Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

Nov. 6, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Mary Carney at 4:02 PM in Fenton 105

The Chair asked for a motion to approve the agenda. She also informed the body that the Academic Affairs Committee will not have the Academic Forgiveness Policy on this meeting’s agenda because they have been swamped with other catalog-related business. Sens. Rushboldt and Reddy moved and seconded. There was no discussion. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote

The Chair then asked for a motion to approve the Minutes of the meeting of Oct. 2, 2006 [sent with the agenda]. Sens. Rushboldt and Reddy moved and seconded. There was no discussion. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. NOTE: After the meeting, Sen. Khalid Siddiqui came to the Secretary to indicate that the name of the new track in Computer Science approved at the Oct. 2, 2006, meeting, should have read: “as well as adding a track called Systems Management in the Computer Information Systems B.S. in Computer Science.” That change is made in the sixth paragraph under “Academic Affairs Committee: B.S. in Computer Information Systems.

Report of the President

President Hefner

• Congratulated the College of Education on its receiving full NCATE accreditation, with no conditions
• Informed the body that the budget request from the Systems Office is still a little bit fluid, but should go to the Board of Trustees Finance Committee next Thursday, and the following week to the full Board of Trustees. A couple of pieces of this proposed budget will be very helpful: baseline funding including all inflationary increases, and the Dept. of Budget has agreed to include all salary increases in the first draft of the Administrative Budget. This doesn’t mean that a governor can’t delete them before sending the budget on to the Legislature, but we have made good strides getting DOB to agree to include these in the first draft. Included in the baseline is continuation of those faculty research positions that went to the University Centers. There will definitely be a request for $30 M for enrollment growth, which will be good for our campus. There will be a smaller request, around $5 M, for high need programs, as well as a request for more graduate assistantships (mostly to the Doctoral campuses). There will also be a small component, possibly around $6 M, to begin funding the performance and quality portion of the new Budget Allocation Plan (BAP II). Also, monies to address the cost differences between downstate campuses and the rest of the state (also a component of BAP II) will be requested. The Chancellor is also toying with the idea of asking for some one-time funding through the capital projects budget, for instructional equipment. Pres. Hefner is encouraging the system to do that. Apparently other State agencies have been using this means, but both gubernatorial candidates have been saying that there is too much debt in the State, so this idea might run into some kind of roadblock. The new Science-Technology building remaining funds might be asked for in this budget, or in next year’s budget. We have all the planning money we need for now. If it gets held for next year’s budget, we are asking that we be given $4.6 M for a new childcare facility, which will free up room in Thomson Hall, and allow us to provide infant care, as well as before- and after-school programs, all in one location.
• Hoped that the MOU II would have been available to share by this meeting, but at the last minute, the campuses got calls from the central office telling us not to distribute it. They want to take a look at some of the construction issues. Apparently there were some problems with some of the MOUs. As soon as we get approval to distribute, we will send it out to the Senators. We want you to have it in advance of the December meeting (hopefully).
• Thanked Fredonia students for their wonderful efforts raking leaves in the Village of Fredonia last Sunday.
• Ended with congratulations to Dean Paul Schwartz, who will be leaving us at the end of this semester to become the chief academic officer at an institution in France. [There was warm applause for Dean Schwartz.]

 

Questions:

Dean David Ewing informed the body that the campus has received the official letter indicating that our program in Social Work had been accredited. He offered congratulations to Mary Carney and her program.

Sen. Richard Reddy asked if the proposed child care center was to be near the intersection of Temple St. and Brigham Road. Pres. Hefner indicated that yes, it would be near the parking lots on that corner.

Sen. Jason Mellen asked if the Science-Technology building was going to be funded by monies from natural gas wells on campus, as rumor says. Pres. Hefner said he wished! No, those new gas wells won’t provide that kind of funding stream. That building is going to be constructed with state funds.

Report of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Horvath

• Added congratulations for Dean Schwartz’s new position
• Indicated that her office would be accepting nominations through the end of the day for the position of Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. Academic Affairs will be doing a short interview process for this position. The interim position is expected to begin in January, 2007. A formal national search is being developed, and the Senate needs to recommend members for the search committee. A first meeting with the Senate Executive Committee, and we expect approval of the search committee at the December meeting of the Senate. Hopefully we will have a permanent dean on board by summer 2007.
• Updated the Senate (for Dr. Jackie Swansinger, who cannot be at today’s meeting) on graduate program developments: the MAT in Science has had a letter of intent sent to SUNY Central, and we will need to do a formal proposal for SUNY and for State Ed; the MS in Computer Science, already approved several years ago by the Senate, is moving forward once again now that we have sufficient faculty resources. This program will be brought back to the Senate as an information item.
• Introduced Laurie Livingston, Interim Director of Lifelong Learning
• Updated the body on the catalog format issue: after consulting with numerous people on campus, we will continue to have some sort of printed catalog product, but as far as production goes we will continue to ask questions. Could it be smaller (like the graduate catalog)? Could it be less expensively printed? Could we put the marketing type material in a cd format, and have only department and course information in the printed catalog? Perhaps we could develop new versions for various purposes (a video product to introduce the campus, a policies manual, a colorful marketing device separate from the catalog, etc.). She is leaning toward a compromise

Questions and comments:

Sen. Reddy asked for a clarification: what is going to happen with the electronic catalog idea? VP Horvath responded that we will continue to post the catalog online, so it will be available electronically, and we have a high-volume cd burner on campus, so we could make cd copies as well. Perhaps in the future, we could go to a less paper-intensive format, but the students were fairly adamant about keeping the paper copy for now.

Sen. Mellen said that having various products for various purposes seems like a good approach, but having some sort of paper catalog is good.

Sen. Jan McVicker commented that the catalog serves so many different functions, but it is seen as a contract for starting an academic program. It is easier to update a program in an online version of a catalog. The current catalog includes the student code of conduct policy, but students seem to not read the policies in the catalog. We use it for advising. We need some different vehicles for different uses. Right now the catalog is unwieldy for the multiple purposes to which we apply it. Perhaps we need to split it up so that each of these things can be useful.

VP Horvath then indicated that this is a critical issue. What is the catalog for, and how could we separate out these differing functions. Policies become important for accreditation. Peeling those off becomes an issue in terms of official statements.

Sen. Ted Steinberg commented that he felt that one of the outcomes from our study of the first year might be a recommendation to print the policies separately in a handbook for students.

VP Horvath continued that in legal terms, the catalog is the official repository for these documents. When we make changes to programs, unless we go to an annual catalog update (which nobody could sustain, considering the amount of work such a review takes) things will be locked in, with changes being made along the way. If we stay with a three year cycle, after a year there will be changes, but the printed version will still be the official record.

Sen. Dani McKinney offered that it was especially important to make sure that the policies are available and accurate.

VP Horvath: We need to have a place where we can find official information without having to print it off for everyone.

Sen. Kerrie Wilkes spoke, saying that in the meetings of the Academic Affairs Committee she has attended, the issue of archiving catalogs and policies is an issue that comes up often. We have to make sure that amendments made online can be archived so when a student asks ten years later, we can give the correct information.

Sen. Ziya Arnavut suggested putting such documents/policies in directories based on years, until the official retention date has passed. How many students will open those cds that are mailed to them? At least they see the cover of the catalog!

VP Horvath suggested if anyone can offer further insights, please contact her or Melinda Karnes.

Report of the Chair

Chair Mary Carney:

• Offered the congratulations of the Senate to Dean Schwartz
• Informed the body that the Senate Executive Committee will be meeting with VP Horvath this week, and we will be getting back to the Senate concerning search committee issues
• Asked all the Senators representing departments to please make sure that their departments procedures for electing representatives to the Fredonia University Senate be sent to her no later than Nov. 17
• Informed the body that the Senate Executive Committee is still working on the changes to the Bylaws
• Informed the body that she is exploring using ANGEL as a site for Senate documents, policies, communications, etc.

The Chair then introduced Sen. Reddy who had some Governance Officer business for the group.

Sen. Reddy informed the Senate that with the implementation of the Colleges, the representation among the Colleges changed. Education formerly was part of Natural Sciences, and had the two at large positions for Natural Sciences. Now that Education is a separate College, these two are representing Education, and there is a need to fill the at large positions for Natural and Social Sciences. He indicated that an election will be conducted very soon.

Sen. McKinney rose to say that she is an at large representative from Natural and Social Sciences. Sen. Reddy said that we will check on it, and possibly there will be a need for at least one vacancy to be filled, but we will check further on this matter.

Standing Committee Reports

Academic Affairs

Dr. H. Joseph Straight, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee announced that the discussion of the Academic Forgiveness Policy will be postponed until the December meeting of the Senate, since the Committee has been inundated with catalog-revision-related matters. He also informed the body that Jason Mellen has been meeting with the Student Association’s Academic Affairs Committee to provide input.

Dr. Straight then brought forth the Committee’s recommendation for a new B.S. degree program in Psychology [attached to the agenda.] The proposed requirements are also attached to the agenda.

Discussion:

Sen. Neil Feit asked about the requirement for an independent study course… does the department have enough faculty to do this and are the faculty of the department supporting this requirement, since these courses can be fairly intensive. Dr. Jack Croxton, Chair of the Department of Psychology, answered that the Department does not anticipate many students opting for this program in the near future, and the department’s faculty are solidly behind this requirement.

Sen. Nancy Bowser: under Roman numeral IV, how is that different from the current university-wide policy? Why is it necessary to include this if it is a university-wide proscription? Dr. Croxton indicated that it was not different from the university-wide policy, and was simply included in the requirements for information.

Dr. Straight interjected that probably such issues should be handled in the catalog editing process to make the catalog descriptions of programs more consistent.

Sen. Bowser then asked if in Roman numeral III if the 30 hours at the upper level were deemed to be 300- and 400-level courses, because SUNY Central interprets upper level to be 200 and higher. She added that it would help the Registrar’s Office if that phrase were defined in the programs as being 300- and 400-level courses. Dr. Croxton responded that yes, 300- and 400-level was what was intended by that phrasing.

Sen. Bruce Tomlinson asked for a clarification of Roman numeral II, halfway through the “additional BIO course” lists BIO 446, however there is another course that might need to be added because BIO 446 has a prerequisite of BIO 131/132 and 133/134 and a level 200 biodiversity course. Dr. Straight recommended that this be checked and put in so there won’t be any surprises for students. Dr. Croxton agreed to this plan.

Dr. Jennifer Dyck asked if the Mathematical Sciences Department has a prerequisite for Math 105/106 that ought to be included. Dr. Straight responded by indicating that there indeed was a prerequisite, but most students can have it taken care of with high school courses.

Sen. Steinberg asked why is this degree being proposed. What is the philosophy? Drs. Croxton and Dyck indicated that the department saw a need to try to attract the student who wants to delve into psychology more as a science than as a helping profession. There is a scientific/research side of psychology that this degree will focus on. Sen. Cheryl Drout added that it also would allow more requirements for stronger students.

There was no further discussion. Chair Mary Carney called for the vote. The motion from the Academic Affairs Committee was approved by unanimous voice vote.

CCC Committee

Sen. Reddy, Chair of the CCC Committee, spoke to the body about the informational attachment that was appended to the agenda. He indicated that the Committee was looking to a dialog over time about our assessment procedures and the instruments we have created for that purpose. The Committee welcomes ideas and comments, and hopes to foster an open process that will engage the entire campus.

Graduate Council

Dr. Horvath covered the items that Dr. Swansinger had wished to present.

Report of the SUNY University Senate Senator

Sen. Cheryl Drout commented on two handouts that she prepared for this meeting. [Report Fall Plenary; Sector Sharing of Concerns --- both attached to these minutes] She announced that Anna Maria Klein has been appointed to the SUNY-wide Operations Committee

Questions:

Dr. Straight asked if anybody spoke to the resolution at the SUNY-wide Senate meeting concerning the award recognizing ten or more years of service. He said that he thought there were campuses with term limits. He indicated a preference for a system such as we use [not a strict term limit, but after two three-year terms an incumbent must sit out for at least one year before running for any additional three-year term – Secretary] because it allows more people to get involved with governance. Sen. Drout indicated that she thought service on SUNY-wide University Senate committees would count as well. Someone commented that there was already a five-year award, and perhaps that should be considered adequate.

Sen. Drout continued with her report on the Sector meetings, and she indicated that there had been an announcement made at the Plenary that for those who retire in good standing, the title of emeritus us an entitlement, but rights associated with that rank have to be negotiated with the chief administrative officer… but the title is automatic.

Sen. Cuhel-Schuckers asked how the emeritus status would be used for staff. Dr. Straight offered that, just as a guess, the term faculty is defined broadly in the Board of Trustees Policies, so he would expect staff to be entitled to the emeritus status, as well.

Chair Carney added to the report that Reneta Barneva attended the Plenary representing Fredonia as our campus governance leader, since she (Carney) was at a conference and could not attend the Plenary. Dr. Barneva is at a conference this week, but will be back for the December Senate meeting.

Sen. Ziya Arnavut then addressed the body regarding a SUNY-wide Senate resolution that was passed at the October 2006 Plenary [Resolution on Enhancing SUNY Access to Electronic Databases --- attached to the agenda.]

Sen. Arnavut informed the body that a resolution had been passed last year that called for an increase of $8 M in one-time monies for library materials, SUNY-wide. That didn’t make it into the Governor’s budget, so this year we respectfully ask for it again. He then moved that the Fredonia University Senate to strongly support the resolution passed at the SUNY Faculty Senate. Sen. Tom Taylor seconded.

Discussion:

Sen. Kerrie Wilkes indicated that the Library certainly supports this, but there are questions. She indicated that in the preamble there are references to the University Centers, and there is no mention of SUNYConnect (which currently funds many electronic resources for all campuses.) The wording describes what SUNYConnect does, but there is no mention of that name. Sen. Arnavut responded that yes, it would probably make more sense to have named SUNYConnect in the resolution. That is what we meant by the description. He continued that Carey Hatch [Assistant Provost for Library and Information Services] is a liaison to the Operations Committee, so we certainly are aware of SUNYConnect. But we are also an independent committee and we did not wish to look like we were a committee of the Provost’s Office.

Sen. Wilkes than asked that since the strategy and funding are listed independently, is there any way that they could be included in a more unified approach? Sen. Arnavut responded that the motion had already passed in the Plenary, so there was no way to make changes. There will not be a new body; this will be within SUNYConnect.

Sen. Wilkes continued, asking if the $8 M allocation was for monographic or electronic resources. Sen. Arnavut indicated that it is basically for all, but mostly for books, etc. Last year’s resolution included electronic databases as well as books. Because there were some issues with this, we divided the resolution this time around, and the $8 M is for the first part. Sen. Wilkes commented that if it were for electronic resources, it wouldn’t be much help because most electronic databases are not paid just one time but annually.

Dr. Roger Byrne asked if all 64 of the SUNY campuses are involved in research. Sen. Arnavut responded that that was part of the debate at the Plenary. A UB colleague got into that issue at the Plenary, and we were talking about two-year, four-year, and other colleges. We think that there are community college faculty who are involved in research, and that research is expected of all SUNY colleges in some fashion. We think it will be good for every campus to have access to all of the SUNY electronic tools. We’d like to see this, but of course it costs.

Director of Reed Library, Randy Gadikian, informed the body that he’d been part of the SUNYConnect project for many years, and as the community colleges are our feeder institutions, we want them to have the same resources available to them. It is very difficult to separate the issue of community college, comprehensive colleges, and university centers. Resources vary widely from campus to campus. The types of requests to SUNYConnect vary too. You’d be amazed at what is going on across SUNY, even at the community colleges. By and large the SUNYConnect purchases are paid for by the contribution of the University Centers. The other campuses do contribute dollars, but the bulk comes from the Centers.

Sen. Grady asked if Sen. Arnavut was expecting to have another resolution similar to the ‘catch-up’ resolution. Sen. Arnavut responded that yes, in spring we expect to get a resolution to reduce some costs. The total cost for electronic resources is likely to be in the $80-90 M range if every campus were given access to every resource. We will probably have an initial request for $20 M for SUNYConnect improvements.

Sen. Cuhel-Schuckers asked what was meant by ‘reduce some costs.’ Sen. Arnavut indicated that according to a colleague from UB, there are books that are never used, so perhaps we could have some sort of central sharing arrangement, similar to ILL, saving having many campuses purchase these same unused materials.

Sen. Reddy asked for clarification: this motion would have the Fredonia University Senate endorse and support the report (the resolution of the Plenary)? Sen. Arnavut responded, yes.

There being no further discussion, the vote was taken. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Sens. Reddy/Arnavut moved/seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

 

The meeting concluded at approx. 5:25 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Vincent Courtney, Faculty Secretary