Governance





Faculty Senate Minutes
for October 21, 2008
PSF 4/08-9

CALL TO ORDER:

The Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside met on Tuesday, October 21, 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), David Wright (Business), Vera Kolb-Gregory (Chemistry), Guadalupe Vidales (Criminal Justice), John Ward (Geography), Patricia Cleary (Geosciences), Laura Gellott (History), Alex McNair (Modern Languages), Jeff Schmidt (Physics), and Kathleen Gillogly (Soc/An).  Art, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, English, HPEA, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science and Law, Psychology, Teacher Education, 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, Herb Colston, Peggy James, Farida Khan and Greg Mayer.  Interim Provost Greenfield and Interim Chancellor Lane Earns were present.  Guests included Deans Cress and Schnaubelt, V. C. Bill Streeter, Doug DeVinny, Brian Remer, Beth McGee, Interim Chief James Heller, Traci Lee, and student Matt Bieser.  Evelyn Zepp was present as Interim Secretary of the Faculty.

Since a quorum was not achieved at the time of the call to order, the Chair began the meeting with reports:

REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE CHAIR:

              Prof. Dennis Rome, Chair of the University Committee, reported that a request for volunteers for the Chancellor Search Committee has gone out.  There is information on UW-P on the clip sheet.  Retention rates are up, as well as overall enrollment.  The Fall Faculty meeting is next week, Wednesday, in the Galbraith room.  The agenda consists of discussion of the results of the Chancellor’s survey.  There will be a reception afterwards.  We are having more informational presentations at the Senate of items that will come before it later for approval.  We are also having more people come to the U.C. to do the same. 

REPORT OF THE CHANCELLOR:

              Interim Chancellor Lane Earns reported that there had been a teleconference of Chancellors the day before.  They know no more about the budget.  There will be a memo to the campus is the next day or so dealing with the 10% cut we have to make.  This is what we have to do every year and has nothing to do with the present budget crisis.  System does this; it is due Nov. 17th.  The $3 billion deficit refers to the 09-11 (the next) biennium and has nothing to do with this year’s budget.  For this year, everything is on the table.  The university does not want to be in the position of saying it is the only area which should not be cut, but we hope that the growth agenda will not be touched. The $3 billion was before the recent financial problems in the nation.

              For the survey, there is just a draft—the final version should be ready today.  It will be discussed next week at the Faculty Meeting.  The faculty believe the biggest strength of the campus is the faculty, and everyone else feels the same. 

Bill Streeter reported on the Ranger Alert System:

--Ranger Alert sends a text message to whoever has signed up.  Last January 7th, there was tornado that came within a mile of the campus.  There are 1200 people who have signed up out of the campus population.  We had a big article in the Ranger.  There will be a test Nov. 21st to see how well it works.  The question has been raised if the student has to pay for getting the message.

--There can be immediate announcements in the buildings.

--There will be web announcements: Beth McGee is in charge of the web.  These will appear as yellow or red banners.

--A band will appear across computers.

--Mass e-mails will be sent out.

--Mass voice-mails will be sent to all business phones (these will not leave messages).

The Ranger Emergency Guide will be appearing on the web.  It will treat everything that could happen and how the university would respond.  Officer Bergendall did Active Shooter presentations across campus last Spring.

Prof. Kolb asked if there are computers on the D2 level and Prof. Lee (?) asked is there is any reception on the D2 level.

V.C. Streeter stated that anyone hearing a siren should head to the D2 level; people should not be calling the police and clogging up the lines. 

Prof. Rome asked if one had to sign up to get the computer message; the answer was no.

Prof. Mayer asked about the production of recorded phone messages and was told that the police are here 24/7 to do this.

Prof. Kolb asked about the fact that instructors tell students to turn off their cell phones in class.

V.C. Streeter said this is proper and is why we have the public announcement system.

He added that the question had been raised in his discussion with the U.C. about the homeless man living on campus and noted that what can be done within the law is being done.  He has a right to be here.

Interim Chief Heller stated that they have been aware of him for a year and have contacted System Legal.  He has been taken to homeless shelters, issued citations, etc.  He has not been a risk to anyone, except for his bad hygiene.

V.C. Streeter said that if someone feels afraid, he or she should call the police.

Prof. Gillogly asked about giving him access to the showers.

V.C. Streeter said this person could walk to the Sports facility.

QUESTIONS:

No written questions had been received and there were no oral questions.

A quorum having been achieved, the agenda was resumed. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The minutes of the meeting of September 16, 2008 (PSF # 2/2008-9) were approved on a voice vote, as revised.  Some copies were missing pages—apologies to those who received these.

ANNUAL REPORTS: 07-08 - Faculty Committees:

Report of the Academic Policies Committee                                 Agenda Document #2

Report of the Committee on Academic Planning                          Agenda Document #3

Report of the Committee on Advising                                          Agenda Document #4 

These reports were received and filed.

  

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

There was no unfinished business,

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Remer introduced himself.  He stated that he has a contract until the end of May and that a Search and Screen Committee will be established within the next month or two.  He has twenty years of experience in IT in the UW System and has been in consulting roles in the private section.  He has worked with CIOs in general, but this is his first time in a CIO role himself.  He has heard the need for communication and would be happy to be invited to departmental meetings.  Restructuring the IRC is being looked at.  If anyone has a technology related issue, he or she should contact Mr. Remer at remer@uwp.edu  

I.P. Greenfield stated that he wanted to be sure that the job description was one that made sense.  The old description was circulated to various committees, etc., and the new version will go to the U.C. and Academic Staff Comm.  The position should be ready to be advertised by the beginning of next month.                                                                                                                                                 

Prof. Khan asked about technology fees for students.                                                                      

I.P. Greenfield said this is not a fee that CTS levies.                                                                         

Prof. DeVinny said he had spoken to V.C. McLaughlin and that departments would like to have some of that money.  To use student tech fees, though, whatever is produced must be accessible to all students.                                                                                                                                             Prof. Kahn asked how the formula for the fee is arrived at and by whom.                                           

Mr. Remer answered that the fee is set as 2% of tuition; it is not a year by year decision. 

Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the changes to the charge of the Academic Achievement Assessment Committee, as described in Agenda Document #5                                                                                                           Agenda Document # 5

Discussion: No one from the committee was present.

Prof. Rome stated that the U.C. had discussed the item and endorsed it.                                           

Mr. Ruffolo asked why the staggering of terms was being taken out.                                                 

The Chair responded that this is the default language for all committees and that this committee would follow the same rules as every other committee.

The motion passed unanimously.

Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the change in the membership of the Course and Curriculum Committee, as described below:

8.04 Course and Curriculum Committee

(1) Membership
The Committee shall consist of:

(a) Four faculty members, elected at large, no more than two from the School of Business and Technology or from any of the electoral divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences.
(b) One elected academic staff member;
(c) One nonvoting academic staff member appointed by the Vice Chancellor;
(d) One student.

 e) Registrar (ex-officio, non-voting)

Discussion: No one from the committee was present.  There was no discussion.

The motion passed unanimously. 

 

d) Correction to legislation passed on April 22, 2008—APC

Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the editorial corrections to the Revisions to the Academic Skills requirements approved by the Senate on April 22, 2008:

“ACSK 083 with a grade of C-“—a C is required

“Any such request must be submitted to the Advising Center”—requests should go to the Registrar’s office.

Discussion: Laura Gellott, Chair of APC, reminded the Senate members that this had been in the context of placing time limits on students’ completion of requirements—completion by 60 cr. Or other courses could not be taken.  English 101 and Math need a C-, but ACSK 083 requires a C.  Further, requests and appeals should go to the Registrar.

Mr. Ruffolo asked how this would affect a student who has a C-.                                                      Prof. Gellott answered that it states “C” in the catalog and that between April 22 and Oct. 21 this has never been published in the catalog.

The motion passed unanimously.

e) Adoption of the 1+3 proposal—APC

Resolved, that the Faculty Senate approve the adoption of the 1+3 program, as described in Agenda Document # 6 (as amended by e-mail).                            Agenda Document # 6a

The amended document reflects the form of the document approved by the U.C.—that (a) should take place prior to entering into the agreement.

Discussion: Laura Gellott, Chair of APC, noted that there had been a lengthy presentation on this issue at the last meeting.  Concerns were aired and APC discussed the document further.  Part (a) had been formed not as a precondition but with the view of making this a wider initiative between Parkside and a number of two-year campuses.

Prof. DeVinny said the question is both short-term and long-term.  This proposal with Gateway has been in the works for over a year.  Dean Schnaubelt and Prof. DeVinny have a grant to include two-year colleges and the College of Lake County.  They have letters of support from all those two-year institutions.  The School of Business is already out working with Gateway, MATC, Waukesha Technical College.  There is no problem in getting together these groups of folks.  In the discussions with the Gateway people, they have been real straight-shooting.

Prof. Gellott stated that the Registrar is willing to meet with her counterpart, and she would be willing to do so as well.  Only two Chairs who responded to her inquiries had concerns on qualifications and these should be set aside if the proposal stands by the original promise that instructors would have at least an M.A.  She stated she saw no serious problem to meeting as a precondition.

Prof. Kolb stated that we have a good connection with Gateway in nursing.  We should tap into that group with the health program at Parkside.

Prof. Gellott stated that we already have a whole range of articulation agreements on individual courses.  This is a specific packaging of courses—mostly General Education.

Prof. DeVinny said that he appreciated Prof. Kolb’s comment: one of Gateway’s biggest enrollments (as at MATC) is in pre-health.

Prof. Cleary had a concern that anything with a challenge exam should not be used.

Prof. Gellott noted that we do give credit by exam and that no decision could be made until we know what the exam is.

Prof. Kolb noted that rather than telling Gateway what it should do, we have a check on qualifications with the consent of instructor.

Prof. Gellott added “or with an Executive Action”…

Prof. Gillogly asked if we have a legal right to tell them who can teach.

Prof. Gellott noted that in the original agreement, back in 91, the Technical College system said that courses would be taught by someone with at least an M.A.

The motion was approved unanimously. 

ADJOURNMENT:

The Chair, finding that there was no other business, declared the meeting adjourned at 4:40 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Zepp

Interm Secretary of the Faculty