Academic Senate: Minutes 11/17/2009

I.   Call to order and announcements: 4:02 pm

II.  Roll call

Present: Robin Anderson, Susan Baillet, Genevieve Brassard, Barbara Breen, Alyssa Schmidt-Carr, Susan Decker, Todd Easton, Jill Hoddick, Larry Larsen, Laura McLary, Kathleen McManus, OP, Nick McRee, Hilary Merk, Stephanie Michel, Elise Moentmann, Hans Nordstrom, Samantha Riofta, Fr. Stephen Rowan, Br. Donald Stabrowski, CSC, Jackie Waggoner, Karen Ward. Absent: Brian Adams, Rev. E. William Beauchamp, CSC, Tim Doughty, Jacquie Van Hoomissen, Diane Vines, Joanne Warner

III.   Invocation: Sr. Kathleen McManus

IV.   Approval of minutes from meeting from 15 September 2009 approved

V.   Standing Committee Reports:

   i.    Executive Committee, Dr. Larry Larsen

      ·    Met 4 November and discussed creating guidelines for Senate membership when new positions open with respect to balance of junior and senior faculty and the need for senior faculty to chair committees.

        Nine new positions will be open at the end of the year.

   ii.    Committee on Committees, Dr. Elise Moentmann

      ·    Committee asked by Br. Donald Stabrowski and Fr. Bill Beauchamp to create a search committee for new dean in School of Education.

      ·    A search committee has been formed.

   iii.    Committee on Rank & Tenure, Dr. Jill Hoddick

      Committee’s work is continuing this semester.

   iv.   Committee on Teaching & Scholarship, Dr. Nick McRee

      ·    Committee is reviewing applications for Butine Faculty Development grants and will complete the review process on Thursday (19 November).

      ·    Shortly after 19 November, recommendations will be sent to provost, and applicants will be notified.

   v.    Committee on Faculty Welfare, Dr. Susan Baillet

      ·    Met to complete revision of Faculty Handbook description of family leave policy.

      ·   Discussed financial issues with Denis Ransmeier.

      ·    Met with sports and recreation consult to review faculty responses to their survey as planning begins for a new sports and recreation facility.

   vi.    Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations, Dr. Brian Adams (absent)

VI. Presidential Advisory Committees:

   i.      Committee on Student Media, Dr. Jackie Waggoner

      ·   During meeting, groups gave reports (KDUP and Beacon).

      ·   The committee discussed plans for the year and how vacancies in student media will be filled next semester.

   ii.    Committee on Athletics, Dr. Jacquie van Hoomissen

      ·    Met with Fr. Beauchamp and representatives from Athletic department.

      ·    Subcommittees met to discuss old and new business.

   iii.     Committee on Health and Safety, Dr. Hans Nordstrom

      ·     Met on 11 November and 14 October to discuss new crosswalk at N. Willamette Blvd and the new sidewalk on the east side of the Pilot House. The new sidewalk will divert foot traffic and is no longer a drop-off zone.

      ·    The campus is currently attempting to get rid of hazardous waste to reach the status of being a non-producer of hazardous waste by December 17 and 18, which will involve, or example, moving old chemicals out of Shiley Hall. The campus community is urged to contact Jeff Rook in Campus Safety to remove any hazardous materials.

      ·    The committee also discussed that the Health Center is discouraging students from visiting with flu symptoms to prevent the spread of flu.

   iv.   Committee on Information Technology, Dr. Karen Ward

      ·    Met twice, first on 6 October to review the committee’s work of last year, and again on 3 November to meet with Jim Ravelli to find out about projects pending this year in the Offices of Information Technology.

      ·    Formed subcommittees: academic technical support, infrastructure, web committee, communication.

   v.     Committee on Sustainability, Stephanie Michel

      ·    Met in September to discuss issues by subcommittee:

      ·    President’s climate committee (due 15 December)

      ·    Water subcommittee discussed: support of water conference in the spring, advocating for getting rid of bottled water on campus (but not water coolers), two week water conservation effort going on right now to be aware of and restricting water usage.

      ·    Gathering more data about the university’s footprint (e.g. garbage, recycling) Physical Plant working on this, including a dorm challenge to reduce waste.

VII. Other Reports:

   i.    Fr. William Beauchamp (absent)

   ii.    Dean’s Meeting (Br. Donald Stabrowski)

      ·    Brenda Greiner (Shepard Freshmen Resources Center) reported on issues with helicopter parents.

      ·    Bobby Lindahl (Registrar) provided a list of dates for registration, reported no lines at Registrar now that the online process has become smoother.

      ·    Karen Nelson (Institutional Research) reported on results of freshmen/senior survey; information is available on her website.

      ·    Will meet later with Jim Lyons

      ·    Tom Greene and Jenni Walsh reported on the creation of a one page list of frequently used links for faculty.

      ·    The semester meeting with officers took place after the Senate meeting in September. Topics discussed included: Getting ready for visit NWCCU (the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities) , which includes a review of mission statement. A revised mission statement will be finished by 26/7 January for the Board of Regents meeting so the University can move on to the next steps in the self-study.

         o   Changes to the University’s mission include adding “in the Holy Cross tradition” and using more active language and livelier prose.

         o   First listening sessions scheduled for Friday, 19 November and Monday, 23 November for input; meet twice in the semester with associate deans: last meeting just before pre-reg for seniors about checking senior records

      ·    Meeting with Fr. Beauchamp scheduled for Wednesday.

   iii.    ASUP

      ·   The crosswalk signal at N. Willamette Blvd. has been with capital improvement funds. Some funds were not used for the project, thus $7,000 was saved.

      ·    Villa basketball court was put in last week.

      ·    Approved new capital improvements

         o   drums and kilts for the Villa drum squad

         o   new furniture for Haggerty Café

         o   new DVD kiosk in the Pilot House (DVD Now) will be installed in one month, which will allow on-campus promotions and fundraising.

      ·    Considering a resolution for a smoke-free campus. ASUP is currently passing out a survey, and senators will look at results; ASUP is initially in support but will need to analyze results of the survey first.

      ·    ASUP is pleased with the installation of a new sidewalk near the Cove.

      ·     ASUP is helping to put together an MLK service day for area colleges to be held here on campus. The Portland city mayor will come to speak. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate

      ·    Christmas tree lighting will take place on 7 December beside the chapel. An artificial tree will be a giving tree to be placed in the Commons once this has been approved.

      ·     Students are invited to a fireside chat with Fr. Beauchamp in the Terrace Room at 7:00 pm on November 24.

      ·    ASUP met with the recreation and sports management consultant to review and discuss the results of the survey.

VIII. New Business:

      ·    Introduction and discussion of new Executive MBA in Non-Profit Management in the Pamplin School of Business

      ·    Todd Easton described the new program: It will help leaders in the non-profit sector to improve their skills and help those move from for-profit into non-profit management.

      ·    Howard Feldman summarized the main points:

         §  addresses the university’s mission with regard to social justice, ethical behavior, service to God and neighbor

         §  fits with the mission of the Pamplin School of Business (i.e, managing for-profit and non-profit)

         §  provides managerial and leadership skills for those in this sector or those transiting to non-profit

         §  received letters of support from the non-profit community and from on-campus organizations, stating for example that the new program addresses issues lacking in the non-profit community which could be strengthened through this program

      ·    There are MBA program in Salem and at Willamette University, but they are structured differently because they appeal to recent undergraduate students; Marylhurst is an online program, but information about the program is unclear and seems to be marketed to people around the country; the cost of the program at Willamette is about $57,000, PSU’s program costs approximately $16,500. UP’s new program can be competitive with PSU’s program.

      ·    Met with Denis Ransmeier about a comparable program, which he described as successful.

      ·    Will allow students to take classes with regular MBAs, take classes part time and work full time

      ·    This program will appeal to social services and other industries, e.g. healthcare, government, education, arts

      ·    First cohort will start in fall 2010.

      ·    Questions from Senators:

         §  Is it possible to not earn a degree and just take a few courses?

            §  Yes: options for non-matriculating programs, up to nine credits

         §  How long will it take to complete the degree?

            §  Designed for 36 credits hours, will be completed in about 2 years (depending on individual’s other commitments); late afternoon, evening classes will be offered, will consider possibility of offering courses on weekends

         §  Are there concerns about additional staffing needs?

            §  Out of the seven proposed courses, three or four current faculty members have expressed interest in teaching them, will be using some adjunct instructors, eventually want to staff with full-time faculty

         §  How many full-time students will enroll in first year?

            §  All students will be blended into the traditional MBA courses in the first year, electives will begin the next year. There is room in existing courses.

         §  How many students are anticipated in the first year?

            §  5, in addition to non-matriculating students, possibly current employees of university, about 5-10 total

         §  Will there be a final capstone project?

            §  It will probably be a field project: e.g. study of the strategy of organization, developing entrepreneurial program for organization the individual is working for

         §  How much will the program cost? What are the implications of allowing for a 50% grant for those not able to pay tuition?

            §  By its nature, cost of program should be less; but students will lose the fellowship if they change to the traditional MBA program

         §  Are library resources sufficient?

            §  The program will make use of available resources. The library isworking closely with the Pamplin School of Business to make sure resources are properly allocated.

         §  Comment in favor: This program will be a good draw for foreign students.

      ·    After a voice vote, the motion to approve the new Executive MBA in Non-Profit Management passed unanimously.

IX. Announcements:

The next Executive Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, 1 December at 4:00 pm. Members of the university community should contact Larry Larsen to include new items for the committee to discuss.

The next meeting of the Academic Senate will take place on 19 January 2010 at 4:00 pm in BC 163.

X. Adjournment:

4:52 pm

Note: All members of the University community are welcome to attend any meeting of the Academic Senate. The meetings begin promptly at 4:00 pm.