Academic Senate: MINUTES 9/16/2008

I.   Call to order and announcements: meeting came to order at 4:05 PM

II.  Roll call-- Present: Brian Adams, Robin Anderson, Fr. Bill Beauchamp, Genevieve Brassard, Allison Able, Maria Ciriello, Colton Coughlin, Sue Decker, Carol Dempsey, Todd Easton, Karen Eifler, Lauretta Frederking, Jill Hoddick, Aziz Inan, Mark Ghyselinck, Laura McLary, Caroline Mann, Elise Moentmann, Hans Nordstrom, Shannon Mayer, Marie Napolitano, Anissa Rogers, Fr. Stephen Rowen, Br. Donald Stabrowski, Jacquie VanHoomissen, Jackie Waggoner, Karen Ward

III. Invocation offered by Karen Eifler

IV.  Approval of minutes from 4/22/08 meeting

V.  Standing Committee Reports:

   i. Executive Committee: Dr. Aziz Inan

      ·  First Executive Board meeting occurred on Sept. 2, 2008

      ·   Executive Board discussed unfinished business concerning the approval of the senate amendments to the Constitution

      ·   Discussion: Brother Donald mentioned that the regents found nowhere in its documents that the Academic Senate exists; the Board has to recognize the Academic Senate; Annie Buell is willing to work with the Senate to draw up strong By-Laws; Fr. Beauchamp commented that all documents must be in line with one another.

      ·   New senate replacements effective this fall were announced.

   ii. Committee on Committees: Dr. Todd Easton

      ·    Committee met a couple of times this summer and completed appointments to the senate and recommended appointments to the President for his presidential advisory committees

  iii. Committee on Rank & Tenure: Dr. Jill Hoddick

      ·   The committee has begun deliberations and is proceeding on schedule.

   iv. Committee on Teaching & Scholarship: Dr. Susan Decker

      ·   Butine call has gone out; due date for proposals is Oct. 10.

      ·   2 workshops have taken place

      ·   2 faculty development days will take place, offered by Kate Regan and Peter Thacker; dates are being scheduled

      ·   All relevant information is on the website

   v. Committee on Faculty Welfare: Dr. Anissa Rogers

      ·   Work continues on with work child care center and meetings are taking place with various administrators

      ·   The committee discussed with Jim Kuffner the need and places for baby stations, and are exploring these possibilities in the various campus buildings

      ·   The committee will be meeting with Fr. Rowan to discuss faculty salaries

      ·   The committee received a request from a staff member regarding his/her leave policy, but decided that this request was not in the purview of the committee.

   vi. Committee on Curriculum & Academic Regulations: Ms. Caroline Mann

      ·   Committee has not met yet

VI. Presidential Advisory Committees:

   i. Committee on Student Media: Mark Ghyselinck

      ·  The committee has not yet met.

  ii. Committee on Athletics: Dr. Elise Moentmann

      ·   Committee met today

      ·   Fr. Beauchamp visited the committee

      ·   Divided the committee into 3 subcommittees: academic integrity, rules and compliances, and gender equity

   iii. Committee on Health and Safety: Dr. Hans Nordstrom

      ·   Committee met last week, and Jeffrey Burke was elected as chair.

      ·   The chemical alarms are now forwarded to public safety

      ·   There were two incident reports through physical plant

      ·   The committee discussed the possibility of having public safety interface with North Portland Police Department about doing some education during the month of October which is health and safety awareness month.

      ·   There was an incident during freshmen service day involving an eye injury that resulted in further discussion pertaining to providing eye safety for certain jobs during freshmen service day.

      ·   Physical Plant is discussing whether or not to have skateboard hangers in the classroom buildings; cost is a big factor.

      ·   Continued concerns were brought up about the physical education locker rooms in the dome, and another person brought up possible air quality concerns about construction in the engineering building.

      ·   ASUP posted and passed a resolution concerning the back door of the Pilot House. The door has no crosswalk or sidewalk access.

  iv. Committee on Information Technology: (Chair has not yet been named; Karen Ward gave the report):

      ·   The committee has not yet met

   v. Committee on Sustainability: Dr. Lauretta Frederking

      ·   The committee has not yet met.

VII. Other Reports:

   i. Fr. William Beauchamp:

      ·  Buildings: construction is well along on Shiley Hall; residence hall is on schedule and will be ready for fall 2009

      ·   Breaking ground for the new Commons addition within the next month and complete renovation of the interior of the Commons

      ·   Breaking ground for a new a iconic structure by the gift of a benefactor

      ·   Land Purchase should be complete within the next month or two

      ·   Thanked everyone for their patience with the renovations and buildings

      ·   Putting together the case for the next capital campaign; the 2 main facilities will be for the library and recreation center—rest of campaign will be for endowments for scholarships, professorships, and programs; we are in the silent phase of the campaign; public to begin sometime with the next 18 months

      ·   Enrollment: largest as ever for undergraduate; same is true for the graduate enrollment;

      ·   Will be establishing an ad hoc committee to look at retention; officers, faculty, staff, others as well

      ·   Brother Donald is working on sabbaticals for next year

      ·   Presidential advisory committees have just been appointed; thanked Todd Easton and the committee for their fine suggestions

      ·   Chair of Information Technology will be a faculty member this year and no longer the Officer for Information Technology

      ·   New appointments: Jim Ravelli (Chief Information Officer); Eric Barger (Controller)

      ·   Travels: was in Australia for the Australian Board and new campus being opened in Sidney; went to a pilgrimage in Italy with the regents; will be going to Salzburg for the annual visit

      ·   In process of putting together list and inviting commencement speaker and honorary doctorates; encouraged faculty to submit names for honorary doctorates

  ii. Dean’s Meeting (Brother Donald):

      ·  Deans met intermittingly over the summer

      ·   Had a fall retreat to update tactical planning

      ·  Discussed the rank and tenure process and letter writing for the purpose of the new deans

      ·   Drew Harrington, Director of the Library informed the deans that Summit consortium is dropped because of an exorbitant cost; have a new system being put into place

      ·   Deans have been looking regarding scantron online for faculty evaluations; problem is that we have one vendor and would like to see other options

      ·   Clarified the difference between a BA degree and a Major; a major is merely the hours in the major; noted that we do not have a template for the BS degree; will be working on this in the coming year.

  iii. ASUP

      ·   Offered the list of the new executive board members and their background: Kyle Bunch (president), Allison Able (vice president), Ben Takada (treasurer), Tarah McKirdie (ASUP director), Colton Coughlin (secretary)

      ·   3-4events have happened so far and all have been sold out; events have been successful

      ·   Have the biggest number of students running for elective positions

      ·   First time they are doing online voting for the senate

      ·   Have 2 committees in senate: sustainability and ASUP Awareness Committee

      ·   Students are really excited about getting involved in activities

      ·   A retreat is happening this weekend for their executive committees

VIII. New Business:

      ·   Thomas Blum, the new Director of the Physical Plant, came and introduced himself and explained the new changes taking place. He also made the following comments:

         1.   Invited the faculty to give feedback to him—both positive and negative—regarding work and work that needs to be done.

         2.   Stressed that everything revolves around the mission

         3.   Wants to empower the people on his staff to make the decisions that need to be made.

         4.   Will be holding people accountable for their work

         5.   Pledged himself and staff to do the best job that they can do

         6.   Will be setting up a schedule of work and will let faculty know, ie. vacuuming offices.

IX. Announcements: none

X. Adjournment: 5:50 PM

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.