Report from
1.
Meeting of
Attending: Boyd, Schnell, Burnett, Heikes, Anderson, Lawson, Radonovich, Williams, Reeves, Kulick
1.1
Faculty
Senate President’s Report
No Report
1.2
Reports from
Administration
Dr. Radonovich talked about the WebCT/Blackboard merger and changes. He talked about the merger of CNS with IT under the supervision of Dr. Wilson Luquire. He talked about the streamlining process for serving the Faculty, Staff, and students. There were 23% or higher of faculty using WebCT. We paid about $40K/year for it and they raised it last year after Blackboard took over to $140K. Dr. Radonovich talked to the VPs of the company and explained we were not going to pay that much. We did not want to have to retrain faculty on a new system. They lowered the cost to $91K for the first year. We had to switch to their server and they changed things that we did not know was going to change. We hired Bobbi Jo Rissmann and she has done a study and recommended we go with Angel. It would be about $40K/year. It would be a new instruction set but not much different than the current training we are conducting. Dr. Radonovich took this information to the System Chief Academic Officers. They did not know what was going on with their WebCT, we want it to be compatible with Banner, Luminis, etc. the platforms we use and those used by the System. We are studying it and will come back to you before the decision is made. There are many things tied into this.
There was a question of whether we will have assistance with web pages. Dr. Radonovich informed the group that if a request is made he will take a look at trying to get them some assistance.
This change to a new system would not occur for a year.
There was a question regarding increasing the email quota for those who teach using WebCT/Blackboard and the number of emails from students fills the email box and exceeds the quota.
In some cases when using WebCT/Blackboard the email portion is not working.
Dr. Williams reported the focus for
many weeks has been on the opening of the
Work has begun on the intermodal facility. The Charger Café has reopened and looks very nice. We are currently looking at what we can do with Wilson Hall and Madison Hall both of which need renovations. The Bond issue came through much lower than we had anticipated and we are looking at the possibility of a bond issue ourselves.
The Search Committee for the Provost, the VP for Advancement, the Director of Admissions and the Assistant VP for Enrollment Services is set up and working.
Enrollment is not much different from last year. Time to graduation is not much different. We need to improve both of these. The Director of Admissions will have a goal of growing enrollment and recruiting nationally. We need to raise the enrollment numbers and lower the time to graduation. We need to have a recruitment attitude and everyone should be prepared to help. We hope that by this time next year we will be well into the plan and will have to invest in staff to do the recruiting. We need to agree to collaborate on recruiting and not compete with the other institutions in the system. We need to increase the number of out of state students. We have the space to grow. We need to look at the needs for classroom and housing 5 years down the road. Traffic and getting around campus is the challenge and it is being examined.
Fund raising is the job of the Vice President for Advancement and we did not have a plan and we need to develop a plan and involve the alumni more and in a positive manner. The professors that taught these individuals are the people they relate to. We need faculty support at alumni events. Get excited about what we do and let them see the value of the investment. We have to do this as a team.
Dr. Williams was asked about his
view on NC Grading. He responded Grading
is the responsibility of the faculty. If
the NC grade is not fulfilling its purpose then he will support the faculty
decision. His concern is if this was
done to help the students who are challenged—we have to make sure there is a
safety net for those that are strong enough to take care of them and this does
not scare them away. Student Affairs
should be well aware of this and involved in the decision making process. Fall out is the concern. Dr. Radonovich echoed Dr. Williams’ comments
and he too, does not want to do anything that facilitates flunking
students. We will take the faculty’s
recommendations seriously.
1.3 Committee Items and Chair Reports
1.3.1 Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Sharon George).
No Report.
1.3.2
Personnel
(
No Report.
1.3.3 Governance and Operations (Jeffrey Kulick).
Dr. Kulick reported he took the question regarding OSP and talked to about a half dozen people (Faculty), the Dean, and Gloria. There are problems and they range from having the wrong budget to submitting the wrong proposal to a variety of other problems. Even Center Directors had problems. He circulated a proposal for a Committee but the Governance Committee did not like it. A letter to the President was s suggested. A letter outlining the problems. Dr. Boyd will draft a letter.
1.3.4 Faculty and Student Development (Andrée Reeves).
Dr. Reeves reported she called a meeting and one person showed up. They looked at the Visa issue and are trying to deal with it delicately. They are also looking at the teaching issue and Faculty Development.
1.3.5 Finance and Resources (John Burnett).
Dr. Burnett reported he will get the call for proposals for the REU program out this week. He talked to Dr. Vogler about it. He raised the issue of allowing someone else to lead it if there is someone who desires to do so.
1.3.6
Undergraduate
Scholastic Affairs (
Dr. Heikes reported the Committee has the bill on the agenda to be considered for second reading at the next meeting. She has requested information regarding retention rates for Fs.
1.3.7 President-Elect—Kader
Frendi
No Report.
1.3.8 Ombudsperson—
No Report.
1.3.9
Senate Bill
311—Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (
Abolishing the NC Grade
On the agenda for the next meeting.
1.4.0 Senate Bill 310—Smoke Free Building
Environment
Melinda Lawson brought this bill to the floor
and there was discussion regarding the wording and how it would work. One friendly amendment was made to add that
in line 29. The bill is on the agenda
for the next meeting. Vote 7 in favor
and 0 opposed.
1.4.1 The Agenda was set
for the