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University Senate
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 2, 2004
From: Debra Berlanstein
Subject: November 2, 2004 - Meeting of the University Senate
4 p.m. Professor Sullivan called the meeting to order and called the roll. Debra Berlanstein absent.
The agenda was approved as distributed.
The minutes of the October 4, 2004 meeting were approved unanimously with some slight editorial changes offered by Martha Siegel.
REPORTS OF EX OFFICIO SENATORS President Caret spoke about the proposed joint MBA with U.B. The dialog about the program with other USM institutions and MHEC should be finished by November 22. President Caret also explained that the Regents Report on Efficiency & Effectiveness was not reported correctly in the press. However, since the report was released there seems to be 4 major areas of concern. The regents have made the proposals but the implementation will be worked out on the campus level. The proposals of most interest are:
- Capping programs at 120 credits where accreditation and licensing allow.
- Instituting a surcharge for credits beyond 120 credits.
- Faculty workload. 7.5 is still the goal.
- Scrutinizing 4 special purpose institutions in USM.
Provost Brennan described the process by which the USM provosts are presenting the workload report. Pie charts show how many faculty are tenure or tenure track. At Towson if one adds in lecturers we get to a 7.1 standard. We look competitive because our faculty are meeting workload expectations. It would be even better if the reporting unit was not the individual faculty member but the department. Provost Brennan also reported on the Fora which continue the Provost's Convocation in October and will lead to topics in the January Faculty Conference.
Vice-President Harnage said that there was great interest in our proposed new $9 million building. Five competitors have been ranked for bids on the construction job. Once the work has been scoped and a fee set for the contract, then a design team will come and a schedule will be given to the TU community.
Vice-President Moriarty reported that a Council of Student Leaders from various organizations and projects had been recruited and that they had met once. These students felt they had a positive experience at TU. 100 students had applied for the January Leadership program. Family Weekend brought many families to the campus.
Vice-President Rubin talked about the importance of the Faculty Staff campaign and how important it was to increase participation. Faculty and staff can designate where their funds should go this year. University Advancement will be stretching to raise $5 million dollars this year through various efforts.
Martha Siegel (CUSF) reported the Reappointment letter had been rewritten and our P&T document should match it. There will be a meeting with Chancellor Kirwan where governance and benefits will be on the agenda. There are plans for another student research day with perhaps 30 posters. There is concern in CUSF about what the percentage of teaching is in the workload total.
Jay Zimmerman (AAUP) announced that the fall meeting of the AAUP/Faculty Association will be held on November 9. On the agenda will be the election of a V.P.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Motion 04/05-9:
To receive the annual report of the Honors College.
Professor Stein moved to receive the report. Professor Siegel seconded the motion. The motion passed 18-0-0.
2. Motion 04/05-10:
To receive the annual report of the Honors College.
It was pointed out on the wording should read: "dismissed from the Honors College" not "academically dismissed." Professor Holter moved and Professor Vatz seconded the motion to receive the report. The motion passed 18-0-0.
3. Motion 04/05-11:
To receive the annual report of the University Assessment Council.
Professor Siegel moved and Professor Holter seconded a motion to table the report until the problems alluded to in the report could be explained.
4. Motion 04/05-12:
To receive the annual report of the Academic Standards Committee.
Professor Siegel moved and Professor Lu seconded the motion to receive the report. The motion passed 19-0-0.
5. Motion 04/05-13:
To accept the proposal for the MBA jointly offered by the University Baltimore and Towson University.
The Provost gave the background on the proposal. We are using UB's program and adding 2 additional tracks. It is AACSB accredited and our courses will be aligned with UB's. Dean Kaynama spoke about how vital this program is to the College of Business & Economics.
Professor Buchoff moved and Professor Fisher seconded the motion to approve the joint MBA. The motion carried 19-0-0.
6. Motion 04/05-14:
To eliminate the C- grade.
The Executive Committee sponsored the motion. The SGA surveyed faculty and students and brought their results. Professor Tabak mentioned a compromise that a C- grade could be considered passing, however at the same time the student's GPA in the major was 2.0 or better.
A motion to table the motion failed 9-10.
Professor Zimmerman moved and Professor Siegel seconded a motion to call the question. The vote to call the question carried 14-3-0.
The vote to eliminate the C- grade failed 5-12-0.
The Senate moved into a Committee of the Whole to discuss what the sense of the Senate was. The Senate determined that it wanted the Academic Standards Committee to report on the ramifications and implications of both:
- making a C- a passing grade.
- making a C- a passing grade and keeping a minimum 2.0 or higher for the major.
The Senate adjourned at 6:15 p.m.