Minutes for Faculty Senate Meetings

April 15, 2004

Number 8

1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:07 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Beckman presiding.

All members were present except Senators Adams, Babson, Cobb, Ginis, Glasow, Hicks, Kogut, Mandel, Morin, Riebe, Rodgers, Rollo-Koster, Sterne and Westin; Vice Presidents Beagle, Dougan, and Weygand; Vice Provost McCray; Deans Farmer, Gandel, Letendre, Mazze, and Richmond and (Dean Seemann was represented by his designee); Mr. Lopes and Mr. Sutherland.

2. Chairperson Beckman asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #7, March 25, 2004. There were none.

Chairperson Beckman 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 Beckman announced that it was the last regular meeting of the Faculty Senate for the following Senators whose terms expire at the end of April:

ARTS AND SCIENCES
Stan Cobb
E. Gale Eaton
James Loy
Thomas Morin
Wendy Roworth
Evelyn Sterne
Fritz Wenisch

ENGINEERING
Peter Dewhurst

HUMAN SCIENCE AND SERVICES
Martin Bide
Deborah Riebe

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Stuart Westin

PHARMACY
Robert Rodgers

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Deborah Mongeau

THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE SCIENCES
Marshall Feldman

Chairperson Beckman thanked all of the outgoing Senators and urged them to serve through the end of the month and attend a recessed meeting on April 29.
Chairperson Beckman reminded the Senate that there was a very full Agenda for the meeting this afternoon, much of which is of great interest to the 2003-04 Faculty Senate. She said that in order to expedite matters that require action today, the Executive Committee would like to change the order of business at item 6, the Reports of Standing and Special Committees and consider items D and E before item B.

She said that if there were no objections, the Faculty Senate would follow the revised order of item 6 that has been distributed and if the 2003-04 Senate has not completed its business by 5:00 p.m. the meeting would recess until April 29.
Chairperson Beckman expressed appreciation to Dean Winnie Brownell of the College of Arts and Sciences for graciously agreeing to sponsor the reception after the Faculty Senate meeting. She encouraged members of the Senate to come to the University Club after the meeting.

B. Vice Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels announced that the minutes of Executive Committee Meetings #23 and #24, which appeared on pages 3-8 of the Agenda. She asked if there were any questions.

Provost Swan Vice Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels and Chairperson Beckman responded to questions about the minutes

C. Vice Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels said that the minutes of the February 26, 2004 meeting of the JSPC appeared on pages 9-10 of the Agenda and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

D. Recommendations of the Executive Committee

Vice Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels moved approval of the schedule of Faculty Senate Meetings for the 2004-05 academic year, which appeared on page 11 of the Agenda 3:00 p.m. on the following Thursdays in the Cherry Auditorium of the Chester H. Kirk Building:

September 23, 2004*
January 27, 2005
October 28, 2004
February 24, 2005
November 18, 2004
March 24, 2005
December 9, 2004*
April 21, 2005*
May 12, 2005 (organizational)
Special Meetings may be called upon due notice.
*Will immediately follow General Faculty Meeting

The motion carried.
Vice Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels moved, in accordance with the provisions of 5.2 of the By-Laws of the Faculty Senate, approval of the membership of the Nominating Committee for Officers of the 2004-05 Faculty Senate as follows:

Senator Martin Bide, TMD
Senator James Loy, APG
Senator Deborah Mongeau, LIB

The motion carried.

E. Chairperson Beckman reported to the Senate on the first year of the JSPC and what the Executive Committee sees as strengths and where improvements can be made. She used a series of slides and responded to questions about her report.

President Carothers and members of the Executive Committee also responded to questions about the JSPC's activities, membership and the commitment required by faculty members in order to participate fully.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

A. President Carothers announced that, although they were not listed on the Agenda cover, he had approved Senate Bills #03-04--23, #03-04--24, #03-04--25 #03-04--26 and # 03-04--27.

B. President Carothers reported on hearings on the budget by the general assembly and the possibility of moving some capital projects ahead for the November 2004 Bond Issue. He noted that compensation and health care continue to be major issues and noted that the Board of Governors is not bound by the Governor's proposed salary and benefits packages for state employees.

President Carothers also announced that the University had held a press conference that morning to announce that Professor Ballard planned to return to the site of the Titanic and that the explorations would be continually broadcast live. He said that the project was co-sponsored by the National Geographic, NOVA, Mystic Aquarium and URI.

President Carothers responded to questions about plans to roll some of the University's fees into tuition.

5. SPECIAL ORDER

Senator Feldman presented the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Admissions to the Providence Campus. He used a series of power point slides in his presentation and responded to questions throughout. In addition several members of the Ad Hoc Committee were available at the meeting and also answered questions.

When the time for discussion expired, Senator Feldman moved approval of the following resolution:

That the Faculty Senate endorses the development of programs on the Providence campus which would accept incoming freshman students from the pool of URI undergraduate applicants, including those directly from high school; and that the Ad Hoc Committee on Admission to the Providence Campus be authorized to develop specific program plans. These specific program plans will be submitted to the appropriate Senate committees for approval.

Following discussion, the resolution was adopted.

6. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Professor Kaufman moved approval of the Four Hundred Twenty-Third Report of the Curricular Affairs Committee, which appeared on pages 12-17 of the Agenda. He said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions.

Senator Jackson requested and received permission to add "biomedical engineering" to the list of majors with permission to take BIO 121.

Professor Kaufman said that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval. The motion carried

Professor Kaufman announced that Section III was a joint report of the Curricular Affairs Committee and Graduate Council on 400-level courses. He said that part A was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none

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

The Senate then moved to item D.

D. Senator Jackson presented the University College and General Education Committee's Report #2003-04-8, which appeared on pages 25-29 of the Agenda.

Senator Jackson moved approval of Section I. The motion carried.

Senator Jackson moved approval of Section II, proposed revisions to the UNIVERSITY MANUAL. Discussion ensued.

After discussion, Senator Feldman moved to amend sections 8.20.10 and 8.20.15 by replacing "Social Sciences" with "Behavioral Sciences" and adding additional language to reflect the change.

Following discussion, Senator Feldman withdrew his amendment with the consent of the person who seconded the motion.

The main motion carried.

E. Senator Jackson presented the University College and General Education Committee's Report #2003-04-9, which appeared on pages 30-33 of the Agenda. He moved approval of the report

After discussion, the motion carried.

B. Vice Provost Trubatch announced that the criteria published in the booklet and website for graduate students participating in Commencement Ceremonies will be followed for this year. The Graduate Council will reconsider the criteria in the fall.

Vice Provost Trubatch presented Curricular Report No. 2003-2004-6 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which appeared on pages 23-24 of the Agenda. She then moved approval of the entire report. The motion carried.

C. Vice Provost Trubatch presented Curricular Report No. 2003-2004-6A from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate: Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program in Gerontology and Geriatrics, which appeared on pages 18-22 of the Agenda. She then moved approval of the entire report. The motion carried.

Chairperson Beckman declared the meeting recessed until April 29 and invited members of the Senate and others in attendance to the reception at the University Club sponsored by Dean Brownell.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Black Grubman