Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

December 20, 2007

Number 4

1. Immediately following a meeting of the General Faculty-Graduate Faculty, the postponed regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 9:04 a.m. in the auditorium of the Biological Sciences Building, Chairperson Miller presiding.

All members were present except Senators Betensky, Caines, Cunnigen, Danis, Echevarria, Flannery-Schroeder, Forrester, Gerber, Hara, Hazera, Honhart, Hutt, Izenstark, Juda, Kass-Simon, Kaufman, King, Kook, R. Lee, Leo, McCurdy, Nassersharif, O'Brien, Ordonez, Rothstein, Sodhi, Sun, Taggart and Vetter; Vice Presidents Beagle and Weygand; Vice Provost McCray; Deans Farmer, Higgins, Jordon, Maslyn, and Wright; Ms. Fry and Mr. Leston.

2. Chairperson Miller asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #2, October 25, 2007. There were none.

Chairperson Miller ruled that in the absence of additions or corrections, the Minutes were approved as distributed.

3. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Announcements

Chairperson Miller thanked everyone for attending the rescheduled 4th Meeting of the Faculty Senate.
Chairperson Miller announced that Vice President Weygand could not attend the meeting that morning. He said that the Budget Address would be presented at the January 31 Faculty Senate meeting.
Chairperson Miller introduced Vice Provost Pasquerella who had asked for the opportunity to speak to the Faculty Senate regarding academic integrity at URI.

Vice Provost Pasquerella noted that she had asked for the opportunity to speak to the Senate in order to urge that faculty members report instances of cheating and plagiarism whenever they occur in their classes. She said that by not reporting them, some students have been able to move through their courses having cheated on several occasions without ever facing any real consequences for their behavior.
Chairperson Miller reported that he had been asked by Assistant Vice President Vern Wyman to inform everyone about URI EmergencyALERT. He said that the new web-based system allows quick news and instructions to be sent to all members of the University community in the event of an emergency. Emergency notices will be sent simultaneously via voicemail, text messaging and email to the entire student, faculty and staff population within minutes.

He noted that the system would also be used to provide immediate notification of class cancellation(s) in the event of weather events, such as severe snowstorms.

Chairperson Miller said that the effectiveness of this system depends upon providing up-to-date personal contact information. He asked that faculty register cell phone numbers, as well as other emergency contact information, so that University officials can communicate with you wherever you happen to be. He said that Mr. Wyman requests that everyone take a few minutes to register or update his/her contact information on e-campus.

B. Ms. Grubman said that the Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #7 through #12 appeared on pages 3-20 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions.

Discussion ensued during which Chairperson Miller and President Carothers responded to questions about the Executive Committee minutes.

C. Ms. Grubman said that the Minutes of the October 4 and the November 1, 2007 meetings of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee appeared on pages 21-22 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A. President Carothers noted that as reported on the Agenda, he had approved all of the legislation that had been forwarded to him after the October 25 Faculty Senate Meeting.

B. President Carothers expressed his appreciation to Provost Swan for guiding the University through the NEASC Accreditation. He said that the university had corrected factual items in the draft report and expected the final version shortly. He said that once the final version of the Accreditation document was received, it would be distributed widely.

The President then responded to questions regarding the newly appointed Provost, the proposed research park, the capital campaign, the search for the Dean of Pharmacy and his plans for the coming year.

C. In the absence of Vice President Weygand, President Carothers gave a brief overview of the University's budget at mid-year and responded to questions from the floor.

President Carothers closed his remarks by wishing everyone a happy holiday season.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Chairperson Miller announced that Vice Provost Pasquerella was not only the chair of the Graduate Council, she was a member of the Curricular Affairs Committee. He said that in both of these capacities, she would present all of the curricular reports on the Agenda

A. Vice Provost Pasquerella said that the Four Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee appeared on pages 23-28 of the Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Section II required confirmation and moved approval of Section II. The motion carried.

Vice Provost Pasquerella announced that Section III was a joint report of the Curricular Affairs Committee and Graduate Council on 400-level courses and on courses for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She said that part A was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that part B required approval. She then corrected B, 2 on page 28, item 2) by stating that the effective date should be "fall 2009" and the first course to be deleted was "PHP 514 Pharmacology of Cardiovascular and Renal Disorders," not PHP 414.

Vice Provost Pasquerella then moved approval of part B as corrected. The motion carried.

B. Vice Provost Pasquerella said that the Four Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee: Proposal for a School of Communication appeared on pages 29-38. She said that Section I was informational. There were no questions.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said Section II required approval and moved approval of Section II.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, the motion carried.

C. Vice Provost Pasquerella said that the Four Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee appeared on pages 39-41 of the Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Section II required confirmation and moved approval of Section II. The motion carried.

Vice Provost Pasquerella announced that Section III was a joint report of the Curricular Affairs Committee and Graduate Council on 400-level courses. She said that part A was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that part B required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval of part B. The motion carried.

D. Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Curricular Report No. 2007-08-1 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate appeared on pages 44-45 of the Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried.

E. Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Curricular Report No. 2007-08-2 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate appeared on pages 46-48 of the Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Pasquerella said that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried.