Chair’s Report to the Faculty Senate, January 17, 2013
Happy New Year! I hope you had a quiet and restful holiday and are now reinvigorated to take up the new
challenges ahead.
There is much to be done this semester. We will continue our review of school and college constitutions as well
as reports from the Senate’s committees, including the Nominations Committee, to act upon.
Joann Brown, Chair of the University Core Curriculum Oversight Committee, indicated that the committee has
completed and submitted a draft report to the Curriculum Committee to satisfy the requirements of HB 7135,
The Gen Bill. The work of the Statewide Committee will not be completed until later this year and the
Committee is prepared to revisit the draft and re-categorize the Tier 1 and Tier 2 courses. Some courses need to
be removed or resubmitted to become three credit classes. Others need to be resubmitted to have the lab
become a part of a three credit course or removed. The Committee has notified the departments involved to
have this process started. Note: All UCC classes must be three credits to conform to the law. We also have to
bear in mind that the curriculum has been reduced to 30 credits from 36. Students will be required to take 15
credits of Tier 1 and 2 classes with one course from each of the categories, Communication, Mathematics, Social
Sciences, Humanities and Natural Science. In addition, the course selection must conform to the Gordon Rule.
The Committee has identified 4 courses in Communications, 16 in Mathematics, 45 in Social Sciences, 27 in
Humanities and 32 in Natural Sciences (including lab)
The Initial Draft Recommendations of the State’s General Education Steering and Faculty Committees December
2012 has identified the following courses for Tier 1:
Communication
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively. Students will demonstrate the ability to
analyze communication critically.
ENC X101 English Composition I
Humanities
Students will demonstrate interpretive ability and cultural literacy. Students will demonstrate competence in
reflecting critically upon the human condition.
ARH X000 Art Appreciation
HUM X020 Introduction to Humanities
LIT X100 Introduction to World Literature
MUL X010 Introduction to Music Literature/Music Appreciation
PHI X010 Introduction to Philosophy
Mathematics*
Students will determine appropriate mathematical and computational models and methods in problem
solving, and demonstrate an understanding of mathematical concepts. Students will apply appropriate
mathematical and computational models and methods in problem solving.
MAC X105 College Algebra
STA X023 Statistical Methods
MGF X106 Liberal Arts Mathematics I
MGF X107 Liberal Arts Mathematics II
Natural Sciences*
Students will demonstrate the ability to critically examine and evaluate scientific observation, hypothesis, or
model construction, and the use of scientific method to explain the natural world. Students will successfully
recognize and comprehend fundamental concepts, principles, and processes about the natural world.
BSC X005 General Biology
CHM X020 Chemistry for Liberal Studies
PHY X020 Fundamentals of Physics
ESC X000 Introduction to Earth Science
EVR X001 Introduction to Environmental Science
Social Science
Students will demonstrate the ability to examine behavioral, social, and cultural issues from a variety of points
of view. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic social and behavioral science concepts and
principles used in the analysis of behavioral, social, and cultural issues, past and present, local and global.
PSY X012 Introduction to Psychology
SYG X000 Principles of Sociology
WOH X040 20th Century World History
CPO X001 Comparative Politics
ANT X000 Introduction to Anthropology
This initial institution review period will conclude by February 2013, at which time the Steering Committee will
conduct a review and revision of the recommendations. An institution faculty review period is scheduled from
March to August 2013, with a public comment period beginning in June 2013.
The Parthenon Group has been engaged in a project with the Florida Board of Governors to develop
the fact-base for Florida post-secondary online education and identify potential online strategies to
expand the number of post-secondary graduates through the use of online education. A presentation
of their finding was made to the BOG Strategic Planning Committee at a workshop December 17, 2012,
at Florida Atlantic Davie Campus. The summary presentation and detailed fact-base presentation include
additional information on the options they developed through an iterative process with higher education
stakeholders across the state. The final report and presentation will be made to that Committee on
January 16-17, 2013 with a follow up to the full Board for consideration.
These strategies include:
1) Institution by Institution: Institutions continue to develop online offerings on their own,
driving innovation in a way that fits each institution’s mission. The state will clarify objectives of
expanded online learning models, but potential collaboration among institutions remains at their
own discretion.
2) Institutional Collaboration: System-wide online degree program offerings are developed under
the direction of a coordinating body (e.g., FLVC, BoG, FL DOE). Centralized marketing,
onboarding, support services, and data analytics are each either managed by the central body or
one of the participating institutions. Program-level RFPs are issued to institutions for program
development. Online degree programs developed collaboratively under the direction of this
coordinating body would be marketed to students across the state.
3) Lead Institution: One (or a few) institution is selected by RFP process to drive the development
of new online programs in target degree levels and disciplines. The lead institution would be
selected on the basis of a performance grant process that allows applicants to emphasize existing
best practices and organizational strengths that can contribute to effective state-wide online
degree programs. This institution, on its own or with other institutions, would need to ensure
program access to a diverse student body.
4) New Online Institution: An online institution is launched with a mandate to drive the
development of new online programs in target degree levels and disciplines.
The primary focus of these strategies has been on the development of online-only degree programs,
and the marketing, onboarding, support services, and data analytics needed to make them successful.
There appears to be no active support for solution four and this lack of support may influence what
eventually is decided.
There will have to be a conversation with the Administration to determine how this would be included
with the plans for FIU Global.
The fourth meeting of the Campus Master Plan Sub Committee was held on January 8 2013 with a
presentation by the Perkins and Will Consultants. In addition to the proposed expansion of the MMC
Campus, more details were provided for the projected expansion of BBC and the Engineering
complexes. For BBC, there are discussions of a meeting facility for Carnival Cruise Line which will
provide 20% of its space for FIU programs, expansion of the School of Journalism additional housing
and the building of a magnet school. The proposed magnet school was discussed with the Provost at
the Steering Committee meeting and he confirmed that this was under discussion. If these plans were
adopted, it would require providing a second access road to the campus.
The discussion on the Engineering complex would require more evaluation as it is at the northeast
corner of a very busy intersection with shopping malls at the other four corners.
The reconstituted Ad Hoc Committee to review the FAAS system will convene this month so we may be
able to present the Provost with a document for use this academic year. The provost has agreed to
lend his support to this effort and a member of the administrative staff will be added to the
Committee.
You may have notice that there were some improvements in the parking situation for this semester.
The Administration has made an effort to resolve the issue.
In the fall there were 3922 students eligible for graduation, 2789 undergraduates and 1133 graduates.
The participation of the Faculty was also impressive. Thanks.
The Faculty Senate Honorary Degrees and Awards Committee invites you to submit names of worthy men and
women in your units who have established high records of achievement in the following six categories(number
of awards): Advising and Mentorship (3); Engagement (1); Librarianship (1); Research and Creative Activities (6);
Service (1); and Teaching (6). Each award carries a $5,000 stipend. The awards will be presented at the annual
Faculty Convocation held during the Fall Semester, 2013.
Please note the important deadlines:
For nominations: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 5:00PM.
For submission of completed files: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 5:00PM.
Regards,
C Delano Gray,
Chairman.