Academic Senate: MINUTES 03/16/2004

Present: Fr. Beauchamp, Dr. Jim Carroll, Sr. Maria Ciriello, Dr. Karen Eifler, Dr. Mark Eifler, Dr. Carol Dempsey, Dr. Terry Favero, Dr. Jeff Gauthier, 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. David Sherrer, Ms. Diane Sotak, Br. Donald Stabrowski, Sr. Angela Hoffman, Dr. Anita Wynn

Absent: Mr. Amerigo Brioschi, Ms. Michelle Martin,Dr. John Schouten

Invocation: given by Sr. Ciriello

Standing Committee Reports

Executive Committee: Dr. Anita Wynne reported that the executive committee met.They began looking at preparing a slate of officers for next year’s senate.

Committee on Committee: Dr. Steve Royce reported that his committee is in the process of appointing a faculty members to two committees: the office for students with disabilities advisory committee and the ADA, the American with Disabilities Act, committee.

Committee on Rank & Tenure: Dr. Dakshina Murty reported that the periodic review of faculty should be done soon and the letters should go out by early April.

Committee on Teaching & Scholarship: Mr. Larsen reported that the committee met to look at supplemental proposals.They discovered some discrepancies in dates and deadlines in the supplemental grant forms.They will work on correcting the discrepancies.

Committee on Faculty and Welfare: Dr. Jack Kondrasuk reminded the senate that at the last faculty senate meeting the senate voted to accept the following concerning the faculty welfare survey conducted in October 2003: (1) receive the results, (2) the results should be distributed to the administration (3) distributed to the faculty.Dr. Kondrasuk reported that on 16 March 2003 the results were sent via e-mail along with a cover letter.The report was attached along with an online vote/survey.Dr. Kondrasuk stated that the faculty welfare committee wanted feedback from the faculty concerning this report.He urged the senate to speak to their constituency and ask them to vote in favor of report, or vote against it, or offer further suggestions, comments, or revisions to the report.

Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations: Dr. Mark Kennedy: reported that a proposal from the drama department will be taken up in the new business today.The committee also forwarded points of information regarding course changes in biology and engineering.Noaction was required by the senate.They are posted on the website.

Presidential Advisory Committee Reports

Committee on Student Media: Dr. Gauthier reported that the committee held interviews for the upcoming student media positions for next year.Recommendations were sent on to the president.

Committee on Athletics: Dr. Jack Kondrasuk reported that the committee had not met since the last report but they will be meeting soon.

Committee on Health & Safety: Sr. Angela Hoffman reported that the committee had not met recently.

Committee on Computers & Telecommunications: Dr. Jim Carroll reported that the committee had completed the work on the technology strategic plan which was forwarded to the administration and adopted.They also developed a subcommittee to investigate cyber security on campus.

Student & Faculty Court: Dr. Laura Genik reported that the committee had not convened.

Other Reports

Deans Report: Bro. Donald Stabrowski reported that the deans met twice since the last senate meeting.They went over the list of faculty who were eligible for tenure review in the coming year.Letters have been sent notifying those faculty.
The deans discussed the successful Junior Parents weekend as well as Founder’s day.
They also heard from Karen Nelson, our institutional researcher, some interesting findings concerning our first semester freshman.The deans reviewed the calendar with the registrar for next year.It has been suggested to the deans to consider having Easter Monday off.That suggestion will probably be followed.
Regina Largent from the Freshman Resource Centers shared some of the best practices that other universities are using to retain freshman.The deans selected Nicole Gessik to be this year’s valedictorian.Nicole Gessik is a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences.And the university scholars, those are the individuals with the highest grade point average in each of the schools and the college of arts and sciences.In nursing, its Katie Bremen, Business its Krindy Hammon, Engineering Casey Hughes, and in Education Karen Swarner.

Annual Budget Report: Dr. Heynderickx reported that there is a salary pool of 3% for increases for next year.And as again in recent years it is allocated out to the Vice president to other departments.Budgets from various departments will allocate raises that are based on different methodologies.And so while 3% is available your individual salary may increase at some other different rate then 3%.Fringe benefits are employee benefits, compensation package, will increase 1% of the salary.

ASUP: Secretary -Michelle Martin not present. Amerigo Brioschi -ASUP Vice President not present.

New Business

(1) proposed change in the Bachelor of Arts in drama.
Dr. Kennedy reported that the Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulationsconsidered a proposal to drop the Bs degree in theater management and replace it with a track of theater management with in the Bachelor of Arts.The proposal passed unanimously.
(2) revisions for the bi-laws and the constitution.
Dr. Sherrer suggested that the changes concerning the substitution of the word “will” for “shall” seemed unnecessary.
There was a discussion concerning the elimination of the word regular to describe faculty. According to Dr. Wynn the suggestion to remove the term “regular” was based on the idea to allow senate representation for instructors, lecturers, visiting professors.
Br. Donald recommend that visiting professors could be left out.
There was concern raise concerning the terms “teaching faculty,” and how the library would be represented.
There was a questions raised about the number of committees a faculty member could be on.Dr. Wynn stated that according to the constitution “ no faculty member will be a member of more then one academic senate committee.Excluding the executive committee.That appeared problematic.It was suggested that the statement in 3A of the constution be eliminated.
The senator from the library asked to change the definition from senior library staff to library faculty.Another member stated that “on page four, under special members of senate that seems to be a new section. The first D. the chair of committee on rank and tenure will be a special member of senate.And then down below under officers the chair on the committee on rank and tenure if the person is not a member of the senate there. It seems redundant to have the two.”It was also suggested that the ROTC senator should be considered a non-voting member.Finally, no elected member can serve more then two consecutive terms up to six years.