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University Senate
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 14, 2002
To: The Academic Community
From: James M. Anthony, Secretary
Subject: December 3, 2001 Meeting of the University Senate
The fourth regular meeting of the University Senate met on December 3, 2001 in Rooms 314-316 of the University Union. Chairperson Holter called the meeting to order at 4:20 p.m. following the university reception to announce the appointment of Dr. David Harnage, Vice-President for Finance and Chief Fiscal Officer.
Professors Cox and Vatz and student member Stuckey were excused. The secretary requested that members of the Senate e-mail him and/or Chairperson Holter when they wish to be excused so that he can record this correctly in the minutes.
Changes to the agenda:
Professor Siegel asked if the Senate agenda could be printed on darker colored paper to make it more distinguishable from the materials we receive. Professor Anthony said he would request the staff in the ProvostŐs office to make this change.
By request of John Wessner, Professor Anthony moved to drop Dr. WessnerŐs name from the list of candidates for Professor-emeritus at his request. There was no objection.
There was also a request to place item 3 first on the agenda. There was no objection.
The minutes for November 26th were distributed. The minutes were corrected to show Professor Cox as excused.
Professor Vocke moved, Professor Stein seconded a motion to approve the minutes as corrected.
The Announcements were postponed for a few minutes until the arrival of Provost Jones.
Agenda item 3:
Professor Zimmerman moved, Professor Vocke seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the Faculty Research and Development Committee. (Motion 01 /02-9)
Professors Mangurian and Radius spoke to the motion.
Professor Zimmerman questioned the reason the number of grants for assigned time was down. It was noted that there were fewer requests and that the criteria for awarding such grants has changed.
The motion passed 21/0/0. The Senate also complimented the committee for a highly professional report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Provost Jones announced that the Council of Deans had a very successful retreat last week.
Vice President Parker passed.
Professor Sullivan (AAUP-Faculty Association) reminded faculty to pay their dues. He mentioned issues regarding payment of the living wage to university employees.
Professor Siegel (CUSF) announced that CUSF has passed small revisions in its constitution. She will distribute these. They are also discussing provisions for part-time faculty to be part of the electorate and/or delegation.
Mr. Crusante (SGA) announced that the SGA has had a meeting to determine budgets for student groups. It is also looking for students to serve on committees. It solicits faculty recommendations for these posts.
Chairperson Holter announced the formation of an ad hoc committee to make recommendations on honorary degree procedures:
Dan Leonard, PresidentŐs Office, Chair Professor William Horne, Mass Communications and Communication Studies Professor Michael Seganish, Accounting Professor Ray Castaldi, Accounting Ms. Ellen Stoke, Associate Vice President for University Marketing
She also announced the subcommittee to rewrite the constitution of the University Senate:
Professor Neil Gallagher, Health Science Professor James Anthony, Music Professor Timothy Sullivan, Economics Professor Filiz Tabak, Management Ms. Debra Berlanstein, Library Professor Norma Holter, Accounting
Chairperson Holter also announced that in forming all ad hoc and subcommittees of the Senate she intends to name a person who has not previously been involved in the area so that the individual can view the issues with fresh perspective. That person on the Honorary Degree Committee is Professor Seganish; and on the subcommittee to rewrite the Constitution, the member is Professor Tabak.
She also announced the first meeting of the newly formed Academic Computing Committee this Thursday, December 5.
Associate Provost Leather asked if the Honorary Degree subcommittee is to study the procedures for the selection. The answer was yes.
Professor Holter announced that with the new Senior Vice President and Chief Fiscal Officer now on board and the Vice President for University Advancement soon to be selected, the process of appointments and administrative activities has sped up. The President has asked that a Senate committee on budget be appointed.
She proposes that such an ad hoc budget committee consist of the following:
Chair of the Senate; President of the AAUP; One member drawn from the Finance or Accounting faculty in the College of Business and Economics; Two at-large members from two different colleges other than CBE appointed upon recommendation from the College Council.
Professor Gallagher asked what exactly would this committee do and what meetings would they attend.
Provost Jones stated that the committee would be available to advise on budget issues.
Professor Gallagher suggested that the committee makeup seemed too large.
Professor Nelson asked how the President best sees the Senate structure and wondered if we should wait until we know more about this before appointing such a committee. Professor Holter stated that she thinks we canŐt wait on these things. Provost Jones suggested that we decide how we want to function. We have the opportunity to expand the governance system and the role of the Senate. We should think independently. Professor Siegel expressed some concern about establishing an ad hoc committee without a specific charge. She is uncomfortable with a committee that is only called to order by the President. She suggested that the committee be appointed and have them meet and bring back a charge.
After further discussion of the makeup of the committee:
Professor Siegel moved, Professor Stevens-Ratchford seconded a motion: To appoint an ad hoc committee to make recommendations on budget issues consisting of:
The Chairperson of the Senate; The Chair of the AAUP-Faculty Association; Two faculty, from any college except CBE, at large, recommended by College Councils; One faculty member from the Finance or Accounting Department in CBE; One student from the Student Government Association. (Motion 01 /02-12)
The motion passed 18/1/0.
Agenda item 1 Professor Chen moved, Professor Vocke seconded a motion: To recommend the status of Professor Emeritus or Librarian Emeritus for the following persons:
(Retired on January 1, 2001) Department College Charlotte Cook-Fuller Health CHP James Furukawa Psychology CLA Martin Horak Mathematics CSM Jacob Huang Physics CSM David Marchand Music COFAC Cynthia Sulfridge English CLA
(Retired on June 30, 2001) Department College Mary Blann Kinesiology CHP Lawrence Crawford Music COFAC Muriel Jones Library LIBRARY Daniel Kealy Psychology CLA Stuart Miller Psychology CLA Jeffrey Sanders* Psychology CLA Guy Sedlack Sociology CLA James Smith* Computer Science CSM Wing-Chun Wong* Philosophy CLA
*Status to be conferred posthumously. (Motion 01 /02-7)
The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda item 2: Motion 01 /02-8. Chairperson Holter inquired if there was a member of the University Curriculum Committee present to answer questions. No one was present. The Parliamentarian stated that if there were no objection, we could discuss the motion without a representative present. Professor Gallagher had several questions and it was decided to postpone this agenda item until the February meeting.
Agenda item 4 Professor Davani moved, Professor Gallagher seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the Graduate Studies Committee. (Motion 01 /02-10)
Dean Gong addressed questions.
Professor Siegel asked whether it was best practice to have both the Curriculum Committee and the Graduate Studies Committee deal with issues of the curriculum. Perhaps this should be reconsidered. Dean Gong noted that the Graduate Studies Committee has a representative on the Curriculum Committee. The Graduate Studies Committee approves courses proposed for the graduate programs. Provost Jones noted that originally curriculum did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Studies Committee.
Professor Gallagher noted the need for this committee to deal with issues throughout the year including summer. Dean Gong stated that he tries to confer with the committee via e-mail. He also expressed his support of representation of graduate students on the Senate.
The question was called and the motion passed 19/0/0.
Agenda item 5 Professor Vocke moved, Professor Siegel seconded a motion: To approve a Bachelor of Science in Blended Elementary Education-Special Education. (Motion 01 /02-11)
Professor Paul Jones spoke to the motion.
He explained that the title will be changed to Integrated Dual Certification in Elementary and Special Education. This is not a new program, but rather an integration of two existing programs. It has been two years in planning. He expects that it will attract students in Elementary Education who wish to be certified in Special Education and vice versa. It will require some redeployment of faculty.
It was requested that the proposal include a letter of support from the Maryland State Department of Education.
Professor Stein asked about the outline of projected expenditures on page 5. Several questions were asked as to whether the monies from tuition stay on campus or not. It was explained that the present table required for these proposals does not depict reality. We donŐt have a way of measuring this precisely.
Professor Christian asked whether there were assurances of the required new faculty for this program. Professor Jones replied that the staff expansion will be requested. He said that the current growth in Special Education is such that we need this position in any case.
Professor Siegel expressed concern about procedures to increase faculty in other areas on which new programs such as this will have an impact.
Provost Jones replied that these issues need to become embedded in the review process.
Professor Jones said that Special Education is an area in which there is a critical shortage of teachers.
Provost Jones inquired if there is a HEGIS code number for this program. Professor Jones said he thought not.
The question was called and the motion passed 18/0/1.
Discussion Item: Revised University policies on the Prohibition of Sexual Discrimination and Harassment
Ms. Debra Seeberger and Mr. Daniel Leonard of the PresidentŐs Office spoke to the issue.
It was explained that these changes replace existing policies and add new policies to include sexual orientation. There were various questions of interpretations and wordings, particularly relating to the new policy covering sexual orientation. Provost Jones stated that he is very pleased that after many years we finally have a formal policy in this area.
Chairperson Holter thanked Ms. Seeberger and Mr. Leonard for coming to discuss the proposal. She will write the PresidentŐs Office a letter summarizing the Senate discussion of this issue.
Professor Sullivan moved, Professor Zimmerman seconded a motion: To express strong support for these new policies prohibiting Sexual Harassment and Discrimination. (Motion 01 /02-13).
The motion passed by unanimous consent.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Continuation of discussion of the Responsibilities of the Senate and the Senate Constitution.
The Senate moved into a committee of the whole to discuss changes to the University Senate Constitution.
Professor Nelson stated that he believes a report from the Member-at-Large should be a regular agenda item. Chairperson Holter shares his concern. She intends on visiting all of the committees early in the semester to discuss procedures with them.
Professor Anthony suggested that perhaps we should have a report twice year.
Provost Jones reminded the Senate that committees are to meet regularly and send their minutes to the Member at Large after every meeting. New policies are not to be implemented until sixty days afterwards so that the Senate could have oversight regarding any changes.
Profs. Chen and Siegel suggested that a special e-mail address be set up in order to communicate with the Member at Large. Ms. Berlanstein will investigate this.
Beginning in February, Ms. Berlanstein, the Member-at-Large, will report on the status of reporting by the various Senate committees.
Continued discussion of section E. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Item 10. ŇThe assignment of faculty office, teaching, and research space.Ó
Associate Provost Leather expressed the view that the Senate should have a role in this and should continue to deliberate over the facilities master plan.
Professor Sullivan wondered if we need # 10 if we have # 4 regarding Ňplanning and development of campus physical facilities and usage.Ó
Professor Siegel expressed concern that we have never had any say in the prioritization of the development of new space.
Provost Jones noted that the University has four Vice Presidents. We need to decide where faculty and student voices come in. He will bring organization charts and we can discuss where the Senate fits into this organization.
There was further discussion of items E11-14. It was agreed that #13 (The Honors Program) should be subsumed under #6 (Academic organizational structure and governance.)
Professor Chen moved, Professor Christian seconded to adjourn.
Chairperson Holter wished the Senate a wonderful holiday.
The next meeting will be held on February 4, 2002.
Respectfully submitted,
James M. Anthony, Secretary
The University Senate usually meets the first Monday of each month during the fall and spring semesters. The Executive Committee of the University Senate invites all interested parties to attend the meetings in the University Union.
Copies of documents relevant to agenda items are available at the Faculty Reserve Desk in Cook Library. Recordings of meetings are located in Cook Library in the Media Resource Services area on the second floor.