UNIVERSITY POLICY AND PLANNING COUNCIL
2005-2006 Chair: Carolyn MacDonald
March 30, 2006
Meeting Minutes
Present:
J. Bartow, R. Baum, R. Bisbing, P. Bloniarz, J. Hanifan, S. Herbst, C.
MacDonald, D. McCaffrey, S. Messner, K. Murray, E. Wulfert
Guest:
David Andersen, Katharine Briar-Lawson, Teresa Harrison, Vincent
Idone, Nancy Persily
Minutes:
The minutes of January 26, 2006 and March 17, 2006 had some minor
changes and were unanimously approved.
Provost’s Report: Provost Herbst reported that the Compact Planning process is going
well and currently the Selective Investments Committee is coming up with
a list of recommendations, which will be ready in time for the Board of
Visitors meeting this May. Professor MacDonald questioned the council
on whether the Compact Planning Report endorsed by UPC should be
made public at this time as an addendum to the minutes. The council
agreed that they should not be made public at this time. Provost Herbst
noted that there would be a lot of Compact Planning debriefing so a final
decision could wait.
Provost Herbst reported that the current budget from the legislature is
looking very good for higher education institutions. However, there are
many factors that could have an effect on the overall picture so we will
just have to wait and see how it all works out.
Provost Herbst also reported that the money is not rolling in from the
donors due to the success of our basketball team. Studies show that there
really isn’t a correlation between sports success and increase in donor
activity or applications. However, it is a good opportunity for the
University to use the attention to highlight the many academic
achievements that have been made and are planned for the future.
Provost Herbst noted that all indicators are good for a very strong
enrollment next year. Undergraduate applications are at an all time high
with increases among group 1 and minority students. In early May we
will have a clearer picture, but all initial indicators are good. Provost
Herbst has also asked for a huge faculty presence at commencement this
year because she feels it is extremely important for the parents and
students to see.
She also discussed the mission review process and explained that SUNY is
requiring the University to use the format that has been provided. The
President is currently reviewing it and will be passing it along to SUNY
shortly. Provost Herbst also indicated that there would be another round
of review including UPC before the final document is submitted this
summer.
Chair’s Report: No report.
Committee Reports:
UFC Report: No report.
RAPC Report: No report.
Albany High School Plagiarism task force: Professor Hanifan reported that the
Plagiarism task force has concluded their work and sent a report to the Provost. Jon
Bartow added that the issue is going to GAC and UAC for review and will then be passed
to the Senate as a change in policy for the University.
New Business:
Suspension of Admission to Organizational Studies PhD: Jon Bartow had nothing new to
report, but reiterated that if any suspension were to continue then further consultation
with UPC would be needed. Provost Herbst requested that further discussion of the
program be deferred to next meeting when Dean Leonard and the program director could
be available.
Institute for Social Services Research and Development: Katharine Briar-Lawson
summarized her reasoning for the creation of the Institute for Social Services Research
and Development and Professor MacDonald noted that it was recommended by RAPC.
Katharine added that the center would greatly increase the synergy within the School and
increase the possibility for NIH grants in the future. Professor MacDonald also
mentioned that RAPC had some questions regarding future revenue and cost estimates.
The center is estimated to generate two to three million in revenue a year and the cost
estimates seemed to be a bit unrealistic at this time. Dean Briar-Lawson indicated that
the scale had been reduced to fit available resources.
A motion was made to approve the creation of the Institute. It was seconded and passed
unanimously.
Letter of Intent, Communication: Terry Harrison summarized the Letter of Intent for
Communication and stressed that it is becoming an important requirement from more and
more employers and will greatly increase the research efforts of the Communication
Department because most grants require a Doctoral Program for acceptance. Professor
MacDonald noted that it had been stated that the revenue requested for the program in the
compact planning process was required to support the creation of PhD program was part
of their compact planning initiative. Terry Harrison also noted that the developments for
this program have been underway for a few years now, so additional funds to support it
going forward are not necessary, although they would be helpful.
A motion was made to approve the Letter of Intent. It was seconded and passed
unanimously.
Documentary Studies Minor/Major: Professor MacDonald reported that this was already
looked at by RAPC and approved to move forward to UPC. RAPC and UAC were both
concerned with the title of the major and UPC agreed. The council thought it would be a
good idea to make an informal recommendation to change it.
A motion was made to approve the creation of the Minor/Major. It was seconded and
passed unanimously.
Suspension of BS in Geological Sciences: Vincent Idone reported that there just simply
not enough faculty to continue the program.
A motion was made to approve the suspension. It was seconded and passed unanimously.
Informatics Department: Dean Bloniarz reported that this department was something that
needed to be formalized. The faculty within the College of Computing and Information
are all very supportive of this move. Professor MacDonald added that RAPC had already
reviewed and approved moving this proposal to UPC. Initially, the faculty transferred to
support the creation of the new department would all come from within the College of
Computing and Information. No additional staff resources would be needed to start the
department. It was noted that such transfers might not remain revenue neutral as the
programs from which the faculty were being transferred might request replacements in
the future. It was stressed that university policy requires that such transfers may only
occur if the faculty of both departments agree.
A motion was made to approve the creation of the Informatics Department. It was
seconded and passed unanimously with one abstention.
Bioethics joint MS: Nancy Persily reported that this would be a joint degree program
with a Masters in Public Health coming from the University at Albany and an MS in
Bioethics coming from Albany Medical Union University. The demand for the joint
degree is small at this time, but with marketing they anticipate it could grow
considerably. No additional resources would be needed to start the program. It was
noted that while there is an ethics program in the philosophy department within the
university, this program requires different expertise, and that the philosophy program
collaborates with Union as well.
A motion was made to approve the joint degree program. It was seconded and passed
unanimously.
General Education Revision: Professor MacDonald reported that UPC has been asked to
become involved in this process. The council agreed to review it and it will be placed on
the agenda for a future date.
Old Business:
Calendar for 2007/8: Professor MacDonald reported that she has received a request from
the international student office that the official academic calendar note when students
should arrive on campus for orientation. The council unanimously supported this
recommendation.
A motion was made to change the 2007/8 calendar to increase the suspension to
accommodate religious observances on Good Friday from half day to full day. It was
indicated that the science departments, with the exception of physics, do not generally
conduct laboratory classes on Friday. The proposal was seconded and passed
unanimously.
Biology Lab Course Reduction: Professor MacDonald reported that RAPC has reviewed
and sent questions back to the department for feedback. The main question asked what
the department has done to solve the problem of growing admission and lack of space.
The department has added more sections, but they just don’t have enough faculty to keep
up with the pace. Further discussion was deferred to next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday,
April 17, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.