AGENDA
University of Nevada, Reno
2010-11 Faculty Senate
March 24, 2011, 1:15 p.m.
JCSU- Rita Laden Senate Chambers
All times are approximate
1:15
1.
Roll Call and Introductions
1:20
2.
Chair’s Report
Information/Discussion
1:40
3.
Action/Enclosure
2:00
4.
Curricular Review Committee: 2 action items
a) Election of 3 senators
b) Charges
Visit with Executive Vice President and Provost Marc
Johnson
2:30
5.
Consent Agenda
Action/Enclosure
2:40
6.
Action/Enclosure
2:55
7.
Bylaws Revision 3.3.7: Bylaws and Code Committee
Chair Martha Hildreth
New Business
Information/Discussion
Information/Discussion
Adjourn
Future Senate Meetings
UNR Faculty Senate Website
April 21, 2011
JCSU – R. Laden Senate Chambers
May 4, 2011
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
Future Board of Regents Meetings
NSHE Website
Special Meeting April 8, 2011 DRI LV
June 16-17, 2011
UNR
September 8 -9, 2011
DRI - LV
1|Page
UNR Faculty Senate Meeting
March 24, 2011
Agenda Item #3 a
Curricular Review Committee Senator Members
Curricular Review Committee
Three senators will be elected by the Senate to the Curricular Review Committee. The ballot below,
created by the Executive Board, includes a slate of senators willing to serve. Nomination of senators
may also be taken from the floor and will be added to the ballot prior to the vote if the individuals are
willing to serve. Three additional members will be chose by the Executive Board. Elliot Parker is
serving as the nonvoting committee chair to facilitate the process and will only vote the event of a tie.
Rafik Beekun
Donica Mensing
Leah Wilds
David Zeh
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
2|Page
UNR Faculty Senate Meeting
March 24, 2011
Agenda Item #3 b
Charges for Faculty Senate Curricular Review Committee
Approved by the Faculty Senate on ________________
University of Nevada, Reno
Because of the recent financial crisis facing the state and the Nevada System of Higher Education
(NSHE), the University has undertaken the curricular review process to identify programs that may be
reduced or eliminated. In the opinion of system counsel, financial considerations are a legitimate
component of such analysis, as budgetary constraints force a choice between which programs
provide the most value. The NSHE Code allows the University to define these procedures, though the
ultimate decision resides with the President and the NSHE Board of Regents. The curricular review
process was negotiated between the Senate Chair and the Provost, but the specific proposals were
not.
The responsibility of this Faculty Senate Curricular Review Committee (FSCRC) is to advise the
Senate as it makes its recommendations to the President. This responsibility derives from Section
3.5.4.b(iv) of the UNR Bylaws, which is itself authorized by sections 5.4.5 to 5.4.7 of the Code.
The charges for this committee are:
1. Review the Provost’s proposals for program reduction, reorganization, or elimination, along
with each of the responses and the reports of the colleges, the Institutional Strategic Plan, the
June 2008 Faculty Senate Principles for Dealing with Budget Reductions, and other relevant
materials.
2. Assess whether the Faculty Senate’s principles were followed and verify that process
described in section 3.5.4.b of the UNR Bylaws, and detailed in the Provost’s Academic
Planning Process, was followed.
3. Did the affected programs and/or the college faculty support or object to the curricular review
proposals, and were substantive changes or alternatives proposed?
4. Did the department’s response and/or the college’s report contain substantial and credible new
information that affects the merits of the curricular review proposal?
5. If substantive changes or alternatives were suggested, report on whether those
recommendations were or should be considered by the Provost and the President.
6. With respect to each proposal and every suggested alternative, provide a recommendation
and your rationale to the Faculty Senate.
7. Report the results of the above assessment to the Faculty Senate, along with any other
suggestions it might consider as it makes its recommendations to the President.
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
3|Page
UNR Faculty Senate Meeting
March 24, 2011
Agenda Item #5
Link to the Consent Agenda:
http://www.unr.edu/facultysenate/meetings/10-11/Agendas/3-24-11consentpkt.doc
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
4|Page
UNR Faculty Senate Meeting
March 24, 2011
Agenda Item #6
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO UNR BYLAWS
Deletions in [brackets], additions in bold
3.3.7. NOTICE OF PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS
[The responsible agent in each department shall notify each member of that department, in writing, of
any] In the case of a recommendation or failure to recommend for promotion, tenure, reappointment
or non reappointment, salary increase[s,] or merit [increases] designation, the chair or responsible
administrator of the department, college or unit in which the recommendation or failure to
recommend has been initiated must notify the affected faculty member in writing within 15
fifteen working days. [of the same] Thereafter the affected member shall be notified in writing within
[15] fifteen working days by the [responsible agent] Dean or other responsible administrator at the
appropriate level only of a failure to recommend or of a revised recommendation. Written notice
involving denial of promotion and/or tenure must inform faculty members of their right as
defined in Title 2, 5.2.3 of the Code to request in writing the specific reasons for which a
negative recommendation was made. Faculty must make this request in writing within fifteen
calendar days of the receipt of the written notice of a negative recommendation. The
response must be received within fifteen calendar days after the appropriate administrator
received the written request for reasons.
Rationale: This change clarifies that the responsible administrator notifies the faculty member, which
is not the department in all cases.
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
5|Page
UNR Faculty Senate Meeting
March 24, 2011
Information Item
This policy is new and was approved by the executive board.
2,025 - H-1B Visas
RATIONALE FOR CHANGE: New federal regulations require the University to track who completes Visa
paperwork for all students and employees. In order to be in compliance with these regulations The Office
of International Student and Scholars (OISS) will be required to process this paperwork for everyone.
H-1B Visas
2,025
Revised: March 2011
To ensure quality control and compliance with federal regulations, departments and international
faculty/researchers must procure their H-1B visas through the Office of International Students and Scholars
(OISS). OISS at the University of Nevada, Reno provides expertise and guidance on the following immigration
categories pertaining to international students, faculty, researchers, visiting professors, and medical residents:
F-1 (student), J-1 (student), J-1 (research scholars, professors, specialists, short-term scholars), H-1B
(specialty occupations), TN (Trade NAFTA), and permanent residence petitions (Employment Based petitions,
EB-1 and EB-2) for “Outstanding Professors and Researchers” and ‘’Teaching Faculty.”
University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Senate
6|Page