Academic Senate: MINUTES 11/19/2002

The meeting was called to order by Dr. Thompson Faller, chair

Members present: Dr. Amelia Ahern-Rindell, Ms. Colleen Bender, Dr. Susan Brown, Dr. Rich Christen, Rev. James Connelly, Mr. Walt Dawson, Dr. Will Deming, Dr. Thompson Faller, Dr. Laura Genik, Dr. Greg Hill, Dr. Mark Kennedy, Dr. Jack Kondrasuk, Dr. Bohn Lattin, Mr. Larry Larsen, Dr. Larry Lewis, Dr. Marlene Moore, Dr. Dakshina Murty, Dr. Steve Royce, Dr. John Schouten, Ms. Heidi Senior, Dr. David Sherrer, Br. Donald Stabrowski, Dr. Agnes Tenney, Rev. David Tyson, Dr. Anita Wynn, Dr. Zia Yamayee

Members absent: Dr. Rich Christen, Dr. Greg Hill, Dr. Dakshina Murty, Rev. David Tyson

The invocation was given by Dr. Susan Brown

The minutes from the October 2002 meeting were approved.

Standing Committee Reports

Executive Committee: The committee appointed subcommittees to review the Senate bylaws and representation (see below).

Committee on Committees: no report

Committee on Rank and Tenure: The committee continues to meet and review faculty files.

Committee on Teaching and Scholarship: Currently evaluating faculty grant applications.

Committee on Faculty Welfare: The committee met with Dr. Roy Heyndrickx to discuss the possibility of the University self-insuring its employees as an alternative to Kaiser, whose costs have risen precipitously of late.
-this would entail joining a consortium of about 15 area colleges and universities, and would be feasible, at the earliest, next year
-if we decide to offer this option, Kaiser would no longer offer us its “Added Choice” option, which is currently the preference of about 75 University employees
-for further information contact the committee chair, Dr. Agnes Tenney

Committee on Curriculum and Academic Regulations: Approved three proposals for presentation to the Senate (see below).

Presidential Advisory Committee Reports

Committee on Athletics: no report

Committee on Student Media: no report

Committee on Health and Safety: no report

Student-Faculty Court: no report

Committee on Computing and Telecommunications: The committee is working on a unified password system for the campus network. It is aware of the problem of students downloading large audio and video files, thereby overloading the system, and is working on a solution.

Other Reports

Deans’ Meeting: Met to discuss Founder’s Day arrangement.
Have chosen April 8, a day on which senior presentations can be made
Discussed a system to determine what transfer credits can be applied to meet core requirements
Father Tyson reported on his recent trip to Australia and the interest there in a joint program in the areas of Nursing and Education

ASUP: Budget discussed. Discussion of a new plan for elections this spring that would eliminate runoff elections and accommodate absentee voting. Working on a proposal for presentation to the Board of Regents that would define student values at the University. Shuttle bus service planned for next semester to run between the University and downtown on weekends

New Business

Introduction of Fr. William Beauchamp: Fr.Beauchamp introduced himself to the Academic Senate. He is the University’s senior vice president, formerly of Notre Dame. He has responsibilities in a variety of areas, including development/University relations, athletic programs, investment of University trust funds, legal affairs, and curriculum development

Report of the Ad hoc Committee on Senate Representation: The committee proposed the following apportionment of senators among the College and the schools:

Business: 2 senators for 24 faculty

CAS: 10 senators for 90 faculty

Education: 2 senators for 13 faculty

Engineering: 2 senators for 21 faculty

Library: 1 senator for 7 faculty

Nursing: 1 senator for 11 faculty

TOTALS: 18 senators for 166 faculty

The proposal passed.

Committee on Curriculum and Academic Regulations:

•Proposal to replace German Certificate with a major in “German Studies”: passed; effective fall 2003

•Proposal for changes in Political Science curriculum: passed; effective fall 2003

•Proposal to drop the Interdisciplinary B.A. degree and, in its place, establish both B.A. and B.S. degrees in “General Studies”: passed; effective fall 2003

Adjournment: 5:17

Respectfully submitted by Will Deming