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University Senate
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 22, 2002
To: The Academic Community
From: James M. Anthony, Secretary
Subject: November 4 and 18 meetings of the University Senate
The third meeting of the University Senate was held on November 4, 2002 in Rooms 314-316 of the University Senate. The meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.m. by Chairperson Norma Holter.
Professors Gissendanner, Vatz, Vocke, Wengert, and Whitman were excused.
Professor Anthony requested a change to the agenda: In the list of proposed professors emeriti, Professor John Manlove is listed as having retired from the Music Department In fact Professor Manlove retired from the Theater Department There was no objection to the change.
Professor Siegel moved, Professor Fisher seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the October meetings.
The motion passed 15/0/1.
REPORTS OF EX OFFICIO SENATORS
Interim President Jones announced that the Chancellor's Council for the USM met today and dealt mostly with programs and issue of collective bargaining.
The item of most concern for the System at this point is the question of cuts in the current operating budget and the 04 budget.
Regarding the 04 budget President Jones noted that the system is requesting a $38 million increase, but the highest hope at this point is for $26 million. They are predicting another tuition increase for fall 03.
Regarding collective bargaining: for Towson there are no changes at all.
Dr. Jones also reported on his trip to China. Towson University is directing educational leadership conferences there. We have signed a letter of agreement with Beijing Polytechnic Institute for a program in Applied Information Systems.
Interim Provost Leather announced that her division is conducting training for deans regarding the issues of sexual harassment. The university is also dealing with issues relating to the definition of sexual harassment and may be coming to the Senate for endorsement of a new definition.
Vice President Harnage had no report, but took questions. There was a question about trees being cut down and trees replanted. Answer: this issue will be addressed in the new master plan.
Vice President Parker announced that Family Weekend will take place this coming weekend. The university will host parents and other relatives of students for a number of events on campus including athletic events, fine arts events, events for children, and religious events.
Vice President Rubin had no report, but thanked the faculty and staff for their participation in the Annual Fund.
Professor Siegel (CUSF) reported on its recent meeting.
Two members of CUSF (Bill Chapin and Martha Siegel) were selected to serve on the Search Committee for Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of USM. Dan Jones is also on the committee.
Concerns: a. All information about the benefits package was held until after the election. b. There is no faculty representation on the USM tuition task force. c. Role of the two-year colleges in teacher education. MSDE is already allowing continuing education of teachers to be done entirely by individual school districts apart from any of the colleges and universities in USM. d. USM Technology Fluency policies put large responsibilities on faculty without providing means for faculty development. e. Recommendation for a new policy on grievance procedures is being sent to the Chancellor. f. A report on USM schools shows that 77% of all department chairs are male, 65% of the deans are male. g. The question of benefits for domestic partners is on hold. CUSF continues to express support for this and continues to remind the USM about it.
Provost Leather commented that the policies regarding the role of two-year institutions in teacher certification programs are still being debated.
We are continuing to ask for Faculty Development funds for technology.
There was a question as to whether changes of policies regarding System grievance had to do with personnel. Answer: Probably not, most likely it had to do with issues of shared governance.
Professor Sullivan asked CUSF to be sensitive to representation of part-time faculty.
Professor Sullivan (AAUP) announced the membership drive for dues of $15. He also encouraged all members of the Academic Community to vote tomorrow.
The Family Medical Leave Act now has a WEB sight.
Ms. O'Connell (SGA) announced that SGA will be voting on resolutions concerning the presidential search and Reading Day.
Ms. O'Connell's name has been sent forth as a candidate for the Student Regent Position.
REPORTS BY OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Chairperson Holter announced that she met with the Chancellor and the CUSF Executive Committee. Professor Siegel was appointed to the Search Committee for the Vice-Chancellor. Issues discussed: a. Shared governance. Chairperson Holter feels that we need to be thinking more about the role of the Senate. In comparison with other campuses our Senate seems to be quite passive. She would like to have this as a topic of discussion in December. Certainly the new president will ask us what our role is. b. Budget. The Chancellor paints a rather bleak picture of the budget. They are predicting a 25-30% cut in general funding for the System. c. Task Force. They are developing a tuition task force to look at the policies that are 10 years old. The missions of many of the institutions have changed markedly since those policies were developed. d. H.E. Support. The Chancellor is asking business leaders for support of higher education. e. Overcrowding. The issue of overcrowding came up. A question of caps on admission was brought up. The Chancellor noted that in Wisconsin when the university system put caps on tuition, the legislature responded with further cuts!
OLD BUSINESS
1. Resolution of the composition of the University Promotion & Tenure Committee: [Motion 02/03-8]
A proposal was circulated showing current membership and their term expiration dates.
It was announced that Professors Sinnott (CLA) and Isaacs (COFAC) have offered to resign. These positions will be filled by Professors Dianne Taylor (CHP) and Prisca Martens (COE) respectively. In Spring 2003 when two CLA positions expire, there should be an election for one member from CSM and one member elected from CBE. It was decided that Maria Fracasso would be designated the Senate-appointed member so that the expired positions could be filled by two elected members. As a result, within a year the desired diversity will be achieved with minimal disruptions.
Professor Lu moved, Professor Siegel seconded a motion to accept this proposal.
The motion passed unanimously 18/0/0.
Chairperson Holter also announced that while visiting the P & T Committee, the committee expressed the desire that an ad hoc merit procedures committee be formed by the Senate to review, update, and clarify merit procedures. The University P&T Committee would review the ad hoc committee's recommendations before submission to the Senate.
Professor Gallagher moved, Professor Chen seconded a motion: To form an ad hoc committee made up of one faculty member appointed by each College Council and one member appointed by the Chair of the Senate to review merit policies and procedures. The names are to be forwarded to the Chair of the Senate within two weeks. Deans Leetch and Intemann will serve on the committee ex officio, non-voting. The ad hoc committee will send their recommendations to the University P&T Committee by March so that the recommendations can come before the Senate in April 2003. [Motion 02/03-18]
The motion passed 18/0/0.
Ms. Berlanstein (Member at Large) announced that most annual reports have come in. NEW BUSINESS
1. Professor Chen moved, Mr. Crusante seconded a motion: To confer Faculty Emeritus Status on the following persons:
Name ---------- Department ---------- College
John Alexander - COSC ---------- CSM
Joseph Briscuso - MUSC ---------- COFAC
Roger Fink - PSYC ---------- CLA
John Manlove - THEA ---------- COFAC
Janet Solomon - MNGT ---------- CBE
Frances Damratowski - NURS ---------- CHP
Alan Edelstein - SOCI ---------- CLA
Harold Griswold - MUSC ---------- COFAC
Doris Lidtke - COSC ---------- CSM
Roger Poirier - MODL ---------- CLA
Julie Ries - SPPA ---------- CHP
Jay Stanley - SOCI ---------- CLA
Sandra Stanley - SOCI ---------- CLA
[Motion 02/03-11]
Professor Lu noted that Professor Alexander is currently on transitional leave; therefore his name should be removed from the list.
Dean Exner requested that Professor Robert Slevin, retired from Kinesiology, be added. (There was no objection; there had been some confusion about his status, but this was approved in Tom Basuray's office.)
The amended list for Faculty Emeritus status is as follows:
Name ---------- Department ---------- College
Joseph Briscuso - MUSC ---------- COFAC
Roger Fink - PSYC ---------- CLA
John Manlove - THEA ---------- COFAC
Janet Solomon - MNGT ---------- CBE
Frances Damratowski - NURS ---------- CHP
Alan Edelstein - SOCI ---------- CLA
Harold Griswold - MUSC ---------- COFAC
Doris Lidtke - COSC ---------- CSM
Roger Poirier - MODL ---------- CLA
Julie Ries - SPPA ---------- CHP
Robert Slevin - KNES ---------- CHP
Jay Stanley - SOCI ---------- CLA
Sandra Stanley - SOCI ---------- CLA
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
2. Professor Cox moved, Professor Siegel seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the University Assessment Council. [Motion 02/03-12]
Ms. Linda Suskie, Director of Assessment, spoke to the motion.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
3. Professor Sullivan moved, Professor Chen seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the Academic Standards Committee. [Motion 02/03-13]
Professor Craig Johnson spoke to the motion. Professor Siegel asked about policies regarding screened majors. She asked how many screened majors there are and in what areas. Answer: Screened majors are noted with an asterisk in the University Catalog. Professor Terry Berkeley from the floor helped clarify the procedures of approving screened majors.
Professor Zimmerman questioned the procedures for allowing Honors course repeats. Answer: It allows for students to substitute a non-honors course as a repeat for an unsuccessful honors course.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
4. Professor Nelson moved, Professor Chen seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the Graduate Studies Committee. [Motion 02/03-14]
Professor Donna Cox spoke to the motion.
Professor Gallagher asked for a clarification on item 3 which states that the committee "gave input to the Dean of the Graduate School on the following issues: "credit for prior learning" and "maximum number of ÔC'grades allowed for students seeking a certificate program. Answer: The committee provided advice on the matters. The committee also developed a proposal regarding the number of ÔC' grades acceptable in a certificate program, but decided not to pursue it.
Provost Leather asked about the [relative few] meetings during the academic year. Professor Cox noted that last year was an unusual year in that there were so few proposals to come before the committee. Dean Gong noted that much of the committee is handled by sub-committees, e.g. the course approval subcommittee. It was noted that there has been discussion about the current division of curriculum work between the Graduate Studies Committee and the Curriculum Committee.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
5. Professor Sullivan moved, Professor Fisher seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. [Motion 02/03-15]
Professor Terry Berkeley spoke to the motion.
Professor Gallagher asked about our decision to leave the Patriot League and the issue of gender and minority equity.
Dr. Wayne Edwards, Director of Athletics, explained that the decision to leave the Patriot League was imposed on us. The decision to join the Atlantic Ten Conference brought up issues of gender equity. Our population is 60% female and 40% male. At present the university is working to provide more money for female teams. We will actually improve our standard of gender equity and will surpass the Title IX standards.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
6. Professor Anthony moved, Professor Chen seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of Library and Instructional Technologies Committee [Motion 02/03-16]
Ms. Eleanore Hofstetter, Library Director, spoke to the motion.
Professor Gallagher inquired about the changes in the makeup and the duties of this committee regarding CIAT. Answer: CIAT is no longer under the Library and the changes necessitated by this move will be submitted to the Constitution Rewrite Subcommittee.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
7. Professor Siegel moved, Professor Cox seconded a motion: To receive the annual report of the University Curriculum Committee. [Motion 02/03-17]
Ms. Eleanore Hofstetter, Secretary of the Committee, spoke to the Motion.
Ms. O'Connell asked if there were any students on the committee. Answer: None were appointed last year.
Professor Gallagher inquired about the GenEd Subcommittee and the IIA2 courses. Provost Leather stated that a subcommittee is working on that at present.
Professor Siegel asked about the specificity required in the syllabus of courses that have many sections and many faculty. Answer: The committee is working on this. The individual department has to monitor this. President Jones said that in practice the department is required to submit a model syllabus.
Ms. Hofstetter said that there is information on the WEB as to what is required in a syllabus.
The motion passed unanimously 19/0/0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. The Senate moved into the Committee of the Whole to discuss proposed By-Law changes regarding committees of the University Senate.
We discussed the following Committees:
University Assessment Council. Ms. Suskie answered questions regarding the proposals.
Extended Programs Committee. Dean Nixon answered questions regarding the proposals.
Information Technology Committee. Professor Sadera answered questions regarding the proposals.
Professor Lu moved to adjourn at 6:05 p.m.
The motion passed.
The Senate will reconvene on Monday, November 18 at 4:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
James 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 the Cook Library in the Media Resource Services area on the second floor.