Minutes of the Faculty Senate
Ocotber 6, 1998
PSF 2/98-99

The University of Wisconsin - Parkside Faculty Senate met on Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at 3:30 PM in D137 Molinaro Hall. Members present included F. Akindes, Buenker, Chen, Colston, Duetsch, Fossum, Gellott, Goldsmith, Gregory, Kavenik, Keating, Kinchen, Lindner, Lyter, Mandley, McArthur, McKeever, Moy, New, J. Olsen, Ostheimer, Piele, Richards, Rosenberg, Saffioti-Hughes, Schmidt, Stathatos, Wang, and Wright. Also present were A. Dudycha, S. Luke, G. Mayer, R. Singer, R. Stolz, and S. Thompson.

Election of Chair

The meeting was called to order by Professor Duetsch as Secretary of the Faculty, under UWPF 1.07(1)(a). Professor Kavenik nominated Professor Fossum to be Chair of the Senate for 1998-99. There being no other nominations, Professor Fossum was elected by acclamation.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the Senate for April 21, 1998, were approved without objection.

Report of the Chancellor

Chancellor Keating expressed his appreciation to everyone who participated in his inauguration.

The Chancellor said that he wants it to be clearly understood that the campus must achieve its targeted enrollment in order to retain its present funding. Recent enrollment shortfalls obligate the campus to return $1.2 million to the UW System and lose future base funding unless an acceptable plan is developed to meet our targeted enrollment. A preliminary version of the plan must be given to President Lyall in November and the plan must be fully developed by January 1999. If we're able to develop an acceptable plan to reach our targeted enrollment and can provide assurance of matching funding in the community, $750,000 of our present obligation can be forgiven and we can retain our base funding. To deal with this challenge, the Chancellor has charged six task forces to examine critical enrollment/retention issues and recommend new strategies by January. Results of the environmental scan that was done this summer will soon be available and will help inform the judgements that need to be made as the plan is developed. The Chancellor declared that he is optimistic about the campus reaching its targeted enrollment.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

The reports of the 1997-98 Faculty committees listed on the agenda were accepted.

NEW BUSINESS

Representation of Students on Faculty Search Committees

The University Committee recommended approval of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that search and screen committees for faculty and instructional academic staff positions include at least one student member.

Mr. Mandley urged passage of the resolution, saying that students are already included in all other search and screen committees. Professor Stathatos pointed out that some searches need to be conducted quickly at times of the year when students may not be available.

Professor Richards MOVED TO CLOSE DEBATE, SECONDED by Professor Buenker.

MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE APPROVED on a vote of 22 yes, 1 no.

MAIN MOTION APPROVED on a vote of 16 yes, 6 no.

Departmental Reorganization

The Committee on Academic Planning recommended approval of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Department of Computer Science and Engineering is reorganized into two departments: Computer Science and Engineering, as described in agenda document 1.

Professor Fossum, with consent of the body, asked Professor Kavenik to chair the meeting during consideration of this agenda item so that he could participate in the discussion if he wished. Professor Dudycha then reviewed the basis for the recommendation. Dean Stolz described the added cost of supporting two departmental units.

MOTION APPROVED on a vote of 21 yes, 1 no. Professor Fossum resumed the chair.

Approval of a New Major

The Committee on Academic Planning recommended approval of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that a new program is approved leading to a B.S. in Molecular Biology, as described in agenda document 2.

Professor Dudycha reviewed the basis for this recommendation. Professor Chen explained that this new program has grown out of a concentration in the Biological Sciences major and, unless their is significant growth in enrollment, existing resources will be sufficient to meet program needs. If growth occurs, some additional funding will be needed for supplies and equipment. Professor Mayer added that an additional laboratory section may also need to be staffed.

MOTION APPROVED on a vote of 23 yes, 0 no.

Report of the University Committee Chair

Professor Kavenik indicated that she had no report.

Adjournment

The Senate adjourned at 4:30.