Present:

Present: C. Burns, J. Murphy, K.S.Young, B. Holtman, F. Blanco, P. Savoye, J. Benjamin, L.Rashidi, S. Holderby, J. Halstead, M. Lane, M. Reid, T. Elsasser, M. Zeldowitz, J. Kagle, M. Gaballa, B. Ganong, J. Tan, A. Longoria, T. Murphy, W. Keeth, K. Thorne, J. Bosworth, A. Johnson, D. Dietz, D. Crowder, S. Brown, J. Mansfield, A. Chavira-Prado, M. Moore.

I.I.

III.

C. Burns called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Minutes of April 29, 2004 were approved (K. Thorne/T. Elsasser).

APPROVED

IIII.

Treasurer's Report (B. Holtman)

The current account balance is $165.00.

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APPROVED

IV.

Announcements

1. Welcome and recognition of new senators.
2. Thank you for J. Murphy and A. Zegalia for their work on convocation.
3. President Halstead has approved the course description change for TRT 1102 approved at Senate on April 15, 2004, the new course description and prerequisite for ACC 3320 and the new online LSC 6600 course, School Library Advocacy, in the School Library and Information Technologies program approved at the April 29, 2004 meeting.
4. J. Halstead stated that convocation went very well. Stated there was a competitive search resulting in the hire of M. Reid, new VP of Finance and Administration. Introduced Reid and shared his credentials.
5. P. Savoye informed the senate of the passing of former faculty member Walter Funmaker on June 1, 2004.
6. J. Murphy reminded everyone of the constitutional amendments passed last semester. Will hold a faculty assembly for a vote on Friday Oct 29th at 4pm in the planetarium. Please let him know if there are other agenda items for this assembly.
7. A. Longoria stated there would be a candlelight vigil in the South Hall mall at 7:30 tonight for soldiers who have died in the war.
8. J. Benjamin asked for committees to update their membership lists with her so she is ready for the upcoming election.
9. C. Burns stated she had a call for volunteers for the judicial hearing board and has had a great response.

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V.

Committee Reports

A.

Academic Affairs (F. Blanco)

A reminder that any curricular action that you want to have considered for in the 2005 catalog needs to be to her by 12:00 noon on November 23rd. Please refer to the my.mansfield website for the procedure.

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B.

Academic Planning (P. Savoye)

APSCUF is trying to replace 3 appointees. The committee should get a briefing tomorrow morning from M. Lane on budgets, enrollment, and accreditation.

C.

Administrative Affairs & Elections (J. Benjamin)

Elections are coming up. The nomination information went out today.

D.

Student Affairs & Admissions

No report.

E.

Information Technology

No report.

F.

Library Advisory (L. Rashidi)

Dave Stover will be the speaker at the first faculty lecture series on Sept. 22 at 4pm in Alumni Multipurpose room speaking on copyright laws. Please announce to students as well.

.

Provost (M. Lane)

Brown bag today began discussion about the Associate Provost position. The vacancy allows him to look at organizational structure of academic affairs. A summary of today’s meeting will come to all faculty members. A discussion board will also be established. He would also be willing to visit departments during their meeting times to discuss the issue. He hopes to converse about this for the next 4-6 weeks.

Due to reduction of staff in the registrar’s office, there will be no more paper drop/add effective Spring 2005. Students will continue to drop and add on webadvisor. No signature of an advisor will be needed. Will try to find a way to require first year students to see advisors first.

S. Brown asked for clarification on the new attendance policy. Any student with an excused absence must see C. Alexander. M. Lane stated this was C. Alexander’s preferred solution to the problem of equity and fairness in excuses. M. Lane said that coaches will inform in the traditional way. Many questions arose about what is excused and what is not excused. M. Lane said illness, death, and athletics are the only university excused absences. Club trips, field work experience, etc. are not university excused absences and do not go through Carol. Many more questions about total # of absences allowed (no policy at this time—suggested we have a discussion about this). Reiterated that this policy is in place because a “non insignificant number” of faculty members didn’t excuse legitimate university absences. Concerns voiced over reasoning for why professional experiences are not excused but athletics are. AAC will review the policy. Send any questions or concerns to F. Blanco.

VI.

Old Business

1. Faculty Assembly is coming up. B. Holtman reminded everyone of the senate website. Item B was covered elsewhere, and item C was not applicable so deleted from the agenda.

VII.

New Business

1. B. Holtman reminded people of senate dues. They are a charitable donation for scholarships for students. All faculty are asked to pay them. They go for a “senate sponsored scholarship fund.” Senators are asked to collect them from the department members. B.Holtman gives receipts for tax purposes. Motion to keep the dues at $10.00 (B.Holtman/F. Blanco) MOTION CARRIES. Some concern over whether they are “senate dues” or “faculty assembly dues” etc. B. Holtman and C. Burns will check the constitution for clarification and possibly bring up a discussion at the faculty assembly.

VIII.

Remarks for the Good of the Order

None.

IX.

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. (L. Rashidi/S. Brown).

Respectfully submitted,
K. Sue Young
Secretary of Senate