Faculty Senate Minutes
May 14, 2001
Present: Suzanne Barnett, Kris Bartanen, Bill Breitenbach, Terry
Cooney, Joel Elliot, Wild Bill (Chair), Sunil Kukreja, Mike
(Sugimoto), George Tomlin, Keith Ward, Rand Worland
Visitors: David Droge, Robin Foster, Bruce Mann, Ray Preiss,
Mark Reinitz, David Tinsley
Bill Haltom called the meeting to order at approximately 4:04
p.m. Minutes of the May 7th meeting were approved.
Announcements:
John Hanson, David Sousa, Roberta Wilson were named as serving
on next year’s senate.
Business:
Committee Final Reports for 2000-2001:
Curriculum Committee
RE: Interpretation of SCXT [Science in Context] Prerequisites
Barry affirmed that the CC, while sympathetic to waiving the
prerequisites (two natural world courses) in demonstrated cases,
felt that it was not a CC matter. Barry explained that an
amendment was forthcoming which would take account of the new
Core, but that the CC’s annual report was based upon the last CC
meeting which was prior to the faculty meeting which voted in
the new Core. Cooney commented on the hard work accomplished by
the CC this past year.
Report accepted unanimously.
University Enrichment Committee
Tinsley reported that with increased travel, some funds
designated for research were moved to ensure that first trips by
faculty would be completely covered, expressing hope for second
trips to be partially covered, as well.
Report accepted unanimously.
Professional Standards Committee
Mann reported that about half of the reviews and approvals of
departmental standards for evaluations were completed and
recommended that the PSC be charged to complete the task next
year. Mann also requested that the review of the Instructor
Evaluation Form be added to next year’s charges to the PSC due
to insufficient time.
Regarding the PSC’s processing of grievances, Mann explained
that ambiguity existed as to when “full work” begins and whether
the period between two weeks after the last day of class and
September was included as a “working day” for members of the
PSC. Barnett commented that university work by respective
chairs, work concerning academic petitions, etc. did continue
throughout the summer. Mann also reported that it was difficult
to negotiate the meaning of “working day,” since such language
is in the Faculty Code.
Report accepted unanimously.
Academic Standards Committee
Foster reported that none of the five charges were resolved,
although a statement confirming support for the use of
instructors in light of the Hale report and the Thorndike letter
was delivered. While the ASC recommended that the same
committees which oversee tenure-line faculty would also oversee
instructors, clarification of exactly which committees were
involved would need to be defined in next year’s work. Also,
Foster recommended that evaluation of the pass/fail system would
be reviewed next year. Breitenbach asked clarification on
whether the instructors involved in the case of pass/fail were
informed of this. Haltom affirmed that Jack Roundy affirmed
that courses taken as pass/fail did not negatively affect
admissions to law school.
Report accepted unanimously.
Faculty Diversity Committee
Droge reported that all charges were addressed and that the FDC
would continue its work encouraging faculty to participate in
the telephoning recruitment project for African-Americans who
self-identify. The FDC also plans to revise the University
Statement on Diversity to include disability.
Report accepted unanimously.
Library, Media, Academic Computing Committee
Reinitz reported that LMAC had questioned its role, although it
had served to help Office of Information Systems (OIS) in
assessing use of technology in the classroom. The technology
issue was considered too broad and ambiguous, but LMAC plans to
construct a website which will gauge faculty interest, use,
priorities, etc. regarding specific software programs. Reinitz
reported on an overload of email information sent to faculty
thus adding to the problem of assessment. Tomlin requested more
clarification of wording in report to reflect concern with
pedagogical benefit and not simply technology for its own sake.
Considerable discussion concerning copyright issues, including
archiving materials on the university server, as well as, course
packets, etc. Marilyn Mitchell was reported as having concerns
about consistency regarding copyright issues; Karen Goldstein
would address these issues with concern for representation of
entire faculty in these faculty-wide matters.
Report accepted unanimously.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Preiss recommended that the IRB be charged to complete
evaluation of Thompson Hall, concerning animal care; and that a
separate
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) be
designated for the task. Preiss expressed concern for the
ability of the IRB to do its job given the amount of protocols
(17) during last year. Preiss recommended that the IACUC be
inserted into the Faculty Bylaws as a separate committee for the
task of monitoring animal care. Barnett remarked on the
existence of summer projects which are not monitored, while
Preiss also commented upon the complexities regarding specific
projects, such as oral histories conducgted upon WWII veterans.
Breitenbach moved that an official IACUC committee be created
and inserted into the bylaws as separate from the IRB.
Breitenbach recommended that the Senate address the fact that
several committees had reported ongoing summer work.
Report accepted unanimously.
Adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Respectively,
Mike Sugimoto