Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

November 18, 2004

Number 3

1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:08 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels presiding.

All members were present except Senators Dholakia, Hicks, Jouaneh, R. Lee, W. Lee, Leo, Mandel, Manteiga, Melanson, Oviatt, and Suzawa; Vice President Beagle; Vice Provost McCray; Deans Farmer, Letendre, Mazze, Richmond and Taggart (Vice Provost Trubatch was represented by her designee); Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Lopes.

2. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #2, October 28, 2004. There were none.

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels 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 Boudreaux-Bartels announced that the RI Office of Higher Education would sponsor an all-day workshop on Student Learning Outcomes Assessment for faculty members at URI, RIC and CCRI on either January 10, or January 14, 2005. Dr. Peggy Maki, who is a national expert on Student Learning Outcomes Assessment, will serve as facilitator. You will be hearing more about the date, time and location of the workshop very soon.*

* See item 7
Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels reported that Dr. Jack Warner, Rhode Island's Commissioner for Higher Education, had agreed to speak to the Faculty Senate at the December 9 meeting. Commissioner Warner will talk about the importance of student outcomes assessment to higher education in Rhode Island. She said that he would provide examples of how outcomes assessment affects faculty in their role as teachers as well as how assessment impacts students.
Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels thanked Dean Joseph of the College of Nursing and Dean Letendre of the College of Pharmacy for graciously agreeing to sponsor a reception following the Faculty Senate meeting. She encouraged everyone to come to the University Club after the meeting.
Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels introduced Mr. Evan Duggan, a Student Senator, who announced the initiation of a USA Today Newspaper program that was being developed by the Student Senate and encouraged faculty members and department chairs to participate. He said that more information would be forthcoming and encouraged interested persons to call the Student Senate at 4-2261 for more details.

B. Vice Chairperson Rosen said that the minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #8 and #9 appeared on pages 3-7 of the Agenda. He asked if there were any questions.

Vice Chairperson Rosen and Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels responded to questions about the minutes.

C. Vice Chairperson Rosen announced that the minutes from the Joint Strategic Planning Committee's October 7, 2004 meeting appeared on pages 8-9 of the Agenda. He asked if there were any questions. There were none.

D. Senator Karen Ramsay reported on the results of the informal survey that the Executive Committee had distributed to academic and some administrative departments on campus. She and Senator Kowalski responded to questions about the data collection and plans to follow-up in the future.

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels thanked Senators Ramsay and Kowalski for the time and energy they had devoted to the project, especially in a very limited time frame.

After discussion, the Senate moved to the next item of business.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A. President Carothers noted that no actions from the previous meeting had been reported in time for the meeting.

B. President Carothers expressed his appreciation to everyone on the faculty, staff and in the University community who had worked so successfully on the Bond referendum to obtain $85,000,000 of the $91,000,000 dollars on the ballot. He also thanked everyone for their roles in generating such a positive perception of the University to the state.

The President responded to questions from members of the Senate on the status of the AAUP Contract and the standing of statewide negotiations between the unions and the Governor's representatives on health benefits.

President Carothers wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving Holiday and then introduced Vice President Weygand for the State of the Budget Address.

C. Vice President Weygand presented the State of the Budget address for the 2004-05 academic year using a series of slides prepared by Ms. Barrett's staff in the Budget Office. He expressed his appreciation to Ms. Barrett, who was unable to attend that afternoon's Faculty Senate meeting (These slides are available on the web at http://www.uri.edu/facsen/FY05_BudPresent_FS.pdf).

Vice President Weygand responded to questions during and immediately following the presentation.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Dean Pasquerella presented the Curricular Report No. 2004-05-2 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which appeared on pages 10-11 of the Agenda.

Dean Pasquerella said that section I of the report was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Dean Pasquerella announced that Section II of the report required confirmation by the Faculty Senate.

Senator Kowalski moved approval of Section II. The motion carried.

B. Senator Jackson introduced the University College and General Education Committee Report #2004-005-2, which appeared on page 12 of the Agenda.

He then moved approval of the UCGE Committee's Report. The motion carried.

6. SPECIAL REPORT

Vice President Weygand presented an update on the Capital Improvement Plan for URI using a series of slides (These slides are available on the web at http://www.uri.edu/facsen/CIP_11-18-04.pdf).

Vice President Weygand responded to questions during and immediately following the slide presentation.

7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels said that she had received a note updating her original announcement of the workshop on Student Learning Outcomes Assessment for faculty members at URI, RIC and CCRI. She reported that the date of January 10, 2005 had been confirmed for the workshop and it would held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Warwick. She said that the exact location had yet to be determined.

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels asked if there was any further unfinished business. There was none.

8. NEW BUSINESS

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels asked if there was any new business. There was none.

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels invited everyone to the reception at the University Club sponsored by Deans Joseph and Letendre.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Black Grubman