Academic Senate: Minutes 3/20/12

I.     Call to order:   4:03 pm.

II.    Announcements: none

III.  Roll call
Present:  Brian Adams, Jim Baillie, Rev. E. William Beauchamp, CSC, Genevieve Brassard, Mike Eom, Drew Harrington, Sally Hood, Aziz Inan, Kristin Johnson, Larry Larsen, Laura McLary, Kathleen McManus, Hillary Merk, Stephanie Michel, Tamar More, Meike Neiderhausen, Dann Pierce, Rev. Stephen Rowan, Chloe Ruffin, Alex Santana, Br. Donald Stabrowski, CSC, Karen Ward
Teri Woo. Absent: Ray Bard, Nick McRee, Joanne Warner, Kaye Wilson-Anderson

IV.  Invocation  (Larry Larsen)

V.   Approval of minutes from meeting from 21 February 2012
   a.   Minutes were approved

VI.  Standing Committee Reports:
   a.   Executive Committee, Dr. Larry Larsen
      1.   Committee met March 6.
      2.   Committee planned for the April meeting, when new senators will begin their terms.
      3.   Larry Larsen recognized six members who are completing their terms on Senate:
         a)   Dr. Brian Adams (chair, Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations)
         b)   Dr. Hillary Merk
         c)   Dr. Kathleen McManus
         d)   Dr. Genevieve Brassard (chair, Committee on Committees)
         e)   Dr. Laura McLary (chair, Committee on Faculty Welfare)
         f)    Stephanie Michel (Secretary)
         g)   Dr. James Baillie (chair, Committee on Rank & Tenure)
   b.   Committee on Committees, Dr. Genevieve Brassard
      1.   Nothing to report.
   c.   Committee on Rank & Tenure, Dr. James Baillie
      1.   Committee is continuing its work.
   d.   Committee on Teaching & Scholarship, Dr. Aziz Inan
      1.   Butine decisions are complete; the letters were just sent.
      2.   Nominees for Teaching and Scholarship awards need to submit their documents by Friday. 
      3.   Requests for proposals for Faculty Development Day have been sent to Upbeat and PilotsUP; the deadline is May 8. Three proposals have already been received. 
      4.   A subcommittee is working on other means of course evaluations.
   e.   Committee on Faculty Welfare, Dr. Laura McLary
      1.   Committee will meet later this month. Committee has nothing to report at this time.
   f.    Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations, Dr. Brian Adams
      1.   Committee will meet next week. Committee will have two items for the next Senate meeting.

VII. Presidential Advisory Committees: 
   a.   Committee on Student Media, Dr. Kaye Wilson-Anderson
      1.   Representative was not present.
   b.   Committee on Athletics, Dr. Alex Santana
      1.   Committee will meet March 26. Committee has nothing to report at this time.
   c.   Committee on Health and Safety, Dr. Sally Hood
      1.   Committee met March 14. There is nothing new to report.
      2.   A question was asked about the new signs along the bluff announcing a web site ( http://www.whatsinourair.org/ ) for reporting bad odors. A community group has been formed to address this issue. A recent article in the Sunday Oregonian also linked to an online map of Portland showing areas with strong risks from air toxics, including the university area ( http://projects.oregonlive.com/pollution/ ). Jim Houck’s class is interested in studying this issue.
   d.   Committee on Information Technology, Dr. Teri Woo
      1.   Committee has not met this month.
   e.   Committee on Sustainability, Dr. Hillary Merk
      1.   Committee met March 3. 
      2.   Committee continues to work on the job description for the Sustainability Manager position. 
      3.   Committee will meet again April 10. 

VIII.       Other Reports:
   a.   Fr. William Beauchamp
      1.   Fr. Mark Poorman, Jim Ravelli, and Fr. Beauchamp visited Salzburg last week.
         a)   They looked at the facilities, which are now twenty years old.
         b)   They participated in the Annual meeting with faculty. 
         c)   Planning is underway for the 50^th anniversary of the Salzburg program, which will take place in 2013/2014. Celebrations will be held in Salzburg, and also in Portland during the 2014 reunion.
      2.     Update about process of hiring an athletic director.
         a)   5 finalists have been identified; they will come to campus for interviews.
         b)   Plan to involve several people from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Athletics in the interviews.
         c)   Hope to make a decision by the end of April.
      3.   Library renovation will begin in May.
         a)   Work has already started.
         b)   Books will be stored in the Tyson Hall garage. 
         c)   The Terrace Room will be the public face of the library.
         d)   Staff offices will be located in Tyson Hall, and Drew Harrington will be in Franz Hall.
         e)   The Library classroom will be in Franz Hall 330.
         f)    A presentation about the library renovation and interim plans will take place on March 28 at 4pm in BC163.
         g)   There are concerns about study space during the library renovation; study space will be available within the residence halls, Shiley Hall, the new part of the Commons, and Franz Hall classrooms will be opened in the evening. 
      4.   Update about the Rise Campaign:
         a)   Fr. Beauchamp recently gave the annual State of the University address. The first year, only 40 people attended; this year, about 350 people attended. Alumni awards were presented during the event, and an update was given about the Rise campaign.
         b)   The Rise campaign has raised $128 million dollars towards the $175 million goal; only two years remain in the campaign. 
         c)   Several significant gifts have been received over the past several months, including an unexpected estate gift of $1 million which will be used for the library renovation. 
         d)    UP has received some significant grants; in fall we will learn if we received a major grant from the Murdock Trust. 
         e)   The last $50 million will be the most difficult.
         f)    Fr. Beauchamp has been travelling to conduct fundraising.
      5.   On May 10, the Rise for Scholarships event will occur in the Chiles Center.
         a)   The university hopes to raise $750,000.
         b)   Food, drinks, and service are being donated by Bon Appetit.
         c)   Sponsorships have been received.
         d)   Attendees purchase seats or tables for the event; everyone is encouraged to attend.
      6.   Update about the recent ruling that insurers for Catholic universities are required to provide coverage for birth control.
         a)   Oregon is one of six states where this was already required by law.
         b)   The university will need to look at the ruling and determine how to handle it in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
         c)   The ruling also states that coverage has to be provided for student insurance, which will need to be evaluated. 
   b.   Dean’s Meeting (Br. Donald Stabrowski)
      1.   The Deans have met regularly since the last Senate meeting.
      2.   The deans have selected the valedictorian, Masis Isikbay, and the University Scholars (graduates with a 4.0 GPA). Awards will be given at the Senior Awards breakfast on Founder’s Day. Faculty are welcome to attend.
      3.   Deans received an overview of academic exceptions; so far no patterns are discernible. 
      4.   Danielle Hermanny, the new Administrative Assistant to Fr. Beauchamp, talked about how to report about strategic planning. A call for reports will go out in May. 
      5.   John Watzke was elected to fill the dean’s position on the Senate currently held by Joanne Warner. 
      6.   Kristina Houck discussed the reporting requirements of Title IX. A template is being developed to help identify issues that must be reported; the template will be in place by the end of the year.
      7.   Jason McDonald reviewed the upcoming weekend on the Bluff (April 14-15). About 1,200 – 1,400 people usually attend; many prospective students make tuition deposits during that weekend. 
      8.   Laurie Kelley, the new Associate Vice President for University Relations, reviewed the upcoming end-of-the-year events, including the gala. 
   c.   ASUP
      1.   The $20,000 in the major project fund will be used to purchase:
         a)   A structure for the victory bell.
         b)   Remaining funds will be used to purchase furniture and improve lighting in St. Mary’s to make it a more welcoming study space.
      2.   ASUP passed a resolution on Monday requesting that the Heath Center provide more mental health staff. Fr. Olinger, who attended the meeting, indicated that UP is planning to address this need within the next 2-3 years.
      3.   ASUP inquires if the BC Greenhouse area could be improved; they propose adding a coffee cart or smoothie station.
      4.   The Office of Student Activities and ASUP Awards ceremony will take place April 23. Students can nominate a diversity leader, a faculty leader, or the staff member of the year. Please encourage students to visit the ASUP Facebook page to give recommendations.
      5.   On April 14, ASUP will host a major event, Rock the Bluff. The Beacon will announce on Thursday the name of the group headlining this event.
      6.   ASUP is partnering with local businesses and the School of Business to host the North Portland Scavenger Hunt this weekend, with the goal of getting students involved in area around campus. The event will offer door prizes, money towards Relay for Life, and money for clubs. Please encourage students to participate. 

IX.  New Business:
   a.   None.

X.   Announcements:
      a.      The Senate Executive Committee will meet April 3. 
      b.      The next Senate meeting will take place at 4:00pm on April 17 (Founder’s Day). Elections will take place during the next Senate meeting.

XI.  Adjournment: 4:31pm.

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 .