UAH FACULTY SENATE
PRESENT:
ADSC: Wren, Pendley
LBAR: Brown-Givens, Bollinger, Early, Meister, Waring, Martin, Wray, Wilkerson, Reeves, Neuschatz, Brunsma
ENG: Smith, Gaede, Pollock, Tippett, Karr
LIB: Moore
NUR: Redmon, Reisenwitz, Williamson
SCI: Johnson, George, Etzkorn, Hillman.
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
ADSC: Floyd
ENGR: Fork
LBAR: Enger
NUR: Stanfield
SCI: Li, Miller, Ng, Ravindran, Friedman
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
LBAR: Stewart
ENGR: Toutanji, Hawk
SCI: Christopher
0. President Stephen Waring called the meeting to order at 12:55 p.m.
1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #446 were approved with corrections. Motion by D. Pollock.
2. The Senate Executive Committee Reports were accepted.
3. President Franz’s Report:
No
Report.
4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:
Dr.
Radonovich acknowledged receipt of a document regarding promotional increases
for faculty. Dr. Radonovich reported he
and Dr. Franz will be discussing it and will need more time to respond. He stated it will likely be approved in some
form.
5. A. Senate Committee Reports:
1. Executive: The report was distributed with the minutes. The report was approved.
2. Faculty and Student
Development: No report. The Committee is providing the turnitin.com
presentation today.
3. Finance and Resources: No
Report.
4. Governance and Operations: No Report.
5. Personnel: Dr. Williamson
reported there will be a meeting next Thursday in the Nursing Building.
6. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr.
Karr reported the Committee is considering about a million course changes for
the new Catalog. He stated they plan to
get them done by next week.
7. Undergraduate Scholastic
Affairs: Dr. Smith reported the Committee met and considered four
applications for readmission.
He discussed the bankruptcy
policy and students working their way down a spiral. He discussed the bill regarding the course repeat deadline and
that this bill was modified and will be presented at the next Executive
Committee Meeting.
He stated the revised draft for
the AAT will be presented at the next Executive Committee Meeting.
B. University Committees: Dr. Waring
reported that Joan Williamson, Adriel Johnson, and he are serving on a
Committee established to insure compliance with the Title VI Knight vs. Alabama
court order. He stated the Senate would
work out ways to assist with achieving the goals in this area.
It was announced the Library
Committee will meet tomorrow, December 6, 2002.
It was announced the Graduate Curriculum Committee will meet
next week.
C. Officer Reports:
Parliamentarian: No Report.
Ombudsperson: No Report.
President-Elect: Dr. Hillman
reported he and Dr. Waring attended the ACUFP Meeting. There were discussions regarding ACHE. ACHE is looking for input about setting
directions and goals. Fifteen points
were passed for faculty meeting input onto the Board. Distance Learning was discussed.
President: Dr. Waring reported he attended the Board Meeting in Tuscaloosa last
month. Most of the issues were
regarding Tuscaloosa. There was a $34.6
Million request for administrative software.
There was a $38 million request for Alabama Athletics. Finances at UAH were approved. Restructuring and refinancing of old debt
was approved. Highbay purchase was
approved. Faculty of UA believe it is
too much of a party school. They want
to reduce binge drinking. UA wants
mandatory attendance in 100 level courses.
The faculty are resistant to this.
UA approved raises for faculty for this year and the money is not in the
budget. They are looking at
reallocations. They want the money to
come from central administration. They
may have to leave vacancies open. The
Student Representative from Tuscaloosa report they have spent much of the
year’s effort on access to grades and evaluations. They hired a contractor “Pick a Prof” used for compiling grade
distributions.
Past President: No Report.
6. Ms. Redmon introduced
Mr. Boyce and gave the reason for the presentation.
Mr. Joel Boyce, a graduate student in Liberal Arts, gave a presentation
of “turnitin.com”. It was discussed that plagiarism is a
problem that needs to be addressed.
Joel stated the turnitin.com site has student tools and educator
tools. It defines plagiarism and
provides resources. It helps the
educator teach on plagiarism. It gives
tips for assignments. It discourages
plagiarism. The teacher or student may
submit the paper. The individual
receives an originality report within 24 hours. They also receive a similarity index report. There are direct source comparisons. A peer comparison can be created. You can check on the submission. The inbox is similar to the email. The files are similar to email folders. There are pull down menus. There is a list of students enrolled, when
they submitted papers and how often they have submitted them. It also gives the student a receipt. You can submit in any form. Turnitin color-codes the similarities. It searches through the database for
previously uploaded papers. The pros
are that it is an educational device. It
is a deterrent against plagiarism.
Educators and students can use it.
It provides information. The cons are that it is a punitive device. The criteria for evaluation of submission
may be confusing and subjective. It
does not evaluate non internal. Small
sections of sentences may be incorrectly identified. All teachers must participate in order for the database to be
effective. The web site does not search
all web pages. Larger issues. How training for students and teachers. To what extent can students be assured
teachers will use the web site fairly.
How much authority will be invested in the technology. Is the diagnosis of the web site the final
word?
Joel stated his should have student involvement before a decision is
made. Dr. Waring disagrees. Dr. Waring
also disagrees with the thinking that there is a gap in the academic misconduct
process. Dr. Waring took a straw poll of how many
faculty thought their department would use this and how many faculty thought
they would use it if it were available.
Several thought their departments would use it and many thought they, as
individuals would use it.
7. President Waring adjourned the meeting at 2:15 p.m.