NUMBER 1
MINUTES
Faculty Senate Meeting
September 28, 2000
1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order
at 3:12 p.m. in room 113 White Hall, Chairperson Peters presiding.
All members were present except Senators Ariew, Armstrong, Boyle,
Hebert, Hickox, Koza, Krausse, Kulenovic, Ma, Schwartz and Specker;
Vice Presidents Beagle, McCray and Stark, Deans Crocker, Luzzi,
Mazze, O'Donnell, Richmond, Taggart and Yoder (Dean Kim was
represented by his designee) Mr. DeMaria.
Chairperson Peters welcomed the new Senate and introduced Dr.
Janett Trubatch, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, Research and
Outreach, who joined the University officially at the beginning of
the week. He also introduced a new Senator from the College of Arts
and Sciences, Senator William Bajcz from the Military Science
Department.
Chairperson Peters provided the Senate with an overview of issues
that the Executive Committee believes to be of major concern to the
Faculty Senate during 2000-01. He said that, in addition to the
report of the President's Commission on General Education, which is
expected to be forthcoming during the first week of October, there
would be a number of other matters before the Faculty Senate that are
of great interest to the faculty. He noted that committee
appointments have not been completed. Chairperson Peters urged
members of the Senate and other members of the faculty to participate
in these endeavors that are concerned with issues related to the
quality of academic life.
Chairperson Peters said that the major goal for the 2000-01
academic year is to reinvigorate the role of faculty governance at
the University and demonstrate that the Senate and the administration
are real partners rather than adversaries.
2. A motion was made to approve the Minutes of Faculty Senate
Meeting #10, May 11, 2000.
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 #10 carried.
3. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
A. There were no announcements at that time because
Chairperson Peters made his announcements at the very beginning of
the meeting.
B. Vice Chairperson Goldsmith said that the Minutes of the
1999-00 Executive Committee Meeting #25 and 2000-01 Executive
Committee Meetings #1 and #2 appeared on pages 3-8 of the Agenda. She
asked if there were any questions.
Vice Chairperson Goldsmith and Chairperson Peters responded to
questions about the minutes
C. Vice Chairperson Goldsmith made the following additions and
corrections to the list of committee appointments that appeared on
pages 9-14 of the Agenda:
On page 9 add Michael Vocino, LIB, (02) to the
Honors Program and Visiting Scholars Committee and Senators Paul
Arakelian, ENG, (01) and Murn Nippo, FAVS, (02), to the Library
Committee. Senator Nippo will be the chair.
On page 10, the Teaching Effectiveness and Facilities
Committee, correct the spelling of George deLodzia and add the name
of John Dunn, CBA, (02). Also correct the first name of the
representative from the College of Human Science and Services on the
Curricular Affairs Committee. He is James Agostinucci.
On page 11, add Gwenneth Rae, HDF, (02) to the CAC
Subcommittee on Prior Learning Assessment and Nedra Reynolds, ENG, to
the Subcommittee on Student Writing as the representative of the
Writing Program.
Vice Chairperson Goldsmith moved approval of the
Committee Appointments for
2000-01 corrected as of September 28, 2000. The motion carried.
D. Vice Chairperson Goldsmith announced that the Faculty Senate
Executive Committee will continue to monitor progress on improving
the general use classrooms. After a brief overview, she introduced
Registrar Strobel and Ms. Palm
Mr. Strobel reported on the establishment of Instructional Space
Advisory Group (ISAG) using a series of
slides.
Ms. Palm brought the Senate up-to-date on the Classroom
Management Team's efforts to improve general use classrooms during
the summer and early fall.
Mr. Strobel and Ms. Palm responded to questions from the floor.
E. Senator Rose presented the Annual Report of the University
Ombud for 1999-00, which appeared on pages 15-20 of the Agenda. Ms.
Rohland, Assistant Director of Student Life for Student Disability
Services gave a brief overview of the Disabilities Services mentor
effort under a grant from the United States Department of Education
that had been referred in the Ombud's Report.
After discussion, a motion was made to accept the Annual Report
of the University Ombud for 1999-00. The motion carried.
4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
President Carothers said he agreed with Chairperson
Peters about joint governance and he looked forward to working
productively with the Faculty Senate.
President Carothers introduced Dr. Suman Singha from the
University of Connecticut who will be on campus this year as an ACE
Fellow. He announced that the University had hired a new Director of
Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Robert Gillis,
in addition to Roxanne Grimes, the new Assistant Director. He also
announced that Dr. Richard Horn had been hired as Director of the
Transportation Center. The President also reported that William
Robinson and John Howell are Governor Almond's most recent
appointments to the Board of Governors.
The President brought the Faculty Senate up to date for plans to
renovate the residence halls and Ballentine and Green Halls. He said
that Jeanne Moore is organizing the University's efforts on behalf of
Bond Issue #4 and encouraged faculty to join her in efforts to get
the Bond Issue passed in November.
President Carothers reported on the status of efforts with regard
to the FTE cap and explained that the language of the legislation was
before the Speaker of the House for interpretation. He also noted
that the issue of firearms for campus police would be under
consideration by the legislature this year.
The President announced that the University's endowment is now
about 64 million dollars and noted that members of the URI community
had contributed $214,000 last year. He said that the URI Foundation
has provided the University with 4 million dollars for the current
year.
President Carothers said that Vice President Stark would present
the State of the Budget Address on October 26. He commented on the
effect technology is having on the University's budget and on the
financial drain resulting from campus parking. With regard to
parking, the President said that this is the year to give serious
consideration to instituting a fee for parking. He also noted that
auditors from the Board of Governors continue to review the
University's fiscal records.
President Carothers responded to questions about the auditors and
his memorandum on Resolution
#99-00--6. He explained that more information was needed about
the source for additional funding for the Library and Chairperson
Peters noted that the 2000-01 Library Committee would be asked to
pursue the issue.
President Carothers said that he needed more information about
the Waste Management Committee before he would be able to answer a
question regarding its status.
5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL
COMMITTEES
Dean Kulberg presented Curricular Report No.
2000-01-1 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which
appeared on pages 22-24 of the
Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there
were any questions. There were none.
Dean Kulberg said that Section II required confirmation by the
Faculty Senate. She corrected page 23 editorially and moved approval
of Section II. The motion carried.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chairperson Peters asked if there was any unfinished business.
There was none.
7. NEW BUSINESS
Chairperson Peters asked if there was any new business. There was
none.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Sheila Black Grubman
for ROBERT STROBEL,
Secretary