Faculty Senate Minutes
for September 16, 2008
PSF 2/08-9

CALL TO ORDER:

The Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside met on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 in Molinaro Hall D 139.  The meeting was called to order at 3:39 P.M. by Evelyn Zepp, Interim Secretary of the Faculty.  Senators present were Scott Thomson (Bio Sci), David Wright (Business), Vera Kolb-Gregory (Chemistry), Adrienne Viramontes (Communicatin), Michael Seredycz (Criminal Justice), Marcelo Milan (Economics), John Ward (Geography), Patricia Cleary (Geosciences), William Miller (HPEA), Laura Gellott (History), Gail Gonzalez (Modern Languages), Bill Murin (Political Science and Law), Kathleen Gillogly (Soc/An), and Linda Crafton (Teacher Education).  Art, Computer Science, English, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, and Theater Arts were not represented.  PSGA was represented by Theodore Ruffalo and the Academic Staff Committee by Luellen Breed.  Also present were University Committee members Dennis Rome, Christine Evans, Peggy James, Farida Khan and Greg Mayer.  Herb Colston was unable to attend.  Interim Provost Greenfield and Interim Chancellor Lane Earns were present.  Guests included Dean Cress, Doug DeVinny, Suresh Chalasani, Susan Lincke, Traci Lee, John Skalbeck, She-?? and student Matt Bieser  (Dean Schnaubelt arrived at 4:20).

 

ELECTION OF A CHAIR:

Under UWPF 1.07(1)(a), the first order of business at the first Senate meeting of the Committee Year is the election of the Chair of the Senate. The Secretary of the Faculty presides during that election. The elected Chair takes office immediately.

Prof. Gregory Mayer was nominated by Prof. Rome and the nomination was seconded.  There being no other nominations, Prof. Zepp declared that nominations were closed.  Prof. Mayer was then elected Chair on a unanimous vote.  Prof. Mayer assumed his role as Chair. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The minutes of the meeting of April 22, 2008 (PSF # 36/2007-8) were approved on a voice vote. 

REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE CHAIR:

              Prof. Dennis Rome, Chair of the University Committee, reported that the first Faculty Representatives meeting is this coming Friday.  The Chancellor Search cannot begin until the System consultant files his report.  The Chancellor Search will begin this Fall, however.  The U.C. will be looking at University Policy 36, on sexual harassment.  The Faculty Representatives have created a sub-committee which will address salary issues at every Regent’s meeting.  The Parkside community is urged to respond to the short survey sent out by Interim Chancellor Earns.  The low response to the evaluations of administrators makes it difficult to have them taken seriously.  Prof. Zepp has graciously agreed to remain as Interim Secretary of the Faculty.  The deadline for applications is Friday, September 26th.  Fran Kavenik is chairing the search for the Director of the First Year Experience and the search is up and running.  There have been about 52 applicants.  Prof. Kavenik has also agreed to serve as the Director of General Education for the year.  Prof. Rome then welcomed everyone back for the new year.

 

REPORT OF THE CHANCELLOR:

              Interim Chancellor Lane Earns introducted himself.  He has been here for three weeks and right now is here to listen.  He urged faculty to complete the survey in order to get their voices heard.  It has been over a decade since Parkside has done any long-term strategic planning and it will be a priority.  We need to be able to move quickly if something comes up, like the growth agenda.  He will be going out to the community to ask for funds to support what we are doing.  Building plans and Foundation plans need to be integrated.  System recently asked for these strategic plans; three have been reported to System so far.  We should write out strategic plan not for someone else but for ourselves.  Reaccredidation looms.  We are working on a plan to expedite the faculty hiring process; efforts already made need to be tweeked a bit and we are in contact with System lawyers.  It would be surprising if you weren’t happy with it; there are timelines, with prompt turn around on files going forward from the department level.  An honest effort has been made to speed up the process.  Also, there will be a team of two people to investigate complaints against faculty; previous practice was to assign one administrator to investigate, who then reported back to the Chancellor.  My plan is to include a faculty member as well.  The same will be done for Academic Staff.  My style is to try to work across the different units, to bring people together.  Academic Affairs and Student Affairs will work together.  I was not hired to clean house, but to listen and identify your needs.

 

QUESTIONS:

Written:

Two written questions were received:

1) How long will Jerry Greenfield be Interim Provost? Will he eventually be appointed as Provost?

 

              Interim Chancellor Earns answered that he asked Prof. Greenfield to stay on this academic year.  The Chancellor does not appoint a Provost; there will be a national search by the permanent Chancellor.  He stated that he is pleased with the job Prof. Greenfield is doing and that the office needed continuity.

 

2) Does Lane Earns plan to apply for the permanent position of Chancellor?

              Interim Chancellor Earns replied that he has been in the job for three weeks.  No strings were attached to his taking the position and he can apply for the position if he wishes.  He will not make a decision for quite a while.  You need to know him and he needs to know you.  He also needs time; he has so much information to digest.  As far as he knows, the Search should get under way as soon as the consultant’s report is received.  System took a lot of heat over the last search, that it went too quickly.  It will be February or March before people are brought in.

              If we did an external search for a Provost now, no one would apply who would be qualified.  No one will take the risk that the permanent Chancellor would not want to work with that person.  I know how uncomfortable you are with the “interim” situation; be patient for one more year.

Oral:

There were no oral questions.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

There were no reports from committees.  The Chair asked committees to please do their reports.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

a) Informational Presentation: Sustainable Management Online Degree

Prof. John Skalbeck, Department of Geoscience and Director of Environmental Studies,

presented the draft of the entitlement to plan.  This information will be posted on the J: drive.  The desire is to get information on the program to everyone before there is a request to vote on the program.

              Last Spring, the Dean of the UW-Extension met with a number of people from Parkside.  We were presented with the opportunity to participate in a “Green Business Degree” involving Business and the Environment.  We worked on it over the summer and prepared a curriculum.  We have an aggressive time line and want to begin the program in Fall of 2009.  We will be seeking approval on five different campuses this Fall.  The program will be taken to the Board of Regents in February 2009, and considered in March 2009.  The degree will have 21 courses (63 credits).  The target audience is students with and AA degree, who have completed their General Education and have junior standing.  This will provide an opportunity to get a four-year degree to students who do not have access to a campus at the moment.  These will be new students, not in competition with our existing students.  The same 21 courses will be available on all five campuses; students will select a campus.  There will be a separate per credit fee structure.  There is a demand for programs like this; there are only 2 in existence now.  UW-Extension is sponsoring the program; after five years, the program will be profitable (profits shared by campuses).  The program here will be housed in Environmental Studies, in the College of Arts and Sciences.  There will be a retreat next Tuesday and Wednesday in Baraboo where the administrative issues will be worked out.

Mr. Ruffalo: Will all the courses be offered every semester?

Prof. Skalbeck: Each course will be offered two times a year.

Prof. Gellott: Will this mean an overload on someone’s schedule, with an extra stipend?

Prof. Skalbeck: It will be an overload, with a buy-down.

Prof. Gellott: Will it be possible for someone to do this as a second major?

Prof. Skalbeck: We are focusing on this target group.

Prof. Khan: Will these be normal courses which our students can take?

 

Prof. Skalbeck: There has been a lot of discussion on this; these are uniquely new courses which are green and which are offered under a separate fee structure.

Prof. Khan: Are you adding to this list?

Prof. Skalbeck: The five academic directors will review  the courses annually; there will be a regular review process.

Prof. Lincke: If everything is on-line, there will be no labs.  Isn’t this a weakness?

 

Prof. Skalbeck: When we first met with industry leaders, they thought we needed more business.  The program is business + science + policy.  The lab component is an issue.  People are being more and more creative on how to do on-line programming.  A person coming out with this degree will be a generalist—something industry is looking for; this person will not be an expect in any one part.  There will be some face to face contact.  The capstone will include a week of two face to face, and the first week will be face to face.  We hope to involve areas businesses in internships and projects.

Prof. Lincke: I have done lab courses on-line; students who are not too good have a hard time.

Interim Provost Greenfield: How were the other campuses identified?

Prof. Skalbeck: The opportunity to participate was given to all the campuses.  The five of us did the planning; the others cannot join in after.

Prof. Rome: If there is a demand for this, why couldn’t we get our existing students involved, why could we not have a minor in this area—graduate people to meet the demand?

Prof. Skalbeck: Extension brought to us this opportunity to get to students who can’t get to campuses and thus can’t get a degree.  Business is clamoring for folks to fill this niche.  We will be bringing a degree in Environmental Studies, a major on campus, to the Senate next Spring.  But we want to get this launched.

Ms. Breed: A student elects a campus, but is the student a student of the campus or of Extension?

Prof. Skalbeck: The student is enrolled at Parkside; residency issues are taken care of.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory: So this is a degree by strictly on-line classes?

Prof. Skalbeck: The students have had two years of prior college courses.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory: It would be very beneficial for the program if the students had to have lab experience during those two years.

Prof. Skalbeck: There are prerequisites for many of the science classes in the program, and those courses would have labs.

Prof. Khan: If the students haven’t met those prerequisites, they will need an extra amount of time to complete the degree.

Prof. Skalbeck: Extension will hire an advisor, who will review the students’ transcripts and can refer them to necessary courses.

 

b) Informational Presentation: Ted Ruffalo, PSGA President, on Vote Rally

              Mr. Ruffalo distributed a pamphlet.  The V.I.P. is the voter initiative at Parkside.  There will be a vote rally at noon, October 8th, in Main Place.  There will be motivational speeches.  After the rally, there will be two buses to take students to the two city halls, which they can register as absentees.  Students can also vote here in Ranger Hall.  We want to give everyone the chance to vote early; this is an exercise in critical analysis.  We want to give Parkside students the opportunity to get directly involved; we are reinforcing Parkside’s presence.

Prof. Gellott: You are asking us to encourage students to participate.

 

Prof. Gonzalez: Are there other activities—screenings of the debates?

Mr. Ruffalo: There is a fair tomorrow, where we can register people to vote.  A number of us have been deputized on the state level.  We also have pamphlets from the candidates.

Prof. Gonzalez: It would be good to have forums for discussion on campus.

Prof. Crafton: It is so early; there is a law on absentee ballots.

Mr. Ruffalo: You can vote absentee a month to a month and a half before the election.

Prof. Kolb-Gregory: It would be good to have a sample ballot in the Ranger.

Prof. Lincke: Do students know where they have to vote?  There are a number of evening classes which could watch the debates.

Mr. Ruffalo: Up until election day, you can go directly to your municipality and vote absentee.  If someone lives in the town of Somers or on campus, that person can vote here on campus.

Prof. Ward: What about those who live in Salem, etc.

Mr. Ruffalo: That person would vote in Salem.  Any clerk can set up an absentee ballot.

 

c) Update on the 1 + 3 proposal with Gateway Technical College

 

                The proposal from Gateway Technical College is designed to allow Gateway students to transfer 30 or so credits from Gateway to UWP, and thus earn a 4-year degree in a  “1 + 3” format.  These 30 credits might satisfy some or all of our Gen Ed requirements, and a student would be required to sign up for the program immediately upon commencing their studies at Gateway.   The proposal was sent to the Gen Ed Committee and APC, for their review.  These

committees found that more information, especially syllabi, was required from Gateway before approval of the program could be considered.  Syllabi have been received by APC (but not by the U.C.) and have been circulated to department Chairs for their consideration.  The Administration would like to have a response from the faculty Senate.

 

A three page document was distributed.

              Prof. Gellott, as last year’s Chair of APC, addressed the issue.  She stated that APC has not formally considered the proposal yet.  It had been discussed and there were a number of concerns, especially regarding information on courses.  Over the summer, Prof. DeVinny got a number of syllabi for Gateway courses.  Prof. Gellott sent those out to the appropriate Department Chairs. 

              She noted the background to this proposal, beginning in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  The first program brought 9 to 15 credits from the Applied Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree from Gateway to UW campuses, who were assured that anyone teaching these courses would have at least a master’s degree.  For people who were bringing in more than 15 credits of General Education or who did not have the degree, program to program articulations applied.

Prof. DeVinny: This is a distinct set of courses.

Prof. Gellott: Beyond the General Education courses.

              Now there is this initiative around the state to package a program of transfer courses.  This would enable students to earn up to 30 credits at Gateway.  They would do there freshman year there and the rest here (1 + 3).  Several campuses have signed on to this.

 

Prof. DeVinny: We are the only one which has not.

              Prof. Gellott showed on p. 3 of the document the various responses from Chairs and Directors.  Some said the courses were acceptable, others not, and some had reservations.  Prof. Schleiter conveyed concerns about the qualifications of the Gateway instructors.  The original promise was that they would have at least an M.A.; this is not always the case.

              Prof. Gellott said this may not be a threat to other campuses, whereas it could impinge on our enrollment.  We went through a big General Education reform, but now we say that students can run off and do something else. 

Prof. DeVinny: Dean Schnaubelt has offered to facilitate a meeting between Parkside and Gateway—discuss what is expected in a course.

Prof. Thomson: What is the advantage to the student in going to Gateway for a year and then coming here?

Prof. Gellott: The tuition is less.

Prof. DeVinny: We thank Prof. Gellott for doing what she has done.  We’ve been dealing with this since May 07; we need to get something accomplished.  There is a lot of potential in some of these areas (bonds with two-year colleges); there are some good students who may be afraid of coming to the university.  Forty-seven percent of our graduates are transfers; this group could be part of that.  We should promote the idea of giving this a chance.

Prof. Gellott: APC is taking this up and will bring a formal recommendation back to the Senate.

Interim Chancellor Earns: I have talked to faculty members across the state who have already done this; all these issues were ironed out.  The program has been up and running for years and has been very successful. 

ADJOURNMENT:

The Chair, finding that there was no other business, declared the meeting adjourned at 5:02 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Zepp

Interim Secretary of the Faculty