SENATE MINUTES

Meeting Date:

4/12/01

Status of Minutes:

APPROVED

Senate Session:

XVII

Meeting Number:

14

Present:

P. Travis, S.A. Davis, N. Sidell, M. Lambert, L. Pifer, B. Ganong, F. Chua, K.F. Thorne, D. Rotella, J. Kirby, A. Ghods, M. Robinson, A. Longoria, S. Thornsley, T. Murphy, F. Blanco, M. Syrett, J. Mumma, M-D Schmid, M. Chester, S. Brown, A. Mabe, J. Floyd, L. Cass, M. Lane, S. Young (parliamentarian).

I.

P. Travis called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m.

II.

Minutes of March 29, 2001 were approved with one correction in Section VII, New Business, A. The corrected sentence reads: "Concern was expressed that the spirit of the new GE model that block courses have no more than one prerequisite required." (Chester/Longoria).

APPROVED

III.

Treasurer's Report (M. Lambert)

The balance is $253. Outstanding dues may still be paid.

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APPROVED

IV.

Announcements

1. S. Davis encouraged attendance at the 4/18/01 Faculty Assembly (4:00 p.m. Allen Hall Auditorium).
   
2. J. Halstead's response to the Senate action of 3/29/01 was to approve the IG statement.
   
3. M. Lambert announced that, during the upcoming NCATE visit (4/21 through 4/25), Senate Executive Committee is required to meet with the review team.
   
4. A. Longoria promised that playwright Michael Weller's visit will be rescheduled in October.

    

    

    

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V.

Committee Reports

A.

Academic Affairs (L. Pifer)

MOTION ONE: Approve a pair of curricular changes from the Department of Language and Literature:

NEW COURSE:

ENG 381 History of Literary Theory and Criticism

Course Description:

Survey of Western literary theory and criticism from Plato, Aristotle, and Horace to the New Critics. Offered Fall of odd years.

Prerequisite: ENG 115 Introduction to Literature

Purpose and Nature of Course:

Currently, we do not have a regularly offered course that surveys the history of Western literary theory and criticism from its beginnings in Plato and Aristotle to the advent of what is now referred to as "theory." Such a regular course offering would be useful as an elective course for BA & BSE English majors interested in pursuing the teaching of literature as a career, since the course focuses on the way various writers, thinkers and critics have defined the social function, the aesthetic qualities, and the taxonomic categories of literature since the 4th century BCE. It will also be of use as an elective course for those students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in English. Though primarily aimed at BA & BSE English majors, the course will be open to any interested student who has satisfied the prerequisite (ENG 115: Intro to Literature). The course is also intended to be offered as a complement to ENG 382: Contemporary Literary & Cultural Theory (see Course Change Form); students may choose to take the two courses as a sequence, though they would not be required to do so.

COURSE CHANGE:

ENG 382 Theory of Literature To ENG 382 Contemporary Literary Theory and Criticism

Old Course Description: A survey of the major critical approaches to literature. Offered spring of odd years.

New Course Description:

Survey of recent approaches to literature, including formalist, structuralist, post-structuralist, reader-response, psychoanalytic, feminist, marxist, new historical, and/or post-colonial literary criticism. Offered spring of even years.

Prerequisite: ENG 115 Introduction to Literature

Purpose and nature of change:

Both the title and the catalog description for ENG 382: Theory of Literature are vague and outdated. Both title and description need to be updated to reflect current trends in literary theory and criticism, and to describe more accurately the content of the course.

DISCUSSION: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION TWO: Approve a program change from the Women's Studies Program:

Women's Studies Minor

Rationale for Change: Update the minor to reflect current conditions:

delete courses not currently being offered and add new courses to the list of required courses that have been approved by the steering committee as appropriate for the minor.

* Additions to required course groups to give students more course options:

Add to Group 1: COM 334 Gender Communication

Add to Group 2: MU 205 Women and Music

Add to electives group: NUR 402/WS 455 Women's Health Issues

* Changes in electives to replace courses not currently being taught

Delete: ARH 409 Women in Art BUS 150 Women in Management

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION THREE: AAC moves to require one Information Literacy course and one Global Awareness course for students completing Associate (AS) Degrees. AAC moves to require one Information Literacy course for students completingApplied Associate (AAS) Degrees.

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION FOUR: Based on recommendations from the Academic Task Force and lengthy discussion at AAC, we move to keep the present Academic Standards Review Boards procedures with the addition of the appropriate letters of Notification (see report below):

Academic Task Force Statement:

1. We seemed to generally be in agreement that instituting a University-wide policy prohibiting students from engaging in extra-curricular activities with less than a 2.00 QPA is not in the best interests of all concerned.

CONS: Negative impact on retention, the more poorly academically-prepared students may be discouraged from participating in any University activities which could contribute to their educational experience, difficulty with enforcement, negative impact on recruiting efforts, and, for some students the motivation to succeed is directly related to their extra-curricular activity rather than their classroom activity.

PROS: Incentive to motivate students to perform better academically, have similar standards for athletes as well as any extra-curricular students.

2. As students matriculate we believe that our current academic standards (1.2, 1.4, 1.6 etc.) should relate to whether or not they should be permitted to participate in extra-curricular activities. As students demonstrate their continuing improvement with their academic progress, they should continue to engage in activities that contribute to their academic/social development.

3. We advocate the use of the ASRB (Academic Standards Review Boards). Dr. Lane has informed us after contacting the University Legal Counsel that "Participating in any extra-curricular activities is a privilege and not a right. Therefore, the Board could stop a student from participating." HOWEVER, in the case of the student receiving a scholarship, legal counsel is currently investigating the legality of that issue.

** The appropriate review authority can place sanctions on students readmitted to the institution as a result of academic dismissal. It is urged that these review groups discharge that responsibility with individual cases rather than a blanket policy.

**4. As a group we also concluded that the review board should remain the main "criteria" for both reinstatement and participation but with some new-enhanced procedures:

First, reinstatement contracts should be written out, signed by the student (if agreed to) and copies be given to faculty and/or staff who have direct influence with the students (such as a coach).

Second, if the student names a program, group or team as a "reason" for academic failure then the director of that group be notified and asked for input. A completed and signed contract will be forwarded to the appropriate student organization advisor/coach/program director as well as the student's academic advisor.

Discussion: A definition of extracurricular activities was given. The motion would result in reliance on the ASRB on individual cases rather than using the 2.00 QPA standard. No further consensus could be reached on the issue, except that the committee does not wish to prohibit students who are below 2.00 but above minimum standards. Students and their major department now receive notification of probation placement. This process should improve as advisors are listed on datatel. MOTION APPROVED.

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B.

Academic Planning (B. Ganong)

It was explained that the state required all SSHE schools to establish committees to review under-enrolled programs. APC has undertaken this role, but will not become involved in under-enrolled program review if there is no conflict between the department and Administration.

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C.

Administrative Affairs & Elections

F. Chua encouraged faculty to return ballots by the 4/18 deadline.

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D.

Student Affairs & Admissions (D. Rotella)

Both applications and confirmations for fall registrations are up. Regarding parking issues, the appeals process for faculty tickets is identical to the process for students and staff. Faculty input would be welcomed on the Parking Review Board, which meets regularly on Wednesdays. A request for faculty volunteers to serve on this board will be made. No clerical support exists in the Police Department. There may be some delay in posting payment of tickets due to the timing of warning letters being mailed and student training on the posting system. Faculty can be ticketed for parking in a student-designated space. Perhaps the Parking Review Board would be willing to have faculty rotate their attendance.

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E.

Information Technology (K. Thorne)

MOTION FIVE: The University Senate requests that the administration demonstrate its support for the use of technology in the classroom by providing adequate funds for the maintenance of the necessary equipment.

Discussion: Each projector bulb costs $350. If the projector belongs to a department, the department is responsible for its replacement. In the past, departments have obtained bulbs from AV. Clarification on who is responsible is needed. One or two bulbs were replaced last year on the existing 15 &endash; 20 projectors. MOTION APPROVED.

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F.

Library Advisory

A. Longoria announced that a focus group of students will be held on 4/24, and a book on aging and ethics has been purchased.

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G.

Provost (M. Lane)

Gratitude was extended to those who attended the Cohen events earlier in the week. A concert choir performance was enjoyed by all who attended, including the chancellor. Immediately following the NCATE review, the PDE representative from the visitation team will speak on Chapter 34 compliance and how compliance will be achieved. An e-mail announcement is forthcoming to all faculty, inviting attendance on 5/1 from 11:00 &endash; 1:30 in the North Hall Traditional Reading Room. The event will thank D. Murray for his administrative assistance. An additional candidate for the Associate Provost position will be on campus 4/18; all were encouraged to attend the open session. Unofficially, Russell Cooper has accepted the Assistant Provost position, with a tentative start date set for 7/1.

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VI.

Old Business

None.

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VII.

New Business

1. J. Mumma questioned the cost of the MU/Volgograd publication that was mailed to faculty this week. The cost was $3076 for 500 copies; the largest expense was set-up fees.
   
2. A. Ghods asked for clarification on the policy regarding students being excused from classes for some performance or activity. The general policy is that students are excused for university-sponsored events. Faculty-sponsored events have been handled in the past by faculty completing a form listing all students. Students are then responsible for taking this form to classes, preferably in advance of the event. Faculty can decide to allow such faculty-sponsored absences to be considered excused or not. In all cases, students are responsible to make up any work missed. Further clarification of this policy, along with what constitutes a "university-sponsored" event, is needed.

    

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VIII.

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. (Davis/Ghods).

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Sidell
Secretary of Senate