1) CALL TO ORDER

              The meeting was called to order at 11:10 A.M. by Dennis Rome, Chair.  Also attending were members Chris Evans, Greg Mayer, and Anne Statham.  Mary Lenard and Fran Kavenik were excused.  Evelyn Zepp was present as Secretary of the Faculty.

2) MINUTES

              The minutes of the meeting of February 16, 2007 were approved with minor editorial changes.  Prof. Mayer was thanked for taking these minutes.

3) ANNOUNCEMENTS

              a) Prof. Rome announced that there are no specific time slots set aside for the U.C. to meet with the Regents, but that the U.C. members are invited to all activities and receptions.

             

              b) Prof. Rome reported on the U.C. meeting with the Equity Scorecard group.  There are four major points: (i) seventy per cent of our students begin in remedial courses; (ii) most of these people are white; (iii) the graduation rate is terrible for everyone but especially for black males, and (iv) System has been unaware of how high a percentage of our students are in remedial courses and of the kind of needs that implies.  We are not trained to incorporate remedial work into our [100 level] classes. 

              Prof. Statham suggested that the U.C. could form an action plan.

             

              c) Prof. Rome has Faculty Reps. meetings on March 30th and May 4th and would like to cancel those U.C. meetings.

              d) Chancellor Keating would like nominations for a committee on hiring guidelines based on policy.

              Suggestions were:

              Greg Mayer, Chris Evans, Fran Kavenik, Norm Cloutier, Laura Gellott, Karen Crooker, Trenton Baylor, David Holmes, James Kinchen, and Helen Rosenberg.

4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS

              a) "First Friday"--The March 2nd date mentioned in the previous minutes was never announced due to miscommunication.  The new dates will be March 30th and April 27th in the Faculty Lounge, 3:30 to 5:00.

              b) Faculty Meeting March 29th--topics

              Student preparedness: challenges to faculty (70% of incoming students place into remedial classes)--academic preparation, values and expectations

              How to structure the presentation: invite Lori Allen, LeAnn Possehl, Chris Evans, Leo Zaibert, Chris Zanowski, and Chris Tutlewski to next U.C. meeting on 23rd.

              c) Steve McLaughlin's committee on student code of conduct--as an Administrative Committee, we need to find out from him how many faculty he would like nominated.

              d) Ad-hoc faculty brainstorming committee on revisions to the Honors Program: the people suggested [Peggy James, Mary Lenard, Anne Statham, Susan Funkenstein, Alex McNair, Bryan Lewis, Dean Tom Schnaubelt] need to be asked to serve.  Prof. Wood will be asked to convene.

5) NEW BUSINESS

              a) Drafts of administrator evaluations were distributed (for two people).  The Committee recognized the hard work which went into the production of these documents.  Prof. Statham agreed to send suggestions for other areas she would like to see included.

              b) March 20, 2007 Senate agenda

                            It was suggested that committees be sent a form to fill in for their annual reports.

                            The agenda was approved with minor changes to the draft version.

                            John Longeway and Rhonda Kimmel should be asked to address the APC matters.  In particular, the U.C. would like to have a rationale for the item on completion of course work for graduation.  Students can currently march in Mary even if they have not completed all their course work (all deadlines are after the graduation ceremony anyway).

                            There were questions on the Chancellor's suggestion re May commencement: is this meant to be a one-time only change and what is its rationale?

              c) Appointment of two U.C. members to selection committee for the Faculty Distinguished Service Award: Fran Kavenik and Mary Lenard.

6) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

              a) E-mail from Prof. Akindes in Teacher Education:

                            The Secretary of the Faculty sent Chapter 3 and Chapter 6.

                            The T.E. Steering Committee and Director of Teaching have no role in personnel matters.  Credit for prior service should have been addressed in the letter of appointment.

              b) Prof. Rome asked for suggestions for a response to an e-mail from a faculty member.

7) ADJOURNMENT

              The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 P.M.