����������������������������������������������� ����������������������� FACULTY SENATE MINUTES #9
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The ninth
meeting of the Faculty Senate 2008�2009 was called to order by Chair William
Buxton on
SENATORS AND MEMBERS PRESENT:� B. Buxton, K. Lawrence, J. Duncan, J. Shedd,
I. Jubran, D. Miller, T. Phillips, J. Reese, J. Walkuski,
J.
Governali, J. Hendrick, A. Dahlman, D. Harrington, T. Vigars, E. McCabe, S.
Snell, M. Dwyer, M. Rainsford, A. Rossi, M. Prus, R. Franco, G. Sharer, R.
Kendrick, S. Anderson, T. Phillips
SENATORS AND MEMBERS ABSENT:� N. Helsper, H. Botwinick, D. West, O. White,
J. Rayle, B. Langhans, T. Slack, D. Videto, M. Ware,
E.
Bitterbaum, R. Franco, W. Shaut, R. Collings�
GUESTS PRESENT: J. Mosher, D. Ritchie, M. Kelly
I� APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES: �The minutes were approved from February 3, 2009.
There was a question from the floor regarding the format of the minutes and a
response from the chair.
II.�
SENATE ACTIONS:
��
The Faculty
Senate voted on the LRPC Proposal amendment to item �III Proposed Procedures
to be Used by the LRPC (for approval by Faculty������ Senate): item a, line 4, �This will
be accomplished through a web-based survey and will be reflective of the new
SUNY Cortland Mission Statement,
if
possible.
(Approved).� {SEE Appendix
2)
�������� �
The
Faculty Senate voted on the LRPC Proposal, item�III, Proposed Procedures to
be Used by the LRPC (for approval by Faculty Senate) as amended� (Approved)
{SEE Appendix 2)
��
III.� CHAIR�S
REPORT: ��
Chair Buxton opened the
meeting by reporting that J. Walkuski has resigned as chair of the Faculty
Affairs Committee and R. Collings has been elected to replace him.� The next item of business was a report that
in an effort to improve communication with the college community and promote
transparency of actions, committees are urged to announce their meeting times
to the campus community in a timely manner and, if possible, general topics of
discussion for that meeting. The chair announced that this can be done by
sending an announcement to the Faculty Senate secretary, Barbara Kissel, who
will forward the announcements to the Faculty Senate listserv. Chair Buxton
indicated he is making that request with the recognition that committee work is
time consuming and it is sometimes difficult for committee chairs to make
agendas very much in advance of meeting times. Buxton reported that efforts on
the part of committees to let the general public know of their meetings and
topics will be appreciated.� There was a
suggestion from the floor that a timeframe be established and e-mail
announcements be sent out on a specified basis weekly.� The chair indicated that the details will be
worked out once the faculty senate committee meeting times are established.
The third item of
business is that the ad hoc committee to make recommendations for a
professional affairs committee will hold their first meeting this Thursday. He
reported that elections are complete and he has been invited to attend to
provide some continuity to the meeting in terms of how the Faculty Senate will
give them direction as how to proceed in the coming months.
IV. VICE CHAIR: �K. Lawrence � no report.
V. TREASURER�S REPORT:� J. Shedd � The Treasurer
reported there was $1751.00� in the
Senate treasury and that there was a good response to the call for dues. He
encouraged Senators to continue to pay their dues which help fund the Faculty
Senate Memorial Scholarship.
VI.�
SECRETARY�S REPORT: �K. Lawrence � no report.
VII.� PRESIDENT�S
REPORT: ��M. Prus gave a brief report in the absence of
President Bitterbaum..
VIII.�
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Student Affairs Committee �- T. Phillips � no
report.
Faculty Affairs Committee � R. Collings � No report
(absent)
Long-Range Planning Committee � C. Cirmo � No report (absent)
Educational
Policy Committee �
R. Kendrick, Chair � M. Kelly reported for R. Kendrick who was absent that the
EPC committee is currently working on reviewing the Curriculum Change Guide for
clarity.� Provost M. Prus mentioned the
need for clarification of the curriculum review process. In response to a
question from J. Governali regarding what would be the next course of action
after the EPC process, whether it would come back to the Faculty Senate and require
a faculty referendum, M. Kelly replied that she would check into it.
Student Affairs Committee � T. Phillips, Chair � no report.
College Research Committee � P. Ducey (absent) � no report.
General
Education Committee �
D. Miller, Chair ��� Chair Miller
reported that the GE Committee has completed reviews of proposals from each of
the following: SOC, WEST and EDU which will be forwarded with a recommendation
for approval to the Provost.� Chair
Miller also reported that the GE Committee is beginning its review of course
syllabi in selected categories. The committee is also working in preparation
for any end of semester assessments.
X. OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Committee
on Committees
-� J. Barry, Chair � No report.
XI.
AREA SENATOR�S REPORTS:�
No report.
XII.
SUNY SENATOR�S REPORT � M. Ware ��
SUNY Senator was unable to attend.�
Her report was not read, but is appended in full, including proceedings
from the Winter Session Plenary held in Morrisville February 5�7, three
resolutions emanating from that Plenary, along with an announcement regarding
the next Senate meeting at the University of Buffalo in April.� �(SEE
Appendix 1)
XIII. STUDENT SENATOR�S REPORTS: The Students gave a brief report.
XIV.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Old
Business concerning the LRPC Proposal outlining procedures for the period
2008-2010 was discussed. Item III from the handout �III Proposed Procedures
to be Used by the LRPC (for approval by Faculty Senate) was discussed in
full, voted on and approved.� {SEE Senate Actions and Appendix 2)
XV.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
Respectfully Submitted:
Barbara Kissel
Recording Secretary
The
following reports are appended to the minutes in the order they are submitted:
(1) SUNY Senator�s report; Resolutions
151-01-1 �Resolution on Assessment Streamlining�; 151-02-1 �Resolution on
Consultation and Collaboration; and 151-03-1 Resolution in Support of Graduate
Education, Research and Creative Activities, submitted by M. Ware
(2) LRPC Proposal
regarding procedures for the period 2008-2010 submitted by C. Cirmo, Chair.
APPENDIX 1
University Faculty Senator�s Preliminary Report
Winter Plenary� Feb
5-7, 2009 �
Due to family surgery, your faculty senator, Dr.
The Senate Plenary had informational sessions on the budget, the �retirement� service core�, service learning and an extended period for �sharing of concerns�.� The predominant topic of conversation was the budget � and in sharing of concerns we found that different campuses (even of our same type) were handling the budget cuts in markedly different ways.
On Saturday several resolutions were passed which will be appended to these Minutes of 2/17/2009.� In addition, committee reports (in which much of the work of the senate is accomplished) will be posted to the University Faculty Senate website within the week. Access to that site is via www. Suny.edu. Then search for �Faculty Senate�.
The next senate meeting will be held in early April at
University of Buffalo.� At that meeting
the new President of the Senate will be elected, as Carl Weizelis has completed
his two terms.� Nominees are Sandra
Michael of
Resolution on Assessment Streamlining
From the University Colleges
University Faculty Senate
Whereas the multiple layers of assessment
and accreditation in SUNY represent redundant efforts that have often become
counterproductive to teaching and learning, and
Whereas those assessments are a costly use
of faculty time and university resources; and,
Whereas those assessments represent a
significant and real cost to the State University of New York, draining money
from instruction and educational quality; and,
Whereas the UFS is committed to
accountability, with evaluations that are efficient, effective, and applicable;
Therefore be it resolved that:
The
University Faculty Senate recommends to the Provost that assessment be
streamlined to reduce the multiple layers that now exist in SUNY; and that
The Provost
should work with the University Faculty Senate in assessment streamlining.
151-01-1� Passed without Dissent
Resolution on Assessment Streamlining
February 7, 2009
Resolution on Consultation and Collaboration
From the University Colleges
University Faculty Senate
Whereas the University Faculty Senate
recognizes that the current financial crisis creates difficult choices for New
York State and the State University; and,
Whereas the University Faculty Senate knows
the current budget crisis is threatening the quality of public higher education
in New York State; and,
Whereas the University Faculty Senate
affirms our continued support for educational quality;
Therefore be it resolved that:
The
University Faculty Senate calls for transparency and appropriate consultation
between local administration and faculty governance prior to any major decision
concerning allocation of resources that affects educational quality and
curriculum.
151-02-1� Passed without Dissent
Resolution on Consultation and
Collaboration
February 7, 2009
Resolution in Support of Graduate Education, Research and Creative
Activities
Morrisville Plenary Meeting
February 6, 2009
Whereas, the level of implemented
budget cuts substantially weaken the reputation and status of SUNY as an
institution of high quality graduate education, research and creative
activities by creating the potential for a serious loss of current faculty and
making the recruitment of new talent (faculty and graduate students) difficult
and by decreasing the ability of faculty to secure desperately needed external
funding, and
Whereas, the current budget cuts are
so severe that they will undermine New York State�s investment in its future by
making it more difficult for graduate students to have access to the programs
they require, which will hamper their ability to both graduate in a timely
fashion and complete meaningful and productive research and also incurring
greater costs for their education, and
Whereas, the current financial
crisis that is gripping New York State and the nation, and which is likely to
continue for several years, will lead to increased unemployment that will
result in an increase in the numbers of citizens seeking to enhance existing
job skills by enrolling in SUNY graduate programs,
Therefore, be it resolved, that the
University Faculty Senate, as the representative body through which the faculty
and professional staff engage in the governance of the University, believes
that SUNY should not sustain the same percentage budget reductions as other
state agencies, and
Be it further resolved, that the
state publicly acknowledges the research activities of SUNY faculty and
graduate students as a significant investment in its future and as an engine of
economic productivity that New York State sorely needs, and
Be it further resolved, that the
faculty and academic and professional staff, who define the university, must be
preserved at all costs even during periods of budget shortfalls, and
Be it further resolved, that Governor Paterson and the Legislature should provide to SUNY sufficient funds in continuing years to maintain SUNY as one of the premier institutions of public graduate education and research in the country.
151-03-1� Passed without Dissent
Resolution in Support of Graduate Education, Research and Creative
Activities
February 7, 2009
APPENDIX 2
LRPC Proposal regarding
procedures for the period 2008-2010
Submitted by C. Cirmo, Chair,
LRPC Committee
�
To: William
Buxton, Chair,
�
Fr: Long-Range
Planning Committee
�
Re: Agenda Item
for February 2 meeting of the
�
Date:
�
We respectfully
request to be put on the agenda for the February 3 meeting of the
�
(I) Handbook Role
and Charge to the Long-Range Planning Committee
�
1. To consider
and recommend to the Senate matters related to current academic plans,
long-range planning, and other such matters designated to it by the Senate.
�
2. To determine
the procedure whereby faculty and student input is obtained regarding
long-range plans. The procedure developed shall be subject to approval by the
Senate, and to mandatory review every two years.
�
As a
�
(II) Clarification of the Role of the
LRPC
�
a) Determine common ideals as distilled and
synthesized from all available academic unit long-range or strategic plans,
mission, vision or other values statements. The LRPC will determine these
commonalities while keeping in mind the current (evolving) mission statement of
the college (a �bottom-up� process).
�
b) Discover, refine, and recommend components and
strategies for an academic long-range plan for the college. This reflects the
committee's elected representative base as a
�
c) Interpret and present (through qualitative
data analysis) collective faculty and student input about what is important for
long-range planning for the college.
�
(III) Proposed Procedures to be Used by
the LRPC (for approval by
�
a) Ask all academic units and departments to
either (i) prioritize and submit to the LRPC aspects of their academic-unit
long-range or strategic plans or statements, or (ii) if no formal plan or
statements exist, to submit a statement of prioritized strategic values or
issues agreed upon by the academic unit. This will be accomplished through a
web-based survey and will be reflective of the new SUNY Cortland Mission
Statement. This could include the use of an on-line forum (e.g., a �wiki�) or
other methods of input such as open forums and/or surveys.
�
(b) LRPC will present its findings and
recommendations to the
�
Current Long-Range Planning Committee
Membership: Chris Cirmo (chair)-mathematics/sciences; Diane Craft-professional
studies; Mel King-social/behavioral sciences;
http://www.cortland.edu/senate/minutes/0809min9.html