University Senate Minutes
Memorandum
Date: October 4, 2006
To: The Academic Community
From: Jennifer Ballengee, Secretary
Subject: September 18, 2006—Meeting of the University Senate
The second regular meeting of the University Senate was held on Monday, September 18, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.
Prof. Sullivan called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. Absent were Senators Leshnoff and Rosecky, as well as President Caret, Vice President Moriarty, and Vice President Rubin.
The Senate voted unanimously to accept the agenda.
The Senate voted unanimously to accept the May 1, 2006, minutes.
The Senate voted unanimously to accept the minutes of September 11, 2006.
Prof. Sullivan read the list of Emeritus Faculty Recommendations [Appendix 1, pg. 9] to the Senate. The Senate voted unanimously (18-0-0) to accept the recommendation.
Prof. Vatz noted again that the list of these retiring faculty should have been disseminated earlier and more effectively.
Prof. Vatz introduced a motion to the Senate that all tenured and tenure-track faculty who are leaving the university, effective June 30 be announced as soon as possible after that date to the entire faculty. Prof. Roberge seconded the motion.
The motion [Senate Motion 06/07-01] passed unanimously 18-0-0.
REPORTS OF EX OFFICIO SENATORS
CUSF Report, Prof. Little:
Towson hosted the September CUSF meeting. It was an organizing meeting: committees were formed and agendas set.
AAUP Report, Prof. McLucas:
The AAUP is hosting a Faculty and Friends Bull Roast/Crab Feast, Fri., 9/29, Auburn House Pavilion. $25 for faculty (this price includes the annual membership fee), $35 for others.
SGA Report, Senator Dieguez:
Senator Dieguez reported that the student orientation and pep rally reflected high student participation and enthusiasm.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Report of Vice President Clements, Economic and Community Outreach:
Vice President Clements handed out a Media Press Release indicating recent TU outreach activities. Topics covered were:
Impacts of BRAC to the state and county.
Grant from Osher Foundation, life-long learning initiative.
Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum, has given scholarships and outreach projects.
Small business development Center meetings at Towson.
GIS has released a sex-offenders project: www.socem.info.
Grant from CISCO Corporation.
Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Annual Conference will be hosted at Towson next October.
Prof. Sullivan noted that the UPTRM Committee needs a new Senate representative. Dianne Taylor spoke for the committee. Prof. Zimmerman volunteered.
Prof. Sullivan also noted that he is currently considering Senators to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee to investigate compensation, merit, and health care.
REMARKS OF PROVOST BRENNAN
[The Provost has provided the following outline of his remarks.]
>>Thank you.
I would like to organize remarks and annual report to the Senate in four categories: (1) enrollment and enrollment growth, (2) programmatic developments, (3) students and student support, and (4) the faculty.
1. Enrollment, as of IPEDs reporting deadline of 15 September:
FTE (note measure as a departure for USM standards for budgeting [vs. Hdct])
Goal -- 805 FTEs growth
Actual -- 976.94 gain
Total -- 15,736.94 total
Undergrad -- 14,098.27 (89.5%)
Grad -- 1,638.67 (10.4%)
Headcount
Total -- 18,921
Undergrad -- 15,375 (81.2%)
Grad -- 3,546 (18.84%)
Credit Hour Generation
Total -- 230,638
Undergrad -- 211,469 (91.7%)
Grad -- 19,169 (8.3%)
Notes
a. How this was done: A Release of USM expectation for growth at Towson was not made until November, 2005, forcing a strategy of yield increase vs. applicants increase. The strategy also required more strategic use of financial assistance (cf. Noel-Levitz study, spring 2004). Nevertheless, over 16,000 applications were received for an eventual “yield” of 2,700 freshmen places and 1,600 transfer students.
b. MBA has been implemented, about 100 headcount students and related FTE (about 30) credited to Towson.
c. This enrollment growth is an amazing achievement, not only for Enrollment Services, Financial Assistance, Undergraduate Marketing, graduate admissions, and Registration, but also for the Advising Center, the Achievement Center, Student Affairs and Resident Life, and the myriad of other support groups throughout the campus.
d. Importance of pattern: One group that needs special thanks also consists of the deans and chairs, who worked throughout the spring and summer in responding to the needs of students. In particular, it became clear that we needed to continually modify and change as needed the number and sizes of sections – this was a very dynamic and interactive process. Our data have shown that the more options that students have, the more they will register. The chairs and deans responded to our requests, and we have achieved a pattern of FTE growth, not only by adding new students but also by encouraging existing students to register for more credits. This pattern is clearly reflected in the numbers. On the basis of past ratios, in order to grow by 805 FTE, we would have needed 1,000 new students. We exceeded our target by an impressive 171 FTE by growing by 810 students. That pattern also helps on the demand for resources.
e. As I stated at last week’s Senate meeting, our entering freshmen credentials remain quite stable from last year, particularly in terms of high school GPA and class rank, which are unchanged. Combined SATs slipped about 20 points, and we are currently trying to get more data from ETS to understand our drop relative to the national decline, the largest in 31 years nationally.
f. Our out-of-state students have reversed a 5-year trend of declining below 20%, and the freshmen non-resident has grown by 8% to 29%. Indeed, our new transfer cohort included 12% non-resident students. This reversal is important in terms of revenue. Last year, we brought in over $1M in unanticipated tuition revenue because of growth in nonresidents, and this year that amount should be more.
g. We anticipate growth of 800 FTE for fall 2007, as the President indicated in his speech of 7 September. Segue to where they will enroll:
2. Enrollment growth and planning (Note two planning events: Deans’ Retreat, 31 August and 11 September; RPAC Workshop – the Delaware Study on 8 September).
a. More detail forthcoming in terms of my convocation address to the faculty on 28 September, however we are looking at program opportunities that are supported by a serious infrastructure for interdisciplinary collaboration. We are also examining the addition of another school, and from this perspective, our considerations have focused on a School of Technology, which would be incubated within the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. This direction is recommended from our studies of the impact of BRAC adjustments, particularly in Harford County.
b. As indicated in last year’s convocation address, we have planned and implemented a total of five totally on-line programs, four of which are now being offered: graduate programs in Homeland Security and Risk Assessment, Graphics Design, HRD; undergraduate program in Allied Health. A fifth program should be ready in the spring and consists of a track within the Computer Science masters program. The MBA is also offered completely on-line.
c. We have moved rapidly in off-campus programs, particularly those emanating from articulation agreements with community colleges. We started the baccalaureate program in nursing at the Hagerstown site of the USM, and we should expand to a masters program there in two years. We are offering a number of programs in exciting collaborations with 2+2 and dual admissions programs with CCBC. And we are moving rapidly with major programming in Harford County with a major presence at both the campus of HCC and at the HEAT Center. The kickoff signing of the agreement by the presidents of Towson and HCC is scheduled for 16 October.
3. Students and student support.
a. A number of organizational changes and personnel appointments.
1) Dr. Kimberly Lauffer has been appointed Assistant Provost of Undergraduate Education, with duties including oversight of the Advising Center and Intentional Advising, General Education, and support of some of the special admit programs.
2) Dr. Paz Galupo has assumed direction of the Multicultural Institute and is well into a study to revision the Institute at the center of the academic agenda for Towson.
3) The Achievement Center will revert to a previous organization with a focus on student academic support through tutoring and programs to enhance study skills. Academic testing and placement, as well as developmental education will return to the Advising function, under the supervision of Dr. Lauffer.
4) With the retirement of Dean Esslinger, I am examining the organization of international education and the extent of its centralization. I continue to consult with the four directors now in that unit as well as the deans and my staff, and I hope to announce some decisions by the end of the month. This semester we have 21 students in the eMBA program at the University of Lodz in Poland, which is a program that Towson runs in collaboration with the University of Lodz, the Polish American Management Center (funded by a grant from the EU), the Smith School of Business at UMCP, and our partner, the University of Baltimore. We also have 82 students in a 2+2 program in Panama City, in the Republic of Panama. We are hosting the first group of 2 students as part of a 1+2+1 initiative in Actuarial Science with the Shanghai Financial University, and 2 doctoral students are currently enrolled in the OT Program, and they come to us from the faculty of the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai. On August 19th, I presided at the commencement exercises of our education program in which 49 students from the cohorts of two of Shanghai’s school districts received the M.Ed.
b. We are continuing a second year of our two special admit programs of support, the Top 10% program and the ASAP (academic support for achievement potential) program. For the Top 10% Program, we learned a lot from the first year, and we now have about 182 students in the program, and 12 students are enrolled in a dual admissions collaboration with the BCCC.
c. Intentional advising – per agreement with the Senate summer group that met on 14 June 2006 – there will be a two-staged implementation this academic year, which means that the fall will not require blocks enforcing the mandatory component, but will in the spring. The single exception is a pilot project in CBE, which will require mandatory advising, as has been the case anyway. Much work was done over the summer to accommodate intention advising in various units.
d. Our constructive relationship with Student Affairs continues to grow. Dr. Moriarty and I have established joint committees on Placement Services, Civic Engagement, and the first year experience. I think the success of the convocation and general welcome weekend for new students provides testimony to that relationship which is so important in securing that special student centeredness that has characterized a Towson education.
4. Faculty
a. The division conducted searches for 3 top administrators, 78 faculty and 55 staff during the 2005-06 academic year, which is an incredible achievement.
1) Dean Shohreh Kaynama was appointed permanent dean of CBE; Dr. Terry Cooney joined us dean of CLA, and Ms. Deborah Nolan joined as Director of University Libraries.
2) 62 new tenure track or tenured faculty participated in the new faculty orientation for core faculty on August 14th and 15th followed by small group sessions with OTS the following week. They are an impressive group, and we will support them through this first year with a series of six meetings, three each semester, on a variety of topics.
3) We had separate orientation sessions for full-time faculty not on tenure track – i.e., Visiting faculty, lecturers, and clinical faculty, and for part-time faculty.
b. P&T
1) Total tenure applications:
37, with 34 approved.
Total promotions to associate:
24, with 23 approved.
Total promotions to full:
11, with 9 approved.
Total post-tenure reviews:
31 (5 still in process-FCSM).
Total librarians promoted: 3
2) As with last year, I am meeting with chairs of P&T committees, Wed., 20 September.
5. Concerns.
a. Infrastructure and the maturation of the university.
b. Growth and budget – disappointments in operational budget funding in the current, FY07 budget. However, I am optimistic in anticipation of an exploration of how we spend the money we currently have through a true 0-based process as we move forward in planning the FY08 budget.
c. Extent of part-time instruction. Across the university, we have a disturbing number of entire programs that have more than 50% of the sections, at both undergrad and graduate levels, taught by part-time instructors. This is a serious issue.
d. General education. <<
Questions posed in Response to the Provost’s Remarks:
Prof. Vatz asked about the Provost’s attitude toward the Senate and shared governance.
The Provost explained that the Senate is not the only vehicle of shared governance. The Senate needs to function more effectively. Nevertheless, the Senate is the pre-eminent body of shared governance.
Prof. Zimmerman asked about the forecast for recruiting faculty in the next year.
The Provost explained that there are quite a few search committees for this year; those for replacements are already ongoing. The Budget could be late this year, because of the election. He hopes to get the President’s permission to start at least 30, hopefully 40, searches for new faculty for next year.
Prof. McLucas asked if these new faculty searches are meant to address the over-reliance on part-time faculty. The Provost noted Towson’s reliance on part-time faculty, but indicated that this s a situation that will be addressed. He added that the current course hour production measures are 7.4 for all full-time faculty and 7.1 for core faculty. There is a pilot program this fall in Biology, using graduate assistants to teach large lecture classes. He asked whether we might be too linked to thinking of teaching small sections.
Prof. Siegel asked if the Senate could get some indication of the percentage of full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty involved in online and off-campus programs. The Provost responded that Shady Grove and Hagerstown are in compliance with state regulations.
Prof. Siegel then noted that intentional advising has an enormous impact on faculty workload. This is something the Senate should look at. She added that if there are committees addressing these issues, there should be Senate—or at least faculty members—on them.
Prof. Pitcher noted the gap between research demands and support: a Research Intensive direction for the university has been announced, but there is no infrastructure to support it. The Provost indicated that he is making moves to rectify this situation.
Prof. Brown asked about Health Benefits for lecturers vs. compression for faculty. What role did the Senate’s decision have in this decision? The Provost indicated that his office followed the list of priorities, to the extent that it was able considering budget limitations.
Prof. Vatz registered a complaint that Department averages should serve as the basis for Merit Raises.
Prof. Vatz then raised a question about whether it is accurate or not to say that Academic Advising will no longer be providing advice on GEN-ED's since there appears to some confusion about the role of departmental faculty with respect to advising students with respect to GEN-ED's.
1. Motion 06/07-02:
All new buildings on campus should include plans for and implementation of wireless networking in all areas.
(Senate Executive Committee)
The motion was tabled until the next Senate meeting.
2. Receive the Annual Report of the PTRM Committee
(Senate Executive Committee)
The Senate voted to accept the Annual Report of the PTRM Committee, 17 - 0 – 0, with a few small corrections. Dean Charlotte Exner is the Provost's designee on the Committee, and Jay Zimmerman is the Senate appointed representative on the committee. At the next meeting of the Senate, the Senate will have the revised Chapter 3, which discusses Faculty Evaluations, Reappointment, Promotion, Tenure and Merit.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Appendix 1
Emeritus Faculty Recommendations
Presented to the University Senate September 2006
College of Business and Economics
Raymond Castaldi, Accounting, Professor Emeritus
Louise Smith, Marketing & e-Business, Professor Emeritus
College of Education
Nechie King, Elementary Education, Professor Emeritus
James Lawlor, Secondary Education, Professor Emeritus
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Jane Bates, Art, Professor Emeritus
College of Health Professions
Cynthia Kielinen, Nursing, Professor Emeritus
Joan Jordan, Nursing, Professor Emeritus
Ray Stinar, Kinesiology, Professor Emeritus
College of Liberal Arts
Barry Bass, Psychology, Professor Emeritus
James Cook, English, Professor Emeritus
Thomas Evans, Foreign Languages, Professor Emeritus
Michael Figler, Psychology, Professor Emeritus
John Gissendanner, English, Professor Emeritus
Joan McMahon, Family Studies, Professor Emeritus
John Tinkler, English, Faculty Emeritus
Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
Laurence Boucher, Chemistry, Professor Emeritus
Joseph Topping, Chemistry, Professor Emeritus