MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY SENATE
SESSION XV, MEETING #1
APRIL 23, 1998

Present: B. Loher, A.V. Lapps, P. Travis, C. D'Ortona, M. Lambert, R. Dodson, J. Kirby, D. Flesch, T. Elsasser, J. Moore, R. Kreider, S. Salter, T. Loomis, A. Ghods, M. Chester, A. Longoria, S. Woolley, E. Washington, A. Dalmolen, M. McAdoo, Y. Kim, R. Timko, S. Brown, R. Keller.

Loher called the meeting to order @ 3:35. Recognition of alternates: AAC - R. Dodson for H. Iseri.

McAdoo/Chester moved approval of the minutes of 9 Apr 98.

Treasurer's Report (Lambert)

Balance of $462.00.

Announcements

Senate actions of March 26 and April 9, 1998 have been approved.

Election results have been distributed via e-mail. S. Brown reported that a run-off ballot for the Non-Teaching Faculty Alternate position on the Professional Committee has been distributed and should be returned by April 28.

Senate scholarship recipients are Steve Winnie ($1000), Randy Teter ($250), and Allison Hoesgen ($250).

S. Bickham reported that painting for Rod Kelchner should be ready in another week. Cards have been distributed to departments; senators should assist in getting cards and further contributions returned in a timely manner.

The Senate schedule for the 1998-1999 academic year was distributed; note that...

... Fall Convocation will be held on August 24.

A Senate representative to SGA is still needed. Please give Loher suggestions. (SGA meets Mondays at 9:00 pm.)

Committee Reports

Academic Affairs (Dodson)

Moved approval of the following Program Change for BSN Nursing - New Academic Progression Policy

Students must have a 2.3 overall QPA to enroll in sophomore level nursing courses (NUR 200-299)

Students must have a 2.5 overall QPA to enroll in junior and senior level nursing courses (NUR 300-499).

Students must have a minimum grade of "C minus" (C-) in CHM 110,BSC 121, BSC 122, and BSC 271 (or equivalent courses) to progress in the nursing program.

This change will appear in a supplement to the catalog that lists BSN requirements. It is intended that future university catalogs will contain this list or make reference to this supplement.

PASSED

Moved approval of the following BUS Course Changes

The following BUS courses are dropping BUS 130 as a prerequisite. BUS 130 was dropped from Business programs in 1993, and this will remove a hidden prerequisite.

current prerequisites: BUS 130 and 330.

current prerequisites: BUS 130, 330, MA 125 or permission of instructor

current prerequisites: BUS 130, 330 or permission of instructor

current prerequisites: BUS 130, 330, and junior standing or permission of instructor

PASSED

Administrative Affairs (Flesch)

An architect for the new Student Union has been contacted and construction should begin in Spring '99

No state money was released for infrastructure projects, so no major projects will be started on campus this summer.

Some work will be done using savings from the El Nino winter, including boiler work and the removal of a gasoline tank.

Academic facilities work is still being reviewed; the engineers have been here.

Source for funds for various projects (including tearing down the old Rec Center and building the new parking garage) may be rearranged to accommodate new time frames.

Other summer projects: resurfacing tennis courts and track, asbestos removal in Grant, rebricking on Butler, refinishing Decker gym floor, lead paint and asbestos removal in Elliott, refurbishing of the President's Residence (paid for from state funds), darkroom door and outside steps for Grant, new radio tower (student funds), and new signage on various buildings.

Budget update: The Board of Governors enacted the new funding formula, which means that Mansfield will see funding increases of approximately $475,000 in 1998-1999 and again in 1999-2000.

Student Affairs (Elsasser)

ACT needs assessment document is available in Moresco's office.

Discussion with Provost following Motion of April 9 revealed that changes from a 128-hour program to a new 120-hour version of the program must be done by petition to the Provost, not by the department chair. Exceptions to the 40% Rule for transfer students must also be done by petition at this time. A matrix such as the one used for WAC requirements could be developed, but none exists at this time.

Provost Report (Moore)

The policy that changes from 128-hour programs to 120-hour programs must be made by petition was made to be in keeping with opinions expressed in Senate when the change to allowing 120-hour programs was made.

The additional state funding should not be thought of as "bonus money." It will compensate us for the fact that no tuition increase was approved.

Applications are coming in at about the same pace as last year, with modest increases from the "friendly neighbor" counties of NY.

An implementation plan for Windows 95 is being developed. It will probably be a building-by-building plan and the whole job should take 6 to 9 months.

The deadline for applications for the Director of Technical Resources is next week.

The new catalog should be ready for summer orientation sessions.

Mansfield recently received an $800,000 scholarship fund bequest. The money will be invested, with part of the interest being used for scholarships and part reinvested to grow the principal to $1,000,000.

J. Moore and B. Barden have been visiting major community colleges in the region; a new approach to transfer credit (core-for-core rather than course-by-course) will be proposed to AAC in the Fall.

The Senate will present Rod with his gift at Commencement.

Old Business

Response to Brown/Elsasser motion from April 9 was made during the Student Affairs and Provost's Reports.

New Business

Clarification of Audit rules: The $50 cost to allow "special students" to audit courses cannot apply to lab or studio courses, since it is not possible to audit such courses in any reasonable way. J. Moore stated that he does not want to have to institute a blanket policy on which courses can and cannot be audited, but asks that faculty make careful decisions. Faculty do have the right to refuse audit credit to a student who does not meet minimum attendance requirements.

The meeting adjourned @ 4:15.

Respectfully Submitted,
Catherine M. D'Ortona
Secretary of the University Senate