Governance





 

Minutes of the Faculty Senate
for November 25, 1997
PSF 18-97/98

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Faculty Senate met on Tuesday, November 25, 1997, at 3:30 PM in Molinaro Hall, room D137. Members present were Canary, Colston, Dean, Feldt, Fossum, Gurnack, Jacobson (PSGA), James, Kavenik, Khan, Kinchen, Lyter, Mayer, McArthur, Meyer, Murphy, New, Nice (Academic Staff), Richards, Schleiter, Shailor, Shea, Snyder, Stathatos, Van Dyke, Wood, and Wright. Other faculty and staff attending included Dudycha, Duetsch, Greenfield, S. Johnson, Letvin, Luke, McLaughlin, Power, Sharp, Singer, and Statham.

Approval of Minutes

The senate approved the minutes of October 28, 1997.

NEW BUSINESS

Final Examination Policy
The Academic Policies Committee had recommended that the senate adopt the following policy on final examinations:
FINAL EXAMINATION POLICY

1) Final examinations must be given at the assigned time and place indicated in the final examination schedule, unless prior permission of the Chair and Dean (or Chairs and Deans, if appropriate) is secured.

2) No examinations shall be given during the final week of classes, except for lab modules.

Professor Meyer (History) quoted the chair of the Academic Policies Committee as indicating that APC was not willing to require that faculty members actually give final examinations for their courses. The committee had seen the main problem as being one of enforcement of the existing policy, with some faculty rescheduling their exams to the last week of the course or other times, a schedule change which it was difficult for students to resist.

A number of senators complained that point #2 of the policy, as written, would prohibit any kind of testing in the last week of class, even by faculty who were also giving finals. MOVED by Professor Mayer (Biological Sciences), SECONDED by Professor Richards (Geography) to amend the proposed policy by striking its second point. MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Dean Duetsch (Arts and Sciences) observed that what remained was in some ways less specific than the previous policy, since it said nothing about the handling of combined sections. Professor Feldt (Computer Science and Engineering) said that the old policy contained a reference to an out of date UW policy, and that that needed to be cleaned up at some time.

MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED on a vote of 12 yes, 6 no. [See PSF 19/97-98.]

Certificate Issues

The Academic Policies Committee recommends that the senate adopt the following policy:
Certificates for approved certificate programs will be issued through the Registrar's office and will be noted on the student's transcript.
Professor Meyer again quoted the chair of APC on the committee's rationale. There being no discussion, the MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Center for Community Partnerships

On recommendation of the Committee on Academic Planning and the University Committee, the faculty senate was asked to approve the following:
RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate approves the creation of a Center for Community Partnerships. The center shall coordinate and support existing and new community-based activities involving UW-Parkside faculty, staff, and students and actively promote commitment to community-based activities throughout the university.
Professor Meyer said that though there had been some question whether senate approval was required for this center, the University Committee felt sure that it was [see UWPF 8.02(1)(c)] , with some members unhappy that creation of the center had gone as far forward as it had without senate approval.

Professor Mayer asked whether the center could offer courses and whether its rather far-reaching mission meant that it was to be an umbrella for all outreach. The secretary of the faculty said that offering courses would require a different kind of center steering committee [see UWPF 3.09(2)]. Professor Greenfield (History) said that umbrella was a good metaphor in this case. Professor Shailor (Communication) asked whether that meant that everytime he wanted to do some work off campus he would need to go through the center. Assistant Vice Chancellor Letven said absolutely not--the center was there to help people make connections and to show the kinds of things we were doing, not to get in people's way.

MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Changes to Geology Major

The University Committee having failed to add a second recommendation of the Committee on Academic Planning, the chair solicited a motion to place on the agenda a motion to approve the proposed revisions in the Geology major. MOVED by Professor Schleiter (Sociology), SECONDED by Professor Meyer that the rules be suspended to allow the senate to consider approval of the revised Geology major. SUSPENSION OF RULES PASSED on a voice vote.

The chair of CAP, Professor Dudycha (Business) reviewed the changes in the major which led the committee to conclude that senate approval was desirable. Professor Mayer said that he deferred to his colleagues in Geology but regretted the lack of strong requirements in chemistry and physics. Professor Shea (Geology) said that someone seeking a professional degree in Geology would need more chemistry and physics but that this was a respectable liberal arts major which they could offer with their current staff and which suited the goals of some of their students.

MOTION to approve Geology major as revised PASSED on a voice vote.

Retention Plan

The University Committee offered the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the faculty senate endorses the thrust of the Retention Initiatives offered by the ad hoc committee and urges the speedy consideration and development of these initiatives by the appropriate administrative and governance groups.
Professor Meyer explained that recent faculty meeting had led to an interest in having the retention plan discussed in the faculty senate. Professor Greenfield added that the plan had also been presented to the University Planning Council. There being no further discussion, the MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Other

Reports

Report of the Chancellor
In the absence of the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor there was no report.

Report of the University Committee Professor Meyer noted that the UW system was trying to devise a new approach to the faculty salary plan. There was also a real debate going on about the possibility of an optional retirement plan using TIAA/CREF, with a tradeoff of portability vs. the greater security of the current system.

Questions

There were no written or oral questions.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 PM.