Faculty Senate Minutes
19 November 2008
2:30-3:30 pm, Jones 140
Senators Present: John Condie, Molly Costello, Jim Cross, Betty Dorr, Mary Ann Erickson,
Janine Fitzgerald, Leslie Goldstein, Rick Gore, Ryan Haaland, Brian Hanks, Larry Hartsfield,
Michelle Malach, Michael Martin, Ellen Paul, Paul Petersen, Minna Sellers, Amy Sellin, Cathy
Simbeck, Gene Taylor.
Senators Absent: Byron Dare, Ginny Davis, Rick Gore, Doug Lyon, Dugald Owen, Chuck
Riggs, Pam Smith.
Others in attendance: Marta Bergen, Aaron Elinoff, Susan Foster, Sarah Roberts-Cady.
President-Elect Jim Cross called the meeting to order at 2:32.
Approval of Minutes of November 12. Ellen Paul moved, seconded, approved.
Announcement: Jim Cross
Per Byron Dare, Faculty Senate President, we need to keep December 10 and 17 open, as well as
January 14 and 21. Jones 140 is free on those days.
The Board of Trustees has invited us to lunch on Friday, December 12, at noon in the CUB’s
Colorado Room. Cross took a head count and determined that at least 12 senators can attend the
lunch. He asked that people email him if they plan to attend.
New Business
Curricular Items – Action
ES 495
Research Design and Development
ES 301
Current Issues in Sport
ES 302
Issues in Health and Wellbeing
Exercise Science – Exercise Specialist
Exercise Science Sports Administration
Exercise Science K12 Teaching
Athletic Training
Adventure Education
Credits
Deletion
Deletion
Change to Option within a Major
Change to Option within a Major
Change to Option within a Major
Other
Other
Exercise Science, Athletic Training, and Adventure Education curriculum changes were
discussed as a group. Larry Hartsfield moved to discuss; seconded.
Paul Petersen said that since they lost the W classes, they had to add a lot of writing and research
writing to the curriculum to keep up with requirements. ES 495 is being expanded by 2 credits,
and ES 301 and 302 are being deleted. 495 is the only substantive change.
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Minna Sellers brought up the problem of how to organize the library research component of
Comp 250/150. She would like all faculty to think about whether a class needs something
specialized with regards to library instruction. Cross suggested this is a General Education
Council question.
Paul called question, seconded, approved.
PHIL 161
PHIL 389
PHIL 305
PHIL 352
PHIL 363
PHIL 377
PHIL 380
PHIL 252
PHIL 381
Philosophy and Literature
19th and 20th Century Philosophy
Writing Philosophy
Ecology and Morality
Philosophy of History & Culture
Contemporary European Philosophy
19th Century Philosophy
Environmental Ethics
Metaphysics
New Course
New Course
Deletion
Deletion
Deletion
Deletion
Deletion
Catalog Description
Catalog Description
Larry Hartsfield noted that Philosophy and Political Science have both been making changes in
their programs, including combining, reorganizing, and making changes to major requirements.
Michele Malach moved to discuss; seconded.
Cathy Simbeck asked if these changes affect GT Pathways?
Sarah Roberts-Cady said none of the courses are GT Pathways. The net result of the changes is
fewer courses, which will help bring up enrollments in upper-division courses. Catalogue
descriptions reflect how the new faculty will teach the courses. For instance, the 19th and 20th
century courses have been combined into one. All courses are 3 or 4 credits. Writing
Philosophy was the W course. Writing is now incorporated into the Senior Seminar.
PHIL 161 is a new course, not part of a major.
Leslie Goldstein motioned to call the vote, was seconded, and approved.
ASFLC proposition for Fall Break
Brian Hanks motioned to remove the item from the table (from 12 November Senate meeting),
was seconded, and approved.
Discussion followed. Some of the obstacles discussed were 1) lab hours, 2) housing problems
(since dorms close during the holidays), 3) travel time problems for students, 4) costs increases
for housing, counseling, and other areas, 5) revising the Orientation schedule, 6) aligning our
schedule with the 9R school district 7) re-naming the day off on Columbus Day holiday due to
Sacred Trust issues or possibly holding class that day with a day off the previous Thursday, 8)
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student attendance problems, 9) library schedule issues, 10) test scheduling, 11) athletics
scheduling, and 12) the issue of the start of school and fall meetings that encroach more and
more into faculty summers.
Goldstein liked the idea of starting classes mid week in August after two days of orientation
instead of after a ‘footloose and fancy-free weekend’, but was concerned that students be
allowed to stay in the residence halls over the 2-4 day fall break in October. Aaron Elinoff,
ASFLC President, said that housing was okay with staying open for the October break as well as
with the earlier start. He noted that there would be a small increase in housing fees for students
but that it’s a relative cost.
Roberts-Cady commented that aligning the fall break schedule with 9R was an important issue in
the faculty climate discussion a year ago. Malach mentioned that in the past it has been difficult
to coordinate things with 9R “because they’ve been hard to work with.” She added that she’s
spoken with many students and every one liked the idea of a fall break very much.
Sellers spoke up about library scheduling problems, particularly with regard to how to schedule
time for their own research. When the library closes, it’s a good time for that, but starting earlier
in August would affect that.
Betty Dorr said that many of her colleagues support the idea… but not all of them. The two
main concerns were about starting earlier in August and about the Sacred Trust and time off
scheduled around Columbus Day.
Brian Hanks asked about the financial impact on the Counseling and Health Centers. Elinoff
said that both offices report that the highest use of their services is from late October to the
Thanksgiving Break. He believes both offices would welcome a fall break.
Jim Cross noted some concerns from the Cabinet meeting this morning: will Animas Hall be
ready three days early? What about the loss of summer conference money? (It could be
$70,000). How would Music in the Mountains be affected? What is the cost of bringing athletes
in earlier (possibly 3000-3500 dollars/day). What about the physical plant schedule and the
deferred maintenance projects? Despite these concerns, Cross suggests that they are not
insurmountable.
Goldstein liked the idea of taking two days of Thanksgiving Break and putting them in October
to eradicate most of these concerns. Cross said that one suggestion at the meeting was to go with
this next year and implement the new idea in 2010-11.
Aaron Elinoff said a request has been put in campus-wide for all cost conflicts to be submitted
by the December 10 Faculty Senate meeting. He added that it’s important to recognize the
consequences of a change like this one. Next year may be too soon. The Provost will make the
final decisions.
Paul called the question, was seconded, and approved.
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Haaland motioned to re-table the proposition, was seconded and approved, with two abstentions
and one nay vote. John Condie proposed a friendly amendment that commended the students’
idea and supported the concept, with the understanding that we will continue to work on it.
Seconded and approved.
Simbeck motioned to take a straw poll on who liked the idea, was seconded and approved, with
three abstentions.
The meeting adjourned at 3:33pm.
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