Academic Senate: Minutes 9/18/2012

I.    Call to order: 4:05 pm

II.    Roll call
Present: Michael Andrews, Ellyn Arwood, Julia Balistreri, Ray Bard, Fr. William Beauchamp, Russ Butkus, Rich Christen, Mike Eom, Tom Greene, Kyle Hamm, Christin Hancock, Drew Harrington, Susan Hinken, Aziz Inan, Larry Larsen, Nick McRee, Gary Mitchell, Tamar More, Meike Niederhausen, Dann Pierce, Alex Santana, Susan Stillwell, Karen Ward, Matthew, Warshawsky, John Watzke, Kaye Wilson-Anderson
Not Present: Mark Utlaut
III.    Invocation (Larry Larsen)

IV.    Approval of minutes from meeting from April 17, 2012.  
    a.    Minutes were approved.  

V.    Standing Committee Reports:
    a.    Executive Committee, Larry Larsen  
        1.     Executive Committee met on Sept 4.
        2.     The Committee discussed items to be presented at the Sept. 18 Academic Senate meeting.  
    b.    Committee on Committees, Susan Hinken   
        1.    The Committee met early in June to select members for Senate Committees and nominations for Presidential Advisory Committees. Jim Lies, who left the University almost simultaneously to his election to the Committee, was not present.
        2.    Over the summer, the Committee did some minor housekeeping on committee lists.
        3.    Next on the Committee’s agenda will be the appointment of an ad hoc committee to look at Senate membership.
        4.    The Committee also stands ready to serve if needed to make nominations for other committees that may be formed.  
    c.    Committee on Rank & Tenure, Mark Utlaut (reported by Larry Larsen)  
        1.    The Committee has started its business and is moving forward.  
    d.    Committee on Teaching & Scholarship, Aziz Inan   
        1.    The Committee has not met yet, but information has gone out regarding Butine applications. It has been placed in UPBEAT and posted on UP Pilots.
        2.    The deadline for Fall Butine’s is Friday October 5 at noon; information available on the TAS website.  
        3.    Amount available for Butine’s this year is $50, 398 for Fall and 7,200 for Spring.
        4.    The Committee held successful workshops on Sept 11 and 12.
        5.    Reports from last year’s Butine recipients are due on Oct 28.
    e.    Committee on Faculty Welfare, Tamar More
        1.    The Committee met with Bryn Sopko and Carol Welch, who discussed Kaiser negotiations and other Human Resource activities.
        2.    The Committee asks Senators to inform their constituents that the Faculty Welfare Committee is eager to hear about specific faculty issues and concerns.  
    f.    Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations, Russ Butkus
        1.    The Committee met on August 30 and considered a proposal from the SOE on an EdD program.
        2.    The proposal passed unanimously.  

VI.    Presidential Advisory Committees:
    a.    Committee on Student Media, Kaye Wilson Anderson    
        1.    The Committee has not met.  No report.
    b.    Committee on Athletics, Alex Santana   
        1.    The Committee has not met, but meetings have been scheduled.
        2.    The Committee will meet with the new Athletic Director and tour the new Athletic facilities.
    c.    Committee on Health and Safety, Dann Pierce   
        1.    The Committee announces the successful conclusion of a fire drill in early September.  
    d.    Committee on Information Technology, Gary Mitchell  
        1.    The Committee has scheduled meetings for rest of the year.
    e.    Committee on Sustainability, Rich Christen   
        1.    The Committee has not met but is organizing for its first meeting.  

VII.    Other Reports:
    a.    Fr. William Beauchamp
        1.    2012-13 has opened with one of largest student bodies in the University’s history and the 2nd largest freshman class.
        2.    The new freshman class has a higher percentage of men than recent classes:  43 % men, 57% women.  The class also has a higher percentage of students from California and 31% minority students.  
        3.    Although the process is in its very early stages, applications for admission to the University are 500 ahead of last year.
        4.    Thomas Greene and Fr. Mark Poorman have been directed by the President to collect input on enrollment management.  Invited and open sessions for input will be held.  Faculty and staff will also have the opportunity to give input on-line.  
        5.    The President commented on the Core curriculum, maintaining that the Core will remain focused on the liberal arts.  At the same time, the University recognizes that it is the responsibility of all units on campus to assist in delivering the Core.
        6.    Activity on the river property has increased with approval from the EPA for clean-up.    
        7.    UP has been recognized by the Oregonian as one of the top employers in the state.  
    b.    Dean’s Meeting (Thomas Greene, Interim Provost)
        1.    The Deans have met twice, focusing on the strategic plan and the Core.
        2.    The strategic plan is being monitored to identify what was accomplished in 2011-12 and what is planned for 2012-13.
        3.    The Deans sent memos related to the Core Curriculum to the entire faculty and to the faculty teaching the Core.
        4.    The Deans heard a presentation on how the SON has been effective at using hybrid approaches to deliver some classes.  
        5.    The Deans heard a report by Martin Monto on GreenDot.
    c.    ASUP
        1.    ASUP is currently holding elections.  33 seats are being contested by 32 applicants, the most in 5 years.
        2.    Last year, ASUP discussed but did not pass a resolution requiring that faculty order textbooks by a certain date.  This remains a concern for students, with ASUP continuing to work on a policy proposal that adequately captures student sentiment.   
        3.    The first meeting with new Senators will be held on Monday Sept 24.

VIII.    New Business
    a.    Election of Academic Senate Secretary
        1.    Rich Christen volunteered to do the secretarial duties through fall semester 2012.
        2.    The Senate unanimously approved Rich as interim Secretary (voice vote).  
    b.    School of Education Ed.D. Proposal
        1.    Dean John Watzke reported on the School of Education’s EdD proposal.
        2.    According to Watzke, the proposal has the full support of SOE faculty and all of the Deans.  It is financially sustainable and needs no resources for its first cohort.  The Ed.D will meet the need for career span education programs, provide access to jobs, and help in finding sites for current student placements.  Demand among alumni, especially principals who have graduated from the IAL, is high.  Dean Watzke views the Ed.D as an extension of current post-graduate programming.
        3.    Senator Ray Bard asked a question about the impact of the Ed.D. on undergraduates in the SOE and about the affect of more night classes on faculty.  Dean Watzke responded by emphasizing Ed.D’s potential to build a professional network that will support the undergraduate programs.  He also mentioned that the number of new courses offered will be small with little affect on faculty or sustainability.  
        4.    Senator Gary Mitchell asked about the dissertation and advising of dissertations.  Dean Watzke replied that much of the dissertation work will be embedded in courses.  Also, Ed.D will also have an Ed.S. as an exit stage.  SOE faculty Julie Kalnin responded that this model has been used successfully around the country.  The SOE will also be carefully monitoring the new program.
        5.    The Senate unanimously approved the School of Education’s Ed.D. program (voice vote).
IX.    Announcements: None

X.    Adjournment: 4:42.  
Next Executive Committee Meeting, October 1.
Next Academic Senate Meeting, October 23.