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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

April 21, 2005

Number 8

1. Immediately following a meeting of the General Faculty-Graduate Faculty, the regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:09 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels presiding.

All members were present except Senators Cohen, Dicioccio, Grubman-Black, Howard, Hutt, W. Lee, Lehrer, Mandel, Preece and Rossby; Vice Presidents Beagle and Weygand; Deans Farmer, Letendre, Mazze, Richmond, Taggart and Wessells, (Vice Provost McCray and Dean Seemann were represented by their designees); 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 #7, March 24, 2005. 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:

  1. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels announced that after reviewing the Agenda, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee had decided to declare a recess meeting for April 28 if the Senate does not complete its business by 5:00 p.m. She said that by recessing the meeting, the 2004-05 Faculty Senate would have the opportunity to complete its business before the Senate turns over by one-third and new Senators take their seats on May 12.

  2. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels thanked all of the Senators whose terms expire on April 30 and urged that they attend the April 28 recess meeting to complete the 2004-05 Senate's work.

    ARTS AND SCIENCES
    Jerry Cohen
    Stephen Grubman-Black
    Michael Havener
    Louis Kirschenbaum
    Ronald Lee
    John Leo
    William Rosen
    Judy Van Wyk

    BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
    Ruby Dholakia

    ENGINEERING
    James Hu

    GRADUATE SCHOOL OF OCEANOGRAPHY
    Candace Oviatt

    HUMAN SCIENCE AND SERVICES
    Sandy Jean Hicks
    Mark Rowinski

    PHARMACY
    John Babson

    THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE SCIENCES
    Linda Hufnagel
    Timothy Tyrrell

  3. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels then announced that the Deans of the various colleges have reported to the Faculty Senate that the following Senators had been elected and would take their seats on May 12:

    BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
    Laura Beauvais

    ENGINEERING
    James Miller
    David Taggart

    GRADUATE SCHOOL OF OCEANOGRAPHY
    Tetsu Hara

    HUMAN SCIENCE AND SERVICES
    Jim Agostinucci
    Minsuk Shim

    THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE SCIENCES
    Tom Grigalunas
    Lenore Martin

    She explained that there were no new Senators from the College of Arts and Sciences because the elections have not been completed.

  4. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels reported that the Steering Committee of URI's Association of Professional and Academic Women had asked her to remind everyone that this Monday, April 25 is the deadline for the May 20 reception honoring Woman of the Year for 2005, Dr. Grace Frenzel from the Counseling Center. She said that flyers were available for those who were interested. She also said that people should contact Professor Linda Shamoon or Professor Lenore Martin if they had questions or wanted to make reservations.

  5. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels reminded the Senate that candidates for two major searches would be on campus during the next few weeks. She said that open meetings have been scheduled as follows:

    Dean of Admissions in the Galanti Lounge
       James Lynch, Monday, April 25 3:30-4:30 p.m.
       Edwin Escalet, Thursday, April 28 9-10 a.m.

    Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in the large Conference Room on the 2nd floor of Green Hall

    Christopher Cyphers, Tuesday, April 26. 3-4 p.m.
       David Bogen, Thursday, April 28, 3-4 p.m.
       Bradley Bond, Wednesday, May 4, 3-4 p.m.
       Sandra Sarkela, Monday, May 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

  6. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels provided the Senate with a brief update on the adaptation of the (Murphy) Academic Program Assessment Model to URI and announced that she would provide more detail at the May 12 meeting.

  7. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels introduced Ms. Julia Monaghan from the Student Senate who reported on the Collegiate Readership program and invited members of the Senate to attend an informational luncheon to inaugurate the program on April 29 at noon in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

  8. Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels expressed her appreciation to Dean McKinney from the College of Human Science and Services who was the sponsor of that afternoon's reception. She invited everyone to the University Club after the meeting.

B. Vice Chairperson Rosen said that the minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #23 through #27 appeared on pages 6-26 of the Agenda. He asked if there were any questions. There were none.

C. Vice Chairperson Rosen announced that the minutes from the February 7, 2005 and March 7, 2005 meetings of the JSPC were on pages 27-32 of the Agenda. He noted the few typographical errors, that they would be corrected in the web version of the Minutes and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

D. Vice Chairperson Rosen announced that he would present three recommendations on behalf of the Executive

  1. Vice Chairperson Rosen moved approval of the schedule of Faculty Senate meetings for the 2005-06 academic year, which appeared on page 33 of the Agenda. The motion carried.

    Following is the approved schedule of Senate Meetings for 2005-06:

    SCHEDULE OF FACULTY SENATE MEETINGS FOR 2005-06

    3:00 p.m. on the following Thursdays in the Cherry Auditorium of the Chester H. Kirk Building:

    September 22, 2005*
    October 20, 2005
    November 17, 2005
    December 8, 2005*
    January 26, 2006
    February 23, 2006
    March 23, 2006 April 20, 2006*
    May 11, 2006 (organizational)
    Special Meetings may be called upon due notice.

    *Will immediately follow General Faculty Meeting

  2. Vice Chairperson Rosen moved approval of the Nominating Committee for officers of the 2005-06 Faculty Senate:
       Stephen Grubman-Black, Arts and Science
       Sandy Hicks, EDC, Human Science and Services
       Linda Hufnagel, College of the Environment and Life Sciences

    The motion carried.

  3. Vice Chairperson Rosen moved that the Faculty Senate approve the following proposed changes to the By-Laws** of the Faculty Senate which had been first moved on March 24, 2005 (changes are in boldface):

    5.1 Each year at its organizational meeting, the Senate shall elect for one-year terms a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and one member of the Executive Committee. In order to ensure continuity, the remaining three members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to serve for two years. To stagger their terms, two of the 2-year term members shall be elected on even numbered years and the other 2-year term member on odd numbered years...

    5.2 At its regular meeting in April of each year the Senate shall elect a nominating committee of three members chosen from the members whose terms expire that May. This committee shall present two nominations for each position to be filled by election at the organization meeting at the end of the academic year. In selecting its nominees, this committee shall consider the senators newly elected as well as those who have served for one or two years, shall consider continuity of membership, and shall, moreover, seek to maintain a reasonable distribution and rotation of the positions to be filled among the various colleges and schools.

    5.4 The election of officers shall be in accordance with the following procedures:

    For any term of office on the Executive Committee for which two candidates are being elected, a candidate shall be declared elected on the first ballot if she/he receives a majority of the votes cast. If only one candidate is elected on the first ballot, a run-off election shall be held for the other position between the two candidates who have received the highest number of first-ballot votes. If no candidate is elected on the first ballot, a run-off election shall be held among the four candidates who have received the highest number of first-ballot votes. A majority vote is required for election.

    The motion carried.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A. President Carothers announced that, as indicated on the Agenda, he had approved all of the legislation forwarded to him after the last Faculty Senate Meeting with the exception of Faculty Senate Bill #04-05--24 "Academic Standards and Calendar Committee Report #04-05-3: Proposed University Calendars for 2005-06 through 2010-11" for which he had requested an extension.

President Carothers said that, after consideration, he had approved Senate Bill #04-05--24 and would forward a memorandum to that effect to the Faculty Senate.

B. President Carothers said that he had no further announcements and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Senator Luebke introduced the Four Hundred Thirty-Second Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee, which appeared on pages 34-44 of the Agenda and said that Section I was informational. She asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Senator Luebke announced that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate. She said that she wanted to make corrections before moving approval:

*There are a number of typographical errors in the Electrical Engineering Curriculum. They have all been corrected in consultation with the Chair of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and are correct on the Faculty Senate website.

*There is one additional item that was inadvertently omitted from the report. On page 43, above the stars at the end of Section II, add new item D. 2 as follows:

  1. Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design

    DELETE: TMD 340 Historic Costume (3) pending approval of TMD 441

Senator Luebke then moved approval of Section II as corrected. The motion carried.

Senator Luebke 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

Senator Luebke said that part B required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried.

B. Vice Provost Trubatch introduced Curricular Report No. 2004-05-7 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which appeared on page 45 of the Agenda. She said that there was only one item in the report and moved approval. The motion carried.

C. Senator Jackson introduced the University College and General Education Committee Report #2004-005-4, which appeared on page 46 of the Agenda. He then moved approval of the UCGE Committee's Report. The motion carried.

D. Professor Loy introduced the Academic Standards and Calendar Committee Report #2004-05-4, which appeared on pages 47-48 of the Agenda and moved approval of the first recommendation of the committee:

1. Student Appeals Process with regard to grades: Addition of new section 8.26.13 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL and renumbering of existing section 8.26.13 as 8.26.14:

8.26.13 Undergraduate and graduate students who feel they have received an unfair grade in a course should discuss the matter initially with the instructor. If the issue remains unresolved, students should approach first the instructor's department chairperson and secondly, if necessary, the instructor's dean for mediation on the case. If the issue still remains unresolved and the dean believes the complaint has merit, the dean may refer the appeal to the college's academic appeals committee. The decision of the appeals committee will be final in the case. The instructor's dean shall notify the student, the instructor, the student's dean, and the Office of Student Affairs of the decision, and oversee the implementation of any necessary action. (Regarding cases involving cheating and plagiarism, see sections 8.27.10 - 8.27.21.)

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Kowalski moved to amend the motion by replacing "feel they have received an unfair grade in a course" with "who wish to dispute a grade"

After discussion the amendment carried.

Discussion resumed on the main motion as amended.

Following discussion, Senator Leo moved to refer the first recommendation to committee. Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, a motion was made to terminate debate. The motion to terminate debate carried by a vote of 32 to 10.

The Senate voted immediately on the motion to refer to committee. The motion carried. Professor Loy moved approval of the second recommendation:

2. Contact Hours for short sessions: Amendment to section 8.32.12 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL (Deleted material shown with strikethrough; new material in boldface.):

8.32.12 Lecture courses taught during short sessions (i.e., sessions shorter than half a semester) must include at least between 650 and 700 minutes of classroom instruction time (exclusive of "breaks") for each academic credit which is offered. (A one-credit course taught during a fourteen-week semester would meet once a week for fifty minutes, i.e. for a total of in thirteen 50-minute sessions would equal 650 minutes; a course with fourteen sessions would equal 700 minutes.) Within these limits, the exact length of a short course is at the instructor's discretion. Appropriate justification for different contact times must be provided for courses using different non-lecture formats.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Kowalski moved to amend the paragraph by deleting "classroom" before "instruction."

Discussion ensued.

After discussion, Senator Leo moved to terminate debate on the amendment. The motion to terminate debate carried.

The amendment carried.

Discussion resumed on the main motion as amended.

After discussion, Senator Leo moved to delete the entire section 8.32.12.

Discussion ensued.

After discussion, Senator Rice moved to terminate debate. The motion carried.

The Senate voted immediately on the motion to delete section 8.32.12. The motion failed. Discussion resumed on the main motion as amended.

After discussion, Senator Lee moved to amend the amended paragraph by deleting the last sentence.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, the amendment to the amendment failed.

Senator Rice moved to terminate debate. The motion carried.

The Senate voted immediately on the main motion as amended. The motion carried.

Senator Loy moved approval of the third recommendation:

3. Changes in Records: Amendment to section 8.56.10 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL (Deleted material shown with strikethrough; new material in boldface.):

8.56.10 Changes in Records. No grade shall be changed after it has been reported to and recorded by the Office of Enrollment Services except upon written request by the instructor to the dean of the instructor's college and approval by the dean. Entries to a student's academic record shall not be changed after two years for the undergraduate student and after three years for the graduate student. In extraordinary circumstances, appropriate academic deans shall be authorized to allow exceptions for extraordinary reasons to these provisions, including both initiating and approving a grade change in the event that the original instructor is no longer available. (See also 8.26.10.)

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, Senator Kirschenbaum moved to amend the motion by revising the last sentence to read: "In the event that the original instructor is no longer available, the appropriate academic deans shall be authorized to allow exceptions to these provisions for extraordinary reasons including both initiating and approving a change of grade. (See also 8.26.10)."

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, President Carothers moved to refer the paragraph back to the committee.

After discussion, the motion to refer paragraph 8.56.10 to committee carried.

Senator Loy moved approval of the fourth recommendation:

4. Make-Up date for Final Exams in the Fall Semester: Amendment to section 8.70.23 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL by the addition of a sentence regarding a make-up date for finals in the fall semester (New material in boldface.):

8.70.23 A minimum of seven days shall be scheduled for final examinations. Saturdays and Sundays may be used as final examination days under extraordinary circumstances. A make-up date for a canceled day of final examinations shall be scheduled in the fall semester, when possible.

Discussion ensued.

Following discussion, the motion carried.

E. Professor Ramstad gave a brief report on the activities of the Athletics Advisory Board during the current academic year. He said that there were copies of the report available in the front of the room. He also agreed to provide the Senate Office with a report to be posted on the web. (See http://www.uri.edu/facsen/AAB_Report_2005.pdf)

6. SPECIAL REPORT

Vice President Dougan introduced Ms. Bettina Hoppner, a graduate student working for the Division of Student Affairs, who reported to the Faculty Senate on the results of a survey of students on the topic of diversity that had been conducted in 2001 and again in 2004. She gave a Power Point presentation and responded to questions about her report. The Power Point Presentation is available on the web at http://www.uri.edu/facsen/Diversity_Presentation_2005.pdf

When the time for the meeting expired, Senator Kowalski moved to recess the meeting until Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester A. Kirk Building.

The meeting was recessed at 5:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Black Grubman