Call to Order

The University Committee met on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 in MOLN D135.  The meeting was called to order at 3:34 p.m. by Dennis Rome, Chair.  Also in attendance were members Herb Colston, Peggy James, Farida Khan, and Greg Mayer.  Gary Wood was present as Secretary of the Faculty.  Committee member Chris Evans was excused.  Interim Provost Jerry Greenfield was present for a portion of the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

 

The minutes from January 20, 2009 were approved with one minor editorial correction.  (James, Colston, 3-0-1)  (Farida was not present for this vote.)

Meeting with Interim Provost Greenfield

 

              Examination of Low Enrollment Programs

Jerry informed the committee that the UW-System administration has assembled a committee of Provosts to examine the enrollments in all programs in the system.

 

Reaccreditation

The committee discussed with the Provost the upcoming reaccreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  The review will take place in 2012-13.  Given that the year 2011-2012 will be spent writing the self study, we need to make good use of the 2 ½ years between now and fall 2011.  The HLC’s standards have changed since the last reaccreditation and now place much more emphasis on planning and assessment, especially assessment of student learning outcomes.  Departments are expected to have strategic plans, assessment plans, assessment data and results, and show evidence that they have acted on the data.

The Provost has examined course syllabi to see to what extent they specify learning outcomes and assessment methods.  Some courses do a very good job with these but many do not.  While faculty must be allowed flexibility in how courses are designed and taught, there should be some uniformity in syllabi, especially for required items such as a statement on accommodations for students with disabilities.

The Academic Achievement Assessment Committee (AAA) needs to play a central role in collecting and analyzing assessment information from programs and departments.  That committee has not yet been fully formed.  It is missing representative from Math (may be faculty or instructional academic staff), the Director of Assessment (this position is currently vacant), a student and the Vice Chancellor or designee.  It also has not elected a chair, although Rizvana Zameeruddin has been acting as such.  The committee met once during the fall semester and has not had much direction with respect to preparation for the reaccreditation visit and what their role in this process should be.  Peggy James volunteered to meet with the committee and outline some roles and responsibilities.  Jerry provided a copy of an assessment handbook which can also be distributed to the AAA Committee.  After the initial meeting with Peggy, the University Committee working with the Provost’s office will organize a workshop for the AAA Committee members.  Interim Chancellor Earns is planning on hiring a new Director of Assessment to assist with this endeavor.  The Provost will appoint someone to fill the “designee” position.  There will also be formed an HLC leadership team separate from the AAA Committee.  Some members of the HLC leadership team may also be members of the AAA Committee or of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Announcements

              University Committee Nominations

 

Two nominations for the University Committee election have been received, Michelle Gee and Carmel Ruffolo.  Greg Mayer will ask Rob Barber or Daphne Pham if he or she will run, Dennis will ask Susan Takata, Gary will ask Mary Lenard, Lisa Kornetsky and Alex McNair.

              Faculty Distinguished Service Award

 

A call for nominations has been sent to faculty.  The deadline for receipt of nominations is February 13.  Nominees will have until March 13 to submit supporting material.

Old Business

              Chancellor’s Survey

Dennis spoke again with Mary Kay Schleiter about providing the University Committee with all of the data and responses from the chancellor’s survey.  She will get back to him after checking with the Human Subjects Committee.

              Faculty Advocacy

Peggy reported that she discovered a great deal of information about faculty ombudsmen on other campuses, although none in the UW-System.  They seem to be quite common at a variety of places, large and small, public and private.  The Chancellor has recently expressed support for creating such a position at UW-Parkside.  The committee discussed at some length what a faculty ombudsman would do and the differences among information-giving, mediation and advocacy.

 

New Business

              Approval of Senate Agenda

 The agenda for the February 3, 2009 Faculty Senate Meeting was approved.  (Rome, Colston, 4-0-0)

              Replacement for Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz on the Human Subjects Committee

The committee nominated John Durocher and Susan Lincke to replace Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz on the Human Subjects Committee during her absence.

Next Meeting

              The Faculty Senate meets on Tuesday, February 3.

              The University Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 17.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:15

Submitted by:

Gary M. Wood

Secretary of the Faculty