and are good at not giving the house away, but try to give practical recommendations.  The law changes once students enter college, the curriculum is not changed, but services are suggested to help the students.  Professor Cox shared that the biggest problem she has is with how to provide note takers.  Ms. Willemen answered that they rely on faculty to help to identify note takers, because otherwise it is too difficult.  Professor Cox answered that there is no way for a Professor to know if a note taker will do a good job, so often the students, who need the note taker, is not served. Ms. Willemen shared that she doesn’t know what a better system would be. Professor Cox suggested that we should have a pool of students that would be good at doing this. Professor Vatz shared that he has never had a problem with staff from the disability office and they have always been helpful.  He then asked about the documentation that the students need to have to be served.  Do we have our own specialists making the documentation?  Ms. Willemen answered that we look at the recommendations from the expert that has worked with the student and have our own experts look at it, too, so that the suggestions are something that we can work with. Professor Vatz asked if the faculty member disagrees with the recommendations is that considered.  Ms. Willemen answered yes they do consider this.  Professor Burks voiced concerns that she teaches lab classes and lab quizzes are not taken best in other situations beside the lab or by giving extra time.  This is difficult because it is difficult to not make this public.  Professor Burks had a concern with a student at this time and someone from the Disability Office said that it was up to the student.  Ms. Willemen disagreed with this.

Discussion Item: Financial Advice for Students (Executive Committee)

Vince Pecora, Director of Financial Aid, introduced himself to answer questions. Professor Sullivan shared that faculty are concerned about giving information.  The Director responded that if at all possible to call their call center.  They fielded 37,000 calls last year.  He cautioned about giving advice without their help.  Professor Mannasse asked about whether financial aide is given for study abroad.  The Director answered that there is aid available both from within and from outside.  Professor Manassee then asked if regular financial aid can be used for study abroad.  He replied that there are ways this could be worked out. Professor Cox shared that there are issues with students that have financial aid that sometimes causes students to be dropped from their courses. She asked what kind of advice can faculty give.  He answered that they need to be referred to his office because there are different options. Professor Guerrero asked if the students get scholarship during the year, often this changes and they have to drop out of a course.  The Director explains that sometimes they have to adjust to take away loans.  He suggests that the students ask that that their budget be examined.  Professor Guerrero then asked about students who have parents in the military. The Director answered that some new funds have become available, but they need to come to their office to see what is available.  Professor Siegel asked about work study.  She heard that the more work study that is used, the more work study you will get. The Director answered that the Obama administration has suggested this, but it has not been done yet. He shared that sometimes we have problems with using all of the work study money that we have and they encourage more usage.  His office does offer workshops. They have had an increase of 17% of those seeking aid.  Lonnie McNew suggested that the university pays some of the percentage of the student work study so we have funding for more students if more departments want to use them.  Professor Lawson asked about work study for graduate students.  We can do this, but we have had less requests for it.

4. Discussion Item: Sub-committee membership (Executive Committee)

Professor Zimmerman asked about whether the by-laws needed to be changed to establish these kind of guidelines for membership. Some committees need this and others do not.  Professor Bergman suggested that this should only be for long standing committees. Professor Siegel did not think we needed this in the bylaws since the committees themselves are in the bylaws. Professor Zimmerman suggested that we should put the guidelines of maybe one representative from each college and then AAUP can run the election. Professor Anthony suggested that our process now is flawed because we have not been able to bring in new people. Professor Zimmerman shared that when he was president of AAUP that he tried to put forward new people and Professor Sullivan suggested that he did this, too, but those who were known were most likely to be appointed. Senator Graf asked for a list of updated committees. Someone suggested that it is the job of the Member At Large. Professor Zimmerman, the Member at Large, suggested that we may be able to find that list. Professor Siegel suggested that someone in the provost’s office should collect all of this.  She felt it is too much for a faculty member to do this.  We need an administrative assistant to do this.  Professor Zimmerman shared that he felt that such a list was on the web but he couldn’t find it.  He will look into this.

The University Senate will reconvene on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.