Minutes of the Faculty Senate
for March 31, 1998
PSF 25-97/98

The Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside met at 3:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 1998, in Molinaro Hall D137. Members present were Bell, Canary, Colston, Dean, Feldt, Goldsmith, Gurnack, Kavenik. Mandley, Mayer, McArthur, New, Nice (Academic Staff), Ostheimer, Richards, Schmidt, Stathatos, Van Dyke, and Wright. Also present were Larry Duetsch, Tonya Hanson, Susan Johnson, Susan Luke, Richard Schulz, and Ronald Singer.

The meeting was called to order at 3:40 PM by Professor Kavenik (English), presiding in the absence of the chair.

Report of the Chancellor

John Ostheimer reported that he intended no new major initiatives during his three months or so as Interim Chancellor but would try to keep the momentum going. He might experiment in process matters, as by having all senior staff reporting to him sit as an advisory group rather than the traditional Administrative Council. He hoped to meet frequently with governance groups. In response to questions from Professor Feldt (Computer Science and Engineering), he said that there would be no other special interim appointments and that having the Athletic Director report to the Chancellor gave the Chancellor closer contact with the athletic program and fit in with the general redistribution of duties following the end of the separate student affairs assistant chancellorship.

New PSGA Representative

The chair introduced Mr. Mandley, the new president of the Parkside Student Government Association, and thus a new senator. He indicated that he hoped to increase student involvement in governance.

Old Business

Two items left from the meeting of April 29, 1997, did not get taken up this fall, when the first meeting concentrated on search committee issues.

Policy on Independent Study and Internships

The Academic Policy Committee recommended that the senate approve the following minimal standards and catalog language:

Independent Study/Directed Reading
Independent study for credit is available in many majors and minors. It consists of focused study by an individual student or small team of students under the supervision of a faculty member. The value of independent study is in focusing on a well-defined topic and working closely with a member of the faculty or teaching academic staff. Independent study is generally not intended for students who are near the beginning of their academic program. An agreement must be signed at the start of an independent study between the student and the faculty supervisor. All independent studies must conclude with a completed paper, project report, or other product. Consult each program section of this catalog for details.

Internships
Internships provide opportunities for students to develop and expand their knowledge and/or skills, gain experience in a work setting, put theory into practice, and expand awareness of potential careers. Internships often take place outside the university in a public or private sector organization. Internships are offered for credit by most academic departments at the #400-level. Interns may be paid by the employer or may work as volunteers. An agreement must be signed at the start of an internship between the student, the faculty supervisor, and the outside internship supervisor. All internships must conclude with a completed paper, project report, or other product. Consult each program section of this catalog for details.

John Ostheimer noted that approving this would change the catalog only by omitting some italicized lines. Professor Mayer (Biological Sciences) asked about the various terms used. The secretary of the faculty said that getting the titles right was a matter between APC and the Registrar; the senate's approval was needed for the substance of the proposal.

MOTION to approve PASSED on a voice vote.

Approval of Minutes

The senate was asked to approve the minutes of the meetings of March 3, 1998 and March 24, 1998. The March 24 meeting was ill attended and the minutes did not record a quorum as being present. The chair ruled, however, that acceptance of these minutes would represent acceptance of the meeting as a regular meeting of the senate and acceptance of the resolution passed there. MINUTES ACCEPTED without objection.

New Business

Residency Requirement

The Academic Policies Committee recommended the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate approves the waiver of the requirement that last 15 credits (30 for some transfer students) of a degree program be taken at UW-Parkside in the case of articulation agreements with professional or graduate programs.

MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Department of Biological Sciences Articulation Agreement

The Academic Policies Committee recommends the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate approves the Department of Biological Sciences Articulation Agreement as contained in the agenda documents for this meeting.

Professor Mayer pointed out that what was being approved was a model agreement. Actual agreements on this model were under negotiation.

MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Future Articulation Agreements

The Academic Policies Committee recommends the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate delegates to the Academic Policies Committee the power to approve future articulation agreements following the general pattern of that just approved for the Department of Biological Sciences.

Mr. Mandley asked about the nature of articulation agreements, and Professors Feldt and Mayer explained.

MOTION PASSED on a voice vote.

Four Year Contract Plan

The Academic Policies Committee recommends the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate approves the Four Year Contract Plan as included in the agenda documents for this meeting, and grants the Academic Policies Committee authority to oversee any non-substantial changes in the plan made during implementation.

Professor Feldt said that the committee had initially been skeptical of this Regent mandate but had come to believe it was a good idea. Responding to a question from Mr. Mandley, he said that it would clearly be optional. John Ostheimer said that Madison had had only 50 students sign up for its contract. Professor Dean (English) asked about costs. Susan Johnson said that the Registrar's Office did not believe this would be any burden.

Adjournment

The chair noted that the chancellor's report had already been given, and that the university committee chair was absent; there had been no written questions, and the chancellor had answered oral ones already. She therefore declared the meeting adjourned at 4:20 PM.