Faculty Senate Minutes of December 3, 2013
The meeting was called to order by the Chair Delano Gray with the following Senators and visitors present:
College of Architecture & The Arts
Patrick Schmidt
Steven Schoen
Absent
Jaime Canaves
Kathleen Wilson
College of Business Administration
Krishnan Dandapani
Delano Gray
Shahid Hamid
Cliff Perry
Clark Wheatley
College of Medicine
Sheldon Cherry
Dietrich Lorke
Juan Lozano
Absent
Alan Wells
College of Arts & Sciences
Dawn Addy- Alternate
Gerardo Aladro
Astrid Arraras
Laurel Collins
Piero Gardinali
Alan Gummerson
Krish Jayachandran
Fenfei Leng
John Makemson
Oren Maxwell
Assefa Melesse
Marifeli Perez-Stable
Rene Price
Joerg Reinhold
Misak Sargsian
Laurie Shrage
Renee Silverman
Louis Tebou
Enrique Villamor
Hassan Zahedi
Absent
Maria Gomez
Jean Rahier
Ronn Silverstein
Victor Uribe
Ping Zhu
College of Education
Leonard Bliss
Teresa Lucas
Martha Pelaez
College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Lucie Dlugasch
Jennifer Doherty-Restrepo
Florence Keane
College of Engineering
Malek Adjouadi
Albert Gan
Anthony McGoron
Osama Mohammed
Ibrahim Tansel
Gang Quang
Absent
Arindam Chowdhury
College of Public Health & Social
Work
Marianna Baum
Fatma (Rose) Huffman
Ray Thomlison
School of Hospitality
Pablo Simon
David Talty
School of Journalism
Neil Reisner
Maria Elena Villar
College of Law
Jan Oseitutu
David Walter
Library
Lauren Christos
Valerie Boulos -Alternate
Absent
Patricia Pereira-Pujol
Guest:
Elizabeth Bejar
Penny Butler
Pete Garcia
June Hawkins
Pete Markowks
Darden Pyron
Diwaldo Rabre Jr.
Douglas Robertson
Randall Upchurch
Julie Berg
FACULTY SENATE MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2013 – 1:00 PM
WERTHEIM CONSERVATORY 130 – MODESTO MAIDIQUE CAMPUS
MARINE SCIENCE 362 – BISCAYNE BAY CAMPUS
I.
II.
III.
Approval of the Agenda. Amendment to include the name of the Chair of the Awards
Committee in the Agenda. Moved and approved.
Approval of the Minutes of the November 12th, 2013 meeting. Moved and approved.
Chairperson’s Report.
I would like to congratulate the Florida International University staff for the
magnificent conduct of the Board of Governors meeting November 20 to 21 2013.
The arrangement of the Trustees’ Summit on the morning of the 20st was similarly well
arranged. The guest speakers for the Summit were Thomas Ross, President University
of North Carolina, and Andrew Hamilton, Vice Chancellor Oxford University.
The Chancellor also announced that Oxford University will be offering 10 scholarships
through the SUS for study at Oxford. These scholarships will be funded by the Frost
Foundation.
The Board of Governors at their meeting on Thursday November 21 approved the
renewal of the Presidents contract through 2019.
At this meeting they approved the nomination and accepted as the new Chancellor of
the State University System of Florida, Marshall Criser III. Criser, president of AT&T
Florida, was the leading candidate recommended by the Board of Governors’
Chancellor Search Committee.
The Board also approved the Commission on Higher Education Access and Educational
Attainment final report, the gap analysis. They approved a RFP for grant proposals to
implement their recommendations. I will be forwarding the draft of the RFP to Schools
and Colleges that may be able to take advantage of this program.
In addition, the proposed new market rate programs for FIU and the metrics for
performance based funding were approved.
We are awaiting the results of the climate survey conducted by the independent
consulting group C-Suites Analytics in the College of Business. We have been
reassured that the survey will be conducted in the strictest confidence.
I would like to thank the Committee Chairs who attended our luncheon and their
continued commitment to service to the University.
Please remember to complete the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher
Education (COACHE) survey. It takes about 25 minutes and the website will be up until
January 24, 2014.
Commencement will be on Sunday December 15th to Tuesday December 17th, 2013.
Please arrange to attend. Remember your attendance will be greatly appreciated by
the students.
There are three reports from the Chronicle of Higher Education that may be of interest
to you;
1. University Cost Rises faster than grants
2. The rising cost of deferred maintenance
3. The Myth of STEM Education.
Thanks for your kind cooperation.
IV.
Action Items:
A.
Curriculum Bulletin – 2 Motions
i. Curriculum Committee Motions – Shahid Hamid, Chair
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Undergraduate Minor:
Communication Leadership and Conflict Management. Moved and
approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Undergraduate Major:
Chinese Area Studies Major. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Major: PhD in
Psychology – Cognitive Neuroscience. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Major: MS in
Psychology – Legal Psychology. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Major: PhD in Earth
Systems Science – Geosciences. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Major: PhD in Earth
Systems Science – Natural Resource Science and Management. Moved and
approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Track: Masters in
Accounting – Taxation Track. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the New Gradate Track: Masters in
Accounting – Assurance Track. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the Unit-Specific Admissions
Standards to the PhD in Business. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves the Unit-Specific Admissions
Standards to the MS in Athletic Training. Moved and approved.
Motion: The Faculty Senate approves Curriculum Bulletin 2. Moved and
approved.
V.
Reports:
A. Provost’s Report—Elizabeth Bejar, Vice-Provost: The Provost sends his greetings from
New Zealand. He wishes to express that the BOG meeting was a huge success,
especially the aspect of FIU’s hosting of the event. All the Trustees were there and
they were very impressed with FIU’s hospitality and collegiality. Some highlights of the
event: Marshall Criser will be the next Chancellor as of Jan 6; and our President Mark
Rosenberg’s contract was ratified. The BOG approved the submission of new market
rate programs. It also approved the 1 performance metric chosen by FIU, which is the
percentage of BAs awarded to minorities. Today the 5th Community Leaders Summit
was hosted by the President; the focus was on community issues around the next
Strategic Plan, the Capital Campaign, issues relating to FIU’s impact on the community,
and FIU as a solution center. There were break-out sessions in these areas. The
outcomes will be folded into iREAL and the next Strategic Plan. As a reminder, next
week is finals week; the Administration is here to provide support to faculty. On Dec.
11, the President’s Holiday Celebration will take place. Faculty are invited to attend
with tickets or as a guest of someone with tickets. Commencement begins Dec. 15,
and with it, a new paradigm, which includes Sunday commencement ceremonies. Dec.
16 marks the launch of mini-term. (There are 52 sections offered; and 826 students
currently registered, 2/3 of whom will be taking on-line courses. We hope to break
1,000 students by the start of the mini-term). On Monday, Jan. 6 the new semester
begins. The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Jan. 9, which is before the first
meeting of the Faculty Senate. The Provost extends his best wishes for the holidays
and a seamless close to the semester.
B. Athletics Report – Pete Garcia, Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment: Pete
Garcia responds to concerns about sports- and football-related concussions. He is
confident about FIU’s plans in this regard. He discusses some of the major challenges
facing the sports programs at FIU: NCAA requirements are increasing, and compared
with other universities, we don’t have same resources or infrastructure. FIU is
therefore in a challenging position, especially since we are competitive in terms of the
level of academic difficulty and the fact that other schools have been doing this for
much longer. Mr. Garcia introduces the new Basketball and Football Coaches, who give
their reports. Basketball coach Anthony Evans: Academics are a priority; studentathletes are students first. He means to instill work ethics, and an awareness of the
importance of education whatever an athlete does in life: education helps athletes to
become good fathers, husbands, and citizens. The Coach offers faculty help with
student-athletes. Football Coach Turner: In the first team meeting of the season, he
made clear that we will be winners, but not only on field. He underlines the
importance of academics and community service. He is clear that we will not lower
standards, and we will make academics a priority in spite of some students’
backgrounds. He wants to change the culture and mind-set of some student-athletes.
(He notes that some of them already have their priorities straight.). Mr. Garcia intends
to recruit students who are driven academically as well as on the field. In recruiting he
looks for this drive and determination, as well as a willingness on the part of studentathletes to accept the help that FIU can offer. He is hiring staff with the same
priorities. The Coach offers faculty help with student-athletes.
Julie Berg, Senor Associate Athletic Director. Her remarks about the issue of
concussions: She has been working on the potentially disastrous health issues that
recent research has brought to light. She is the person at FIU who is in charge of
dealing with concussions. She spends a lot of time in NCAA and other meetings about
the subject. She has a strong background and this is her field. Ms. Berg tells the faculty
the that FIU’s plan regarding concussions is excellent: students must be symptom-free
before playing; freshmen undergo neurological checks before starting play; there is
10-module baseline analysis if athletes are injured, which gives us a clear standard
response (if anything in the results deviates from the norm, they don't play and are
sent to our neuroscientists); following injury, athletes must be symptom-free and have
an even baseline before returning to play. FIU is therefore ahead of the curve.
Students are educated to look out for signs of concussions, and their roommates are
given our concussion management plan. In football, equipment is key. Helmets are
always serviced and replaced as necessary, and we make sure that they fit properly.
The same concussion management plan is in place for all contact sports. U-Health
examined the concussion management plan, as well as helping put it together.
C. Alumni Week Report – Gerald Grant, Member of the Board of Trustees: Mr. Grant
encourages faculty support in creating alumni partnerships. Panther Alumni Week is
designed to bring FIU alumni from South Florida and all parts of country back to
campus in order that they share their experiences with current students. It is crucial
that students see the potential in relationships with alumni. The idea is to create a
culture where alumni will come back and share their experiences. Time may be more
important than financial support. Panther Alumni Week is all about exposure,
expectation, and raising the bar. Mr. Grant calls for ideas from the faculty to increase
the success of Panther Alumni Week. A Task Force has been working on Panther
Alumni Week for the past 6 months; the task force was drawn from the faculty,
Administration, and External Affairs. There will be a reception for students, faculty,
and alumni to share their common experiences from Panther Alumni Week.
D. Honorary Degree and Awards Committee Report – Darden Pyron, Chair: Remarks
regarding the awarding of honorary degrees: Each nominee received a positive
recommendation. Standards for nominees will also be reviewed. He asks the faculty to
submit names for new OARD committee members. Reminder: Nominations for faculty
awards are due Jan. 31; completed applications are due Feb. 14.
E. United Way Report – Delia C. Garcia: She underlines the importance of the United
Way Campaign, as well as the responsibility to give back to the community. The United
Way Campaign is intended to improve the education of children, the financial stability
of local families, and the level of health in the community. He encourages faculty to
donate in support the United Way. He distributes handouts, pointing out the quality of
the United Way’s partner organizations. He gives another handout detailing different
ways to give. He notes that there will be a fun activity this Thursday at 5 p.m.—a silent
and live auction, and holiday celebration. Tickets are $5 each. Delia Garcia and June
Hawkins can take faculty pledges and pledge forms.
F. UFF Report—Teresa Lucas, UFF-FIU President:
Upcoming events
All are invited to the UFF Holiday Party on Thursday, December 5, from 4 – 8 p.m. at
the Faculty Club on the MMC campus. Collective bargaining continues on Friday,
December 6, at 1 p.m. in PC 111. The next Executive Council meeting is on Friday,
December 13, from noon – 2 p.m. in the LC Conference Room.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors met at FIU the week before Thanksgiving and chose a new
chair and vice-chair for the next two years. Mori Hosseini, who has served as vicechair under Chair Dean Colson, will be Chair. Mr. Hosseini is the chairman and CEO of
ICI Homes, which he founded with his brother in Daytona Beach in 1980. He received
a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the Chelsea College of Aeronautical
Engineering in London and earned a B.S. in aeronautical studies and an MBA from
Embry-Riddle University in Daytona. The new vice-chair is Thomas G. Kuntz, who will
retire next month from his 35-year career with SunTrust Banks, Inc. Mr. Kuntz has a
bachelor’s degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and attended the
Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.
The BOG chose as the new Chancellor Marshall Criser III, the president of AT & T in
Florida, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the
University of Florida and completed the Advanced Management Programme at
INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
In his closing remarks, outgoing BOG Chair Dean Colson noted: “Chairing this board
for the past two years has been a joy, a challenge and a privilege. We’ve made some
remarkable accomplishments, and I know we’ll be in good hands the next two years
under the leadership of Governors Hosseini and Kuntz.”
As evident from the new Higher Education leadership, those accomplishments will
continue on the path of defining higher education as “a passport to success instead of
defining it as a pathway to knowledge…the training of workers rather than…the
education of citizens.” (Gina Barreca)
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/15/3756161/the-humanities-are-the-heartof.html
The comments at the BOG underlined the emphasis on university as job training
institution, as when Mr. Colson noted: “If we’re not graduating students who can get
jobs, we have to rethink where we’re directing students.” Another governor stated:
“We should tell people they have a 30% chance of getting a job if you’re, say, a
sociology major.”
To his credit, Dean Colson expressed his displeasure with the creation of the Florida
Polytechnic University without proper vetting, and his belief in the importance of
maintaining an independent role for the Board of Governors. It would also be
beneficial that there be a role for academics on the Board of Governors.
NEA presence in South Florida
National Education Association (NEA) Executive Director John Stocks attended
meetings of the Florida Education Association (FEA) this week. Of interest to Higher
Education professionals, he noted that there has been a 320% growth in enrollment in
for-profit higher education institutions between 2001 and 2010, with institutions
spending $4.2 billion on marketing and related activities. This corresponds to the
growth of charter schools in K-12 education.
Legislative update
The Senate Education Committee will meet next week. There isn’t a lot on the
agenda. Sen. Jack Latvala has filed SB 84 that would provide instate tuition for
veterans. Sen. Dwight Bullard filed SB 428 that provides that a dependent child who is
a U.S. citizen may not be denied classification as a resident for instate tuition. This
follows a U.S. District Court ruling that tuition is tied to the student and not to the
parents.
The U.S. Department of Education released a report showing that for the first time, a
majority of undergraduates, 57 percent, receive some kind of financial aid. Forty-one
percent took out loans. This is an increase of 6% from four years ago.
G. SGA Report— Liane Sippin, SGA-MMC President: The last Senate meeting and midyear retreat just took place. The retreat was above all a learning experience on how to
increase student participation. Liane Sippin is now at a leadership conference which is
extremely competitive in terms of admission. A reminder: Recharge for finals starts
Dec. 9.
VI.
Unfinished Business. No.
VII.
New Business. No.