Statewide Senators’ Report (Cheyne/Thobaben)
Summary of Statewide Senate Plenary Session
September 16, 2005
REPORTS:
1. Statewide Senate Chair Marshelle Thobaben:
Chair Thobaben’s report focused upon the activities of the Executive Committee throughout
the summer. The primary issues include:
 Revising the CSU Student Conduct Code, with a modified version being offered to the
Board of Trustees (BOT) at its November meeting
 Further work on the MOU with the California Community Colleges
 Staffing and developing guidelines for the Lower Division Transfer Patterns (LDTP)
project
 Helping to develop a structure for the “Facilitating Graduation” initiatives
 Developing an Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (ICAS) “Transfer”
document
 Dealing with the Academic Senate California State University (ASCSU) budget shortfall
Currently the General Education Advisory Committee (a Chancellor’s Office Committee)
and the ASCSU Academic Affairs Committee are undertaking a significant review of
General Education, including possible revisions to Executive Order 595, which lays out the
systemwide parameters for GE. There was some discussion regarding ongoing efforts at
individual campuses relating to GE revision given potential changes in statewide standards.
2. Faculty Trustee Craig Smith: Trustee Smith recently attended his first meeting as the new
Faculty Trustee and reported on the following issues.
 Environmental Impact of Expansion at San Diego State: This is a controversial issue
that will be discussed by the BOT at its next meeting.
 Student Conduct Code: This will come up for a second reading at the BOT. There are
some concerns regarding First Amendment issues.
 Facilitating Graduation: This remains a very high priority and will be an ongoing issue
with the BOT.
 Campus Visits: Trustee Smith has planned a number of campus visits, beginning with
Humboldt on September 27.
 Bargaining: Contract bargaining with the CFA is on-going, although Trustee Smith is
not privy to the negotiations themselves.
3. CFA President John Travis:
 Special Election Campaign: There are two issues in the special election that would
have a significant impact on the CSU—Propositions 75 and 76. The former is directed at
public employee unions and requires that they receive the annual endorsement of their
members in order to participate in the political arena. Proposition 76 would give the
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governor unilateral authority to declare a fiscal emergency and begin slashing budgets.
This could be devastating for the CSU. President Travis urged campus communities to
oppose these propositions.
 Collective Bargaining: The contract expired on June 30, but was extended to September
30. However, the extension really was not necessary since it would have automatically
been extended. The union wished to reinforce the idea that it believes the current
contract is strong. Noted CSU compensation proposal that tied any GSA or SSI awards
to a merit pay plan, a proposal that the CFA rejected. CFA is not opposed to a merit pay
system but believes it must be carefully designed and implemented.
4. CSSA Liaison Hironao Okahana:
 Voter Registration: This will be a major focus again this year. Students support SB 191
which requires the CSU to have automated registration. Professors will be asked to open
up their lower-division courses for visits.
 Student Conduct Code: CSSA has worked on the new code and has had intensive
discussions with the administration. They much prefer the revised proposal.
 Textbook Prices: This remains a major concern of the CSSA and they will be
developing a policy agenda prior to the next plenary.
 Student Trustee: The search process has been reopened for a second student trustee.
5. Associate Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Keith Boyum
 Independent Doctorate: The Governor is expected to sign SB 724 (independent EdD).
Bob Maxson (CSULB) will work with the Chancellor’s Office on implementation. There
is no new funding for these programs, but higher fees will be charged. The degrees are to
be in leadership/administration only, and the CSU has been directed to partner with
community colleges and school districts in developing programs.
 Early Assessment Program: A large number of students are taking the tests, not all
CSU-bound. There have been some slight improvements in scores/preparation. It will
probably take years to see significant results from this program.
 Facilitating Graduation: Campuses should be reviewing the 22 points and developing
facilitation plans. Some campuses will be visited by “accreditation-style” teams this
year.
 Lower Division Transfer Patterns: 33 major transfer patterns are nearing completion
and 14 new patterns will be added this year. The next major task is developing new
course descriptors to facilitate systemwide articulation. It is anticipated that LDTP
curriculum will be in place for 85% of the upper-division transfer majors, which may be
the extent of majors that are addressed.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Assisting Victims of Hurricane Katrina: Urges campuses to honor the spirit and language
of the Chancellor’s memorandum regarding assisting students from the Gulf Coast Region,
and to adopt a wide range of strategies to support faculty, staff and students from the Gulf
Coast Region and who are providing assistance to the Gulf Coast Region. Urges the
University community to contribute to relief efforts, remain empathetic toward those who
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have been affected by the hurricane, and to contribute expertise to whatever extent is possible
and appropriate. FIRST READING WAIVED. PASSED WITHOUT DISSENT.
2. Urgency of Settling Faculty Compensation Matters in the Current Contract Bargaining:
Urges the CSU and CFA to resume good-faith bargaining until agreement to a GSI of at least
3.5% in 2005-06 has been reached, independent of all other compensation issues. FIRST
READING WAIVED. PASSED WITHOUT DISSENT.
3. Re-affirmation of Prior Actions and Statements on Merit Pay: Reaffirms support for the
findings of the Final Report of the 1997 Task Force on Merit Pay as well as a number of
ASCSU resolutions and documents on the subject. Urges equal access to merit pay
consideration for all faculty and that implementation of any merit pay system be contingent
upon additional funding from the legislature. FIRST READING WAIVED. PASSED.
4. Opposition to Proposition 76: Opposes passage of Proposition 76, “State Spending and
School Funding Limits,” as a measure that could seriously impair the CSU’s ability to
effectively serve its students. FIRST READING WAIVED. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. Faculty Participation in the Development of Applied Doctoral Programs: Supports the
involvement of community college and K-12 colleagues in developing applied doctorate
programs in the CSU. Establishes an ad hoc committee to draft principles and guidelines
applicable to the development and implementation of an applied doctorate program. FIRST
READING WAIVED. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Resolutions to be acted upon in November:
1. Double Major Across Two Different Degree Programs: Allows students to have diplomas
that indicate two different degrees.
2. Support for Campus-specific “Repeat Policies”: Urges campuses to adopt explicit repeat
policies that limit the following: the maximum grade earned in the original course to qualify
for grade forgiveness, the total units or courses that can be repeated for forgiveness, the
number of times an individual course can be repeated for grade forgiveness.
3. Continued Support for CSU/UC Joint Doctorates
4. Campus Autonomy in Establishing Their Academic Calendar: Title is self-explanatory.
Resolution was prompted by concerns that system-imposed calendars might be implemented
that would compromise the feasibility of winter inter-sessions.