MINUTES

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting 31 – March 4, 2011

1. The meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. on Friday ,March 4, 2011 in the President's Conference Room in Green Hall, Chairperson Eaton presiding. All members were present.

2. The Minutes from Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting #29, February 18, 2011 were approved pending review by President Dooley of portions on his meeting with the FSEC.

3. Announcements/Correspondence:

a. Chairperson Eaton and Senators Barbour, Ciccomascolo, and Honhart brought Vice Chairperson Larson and Senator Krieger up-to-date on the second half of Meeting #30, which was held on Wednesday, March 2.

b. Members of the FSEC were reminded that their meeting with the AAUP Executive Committee would be held on Thursday, March 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the AAUP Conference Room, Green Hall.

c. Vice Chairperson Larsen said that faculty from the University Library were concerned about Vice President Weygand’s report with regard to Library funding, which they felt was somewhat misleading.

The FSEC asked Ms. Grubman to contact Dean Maslyn and suggest that the Dean ask Vice President Weygand to clarify his slide on the Library before the Power Point of his budget Address is made public.

d. Ms. Grubman reported that Senate Bill #10-11—17 “Report #2010-11-2 from the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee: Spring 2011” 
had been approved by President Dooley on March 1.

e. Ms. Grubman reported that she had contacted all of the College Deans about election of Senators for 2011-12 and had included in those letters she sent to Colleges scheduled for election of Senators the following paragraph:

Since questions were raised earlier this year about the Senator election process, I have been asked by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee to remind all deans of two sections of the Faculty Senate By-Laws. Section 2.3 of the Senate By-Laws provides that new Senators shall be elected by secret ballot in accordance with such procedures, as the faculty of each college shall establish. In addition, Section 2.4 states that “the dean of each college or school shall provide the Secretary of the Senate with a complete description of the election procedures established by his/her faculty. Any proposed changes in this procedure shall be reported to the Secretary of the Senate before they are put into effect.”

Chairperson Eaton asked Ms. Grubman to forward a copy of the statement to Professor Nassersharif who had raised the concern earlier in the academic year.

f. The Executive Committee discussed the invitation they had received from Provost DeHayes to attend the open Council of Deans’ budget presentations on March 23. At least three members of the FSEC said that they plan to attend.

Chairperson Eaton said she would inform Provost DeHayes about who will be attending the Budget meeting and thank him for remembering the request they had made in November.

4. The Executive Committee discussed their meeting with Provost DeHayes on February 25 and subsequent progress on the issues:

a. Online Instruction: Senator Ciccomascolo reported on the draft charge and membership of the proposed new Joint Committee on Online Learning and Technology and said she expected the proposal would be ready in time for the March 31 Faculty Senate Meeting.

b. Syllabi: It was noted that progress was being made with regard to the Provost’s request for help in encouraging faculty to provide more detailed syllabi for their courses and the CAC had been contacted about the committee’s possible role in helping develop a rubric for good syllabi.

c. Advising Steering Committee: The Executive Committee discussed the draft membership for an advising steering committee which had been proposed by Provost DeHayes at their meeting and agreed to suggest additional names of potential members.

5. The Executive Committee discussed scheduling reports for the remaining spring Faculty Senate Meetings:

a. Ms. Black Grubman reported that the Constitution, By-Laws and University Manual Committee would have an informational report for the Faculty Senate on March 31. In addition, Senator Ciccomascolo said that she expected the draft charge and membership for the Joint Online and Technology Committee to be ready for the March meeting and Ms. Grubman said that Senator Hicks planned to present an informational report on General Education to the Faculty Senate for discussion at that meeting as well.

b. Chairperson Eaton said that Provost DeHayes planned prepare a report on JJCAP for May, in conjunction Vice Chairperson Larsen. Chairperson Eaton reported that Senator Gale Eaton expected to present a Library Committee Report at the May 12 meeting.

c. Chairperson Eaton said that she would confirm with Vice Provost Libutti a date for his report to the Faculty Senate on enrollment issues.

d. It was further agreed to ask Professor DiCioccio to provide the Senate with a report on the Grand Challenges Pilot in March or April if possible.

6. The Executive Committee considered the following matters of continuing concern:

a. Drop Period Legislation; Senator Krieger said that he had contacted Professor DiCioccio about a revised proposal on the drop period as discussed at their February 25 meeting and my e-mail. He reported that Professor DiCioccio said she would share the Executive Committee’s compromise proposal with the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee.

b.    Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes:  Senator Barbour reported that in response to its charge, LOOC has approved and is recommending to the FSEC an assessment process for new program proposals in order to meet OHE student learning outcomes expectations.   A standardized LOOC form, identifying learning outcomes and an assessment plan will be completed by the proposers with the assistance of SLOAA and approved by LOOC.   This form, currently under development, will be part of the new program proposal package considered by OHE.   

Senator Barbour also reported that LOOC and SLOAA were establishing time-lines for the next cycle of undergraduate programs' learning outcomes assessment reports, ensuring that all programs would achieve appropriate reporting expected from NEASC for the 5-year report.

c. Support for Faculty Service: The Executive Committee discussed a report to the Faculty Senate about the importance in faculty service in university governance and discussed ways to award faculty whose service be underappreciated and unrecognized. It was agreed that the recommendations regarding acknowledging the value of service would be on their agenda with the AAUP.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sheila Black Grubman