Report from Executive Committee Meeting
1.
Meeting of
Attending:
Neuschatz, Boyd, George, Lawson, Fork, Delugach, Heikes,
1.1 Faculty Senate President’s report:
Ms. Lawson distributed and discussed a list of agenda items for the various Committees of the Faculty Senate for the 2006-07 Academic Year. Other ideas and items were also added.
There was some discussion regarding the Presidential Search. The Committee will meet again September 18 and 19.
There was some discussion regarding
the Faculty and Staff Medical Clinic.
This is something the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate and
Melinda reported that all the staff to support Research Activity in the Colleges has been hired except the one that will be shared between the three Colleges of Liberal Arts, Administrative Science and Nursing. They are interviewing for that one.
1.2 Reports from Administration
Dr. Radonovich reported that the last report to SACS is in the final stages. We should be sending it in next week. We should hear from SACS in December about their final conclusion. Dr. Radonovich will ask Dean Raines to come in and talk with this group and others once the report is finalized and sent in. The report from SACS was good. There were only three items of essence to address. One was a policy issue regarding labs and nontraditional courses and contact hours. The policy basically states that there are three contact hours for every hour of credit for a course. There are some exceptions and we have outlined very clearly what has to be done regarding these exceptions. The policy is based on what we have already been doing.
We now have the results of the exam that was taken by graduating students regarding the core requirements. The exam shows that the students do get the basic skill set. We have been waiting since May for the results. We contacted 171 students and 75 took the test. The results were above or way above other peer institutions. On the national level the students did well. You will see the results in the final report. We will continue this each year for some time. SACS was concerned about when students are not doing well and what we do about that.
Dr. Radonovich would like the Scholastic Affairs Committee to formulate a policy forbidding blackberries, cell phones, and other electronic devices such as these in exams.
Dr. Radonovich reported it has come to his attention that young faculty do not know what is in the Handbook. He thinks this problem exists because there are no hardcopies of the Handbook distributed. It is updated on the web but faculty do not use it as a reference as they would a hardcopy. The reaction is different to an electronic copy versus a hardcopy. He would like the Senate to look at the Handbook and make recommendations so that we can make revisions and print hardcopies in January and distribute them. There may be areas that need changes and there may be areas that could be combined.
There was some discussion regarding Nektar and the settlement and the use of the funds. After legal fees they would like to use most of the funds for scholarships. Discussions are taking place with Nektar personnel and input will be sought from various sources on campus as well.
There was some discussion regarding an Associate Provost for Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness and the continuation of the SACS Office.
1.3 Committee Items and Chair Reports
1.3.1 Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Sharon George).
Dr. George reported that rather than meet as scheduled on the calendar they will meet as needed for approving various items. They will be looking at revisions to the undergraduate catalog as requested this year as well.
1.3.2
Personnel
(Michael Anderson).
The Committee will review the Faculty Handbook and personnel procedures.
The Committee will look at a policy regarding faculty/student dating.
1.3.3 Governance and Operations (Richard Fork for Jeffrey Kulick).
The Committee will review the SACS information, disseminate information and make recommendations.
The Committee will review University Committees for Senate Members on each Committee and designate a liaison to each Committee as needed.
The Committee will review the Senate Bylaws and make changes were needed.
1.3.4 Faculty and Student Development (Kader Frendi).
The Committee will investigate a research experience for high school students.
The Committee will assess the rate of faculty resignations/turnovers and review methods of faculty retention.
The Committee will work with Delois
Smith and explore adding a second Nurse Practitioner to the
The Committee will participate in and make suggestions regarding the development of the ARC and appoint two faculty to the QEP Oversight Committee.
1.3.5 Finance and Resources (Harry Delugach).
The Committee will evaluate this year’s REU program, review the budget and establish the program for next year.
The Committee will continue to work on the Distinguished Speaker Series and review the budget.
The Committee will review the budget.
The Committee will also make recommendations/suggestions for changes to the Faculty Senate website.
1.3.6 Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (Deborah Heikes).
The Committee will review requests for academic bankruptcy, retroactive withdrawal, readmission, and probation.
The Committee will report the number of students reviewed and actions taken.
The Committee will review academic criteria for awarding scholarships and recommend changes as needed.
The Committee will look at a policy regarding the use of cell phone, blackberries, and other electronic devices during exams.
The Committee will look at a policy regarding grading posthumously.
1.4 Agenda for the September 7 Meeting was set.