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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

February 23, 2006

Number 6

1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:12 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Rice presiding.

All members were present except Senators Barbour, Beauvais, Carroll, Conley, Cunnigen, Dholakia, Ginis, Grigalunas, Hara, Koske, Kowalski, Krajeski, Lee, Melanson, Pegueros, G. Ramsay, Rossby, Roworth, Shim, Thiem and Yu; President Carothers; Vice Presidents Beagle, Dougan and Weygand; Vice Provost Swift (Vice Provosts McCray and Pasquerella were represented by their designees); Deans Mazze, Nassersharif and Richmond (Dean Farmer was represented by his designee); Mr. Freeman and Mr. Mills.

2. Chairperson Rice asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #5, January 26, 2006. There were none.

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

3. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Announcements:

  1. Chairperson Rice reminded the Senate that during the previous academic year the Faculty Senate adopted a resolution in opposition to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the U.S. Military and encouraged the President to work with Rhode Island's legislative delegation to repeal the legislation. He said that the resolution has been used as a model for resolutions in other universities, and in keeping with the spirit of the resolution, the Call to Duty Tour is scheduled to discuss the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that evening at 7:00 p.m. in Edwards Auditorium. He said that the program was sponsored by the President's Office, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Political Science department, the GLBT Center, and the Multicultural Center.

  2. Chairperson Rice announced that the American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life" is coming back to campus on April 21-22 (6 p.m.-noon). He said that the coordinators of the event are asking faculty to participate along with the students. They would like to have at least 2 teams of 10 faculty members register for the event. He said that registration ends on March 28.

    Chairperson Rice noted that flyers on the "Relay for Life" were available in the front of the auditorium.

  3. Chairperson Rice said that Vice President for University Advancement Bob Beagle had graciously agreed to sponsor the reception that afternoon. He thanked Vice President Beagle on behalf of the Senate and encouraged everyone to meet at the University Club immediately following the Faculty Senate meeting.

B. Vice Chairperson Martin said that the Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #18, #19, #20 and #21 appeared on pages 3-17 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions.

Provost Swan, Chairperson Rice and Vice Chairperson Martin responded to questions about the Minutes.

C. Vice Chairperson Martin said that The Minutes of the December 15, 2005 meeting of the JSCP appeared on page 18 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

D. Dean Beckman announced that Senator Kowalski was not able to attend the Faculty Senate meeting. As Co-Chair, with Senator Kowalski, of the NEASC Accreditation Self-Study she brought the Faculty Senate up to date on URI's activities in preparation for the NEASC Accreditation Self-Study and responded to questions from the Floor.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

Provost Swan announced that she would present the President's Report because President Carothers was participating in fundraising in anticipation of the University's upcoming Capital Campaign.

A. Provost Swan reported that, as noted on the Agenda, the President had approved all of the legislation forwarded to him after the last Faculty Senate meeting.

B. Provost Swan reported that the Proposal for a Ph.D. in Computer Science, which had been approved by the Faculty Senate and President Carothers last spring, has been approved by the Board of Governors' Committee on Academic and Student Affairs and will be on the Agenda for the March 6 meeting of the full Board.

Provost Swan announced that Dr. James Lynch, Dean of Admissions, had resigned as of March 17. She said that the Office of Admissions was in the capable hands of Assistant Deans Ms. Cynthia Bonn and Ms. Joanne Hood.

The Provost announced that Mr. Christopher Wessells, former Interim Vice Provost for Information and Dean of University Libraries has left the University for a permanent position in California. She said that Mr. David Porter had been named Interim Vice Provost and Professor David Maslyn will be Interim Director of University Libraries until the new Vice Provost and the new Dean of University Libraries arrive.

Provost Swan reported that the Governor had invited URI to share in the budget cut for the current fiscal year and as a result there was a hiring freeze in effect for positions that weren't vital to health and safety.

In response to a question from the Senate, the Provost said that searches for faculty positions for the 2006-2007 academic year were continuing. She said that eight new faculty members have been appointed so far.

Provost Swan then responded to additional questions from the Senate.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Senator Luebke moved approval of the Four Hundred Thirty-Ninth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee: Proposal to Establish a Department of Physical Therapy which appeared on pages 19-22 of the Agenda. The motion carried.

B. Senator Luebke introduced the Four Hundred Fortieth Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee, which appeared on pages 23-33 of the Agenda, and made a series of editorial corrections to the printed report.

She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions about Section I. There were none.

Senator Luebke announced that Section II required confirmation and moved approval of Section II.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Jackson moved that Section II, items C, 1. c and C, 3 be removed from the report pending clarification.

After discussion, the motion carried.

Following discussion, the motion to approve Section II without items C, 1. c and C, 3, was approved.

Senator Luebke said that Section III was a joint report of the Curricular Affairs Committee and Graduate Council on 400-level courses. She said that part A of Section III was informational and asked if there were any questions.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Luebke said that part B of Section III required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval of part B. The motion carried.

C. In Vice Provost Pasquerella's absence, Dean Beckman announced that the Curricular Report No. 2005-06-5 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate appeared on pages 34-36 of the Agenda. She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Dean Beckman said that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval of Section II. The motion carried

D. Professor Honhart moved approval of the University College and General Education Committee Report #2005-06-2, which appeared on page 37 of the Agenda. The motion carried.

E. Professor Loy moved approval of the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee Report #2005-06-1: Proposed Modification to Calendar for Spring 2009, which appeared on page 38 of the Agenda.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Wortman moved to refer the calendar back to committee.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, the motion to refer to committee carried.

F. Professor Loy moved approval of the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee Report #2005-06-2: Proposed Calendars for Summer 2007 and Summer 2008, which appeared on page 39 of the Agenda. The motion carried.

G. Professor Loy moved approval of the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee Report #2005-06-3: Proposed Calendar for 2011-2012, which appeared on pages 40-41 of the Agenda.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, a motion was made to refer the report to committee.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion the motion to refer to committee carried.

H. Senator Wenisch introduced the Report of the Constitution, By-Laws and University Manual Committee #05-06-2, which appeared on page 42 of the Agenda and moved approval of the following changes to the UNIVERSITY MANUAL:

  • Rename section 8.85.30 Classification:

    8.85.30 Classification of Programs for which new funding is required...

  • Add new section 8.85.31

    8.85.31 Programs for which no new funding is required. When the proponents of a new program, including a certificate program, assert that the new venture can be administered entirely with existing funds, the proposal shall include a five-year plan demonstrating that existing funds are sufficient for carrying the program. Prior to that plan being presented to the Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee or the Graduate Council, it shall be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department(s) and college(s) whose participation is necessary for the program to be offered successfully. The plan shall also include a Budget Office review. No classification under 8.85.30 is required.

    Discussion ensued.

    Following discussion, the motion carried

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Chairperson Rice asked if there was any unfinished business. There was none.

7. NEW BUSINESS

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

Chairperson Rice invited everyone across the street at the University Club for the reception sponsored by Vice President Beagle.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Black Grubman