Faculty Senate Minutes
for November 25, 2008
PSF 15/08-9

Call to Order:

The Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside met on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in Molinaro Hall D 139.  The meeting was called to order at 3:40 P.M. by Greg Mayer, Chair.  Senators present were Scott Thomson (Bio Sci), Vera Kolb-Gregory (Chemistry), Adrienne Viramontes (Communication), Michael Seredycz (Criminal Justice), John Ward (Geography), Patricia Cleary (Geosciences), Penny Lyter (HPEA), Laura Gellott (History), Alex McNair (Modern Languages), Mark Eichner (Music), Jeff Schmidt (Physics), Terri Chi (Psychology), Kathleen Gillogly (Soc/An), and Jamie Cheatham (Theater Arts.  Art, Business, Computer Science, Economics, English, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science and Law, and Teacher Education, were not represented.  PSGA was represented by Theodore Ruffalo and the Academic Staff Committee by Luellen Breed.  Also present were University Committee members Herb Colston, Peggy James, Farida Khan and Greg Mayer.  Interim Provost Greenfield was present.  Guests included Rob Barber, Doug DeVinny, Cathy Folker, Marcy Hufendick, Dennis Kaufman, Frances Kavenik, Traci Lee, Beth Norris, Jim Robinson, Susan Takata, Gary Wood, student Bryon Davis, and Dean Schnaubelt.  Evelyn Zepp was present as Interim Secretary of the Faculty.

Approval of Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting of October 21, 2008        (PSF # 4/2008-9) were approved as distributed.

Report of the University Committee Chair –  Dennis Rome

 

Prof. Rome was injured and could not be present.  Vice Chair Mayer reported that the Chancellor Search and Screen Committee is going forward.  Open forums have been announced. 

Report of the Chancellor – Lane Earns

Interim Chancellor Earns could not be present and Interim Provost Greenfield reported in his place.  He noted that the Administrative Staff Council had met (Chancellors and UWS staff) to talk about the budget.  He directed everyone to the Interim Chancellor’s e-mail (reproduced below):

 

To:      Faculty, Staff, and Students    

From:   Lane Earns, Chancellor

Date:    November 25, 2008

Re:       State Budget Update

As mentioned in my first budget memo to the campus on October 23rd, I will be providing updates on the state budget and its possible effects on the UW System budget.  Many of you probably saw the announcement last Thursday from Governor Doyle regarding a projected revenue shortfall of $5.4 billion through the end of the 2009-11 biennium. While the budget projection is cause for concern, it is premature to speculate as to the specific impact that the revenue shortfall will have on the UW System or UW-Parkside.

As I mentioned in my earlier memo, some additional action will be required to cover the budget gap for FY 2008-09. At this time, Governor Doyle has not announced whether there will be a separate budget repair bill to make changes in 2008-09, or if that shortfall will be rolled into the 2009-11 budget bill. Without this information, it remains uncertain how much the UW System and our campus will have to give back to the state from previously allocated spending authority in our budget.  The spending authority comes from our allocation of state revenue (GPR funding) and revenues from tuition, fees, and other sources.

In the absence of more detailed guidance, our leadership team is working to lessen the impact this revenue shortfall will have on UW-Parkside and our students. We need to face our budget challenges with a prudent approach to spending at this time of uncertainty.  This includes a delay in finalizing most campus hires, and the careful examination of all discretionary expenditures, such as travel, until we have more specific information about the budget.  While there will certainly be budget challenges ahead, I want to restate the campus priorities/goals as presented to you in the previous budget update.  They are:

·         Sustaining  academic excellence

·         Providing quality support services to our students

·         Maintaining fiscal responsibility, and

·         Engaging our surrounding communities

As we move forward, we will need to determine what areas to protect and how we can best make our paybacks to the state.  I assure you that this will be done through an open and transparent process and that the campus community will have ample opportunity to share its ideas and concerns.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping our campus through a challenging time.  As we learn more, you will be provided with additional information.

Interim Provost Greenfield stated that the process may move quicker, since the same party as the governor’s will be in control.  He said that the budget process is the main thing occupying the Chancellor’s time.  He also said the Chancellor was working on the Liberal Education for America’s Promise group.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory asked if there would be a freeze or postponement in hiring.

I.P. Greenfield said we are not alone in this; other UWs are being cautious.  Platteville has a hold on hiring and travel.  Our issue is the lack of sufficient knowledge.  We can’t give contracts when we don’t know if we can pay them.  We have had people on campus before and have had to tell them there will be no job.  Our best guess is that we will know more on the 15th.  The budget will go out to UWS, not to individual campuses.  System will then develop guidelines for each campus.  This will probably take a while.  We have told all searches to continue, but with the understanding that we will not be able to make an offer until at least January 15th.  As other positions on campus come open, we are holding mostly all of them until we see what the economic information is like.  The magnitude of the problem far exceeds anything we have had before.  There are other positions we are taking forward: the Academic Director of First year was included in the budget when we did our DIN request, which was centered on enhancing retention and success.  The DIN included positions we intended to fill and the Academic Director was part of that—it was a specifically listed position.  Governor Doyle is very fond of the Growth Agenda—increasing the number of Wisconsin residents who hold a degree.  There is a lot of talk about not touching the Growth Agenda.  The other position for which we are looking to hire is the CIO; we don’t see how we could manage the university without it.  Other than that, everything is being held.

Prof. James asked about the Chancellor search.

I.P. Greenfield said that the search in on-going.  The question was asked at the meeting of the search committee and the system President said that it made sense to continue.

Prof. Gellott asked about the Athletic Director position.

I.P. Greenfield said that the idea is to hold it; the Interim Chancellor has had conversations with the Interim Director about doing another year.  He would probably do it if he would get some relief—he is doing two jobs.  We are using fiscal caution until more information comes in.  Other than that, we are open for business. 

Questions – Written/Oral

Written questions:

1) The report of the Academic Achievement Assessment Committee from 2006-7 recommended the restoration of the director of Assessment position, budget and appropriate authority.  What progress has been made on this?

I.P. Greeenfield said that this has been an on-going concern, even prior to the crisis.  Our reaccredidation process is in 2012-13, which is actually quite close.  The bar has been well raised for reaccredidation--it is no longer all right just to show plans, they expect us to have assessment data and to have implemented improvements.  My office has pushed that committee to meet.  The Chancellor has thought about adding to the IR office—a Director of Assessment and Planning.  That went into a holding pattern—could we afford to do it or not? We did have a faculty member as Director—Sue Norton.  It still remains unresolved pending those sorts of discussions.  We will be meeting with a consultant on strategic planning.  Assessment is critical in that, but we don’t know how long the different parts of the process will take.

Prof. Seredycz asked who the consultant is.

I.P. Greenfield said her name is Ann Zenzig, from the Office of Quality Improvement at Madison.  She has done strategic planning exercises with a numbers of campuses our size.  We have to agree on a price.

Prof. Seredycz asked if this could be done internally.

I.P. Greenfield said we might.  There are some people in Business with a background in strategic planning.  However, if we take someone away internally, then we have to see how we can replace that person.  We want to create a kind of team by Spring.  We want to begin targeting the Higher Learning Commission meetings in Chicago. 

There were no oral questions. 

 

Annual Reports – 2007-08 - Faculty Committees

The report of the Committee on Advising was received and filed. 

Unfinished Business

 

There was no unfinished business. 

 

New Business

a) Announcement—Marcy Hufendick: Student Leadership opportunities

Ms. Hufendick from Student Health and Counseling said students would be coming to faculty for letters of recommendation for student leadership opportunities.  She said the theme if beyond the leading edge.  The leadership positions include resident advisors, mentors, orientation leaders, etc.  They need a minimum of two faculty or staff recommendations.  These are good students.  There is a place for comments—can they balance out these positions with the rest of their lives.  The applications are due in February; the information will be out before the Winter Break.  We would like to get them returned in a timely fashion.

Prof. Ward asked where one would get the applications.

Ms. Hufendick said there would be available in the residences, in Admissions, etc.  There will be posters up and ads in the Ranger.  All students with a 3.0 will get a letter.

b) Approval of December graduates

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the December class for graduation.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

 

 

c) Approval of 2010-11 Parkside Academic Calendar

              Resolved, that upon the recommendation of the University Committee, the Parkside Academic Calendar for 2010-11 be approved as described in Agenda

Document # 3.

Prof. Seredycz noted that classes (finals) will not end until December 23rd. 

It was noted that the Legislature mandates that UW campuses cannot begin the semester before Labor Day and that the final date differs from year to year.

The resolution was approved unanimously. 

 

d) Civic Honors proposal—CAP (endorsed by UC)

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the creation of Civic Honors, as described in Agenda Document # 4.

Prof. Takata, Chair of CAP, stated that the only concern initially with the proposal was the G.P.A., but that this had been resolved, and the proposal had been sent to the University Committee.

Prof. Wood, Director of the Honors Program, distributed a written document (a printed version of the Power Point Presentation he had intended to make.  (See the file on the J: drive).

He stated that the presentation is based on questions from groups; it has been reviewed.  The rationale is to expand the CBL courses beyond the 16 week format.  The project will keep going.  The students should come away with a thorough understanding of a discipline; the projects will be shaped around an issue.  Whereas the existing honors program has its focus on course work, this program will focus on an issue.  The student will have to demonstrate a series of competencies and demonstrate that s/he has met the requirements through a long-term development of his/her portfolio.  We want to attach this proposal to the existing honors program to clearly express to the outside world that this is an honors version of the certificate.  The student will do the planning in CBL 101, with on-going support from supervisors.  There will be a capstone course, with an oral defense.  The matrices for the assessment of competencies come from AASC&U.  The G.P.A. requirement of a 3.0 vs. a 3.5 is because we are measuring excellence in a different way, through the matrices.  The G.P.A. is more of a safety net; we did not want to set the bar at a place which would exclude a number of students.  Students already doing internships would fit naturally into the program, so there are no conflicts with existing programs.

Prof. Khan asked about paid internships—would credit be given for them.

Prof. Wood replies that they would; there are no rules governing paid internships and giving credit.

Prof. Viramontes asked when the program would be available.

Prof. Wood said that it was planned to begin next semester.  Students currently in the CBL course could start.

Prof. James asked whether the 1 cr. Honors Seminar would be open to the Civic Honors students.

Prof. Wood stated that it would.

Prof. Viramontes said that there are Communication students who would qualify.

Prof. Wood said that the program still needs to have a designation.

Prof. Khan asked about a deadline for registering students.

Prof. Wood said the student must have taken CBL 101 first, which is only offered in the Fall.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory asked is there would be some fancy brochure.

Prof. Wood said that Ms. Norris is working on it.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

 

e) Changes to Sociology and Anthropology Minor—CAP

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the changes to the Sociology and Anthropology Minor, as described in Agenda Document # 5.

Prof. Gillogly said that there is currently a joint Sociology/Anthropology minor, whose description on the transcript does not accurately reflect the program taken by the student.  Dividing the minor into two separate minors accommodates the interests of the students more effectively.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

 

f) Monetary and Financial Economics Concentration in the Economics Major—CAP

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the creation of the Monetary and Financial Economics Concentration in the Economics Major, as described in Agenda Document # 6.

Prof. Kaufman said the idea for this program has been developing for around 10 years.  There have been a number of changes in the department, and the members have been thinking about what could be done for graduates in banking and other financial institutions.  The 2005 Program Review outside reviewer recommended the program.  Feedback from alumni has been very supportive.  We have hired a macro and monetary economist and now have a Quantitative Concentration.  The key set of skills for this program are the issues in business and the decision making process.  We have a set of courses which are already on the books, including business.  We also recommend to students in the program that they have a business minor or a concentration in finance,  This is an attractive, marketable set of skills.  Our current students are very interested in this.

Prof. Takata asked about confusion between this program and a similar one in the School of Business and Technology.

Prof. Kaufman said that there is a considerable burden on a one-year Lecturer who does some of the key courses.  The department hopes to continue with the Lecturer; it could do the necessary courses without the Lecturer but scheduling could be an issue.  As for the potential confusion with the Finance Concentration in Business, this program gives the student the background to understand and address the issues, to understand decision-making on a variety of levels.  Any confusion should be minimal.  We have checked with other schools and there is a wide spectrum of courses; there it is more an issue of turf.

Prof. Gillogly asked about the situation of the Lecturer on whom the program depends.

Prof. Kaufman said that the department has gone to CAP to try to turn the position into a permanent one, but has not been successful.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory asked about having the person on a three year rolling contract.

Prof. Kaufman said that the Lecturer just finished his Ph.D. and may be on the job market but that the intent is to keep him.

Prof. Gellot asked whether this proposal has been through CAP with it’s approval.  Upon the affirmative answer, she called the question.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

g) HPEA name change—CAP

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the change to the name of the HPEA Department, as described in Agenda Document # 7.

Prof. Lyter explained that the name had been changed from Physical Education to HPEA at a time when the department had no major or minor.  There have since been a lot of changes in the department, and it has split off from Athletics.  The faculty work on the academic side and the coaching staff has other responsibilities.  We have over 200 majors in the Sport and Fitness management major; this name reflects what we do.  It is broad enough to encompass future programming changes. 

Prof. Takata, speaking on behalf of CAP, said that both proposals make sense. 

Prof. Thomson asked about the difference between exercise science and fitness management.

Prof. Lyter said that the first is broader; the second is a more unique and positive thing.  We are one of the few programs in the country to have this (second option).  It is our contribution to the Health Center major.

Prof. Gellott called the question.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

 

h) Change to existing sports and fitness management major—CAP

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the change to the existing [HPEA] sports and fitness management major, as described in Agenda Document # 8.

Prof. Lyter said that students choose one area of concentration, and that the B.S. in Sport and Fitness Management on the transcript does not reflect what they know.  Most may not know a lot about the other area: they do sport management or fitness management.  We want the transcript to reflect the knowledge skills in the student’s degree.

Prof. Khan asked how the degree would be described.

Prof. Lyter answered that the student would have a B.S. in Sport Management or in Fitness Management.  The core courses would be the same, but the students would have individual concentrations.

The resolution was passed unanimously.     

i) Additions to Accommodation of Religious Observance Policy—APC

              Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the additions to the Accommodation of Religious Observance Policy, as described in Agenda Document # 9.

Prof. Gellott, Chair of APC, said that Dean Cress had forwarded paragraphs 3 and 4 (the additions to the policy) to the committee and asked that it be added to what is printed in the catalog.

The resolution was approved unanimously.

 

j) Biology Honors Proposal—APC

              This is an informational item.

Prof. Gellott said that department honors are not subject to Senate approval, as are university honors, but that the committee wanted to bring it forth as an informational item.  Biology brought it to APC late last Spring.

No action was required by the Senate.

 

k) Introduction of the new Secretary of the Faculty--UC

The agreement with the new Secretary of the Faculty had not been finalized so there was no announcement.

Members of the U.C. presented a bouquet of flowers to Prof. Zepp, who received the thanks of the Senate for her service.

She thanked the Senate members for their sentiments. 

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Zepp

Interim Secretary of the Faculty