NUMBER 7

Faculty Senate

MINUTES

Faculty Senate Meeting

March 22, 2001

Prior to the call to order, Chairperson Peters introduced Michael Jordan, the new President of the Student Senate, and Danielle LaChance the new Vice President of the Student Senate. Chairperson Peters explained that he was introducing the new Student Senate officers at that time so Mr. Jordan could attend a class.

1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:20 p.m. in room 113 White Hall, Chairperson Peters presiding.

All members were present except Senators Arakelian, Armstrong, Boyle, Burbank, Carroll, Felner, Finizio, Grilli, Hebert, Hedderich, Karow, Malik, McNab, Mitra, Rosen, Specker, Sullivan, Wang, Young and Zhang; Vice Presidents Beagle and Stark; Deans Gandel, Luzzi, Mazze, Richmond, Taggart, and Yoder (Vice Provost Trubatch, Deans Brownell and Kim; the Dean of the Feinstein College of Continuing Education and the Registrar were represented by their designees); Mr. DeMaria.

2. A motion was made to approve the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #6, February 22, 2001.

Chairperson Peters asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes. There were none.

The motion to approve the Minutes of Meeting #6 carried.

3. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A.Chairperson Peters reminded the Senate of Senator Rosen's request that the Executive Committee to consider ways to develop a strategy to promote the University of Rhode Island's importance to the state as a research university. He announced that as a follow-up to that request, Vice Provost Janett Trubatch has agreed to report to the Senate in April on her efforts to obtain an EPSCoR designation for Rhode Island. He said that EPSCoR stands for Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, noting that Vice Provost Trubatch would elaborate further.

B. Vice Chairperson Goldsmith said that the Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #18 through #20 appeared on pages 3-10 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A.President Carothers said that he had approved all of the legislation forwarded to him after the last two Faculty Senate meetings. He said he had supported Resolution #00-01--6 and that his written response to Resolution #00-01--5 appeared on page 11 of the Agenda.

B. President Carothers reported on the status of the University's Budget. He explained that if the University receives all of the expected funding, the money would support no more than the current service level. He noted that, in addition to rising energy costs, the University has been assessed a higher rate in benefit expenses without the funds to cover it, He said that this was a result of severance benefits higher than expected paid to employees in other state agencies.

The President reviewed the status of the renovations to the residence halls and dining halls. He said that for the first time the Board is willing to consider third party financing of housing on University land. He explained that the University hopes that this would provide additional housing on campus that would be built and maintained by private sources.

President Carothers reported on articles that had appeared in that morning's edition of the Providence Journal. He explained that one article had criticized the University for not adequately funding the basketball program. The President noted that the argument of inadequate funding could just as easily be made for the University's academic programs. President Carothers noted that the second article had criticized him for his public position with regard to the culture of intercollegiate athletics and the role of the AAU in developing that culture. He reiterated that criticism and suggested the need to promote a public discussion of these issues.

In response to a request from the Executive Committee, President Carothers reported briefly on the status of the state "cap" on positions and the status of his plan to impose internal "caps" on positions within the various divisions of the University. He indicated that he would not move forward with any such plan until the current legislative session had concluded.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A.Senator Hickox presented the Three Hundred and Ninety-Third Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee, which appeared on pages 12-16 of the Agenda. He said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Senator Hickox said that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and corrected item A, 1, b. by adding "effective after June 2002, for the deletion of BIO 112, 113. He moved approval. The motion carried.

Senator Hickox said that Section III was a joint report of the Curricular Affairs Committee and Graduate Council on 400-level courses. He noted that part A was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Senator Hickox announced that part B of Section III required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried.

B.Senator Hickox presented the Three Hundred and Ninety-Fourth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee: Proposal for a B.A. in Computer Science, which appeared on pages 17-27 of the Agenda.

Senator Hickox moved approval at the Class B level of the Bachelor of Arts Degree major in Computer Sciences. (Class B recommends that the program compete for resources on an equal basis with all other University activities.)

The motion carried.

C.Senator Hickox presented the Three Hundred and Ninety-Fifth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee: Proposal for a B.A. in Film and Screen Studies, which appeared on pages 28-37 of the Agenda.

Senator Hickox moved approval at the Class C level of the Bachelor of Arts Degree major in Film and Screen Studies. (Class C recommends that the program be funded should additional funds be made available to the University.)

The motion carried.

D. Dean Bibb presented Curricular Report No. 2000-01-7 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which appeared on pages 37-38 of the Agenda.

He said that the entire report required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried.

E.Professor Bide reported briefly on the progress of the UCGE Committee since the Faculty Senate approved the revisions to the General Education Program in January and amended it in February. He announced that working groups have been formed for the Social Sciences core area and the Foreign Language/Cross-cultural Competence core area.

The members of the Social Sciences working group are: Deborah Godfrey-Brown (convenor), Paul Arakelian, Leo Carroll, Larry Grebstein, Barbara Newman, Yngve Ramstad and Gerry Tyler.

The members of the Foreign Language/Cross-cultural Competence working group are: John Grandin (convenor), Dania Brandford-Calvo, David Gitlitz, Karen McCurdy, Joseph Morello, Rosa Maria Pegueros and Pamela Rohland.

Vice Provost Lord announced that the Provost's Office is developing workshops for faculty members who will propose courses for the Social Sciences core area. He also reported that a series of coffee hours will be held for faculty members who are interested in the new Foreign Language/Cross-cultural Competence core area.

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Chairperson Peters noted that there was no unfinished business.

7. NEW BUSINESS

Chairperson Peters asked if there was any new business. There was none.

A motion was made to adjourn. The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sheila Black Grubman

for ROBERT STROBEL,

Secretary