Academic Senate: Minutes 9/21/2010

I.     Call to order and announcements           
II.    Roll call
    Present:  Brian Adams, Robin Anderson, Jim Baillie, Ray Bard, Rev. E. William Beauchamp, CSC, Genevieve Brassard, Lauretta Frederking, Sally Hood, Aziz Inan, Larry Larsen, Laura McLary, Kathleen McManus, Hilary Mark, Nick McRee, Stephanie Michel, Elise Moentmann, Hans Nordstrom, Stephen Rowan, Katie Scally, Br. Donald Stabrowski, CSC, Karen Ward, Teri Woo. Absent: Mary Allender, Hillary Burrelle, Joanne Warner, Kaye Wilson-Anderson.
III.  Invocation was offered by Br. Donald Stabrowski.
IV.  Approval of minutes from meeting from 20 April 2010.
V.   Standing Committee Reports:
    a.   Executive Committee, Dr. Larry Larsen
       1.   Met in September to discuss the coming year.
    b.   Committee on Committees, Dr. Elise Moentmann
       1.   Met over the summer.
       2.   Made recommendations for appointments to Fr. Beauchamp.
    c.    Committee on Rank & Tenure, Dr. James Baillie
       1.   The committee’s work is continuing.
    d.   Committee on Teaching & Scholarship, Dr. Nick McRee
       1.   Committee has not met; first committee meeting is October 14.
       2.   Butine announcements are out; applications are due October 8.
       3.   Committee expects to receive report from ad hoc committee on online student evaluation. Committee will subsequently issue report to Academic Senate with recommendations.
    e.   Committee on Faculty Welfare, Dr. Laura McLary
       1.   Met with Bryn Sopko and Br. Donald Stabrowski in preparation for upcoming meeting on September 27.
       2.   Committee will work with Bryn Sopko on tuition remission policy to clarify the language.
    f.    Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations, Dr. Brian Adams
       1.   Committee’s planned meeting for next Tuesday will be cancelled since no proposals have been received.
VI.  Presidential Advisory Committees: 
    a.   Committee on Student Media 
       1.   Senate representative has not been announced.
    b.   Committee on Athletics
       1.   Senate representative has not been announced.
    c.    Committee on Health and Safety, Dr. Hans Nordstrom
       1.   Over the summer the parking lot near the Pilot House received new striping. A few parking spots were lost, but the university still has adequate parking.
       2.   Community Emergency Response training (CERT) training took place over the summer. 
    d.   Committee on Information Technology
       1.   Senate representative has not been announced.
    e.   Committee on Sustainability
       1.   Senate representative has not been announced.
VII. Other Reports:
    a.   Fr. William Beauchamp
       1.     Thanks everyone involved in orientation weekend. Parents have expressed their appreciation for the event.
       2.     This fall UP had the largest freshman class in history. UP accepted the same number of students as last year; the number of students choosing to attend UP was higher than anticipated.
       3.     Last year our retention rate exceeded 89%; so UP has achieved its 5-year goal of increasing retention in just 2 years. This is due in part to the recommendations of the retention committee chaired by Fr. Rowan.
       4.     Students are responding favorably to the changes in the Commons. Food waste has decreased 75-80%. Kirk Mustain is commended for his work to completely change the Commons’ organization and staffing while also undergoing a major remodel.
       5.     A wine and cheese reception for parents was held on the Thursday night of Orientation. 800 parents attended (compared to 300 last year). 
       6.     Commons will be dedicated on September 25. Fedele Bauccio will be present.
       7.     The Board of Regents met last Thursday (committee meetings) and Friday (Board meeting). They approved the budget for this academic year.
       8.     Starting in 2011, the end of the fiscal year will switch from May 31 to June 30. This switch has financial implications, which the additional tuition from the large freshman class will help to alleviate.
       9.     Jim Lyons and Laurie Kelley from University Relations presented to the Board of Regents about the upcoming capital campaign, “Rise.” Public phase will kick off on December 3 at the Gala (to be held in the Commons). Campaign goal is $175 million; when campaign is announced the university will have already committed $100 (includes 2 new dorms; Commons, and Shiley Hall). Priorities for the campaign are currently being developed and will flow out of strategic plan; scholarships will be one of the top priorities.
       10.  New banners are displayed on campus and along Willamette Blvd. This is due in part to Laurie Kelley’s and Jim Kuffner’s work building relationships with the city and the neighborhood association.
       11.  Strategic plan is underway. 
          a)   The revised mission was approved by the Board last January.
          b)   Next step is mission commitments (e.g. UP is a Catholic university, committed to a broad liberal arts education). 
          c)    A subcommittee will be created for each of the 3 core mission themes:  Teaching and Learning (John Watzke & Elayne Shapiro, co-chairs); Faith and Formation (Rev. Gary Chamberland, chair); Service and Leadership (Laurie Kelley, chair)
          d)   Each subcommittee will create 1-2 goals for the university. 
          e)   Public forums will be held to gather input from faculty, as well as faculty and staff surveys. 
          f)    Next step will be the development of strategies to fulfill goals, followed by tasks for each department. 
          g)    The steering committee (for strategic plan as well as upcoming accreditation) is: Rev. E. William Beauchamp, Br. Donald Stabrowski (co-chairs); Fr. Stephen Rowan, Joanne Warner, Tom Greene, John Soisson, Rev. Gerry Ollinger, and Karen Nelson, plus the chairs of the subcommittees (John Watzke, Elayne Shapiro, Rev. Gary Chamberland, Laurie Kelley). 
          h)   Final version of strategic plan will be presented to Board of Regents at the May meeting. 
       12.  Vision statement is: University of Portland will be a premier comprehensive Catholic university with a strong liberal arts core. 
       13.  Fr. Beauchamp spent 3 weeks in Rome meeting with the general chapter of Holy Cross, to pass legislation for the next 6 years for the province. Fr. Dick Warner was elected the new Superior General. Indiana Province of Priests (UP’s province) will be merging with Eastern Province of Priests (which also merged with the midwest and southwest provinces). Fr. Tyson will be the provincial of this new combined United States province of priests and brothers. 
       14.  Fr. Ed Obermiller, who previously left UP to become Director of Vocations for Holy Cross for the Indiana Province of Priests; currently works with over 50 men in formation. 
       15.  Travelled to meet with the board of Notre Dame Australia, and visit with UP students.
    b.   Dean’s Meeting (Br. Donald Stabrowski)
       1.   Preparing for Northwest Council on Colleges and Universities accreditation; process has been changed from a 10-year to a 5-year process. During the upcoming 5 years, UP will be visited 3 times; 1-2 standards will be reviewed during each visit. The 5 standards are:
          a)   Standard 1: Mission
          b)   Standard 2: Resources and Capacity; this standard will have 7 subcommitees: Governance (Rev. E. William Beauchamp, chair); Human Resources (Bryn Sopko, chair);  Educational Resources (Br. Donald Stabrowski, chair); Student Support Services (John Goldrick, chair); Library and Information Resources (Drew Harrington, chair); Financial Resources (Denis Ransmeier, chair); and Physical & Technological Infrastructure (Jim Ravelli, chair). 
          c)    Standard 3: Planning and Implementation
          d)   Standard 4: Effectiveness and Improvement
          e)   Standard 5: Is institution fulfilling its mission? Is institution sustainable?   
       2.   Currently UP is working on standards 2-3; standards 4-5 will be addressed later this summer. Goal is to have rough draft completed by end of fall; then seek feedback during spring semester; final version to be ready next summer. Report must be submitted 6 weeks before accreditation visit.
       3.   Deans discussed strategic plan; had combined retreat with the officers in September.
       4.   Updated policies on internships/practicums/clinicals – students have to be enrolled in order to be covered by insurance.
       5.   List of faculty replacements for next year (including retirements, visiting professors, and those who have left UP) is ready; ad will appear in Chronicle of Higher Education within next week. No new positions have been approved, but anticipate that some will be approved soon.
    c.    ASUP (Katie Scally)
       1.   Elections underway for student senate. Strong interest from freshman this year. Have candidates for 2 most difficult positions to fill: non-traditional (age 25+ ) and international student. Currently no candidates for 2 senior seats.
       2.   Senate retreat takes place this weekend.
       3.   Previous Executive Board used capital improvement fund for new electronic screens on campus (replaced posters to reduce use of paper).   New processes are being established for advertising via the electronic screens.
VIII.       New Business:
    a.   None.
IX.  Announcements:
    a.   Executive Council will meet October 5 in preparation for October 12 Senate meeting; email Larry Larsen with any issues for meeting.
X.   Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 4:41pm.

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.