Academic Senate: MINUTES 10/10/2006

Present: Dr. Brian Adams, Dr. Susan Baillet, Fr. William Beauchamp, Dr. Carol Dempsey, Dr. Karen Eifler, Dr. Jeff Gauthier, Dr. Chris Hallstrom, Dr. Angela Hoffman, Dr. Joanna Kaakinen, Dr. Ken Kleszynski, Dr. Lora Looney, Ms. Caroline Mann, Dr. Louis Masson, Dr. Terry Misener, Dr. Elise Moentmann, Dr. Marlene Moore, Ms. Tara O’Boyle, Dr. Katie O’Reilly, Dr. John Orr, Dr. Peter Osterberg, Dr. Michael Rabby, Dr. Bart Rylander, Dr. John Schouten, Br. Donald Stabrowski, Dr. Jackie Waggoner, Dr. Zia Yamayee

Absent: Ms. Megan Olmstead

Invocation: The invocation was given by Ms. Tara O’Boyle

Minutes of the September 19, 2006 senate meeting were accepted.

Standing Committee Reports

Executive Committee: Dr. Jeff Gauthier gave the report. Dr. Gauthier made a motion to suspend the rules as the agenda, and documents for the proposal on the Doctorate of Nursing Practice, were not made available to Senate members seven days before the October 10 meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The Executive Committee had a productive meeting with Fr. Beauchamp on September 27.   The role of Senate to set Admissions policies, especially regarding academic concerns, was discussed. Also discussed was information technology which is currently the purview of an advisory committee yet technology impacts every area of teaching and scholarship. As a guardian of academics, the Senate would like more input in the use of technology. The Executive Committee also made note that the amount of Butines funds is declining despite an increase in faculty numbers. In addition, the salary scale for CAS faculty was discussed with Fr. Bill. Dr. Gauthier appointed Dr. Brian Adams and Dr. Elise Moentmann to form a committee to examine the apportionment of seats in the Senate, a necessary step due to department splits in CAS.

Committee on Committees: Dr. John Orr gave the report. The committee has not met, however, it has appointed Dr. Bart Rylander, rather than Dr. Joanna Kaakinen who is serving as a replacement for Dr. Linda Birenbaum, to represent Health and Safety on Senate. 

Committee on Rank & Tenure: Dr. Louis Masson gave the report. The committee is deliberating.

Committee on Teaching & Scholarship: Dr. Carol Dempsey gave the report. The Butine reports have been received. The Butine proposals have been received and a total of $133,182.13 is being requested. The Butine proposals have been distributed to committee members. Dr. Carol Dempsey announced two Faculty Colloquia: on October 27 Mike Snow will speak, and on December 8 Carrie Evangelist will speak. Both events will be held in BC 163 from 3 to 4 p.m. Dr. Carol Dempsey met with Br. Donald to plan Faculty Development Day.

Committee on Faculty Welfare: Dr. Susan Baillet gave the report. The committee has met. In the meeting the committee addressed the absence of a maternity leave policy in faculty handbook and began drafting a paragraph to insert in the handbook which would address family leave policy in general for all faculty.

Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations: Dr. Karen Eifler gave the report. Committee met to hear and discuss the proposal for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. 11/5 voted in favor. 

Presidential Advisory Committee Reports

Committee on Student Media: Dr. Jeff Gauthier gave the report. The committee has not met.

Committee on Athletics: Dr. John Schouten gave the report. The committee has met largely to discuss the 13 points for review required by the NCAA as part of the reaccredidation process, and subcommittees now working on this.

Committee on Health & Safety: Dr. Bart Rylander gave the report.   The committee has not met.

Committee on Information Technology: Dr. Chris Hallstrom gave the report. The committee has met. The web subcommittee is currently working on the state of the web report. The communications sub committee is looking at ways to effectively communicate policy changes and initiatives to the university, especially the possibility of using the Pilots web portal as a place to post announcements.  The infrastructure subcommittee reported that the forklift upgrade was successful. The committee discussed the ethical use of wireless access in the classroom because not all faculty want this access in the classroom. Concerning spam, Mr. Bryon Fessler is looking at an offsite spam management program because cost for this service has decreased. Off-campus access to the L and M drives currently being tested for security, and will be available this fall. As three laptops were stolen last year, the committee discussed measures to prevent the potential compromise of student information on laptops in the future. 

Other Reports

Fr. William Beauchamp: Fr. Beauchamp reported that his meeting with the Executive Committee was very fruitful. In regard to the faculty salary scales, his office is currently updating our comparable information with other regional schools. A library task force has been appointed including three faculty, two students, two regents, Bro. Donald, Mr. Roy Heynderickx, and Ms.Drew Harrington. A report from the library task force will be submitted by Spring break to fast track the renovation process. Decisions to be made by task force include whether or not to build a new library or renovate existing building. Five million dollars are available for the library project. The land purchase is moving slowly; May 31is closing deadline. Progress has been made with DEQ and EPA concerning the land purchase, and there has been no objection to rezoning. The Director of Financial Aid, Ms. Tracy Resinger, has departed.   The university will hire an interim director. President Beauchamp wishes to bring together many programs which impact enrollment to to treat it as one issue, and to work towards better enrollment. For example, applications doubled but student enrollment did not increase. Father Beauchamp will continue luncheon meetings with faculty.

Dean’s Report: Bro. Donald Stabrowski gave the report.Two meetings have been held. Ms. Karen Nelson’s preliminary results of student engagement survey in five areas are on her webpage. With regard to on-line academic warnings, there is an agreement to leave it as a pilot program, as there was much discussion about posting mid-semester grades. Mid-semester grades online would replace academic warnings. Visitors from Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities coming for day and an half. A committee has been formed to celebrate the beatification of Fr. Moreau, the founder of Holy Cross. 

ASUP:  Ms. Tara O’Boyle gave the report. ASUP has a new and improved website. In recent years, raised students fees have resulted in a capital improvements fund, and ASUP is planning to purchase a large, tangible item with this fund. The Executive Board in contact with different offices and programs on campus to make a list of large-purchase ideas. A trip to Notre Dame approved to bring together all ASUP groups at Holy Cross universities and colleges across the nation.

New Business: 

Dr. Karen Eifler, Chair of CAR, presented the proposal for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). Dr. Joanne Warner presented the proposal for DNP. Dr. Karen Eifler moved to approve the DNP. Dr. Jeff Gauthier opened the floor to points of information, followed by debate. At 6p.m. Dr. Jeff Gauthier moved to continue the meeting past 6 p.m. and the motion was approved unanimously. A written vote was taken. The DNP proposal was not passed as the Senate voted 12/12 and no majority received. Summary of points of information: The need for an advanced practice degree in nursing versus a B.S.N, was discussed in terms of the deadline to convert the Master’s of Nursing Practice to a doctorate by 2015 as outlined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. It was clarified that if the DNP does not pass, the Nursing program will offer no advanced practice degree (but still offer a Master’s in Clinical Leadership) as it did not accept new students to its Master’s of Nursing Practice in 2006 believing it unethical to offer a degree which will not meet standards of the profession by 2015. Questions were raised about the proposal to hire three new faculty members including at what level will they be hired (instructor, assistant, associate or full professor), if they will engage in research in order to apply for tenure, and the salary and benefits they will be offered. It was explained that the tuition generated by the doctoral student cohort would more than pay the salary and benefits of the new faculty hires. There was much discussion about the recruitment and retention process of doctoral students including if incoming students will be expected to attend all four years here, what retention rate is expected, if a discounted tuition rate will be offered, and if we can continue to recruit new students as other nearby institutions offer a DNP. It was explained that there is a high interest in this program, 267 people have expressed interest, that the expectation is for students to attend all four years (arrive with a B.S.N. and not a Master’s) and that students will pay full tuition over four years. The faith-based component of the DNP was discussed, especially how it relates to the university’s mission. It was clarified that no faith-based objectives are present in syllabi; however, examples were given of service project grants master’s students undertake and of prayer in Nursing teaching and research as an approach to care. It was also explained the integrative health focus of the DNP proposal is mission-related, and a unique market niche. Finally, several practical issues were raised including additional staffing or other resources needed, and the logistics of coordinating with nursing faculty from other institutions. It was stated that no additional staff is necessary.

Summary of debate: Observations were made about the DNP as a priority for university resources at this time as the university is primarily an undergraduate institution and in the context of the tactical plan to have 90% of undergraduate courses taught by full-time faculty. Concerns were raised about the possibility of attrition in the DNP program as the past Master’s in Nursing Practice reported a 50% retention rate. Concerns about retention were also expressed in the context of competition for doctoral students from other schools offering similar programs. It was stated that the DNP program is viable, and that the three faculty hires for it will not impact hiring in other schools of the university. It was presented that there is a market for nurse practitioners at the doctoral level, and that the DNP would establish the university as a leader in this field. In practical terms, it was stated that the U.S. needs more nurse practitioners and the accrediting process for these nursing professionals has simply changed. It was stated the DNP responds to a national and state-wide shortage of nurses, and that it fits with the Catholic mission of the university. 

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:10 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,Lora Looney, Secretary to the Senate