SENATE MINUTES

Meeting Date:

4/25/02

Status of Minutes:

APPROVED

Senate Session:

XIX

Meeting Number:

1

Present:

Present: S.A. Davis, P. Travis, N. Sidell, B. Holtman, H. Biblehimer, F. Craig, B. Cunningham, R. Maris, G. Kutty, J. Tan, A. Longoria, B. Wallace, R. Dodson, M. Materese, K. Guenther, M. Syrett, K. Sullins for J. Werner, M-D. Schmid, S. Brown, J. Floyd, L. Cass, J. Warner, D. King, M. Lane.

I.

S. Davis called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.

II.

Minutes of April 11, 2002 were approved as electronically distributed (P. Travis/J. Warner).

APPROVED

III.

Treasurer's Report (B. Holtman)

The current account balance is $354.

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APPROVED

IV.

Announcements

1. A reminder was given of Helen Thomas's lecture tonight at 8:00 in Straughn.
   
   
2. Next year's Senate meeting schedule was distributed. Attendees were encouraged to pass this along to new Senators.

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V.

Committee Reports

A.

Academic Affairs (H. Biblehimer)


The following motions were presented by AAC:

MOTION ONE: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of Communication and Theatre:

#1 Action: Course Change: COM 336 Business and Professional Communication

Purpose and Nature of change: To permit junior and seniors to enroll in this course with a minimum of 60 earned credits and to change the course description.

Catalog Description: COM 336 focuses on a step-by-step approach to professional communication in the business environment highlighting the employment interview. Topics included an introduction to interviewing, researching an organization, adapting to organizational change, constructing resumes and writing business correspondence, examining the roles of interviewee and interviewer, business etiquette, performance appraisals and company reprimands as well as exploring career planning. COM 336 serves as a "bridge" between the student's conceptual comprehension and application in course work to the environment of the professional working world the student s are about to enter.

Change prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course) Already approved: COM 101, ENG 112 or BUS 130 Change: 60 earned credit hours

Rationale: exclude sophomores who are unable to complete course requirements due to lack of experience and other non-completed course work.

#2 Action: Course Change Request: COM 325 Interpersonal Communication

Purpose and Nature of Change: Change course description to better mirror course content.

Catalog Description: Interpersonal Communication explores the dynamics of communication transactions between individuals who share some type of relationship. This course examines both global and cultural issues. Specifics topics include but are not limited to the following: fundamentals, perception, the self-concept, language, attitudes, belief systems, power, ethics, conflict, culture and relationships. This course focuses on both a conceptual comprehension and a practical application in understanding one's communication experience.

Discussion: Some concepts covered in COM 336 are covered in Psychology of Interviewing. Duplication is not viewed as necessarily negative when material is covered by different departments. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION TWO: AAC moves to approve the actions requested by the Business and Economics Department

#1 Action: Course Change: BUS 490 Business Policy

Purpose and nature of change: Change prerequisites to reflect the nature of the current department program. The old prerequisites are a relic from the business program before our last program review. The proposed change brings the course in line with the most recent changes. The course requires a basic understanding of accounting and math; the new prerequisites reflect this.

Prerequisites: ECO 101, MA 125, and MA 170

#2 Action: Course Change: BUS 402 Corporate Finance

Purpose and nature of change: Change prerequisites to reflect the nature of the current department program. The old prerequisites are a relic from the business program before our last program review. The proposed change brings the course in line with the most recent changes. The course requires a basic understanding of macroeconomics and a strong math background the new prerequisites reflect this.

Prerequisites: ECO 101, MA 125, and MA 170

#3 Action: Course Change: BUS 441 Financial Statement Analysis

Purpose: Change prerequisites to reflect the nature of current department program. The old prerequisites are a relic from the business program before our last program review. The proposed change brings the course into line with the most recent changes. The course requires a basic understanding of accounting and math and the new prerequisites reflect this.

Prerequisites: ACC 111, MA 125

Discussion: The general business major requires statistics and a calculus course. The system will not allow the student to register if a more advanced calculus course is taken instead. The system can be programmed to accept this if the department so wishes. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION THREE: AAC moves to approve the curricular changes requested by the Art Department:

#1 Action: New Course: ARE 537 Art Across the Curriculum

Purpose and Nature: The course will become mandatory for the Master's of Art Education degree. This semester the Art Department will be adding this course as part of a program change.

Course Description: This course explores methods for incorporating art into other subjects. Students will learn how to develop interdisciplinary (integrated) lessons that address multiple intelligences, are intellectually stimulating, and help develop children's problem solving skills.

#2 Action: Program Change: BA Art History

Rationale for change: Remove ARH 102 Survey of Art and replace with ARH 101 Introduction to Art. Remove three studio courses and a one-hour seminar course (heavily studio oriented) to make the degree more attractive to art history majors, all of whom are requesting the elimination of studio courses. Many art history degrees across the country do not require studio courses.

These changes, reducing the credits from 40 to 30, are modeled after the following universities: Johns Hopkins, Md. 27 credits art history, no studio; SUNY, Buffalo, 27 credits, no studio; University of Pittsburgh, 30 credits with foreign language, no studio; University of Pittsburgh, 24 credits, no foreign language, no studio. These changes will improve the preparation of students for graduate school in art history, and allow more time to study foreign languages.

List all changes: Remove ARH 102 Survey of Art, and replace with ARH 101 Introduction to Art. Remove Art 403 Seminar. Remove 9 SH Studio Electives.

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION FOUR: AAC moves to approve the curricular changes requested by the Department of Psychology

#1 Action: Course Deletion Request: Psychology 446 Theory of Chemical Addictions: Treatment

Rationale: Program put into moratorium; course no longer needed

#2 Action: Course Deletion Request: Psychology 447 Practice of Chemical Addictions: Treatment

Rationale: Program put into moratorium; course no longer needed

#3 Action: Course Deletion Request: Psychology 448 Chemical Addictions Counseling: Ethics

Rationale: Program put into moratorium; course no longer needed

#4 Action: Course Deletion Request: Psychology 449 Chemical Addictions Treatment: Current Issues

Rationale: Program put into moratorium; course no longer needed

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION FIVE: AAC moves to approve the following curricular actions requested by the Department of Languages and Literature:

#1 Action: Course Deletion: ENG 357 British Romantic Literature

Rationale for deletion: The Department of Languages and Literature wishes to delete ENG 357 British Romantic Literature and combine it with ENG 359 Victorian Literature. The new single course, ENG 359 19th Century British Literature, is a more typical offering for this literary time span, especially at smaller liberal arts institutions the size of Mansfield. This new combined course will reduce our British literature period offerings from 6 courses to 5. Five British period courses will make the department more efficient, bringing the number of British period offerings more into line with current enrollment and staffing levels.

List all programs impacted by deletion of this course: English B.A, English B.S.E.

The impact from the deletion of this course will be minimal. Reducing the number of British period course offerings may increase enrollment in these classes and help ensure their ability to run.

#2 Action: Course Change: ENG 359 Victorian Literature

Purpose and nature of change:

The Department of Languages and Literature wishes to combine ENG 357 British Romantic Literature and ENG 359 Victorian Literature into one course. The new single course, ENG 359 19th Century British Literature, is a more typical offering for this literary time span, especially at smaller liberal arts institutions the size of Mansfield. This new combined course will reduce our British literature period offerings from 6 courses to 5. Five British period courses will make the department more efficient, bringing the number of British period offerings more into line with current enrollment and staffing levels.

New Course Title: 19th Century British Literature ENG 359

Course Description for Catalog: A study of selected texts, genres, and issues of nineteenth-century British literature, including reference to their political and social contexts. Authors may include Blake, Wollstonecraft, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley, Carlyle, Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Brontë, Dickens, Gaskell, Eliot, Rossetti, Hopkins, and/or Wilde, among others.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course) ENG 112W

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION SIX: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of Philosophy and Liberal Studies:

Action #1 Program Change: Pre-Law Minor

Rationale for change: 1. PSC 324 is no longer offered. 2. Another elective is needed because completing the minor is difficult due to the infrequency of some of the course offerings.

List all changes:

1. Substitute CJA 324 for PSC 324. 2. Add BUS 410 as an elective.

Program Description for Catalog: The Pre-Law minor consists of 18 semester hours. Introduction to Logic (PHL230) is required. Fifteen hours of elective must be chosen from the following list: PSC 101, PSY 313, CJA 324, PSC 404, BUS 410, COM 425, PHL 320

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION SEVEN: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of Education and Special Education:

Action #1: Program Change: Remove Program from Moratorium: Exceptional Persons

Rationale for change: Remove from moratorium the Exceptional Persons Degree and rename it Leadership for Children and Adults with Disabilities. This would provide students with a non- teaching option. Teaching is only one of a variety of positions individuals can obtain working with children and adults with disabilities.

New Degree and Program Title: Leadership for Children and Adults with Disabilities BS

List all changes:

1. Name Change from Exceptional Persons to Leadership for Children and Adults with Disabilities

2. Special Education Courses Required - 36 SH

ADD- SPE 252 Inclusion of Diverse Learners (3)

ADD- SPE 290 Learning Disabilities (3)

Move to Major Related Electives

SPE 375 Residn Facil Disabled

SPE 377 Adult Education

SPE 407 Transition to Adult Life

Change Credits SPE 450 Internship from 12 credits to 14 credits

3. Major Related Electives - 12 SH

ADD -ELE 220 Child Development

PSY 310 Social Psychology

PSY 321 Adolescent Psychology (3)

PSY 324 Adult Development and Aging (3)

PSY 290 Life Span Dev. (3)

SWK 241 Introduction to Social Work (3)

Any SPE course

4. Cognate - Management - 15 SH

ADD -PSY 311 Intro to Small Group Process

PSY 313 Psychology of Interviewing

PSY 332 Psychology of Stress Management

PSY 491 Human Resource Management

BUS 130 Introduction to Business and Management

SOC 301 Organizational Behavior

5. Change in required semester hours: 128 SH to 120 SH

Program Description for Catalog (if changed):

The department also offers a B.S. program in Leadership for Children and Adults with Disabilities designed for those interested in working with individuals with disabilities, not requiring teacher certification.

Career opportunities include management and advocacy in areas of human service providers. This degree would also allow the individual to pursue a graduate degree in related services for child and adults with disabilities.

Program Objectives (if changed): To prepare individual for career opportunities advocating for and working directly with children and adults with disabilities (non-teaching).

To provide an undergraduate foundation for individuals wishing to pursue graduate work in related services for individuals with disabilities.

Impact on other programs (if any):

None. Psychology, Sociology and Social Work did not believe the increase in enrollment would be problematic.

Discussion: A concern from Psychology was expressed for the inclusion of Senior Seminar, intended for majors in Human Resource Management. This course requires a comprehensive exam and a course outline should be reviewed by Education to determine its appropriateness. It would be taken only under careful advisement. The new program seems more interdisciplinary and may appeal to more students. This offers a good opportunity for a non-teaching degree. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION EIGHT: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Information Sciences:

#1 Action: New Course Request: CIS 390 Networking I

Purpose and nature of course: To introduce basic networking concepts, protocols and applications.

Catalog Description: Introduction to the underlying principles of networking. Concepts of network protocols and network applications are covered. TCP/IP principles will be taught.

#2 Action: Course Change: CIS 490 Computer Communications

Purpose and nature of change: To change the title and adjust the content of the course.

New Course Title: Networking II

Catalog Description: Advanced topics in computer networking. Networking standards, future trends, security, and management will be examined.

#3 Action: Course Change: CIS 303 Computer Networks

Purpose and nature of change: To change the title and adjust the content of the course.

New Course Title: Web Site Design

Catalog Description: An introduction to the principles of Web Site Design. The syntax and semantics of HTML are covered.

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION NINE: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of RP Health Sciences, Nursing: New Course: NUR 411 Case Studies in Nursing

Purpose and Nature of Course: The purpose of this nursing elective is to enhance the student's ability to function as an effective nurse. Graduate Surveys and Student Surveys consistently suggest the need for increased clinical experiences. While this is not a clinical course, it is designed to focus on the abilities needed to pull data together to provide nursing care.

Course Description for Catalog: This course focuses on improving the student's ability to plan and deliver high quality nursing care through the use of patient case studies. These case studies will include all aspects of nursing care and will help enhance the student's critical thinking abilities, improve efficiency with the nursing process and contribute to communication skills.

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

MOTION TEN: AAC moves to approve the curricular action requested by the Department of Biology: Course Change: BI 392 Human Dimensions in Fish Management

Purpose and nature of change: Update the catalog description

Course Description for the Catalog: Fish Management is the provision for people of a sustained benefit from their use of living aquatic resources and involves the biological, ecological, economic and sociological components of a system that provides aesthetic and other non-tangible benefits to people as well as fish for consumption. The biology of fishes and fisheries in the broad context of its role as a part of a larger society is the subject of BI 392. The course is designed to fulfill 3 credits of the human dimensions requirement for certification by The American Fisheries Society.

Discussion: none. MOTION APPROVED.

H. Biblehimer announced that flow charts depicting the flow of curricular actions have been posted on the AAC page. Written explanations of appropriate curricular form usage will be added.

AAC felt there were enough questions with the GES assessment proposal to justify delaying action until early next fall. A forum will be planned for next semester for discussion of the issue.

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B.

Academic Planning (B. Ganong)

No report.  

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C.

Administrative Affairs & Elections (S. Davis for F. Chua)

S. Davis reported that run-off elections will be necessary in the fall. Hopefully, these will occur electronically. Colleagues should be urged to contribute to faculty governance by becoming involved when the slate of candidates is developed.

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D.

Student Affairs & Admissions (J. Benjamin)

As of 4/15, Admissions has reported increases in applications and admits from the same time last year. Overall, they are being more selective across the board. Average SAT scores are increasing, 19 receptions and financial aid seminars have been held, 250 juniors have been hosted and six minority bus trips have occurred. A pilot project is trying to attract academically talented students from the Lewisburg area. On-line testing is now available for ENG 090. Candidates for J. Maresco's position will be interviewing on campus soon. Safety issues reported by SGA were responded to. SGA elections are being held 4/18 and 4/19. The new food service is on campus this week. Manser renovations will occur in two phases. Residence hall projects have been prioritized: Maple B, Maple A, Pinecrest, then Laurel. Under discussion is an apartment-style dorm located at Hemlock's site. Room and board charges will be increasing. Students' food costs are formula-driven. Revenue figures a five percent increase in tuition. Concerns exist regarding registration and advising of students. ARG will be notified of the concern that PINs are being distributed without advising. The Wellness Committee just sponsored a health screening this past week, serving nearly 90 people. A small APSCUF grant has been received for next year that will double the budget of the Wellness Committee. ARG continues to meet and will be training new faculty in the fall. Their advising tips have been very helpful.

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E.

Information Technology (F. Craig)

• The committee will continue to emphasize the importance of treatment and security of classroom computers and carts. Information cards will be placed on each classroom computer with clear instructions on how to leave the equipment after use.
• Drop boxes for leaving exams or other materials for IT are now available and are located on the terrace facing Straughn.
• Instructional technology equipment requests are due early next month.
• On-line Senate elections are anticipated from this point forward.

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F.

Library Advisory (M. Syrett)

The findings of student focus groups regarding perceptions of library services were distributed and discussed. Findings were focused on areas of service, resources, building, equipment and instruction. Results have also been shared with the library staff and with IT. Some changes have been implemented as a result, such as the relaxing of the food and beverage policy, while other are being included in long range planning efforts. J. Benjamin is the committee chair and presented a MOTION: The Library Advisory Committee moves the following resolution: that the University Administration reconsider the hiring freeze on the Humanities reference position in the North Hall Library.

Discussion: Clarification was requested regarding what the committee was hoping to accomplish by making the motion. The committee would like to see reconsideration of the hiring freeze. If passed, this motion gives voice to the concern that this is an important issue to the faculty. Administration has the ultimate hiring decision. This is one of three searches that has been suspended, M. Lane clarified. No other academic departments have asked for this kind of consideration; is this a new precedent that is being set? The library serves the entire campus and this decision has far-reaching ramifications. MOTION APPROVED.

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G.

Provost (M. Lane)

A formal thank you was extended for all involved in a busy year: work on the gen ed program, UNV 100, I and G courses and participation in brown bag discussions. Additionally, appreciation was extended to those colleagues in Belknap and Retan. Their patience and understanding have been appreciated.

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VI.

Old Business

S. Brown requested recognition of the leadership of the past President of Senate, P. Travis. A round of applause was noted.

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VII.

New Business

1. S. Davis presented the following MOTION: Inasmuch as the academic buildings on campus are to be smoke-free; and that the dangers of second-hand smoke are well known; that there are those who choose not to smoke; and are confronted with smokers at the entrances to most academic buildings; and finally, that the excessive number of cigarette butts is an eyesore; yet without a place, smokers will "light up" anywhere, The Senate Executive Committee moves the following: The Administration should establish no-smoking zones of 50 feet surrounding the entrances to the academic buildings on campus. In order to accommodate those who choose to smoke, areas near the buildings, away from ventilation and provided with ashtrays shall be designated for smokers.
   
   Discussion: Should input on solutions to this issue be solicited from smokers? While there is a need to accommodate smokers' needs, this is one solution that is recommended to Administration. In NY State, public law states that no smoking is permitted within 25 feet of a public building. Who will be responsible for enforcement? The police would likely be responsible, but if signs are posted, it becomes easier for anyone to approach smokers. A friendly amendment was suggested of adding 25 feet and deleting the last sentence. If an alternate place is not provided, smoking will occur everywhere. The friendly amendment was withdrawn. If the intent of the motion is to ask Administration to investigate options, do not limit them with distance stipulations. A friendly amendment was offered to delete "of 50 feet" and adding "appropriate" for the motion to read: The administration should establish appropriate no-smoking zones surrounding the entrances to the academic buildings on campus. In order to accommodate those who choose to smoke, areas near the buildings, away from ventilation and provided with ashtrays shall be designated for smokers. Rather than emphasize the second hand smoke health risk, which has not been proven, is the issue really unpleasantness? S. Davis indicated that this reflects disagreement with the rationale, but not the motion. The question was called. MOTION APPROVED.
   
   
2. S. Davis noted that 17 faculty members have retired or are retiring this academic year. This represents over 10 percent of faculty, a significant change over. Senators were urged to indoctrinate new colleagues to service needs on campus. Faculty Senate formally thanks those who are retiring for their years of service and dedicated commitment.

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VII.

Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. (P. Travis/A. Longoria).

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