The University Committee met on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in Molinaro Hall room D135.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by the Chair, Peggy James.  Also attending were committee members Rob Barber, Herb Colston, Stu Hansen, Farida Khan and Lisa Kornetsky.  Gary Wood was present as Secretary of the Faculty.  Campus Technology Services Director Jose Noriega, Vice Chancellor Lenny Klaver and Interim Provost Jerry Greenfield were invited guests.

Discussions with Guests

Jose Noriega, Campus Technology Services Director and Chief Information Officer discussed some of the ongoing projects in his area.

Over 300 flex computers were installed in campus computing labs.  Because these machines use software that resides on a server they are rather network intensive and some problems have developed in parts of the campus where the network infrastructure is older.  They are working very well where the network hardware in newer.

The wireless access project is moving along well.  The first phase of the project, which involves replacing old hardware at existing wireless access points with new is scheduled to be completed in October.  This phase involves replacing 28 devices.  The next phase will add 150 new devices and cover the entire campus.  Students have come to expect this kind of access.

In response to the 2008 program review, CTS positions are being realigned to improve client services management.

Lenny Klaver, Vice Chancellor, University Relations and Advancement discussed the Chancellor’s inauguration events.

The first three days of inauguration events on November 3, 4, and 5 will focus on student success, academic excellence, and community engagement with diversity and inclusiveness woven throughout.  Material will be on display in the form of posters, etc.  Faculty should be involved, especially in the academic excellence day.  Possibilities for a program were discussed.  Wednesday noon is probably the best time for maximum faculty involvement.  It was suggested that the program should involve a panel discussion that addresses academic excellence by examining the interrelationships of teaching, research, creative activity and service.  Several names were suggested for panelists.

Jerry Greenfield, Interim Provost, discussed an evaluation tool for the Voluntary System of Accountability (VAS) and the upcoming Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reaccreditation.

Upon the recommendation of the Academic Policies Committee (APC), the campus will be using an assessment tool known as Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) to collect the information we are required to provide on our VAS portal.  (The portal is a website that provides information about learning goals and outcomes.)  CLA tests students who are seniors and compares them to a group of students who are just beginning their university careers.  The senior group will consist of students who spent their entire time at UW-Parkside.  The VAS is not intended to show any assessment of transfer students. There has been some discussion about how the samples will be chosen.  The minimum sample size is 100 for each group.  There are a number of questions to be considered, especially with respect to what constitutes a representative sample of freshmen and the possibility of achieving a good sample by using scheduled classes as the mechanism for administering the test.  The APC did not feel confident in making these decisions.  It was suggested that this matter be handled by the Academic Achievement Assessment Committee.  The role of the University Committee will be to support the process and encourage participation.  The administration hopes to administer the test during the current semester.

Interim Provost Greenfield next related information regarding the HLC reaccreditation process.  An Assessment Director has been hired.  HLC sponsors a series of programs and workshops about the process.  Some administrators and faculty from UW-Parkside attended one during the summer.  More people should become familiar with the process so that a leadership group can be formed.  Among other things, the report requires that we describe the planning mechanisms we have in place, including the use of various assessments to drive changes in programs.  Some departments and units do this on a regular basis.  Others will need to increase their efforts. 

Approval of Minutes

 

The Minutes from September 8, 2009 were approved with minor modifications. 

Announcements 

Old Business

Faculty hiring policies and procedures.  Peggy and Gary are working a revising the last document from the Chancellor.

Academic Achievement Assessment Committee membership.  The terms of some committee members need to be changed to be consistent with the revised membership approved by the Senate last fall. 

New Business

Student, Academic Staff and Administrative appointments to faculty committees.

The following appointments to faculty committees were approved.

Academic Actions:  Academic Staff, Annette Wiesner; Students, Ben Holmes and Jo Kirst

Academic Policies:  VC or designee, Dennis Rome; Student, Erin McDermott

Awards and Ceremonies:  Administrator, Cynthia Jensen; Students, Linda Vang and Tim Lea

CAP:  VC or designee, Dennis Rome; Student, Marley Wells

Advising:  Academic Staff, Kimberly Wright-Wooten

Teaching and Learning:  Academic Staff, Chris Zanowski

Course and Curriculum:  Student, Dave Wilson

Academic Achievement Assessment:  Student, Dave Wilson

Admissions, Records, Etc.:  Administrator, Rhonda Kimmel; Student, Jo Kirst; Academic Staff, Vicki Wahler

Athletic Board:  Academic Staff, Sandra Leicht

First Year Experience:  Academic Staff, Damien Evans, Christine Tutlewski and Susan Hawkins-Wilding; Students, Matt Smanski and Dennis Orellana

Graduate Studies:  Administrator, Fred Ebeid

Information Resources:  Administrators, Jose Noriega and Vanaja Menon

Lecture and Fine Arts:  Academic Staff,  Sandy Puzerewski: Administrator, Steve McLaughlin

It was noted that the Monday and Wednesday noon art courses can make it difficult for student members to attend meetings.

Faculty appointments to the inclusive excellence committee.

 

Eugene Fujimoto has requested that the University Committee (UC) be represented on the inclusiveness excellence committee.  Farida Khan said that she thinks she is already a member of this committee.  If she is, she will serve as the University Committee representative.  If she is not, the University Committee will recommend that she be appointed.

Faculty appointments to the convocation planning committee.

Eugene Fujimoto has requested that the University Committee (UC) be represented on the ad hoc spring convocation planning committee.  The administration desires to make the spring convocation activities more substantive, possibly focusing on inclusiveness excellence.  Some committee members wondered if spring convocation was a proper venue for a formal presentation or discussion of inclusive excellence.  It was noted that convocation is the one time that people from all campus groups are present.  The committee thought that this might be an appropriate role for a member of the Awards and Ceremonies Committee and will consult with that committee and with Mr. Fujimoto.

Collective bargaining information session.  This item was not discussed.

Extension of ending time.

 

It was agreed to extend the meeting for up to 15 minutes.

College of Arts and Sciences restructuring.  The entire September 29 meeting will be devoted to this issue.  Restructuring is already being discussed in the Provost’s cabinet where there is a desire to move quickly so a search for a new Dean can begin.  It was noted that the selection of faculty members for the Dean Search and Screen Committee should follow a more transparent process than the selection of faculty for the Provost’s Search and Screen Committee.  The UC will communicate this to the Chancellor.

Meeting with Regents

Stu Hansen and Herb Colston will meet later in the week with representatives from the Board of Regents.  They will ask the Regents about the budget, staffing reductions and collective bargaining. 

               

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

Submitted by,

Gary M. Wood

Secretary of the Faculty