INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Faculty Senate Minutes
2007-2008
December 13, 2007
UFS#5
Approved
December 13, 2007 Minutes
Indiana State University
Faculty Senate 2007-08
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Place: HMSU, Dede III
Officers: Chair V. Sheets, Vice Chair A. Halpern, Secretary Sr. A. Anderson
Parliamentarian: T. Sawyer
Senators: S. Allen, T. Allen, E. Bermudez, K. Bolinger, S. Brake, M. Brennan, E. Brown, J.
Buffington, H. Chait, D. Collins, B. Corcoran, J. Fine, E. Hampton, P. Hightower, J. Hughes, P.
Jones, M. McLean, M. Miller, G. Minty, C. Nelson, S. Pontius, T. Steiger, G. Stuart, K.
Wilkinson, J. Wilson, D. Worley , D. Yaw T. Zaher, G. Zhang (33)
Absent: N. Corey, S. Davis, K. Evans, S. Ghosh, S. Phillips, R. Schneirov, C. Stemmans, (7)
Ex-Officio: President L. Benjamin, Provost J. Maynard
Visitors: S. Barton-Bellessa, R. Kopparty
I.
Administrative Report
a.
President Benjamin
i.
Thanks were given to the faculty for their hard work, making the Fall
semester very productive both in the classroom and out. Thanks were also
given to those who are involved with the NCA work that is underway and
the mission discussion. A campus retreat is planned for January 16th to
discuss this in greater detail.
ii. The NCAA accreditation report’s rough draft has to be done by early
February. The team will be coming in October.
iii. ISU’s College of Business has appeared as one of the best in the U.S. for
the 2nd year in a row according to the Princeton Review. The university
has been listed as one of the best in the Midwest for the 4th year in a row.
An article appeared in the Chronicle recently, stating that ISU’s ELAF
department is ranked 8th out of 372 programs in the United States for
faculty productivity.
iv.
More information will be available in the Spring, but there is a growing
interest on campus and in the community regarding sustainability. The
environment is a critical issue.
v.
Voluntary assessment will be inevitable. Some states have already adopted
the practice. The intent is to have a set of indicators or benchmarks that
II.
can be used by parents and others to assess major characteristics about an
institution. With transparent information available, parents will be able to
make better decisions about where to send their children.
vi.
Reports from J. Beacon shows that applications are significantly ahead of
where they were, date to date, this time last year. We are cautiously
optimistic. Increases are shown in new freshmen, transfers, and graduate
enrollment.
vii.
All were wished a happy and relaxing holiday season.
b.
Provost Maynard
i.
A reminder was given to continue to pay attention to the Mission
Statement drafts as they are posted. Version 4 is coming out soon. The
committee is paying close attention to suggestions being offered. Faculty
will be invited to the campus retreat on January 16th. The goal is to reach
an agreement on the Mission Statement that day. It will be taken to the
BOT in February. Please, make every effort to participate.
ii. We have had a couple of international delegations on campus over the past
few weeks, an impressive group from Thailand, and the Vice President of
Morocco. These are two strong relationships. There were a number of
important conversations which will expand faculty and student
opportunities.
iii. Commencement is this Saturday. Each of the colleges has scheduled a
reception either prior to or just after. I hope your schedules will allow you
to be there. This is an important statement to make to our students who are
graduating and their families.
iv.
All were wished happy holidays.
Chair Report – V. Sheets
Thank you all for being here. I know we have a full agenda, so I’ll try to brief.
It’s been said that if you want to know someone’s priorities, look at their checkbook. The
Tribune Star did this in a way in last Sunday’s cover story, “ISU’s buying binge.” Like
many of the interviewees for the story, I appreciate the improvements that have occurred
with the demolition of run-down properties to the north and east of campus. However, the
matter of ISU’s budgetary priorities needs more open campus discussion. Should we be
buying real estate when we are closing academic programs? Should we be transferring
savings from benefits to building maintenance when we are concerned about the
adequacy of our post-retirement healthcare funds? These are questions that get to the
heart of our institutional priorities and need more open discussion.
Another matter needing open campus discussion is the movement of First-Year Programs
(FYP) from Academic Affairs to Communications, Marketing, & Enrollment
Management (EM). I assume everyone saw and read the recent cyberwire pertaining to
this change. I have heard from many about this decision, and I share their concern. I am
among those who see academic support and success as an initial step to retention, and
under academic affairs, this was understood. I would note that learning communities have
been particularly successful in this regard. Unfortunately, the decision to move FYP to
EM (and presumably the directorship to a staff line) was not vetted by the Administrative
Affairs Committee. To date, the faculty have seen no plans that explain the purpose of the
move or that describe how academic affairs will maintain oversight of the academic
components of FYP—an area in which we hold primary authority. Without justification
or explanation—let alone evidence of considered discussion and thoughtful planning—
this announcement does not inspire confidence nor motivate support.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
SGA Report – Andrew Borden, SGA member
a.
The internal affairs committee has just completed updating the SGA’s code. They
are happy to have that detailed work out of the way.
b.
SGA representation should be being seen in the faculty committees.
c.
Student Affairs Committee and SGA have moved forward from the surveys and
are deciding what they will do with the numbers they have pulled in. Close to
1,000 surveys were taken in from the student body.
d.
A fiscal committee is being formed. More information will be available a little
later.
Information Item
The academic calendar was accepted by unanimous vote by the Executive Committee last
Tuesday. It needed to be to the BOT’s December meeting.
Approval of Minutes
a.
October 2007 – (Hightower/Pontius) Approved by acclamation
b.
November 2007 – (Fine/Miller)
-brief discussion on the Faculty Scholarship being endowed and donations being
tax deductable
Question called (Anderson) Approved as amended by acclamation.
Fifteen Minute Open Discussion
a.
The president was thanked for his encouraging words about sustainability. It was
noted that some other universities have adopted policies and procedures that are
leading to real action. Interest was expressed in seeing the university back up its
green talk with actions that will take into consideration big ticket issues such as
building design, maintenance, power plant operation, water use, transportation, et
cetera. Administration was questioned on the baseline of the university’s carbon
footprint and plans. Pres. Benjamin stated that the VP of Finance is particularly
concerned. K. Runyan is also deeply concerned. It is more than rhetoric; we have
signed a president’s letter which joins us to a national effort. It is unsure where
the base lines will be drawn. There will be a sustainability conference held.
Authoritative figures will come to work with us to help us know exactly what we
should be doing.
b.
A suggestion was made for Facilities Management to deal with the over-heating
of buildings to reduce energy waste. A desire to have the capacity to control the
environment individually was noted.
New Business
a.
Graduate Faculty Status (Brennan/Collins)
Dean Kuhlman and S. Barton-Bellessa presented information. Questions were
asked and answered. Passed 32-0-0
b.
VIII.
IX.
Responsibilities of Students and Dissertation/Thesis Chairs and Committees
(Chait/Worley) Dean Kuhlman and S. Barton-Bellessa presented information.
Questions were asked and answered. Question called (Anderson) Passed 32-0-0
c.
MS Computer Science, new graduate degree (Stuart/Hightower)
R. Kopparty distributed a handout and presented information. Questions were
asked and answered. Dean Kuhlman offered clarification. Provost Maynard
assured the senate that the MS in CS would not require new resources. It would
only require a reallocation existing resources.
Question called (Anderson) Approved 30-0-3
d.
Additions to committees (Hightower/Miller) consider all together.
i.
Kimberley Bennett to replace R. Huckabee on Athletics Committee
ii. Rolland McGiverin to replace C. Stemmans on CAAC
iii. Timothy Gritten to be alternate for CAAC
Approved (33-0-0)
e.
Revision of existing Athletic Training Program (Worley/Wilkinson) – consider all
together
Dean Kuhlman presented information. Questions were asked and answered.
Question called (Miller) Approved 33-0-0
i.
banking existing course, Clinical Experience I
ii. banking existing course, Clinical Experience II
iii. banking existing course, Current Trends in Athletic Training
iv.
title & description change, Athletic Trauma-Lower Extremity
v.
title & description change, Athletic Trauma-Upper Extremity
vi.
title, number, & description change, Administration of Athletic Health
Care Delivery Systems
vii.
title & description change, Therapeutic Modalities and Rehabilitation
Theory
viii. title & description change, Therapeutic Modality and Rehabilitation
Techniques
ix. title, description, credits, pre-/co-requisites change, Rehabilitative
Biomechanics
x. new graduate course, Advance Functional Human Anatomy Laboratory
xi. title & description change, Sports Injury Research Seminar
Old Business – none
Committee Reports
Chair Sheets made an appeal to committee members to remember to get student
members’ schedules when setting meeting dates.
a.
AAC – There will be a meeting tomorrow. Two items are being addressed:
1. Calendar issues
2. Budget questions.
When these are completed, 4 of the 9 charges will be completed.
b.
AEC – All money has been given away.
c.
CAAC – There has been one brief meeting since the last Senate meeting. The
College of Technology is starting to see changes.
d.
FAC – Work is continuing on criminal background checks. Revisions are being
made. It may come to the senate at the next meeting.
e.
f.
g.
h.
FEBC – The FEBC met with G. Goode on budget models. We’re in the fact
finding stage, trying to figure out how the budget has been created. We have taken
up the issue of compression, which wasn’t an original charge.
GC – The next meeting will be on January 10th.
SAC – We have met once since the last Senate meeting. The Faculty Scholarship
needs all the contributions you could send to it. It is endowed. Last year three
$1,000 scholarships were given away. More contributions are needed and they are
tax deductable.
URC –
Meeting adjourned 4:25 PM