Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

September 22, 2005

Number 1

1. Immediately following a meeting of the General Faculty-Graduate Faculty, the regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:10 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Rice presiding.

All members were present except Senators Dicioccio, Dunn, Ferszt, Hara, Kogut, Koske, Lauzon-Clabo, Manfredi, Melanson, Miller, Rossby, Sun, Suzawa and Wang; Vice President Beagle; Vice Provost McCray; Deans Farmer, Joseph, Letendre, Lynch, Mazze, McKinney, and Wessells (Vice Provost Pasquerella and Dean Seemann were represented by their designees). Mr. Freeman, Mr. Mills.

2. Chairperson Rice asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #9, May 12, 2005 or the Special Faculty Senate Meeting of July 14, 2005. 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:

Chairperson Rice welcomed the Senate back for the 2005-06 academic year and introduced the following new Senators:
- Senator Rae Ferguson who is replacing Senator Joelle Rollo-Koster for the fall semester;
- Senator Kathleen Torrens who is replacing Senator Sharon Strom for the 05-06 academic year; and
- Senator Ruby Dholakia who is filling a vacancy for the College of Business Administration.
Chairperson Rice announced that in addition to new Senators, there are three new ex officio members of the Faculty Senate this year:
- Lynn Pasquerella, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Research;
- James Lynch, Dean of Admissions; and
- Matt Freeman, President of the Graduate Student Association.
Chairperson Rice then welcomed Susan Roush who is serving as Special Assistant to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs."

Chairperson Rice introduced the members of the 2005-06 Executive Committee: Vice Chairperson Celest Martin and Senators Marilyn Barbour, James Kowalski, Barbara Luebke and Karen Ramsay.
Chairperson Rice reminded members of the Faculty Senate that the Senate's authority is derived from section 16.32.10 of the laws of the State of Rhode Island and was delegated by the General Faculty in 1960 to serve as the committee of the faculty that with the concurrence of the President, has the authority "to formulate policy concerning teaching and research, study, exercise, discipline and government: for example, and without excluding others not listed, academic standards (scholastic standing, admission and dismissal policy, class attendance, grading systems, etc.), the University calendar, University-wide curriculum matters both graduate and undergraduate, and research and patent policy as they may affect the faculty as a whole."

Chairperson Rice said that the goals that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee has developed for the upcoming year are identified in his September 15, 2005 letter (http://www.uri.edu/facsen/Chair_Welcome_05-06.html). He then elaborated on the goals using a series of slides.
Chairperson Rice announced that there would be a special Faculty Senate Meeting on September 29, 2005 for a report on the Academic Investment and Improvement Model (AIIM). He said that Senator Boudreaux-Bartels who worked all last year and through the summer on behalf of the Senate would present the report. He encouraged all Senators to attend the informational meeting and to bring their colleagues as well.

Chairperson Rice then invited President Carothers and Provost Swan to address the Senate on the background for the development of the AIIM and plans for its use. (See http://www.uri.edu/facsen/AIIM_Home.html for link to pdf version of the September 22, 2005 Letter from President Carothers and Provost Swan to all departments on the AIIM.)
Chairperson Rice announced that URI's formal response to Hurricane Katrina is an all-out effort through the Clearing House for Volunteers to raise $70,000 for the student chapter of Habitat of Humanity to help build a home in the Gulf region during spring break. He explained that groups are being asked to conduct fundraising efforts in behalf of the project and said that if anyone on the Senate has suggestions for what we can do as a body, they should contact Vice Chairperson Martin or Ms. Grubman.
Chairperson Rice reminded the Senate that the following week, September 26 -30 is the 9th annual Diversity Week at URI and encouraged everyone to attend some of this wide variety of programs.
Chairperson Rice explained that the Senate would not have its own reception that afternoon and encouraged everyone to attend the reception in celebration of women at the University Club sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women and the Association for Professional and Academic Women.

B. Vice Chairperson Martin said that the minutes of the 2004-05 Executive Committee Meetings #29, #30, #31, #32 and #33 and 2005-06 Executive Committee Meetings #1, #2, and #3 appeared on pages 4-35 of the Agenda. She asked if there were any questions.

Vice Chairperson Martin and Chairperson Rice responded to questions about the Executive Committee minutes.

Following discussion, Senator Barbour moved that the Faculty Senate formally consider the revised mission statement which was approved by the JSPC on September 8 at the October 20, 2005 meeting:

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND MISSION
The University of Rhode Island is the State's public learner-centered research university. We are a community joined in a common quest for knowledge. The University is committed to enriching the lives of its students through its land, sea, and urban grant traditions. URI is the only public institution in Rhode Island offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the distinctive educational opportunities of a major research university. Our undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, research, and outreach serve Rhode Island and beyond. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are united in one common purpose: to learn and lead together. Embracing Rhode Island's heritage of independent thought, we value:

Creativity and Scholarship

Diversity, Fairness, and Respect

Engaged Learning and Civic Involvement

Intellectual and Ethical Leadership

The motion carried.

C. Vice Chairperson Martin said that the Minutes of JSPC meetings from March through August 2005 appeared on pages 36-43 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

D. Recommendations of the Executive Committee.

Vice Chairperson Martin announced that committee appointments for the 2005-05 academic year appeared on pages 44-51 of the Agenda. She moved approval of the committee appointments with the addition on page 48 of Norma Owens, PHP as the Provost's appointee to the Competitive Grant Advisory Committee. The motion carried.
Vice Chairperson Martin introduced the report of the Executive Committee on Changes to the UNIVERSITY MANUAL, which appeared on pages 52-54 of the Agenda.

a) Vice Chairperson Martin moved approval of the following new sections 5.83.10, 5.83.11 and 5.83.12 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL:

5.83.10 The Providence Campus Undergraduate Initiative Committee shall oversee undergraduate programs offered on the Providence Campus to students admitted under the provisions of section 8.88.10. The committee shall provide advice and support to the Vice Provost for Urban Programs and the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs during the initial stage of the initiative. After the establishment phase, the committee shall review the initiative every 4 years. Specific degree programs will be reviewed every three years on a staggered basis in accordance with the University's current review policies.

5.83.11 The committee shall be comprised of the following members: one faculty member appointed by each department which offers an undergraduate program at the Providence Campus; three faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from departments that do not offer undergraduate programs; and a designee of each of the following: the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice Provost for Urban Programs, the Dean of University College and Special Academic Programs and the Dean of Admissions. Faculty members shall be appointed for three-year staggered terms. One of the Faculty Senate's appointees shall serve as chair.

5.83.12 The committee shall meet on a regular basis and report annually to the Faculty Senate through the Curricular Affairs Committee on the status of the overall Providence Campus initiative. Recommendations shall be forwarded to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee for appropriate action.

The motion carried.

b) Vice Chairperson Martin moved approval of the clarification to section 8.70.13 (change is underlined) and the addition of a new section 8.70.14:

8.70.13 Recommendations regarding rescheduling class days missed within an academic year as the result of natural calamity, work stoppage, etc. shall be the responsibility of the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee, whose proposals will be subject to the approval of the Faculty Senate.

8.70.14 With the exception of circumstances stated in 8.70.13, changes to the calendar shall not be considered within eighteen months prior to the beginning of a semester.

The motion carried.

E. Professor Emeritus Rose introduced the Annual Report of the University Ombud for 2004-05, which appeared on pages 55-57 of the Agenda. He reviewed some of the major issues identified in the report and announced that Mr. Thomas Hardiman had been appointed Student Assistant to the Ombud for 2005-06. Ombud Rose asked if there were any questions. There were none.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A. President Carothers announced, as indicated on the Agenda, that he had approved all of the Senate Bills that had been forwarded to him at the end of the 2004-05 academic year.

President Carothers thanked everyone for a successful opening to the 2005-06 academic year. He then thanked the URI AAUP for their leadership in successfully concluding contracts for the non-classified, non-faculty unions and non-union employees of the Board of Governors, as well as for members of the AAUP.

B. President Carothers announced that the JSPC would be working with him to develop a new strategic plan for 2007-2010, which he hoped would be ready by the summer of 2006. The President also reported that while the University had met its enrollment goals for the first two years of the 2003-06 plan, it had not been as successful for the current academic year. He noted that, although there had been an increase in highly qualifies in-state students, there was not a similar increase in out-of state students to meet the budget goals for 2005-06.

President Carothers emphasized that the entire university community should work towards improving recruitment and retention. He said that the University must continue to reduce the gap between what people can afford to pay and the financial aid they receive. He encouraged everyone to support the new Dean of Admissions, James Lynch, in efforts to recruit new students.

President Carothers then explained that he would be away from campus more than usual as he worked with Vice President Beagle on the upcoming Capital Campaign. He said that he had asked Provost Swan and Vice Presidents Weygand and Dougan to provide continuity during his frequent absences.

The President then announced that the University would be undertaking a very large campaign for its largest building program for the 2006 Bond Issue, which would include improved facilities for Pharmacy, Nursing, Chemistry and Physics at the north end of campus.

President Carothers responded to questions from the Senate on the Ryan Center and improvements for existing buildings on the quad, including handicapped access.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Professor Johnson presented the Report of the Honors Program and Visiting Scholars Committee for 2004-05, which appeared on pages 58-65 of the Agenda. He noted the highlights of the report and expressed his appreciation to all of the deans, department chairs and faculty members who contributed to the success of the Honors Program. He then responded to questions about the Honors Program.

B. Dean Cohen presented the Report of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Committee, which appeared on pages 66-70 of the Agenda and moved approval of the following revisions to section 9.24.10 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL:

9.24.10 Jurisdiction of the Student Discipline System over Off-Campus Conduct. Off-campus conduct shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Student Discipline System if one of the following conditions is met: 1) an infraction of a community standard of behavior as listed in the STUDENT HANDBOOK occurs at: a) an official University event, such as a field trip; b) a University sanctioned event as defined in Section 8.51.12 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL; or c) an event sponsored by a recognized student organization, fraternity or sorority; or 2) an off-campus action performed by a person while he or she is a student is of a nature such that it would be subject to the Student Discipline System if it had occurred on campus, and the nature and circumstances of the infraction provide reasonable grounds for believing that the alleged offender posed or poses a threat to life, health, or safety of the University community, or to University property the safety of self or others or if the alleged offender is repeatedly arrested or cited for violating local, state or federal laws. The decision to apply jurisdiction to off-campus conduct shall be made by the Dean of Students

Discussion ensued.

During discussion, Mr. Jesse Whitsitt Lynch read a prepared statement from the undergraduate students who had served on the Student Rights and Responsibilities Committee requesting that their names be removed from the September Report (Michael Katz, Cristin Langworthy, Jesse Whitsitt Lynch, Kevin McCarthy, and Ryan Rabideau).