Present:

Present: C. Burns, J. Murphy, K.S. Young, F. Blanco, P. Savoye, J. Benjamin, F. Craig, L. Rashidi, S. Holderby, J. Halstead, B. Manavizadeh, R. Stender, A. Gaskievicz, L. Cass, M. Jones, T. Elsasser, M. Zelkowitz, J. Kagle, M. Gaballa, B. Ganong, J. Tan, A. Longoria, N. Werner-Burke, T. Murphy, W. Keeth, K.Thorne, J. Bosworth, D. Dietz, D. Crowder, I. Newman, S. Brown, M. Moore.

I.

C. Burns called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. Minutes of Oct. 21, 2004 were approved (L. Rashidi/B. Ganong).

APPROVED

II.

Treasurer's Report (B. Holtman--e-mail)

The current account balance is $1065.

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APPROVED

III.

Announcements

1. Athletic Advisory Board—two faculty volunteers still needed.
2. Advising Resource Group—new chairperson still needed.

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IV.

Committee Reports

A.

Academic Affairs (F. Blanco)

Motion # 1

AAC moves to approve the addition of the following Academic Advising Mission Statement to the catalog and change the Advising Center description.

Academic Advising Mission Statement

Quality Academic Advising involves a strong relationship between the advisor and the advisee. At Mansfield University, Academic Advising assists students in developing their educational and career goals. Mansfield University recognizes advising as a shared responsibility of both the student and the advisor. The Mansfield University Advising Center promotes this model throughout the university community.

New Description of Advising Center

The advising center is dedicated to the advising of liberal studies majors, academic exploratory students, academic opportunity students, and probationary, readmitted, reinstated and qualifying students assigned to the center.
An academic advisor assigned to the center will help guide students in developing plans and taking specific actions to improve their academic progress and meet the goals associated with the university advising mission statement.

Discussion about whether this represents a change that would make the advisor liable for mistakes. T. Elsasser responded this reflects a trend in the country and there is nothing here that would make anyone more liable than before. Motion carried.

Motion # 2

AAC moves to approve the New Program Proposal: Minor in management

This minor is intended to develop understanding, skills, insights, judgment and intuition that enable students to become effective managers. It will help students to actively learn and engage in acquiring management competencies by providing a comprehensive coverage of contemporary management theories, techniques and practices.
No discussion. Motion carried.

Motion # 3

AAC moves to approve the course change for ED 5590 Introduction to Educational Administration.

The change consists of requiring full-time K-12 classroom teaching as a prerequisite for this course. The purpose of the change is to prevent confusion on the part of M.Ed and M.S.Ed students who have no teaching experience and seek an elective graduate course.

Discussion: Can they take this course with permission of the instructor? Answer was “probably not.” Motion carried.

Motion # 4

AAC moves to approve the deletion of the following courses:

HST 5501 Colonial and Revolutionary America,
HST 5504 Constitution to Manifest Destiny,
HST 5505 The Age of Civil War and Reconstruction,
HST 5507 The United States, 1914-1945,
HST 5508 America Since World War II,
HST 5510 Afro-American Experience,
HST 5515 Modern American Diplomacy,
HST 5516 The Evolution of Social Welfare in America,
HST 5518 Frontier in American History,
HST 5521 The Ancient World: Greece and the Near East,
HST 5522 The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire,
HST 5523 The Holocaust,
HST 5525 American Social and Cultural History,
HST 5526 World Cultures,
HST 5530 The American Indian: From Bering to Red Power,
HST 5551 Renaissance and Reformation,
HST 5558 The Soviet Union,
HST 5559 Russia: Beginning to 1917,
HST 5566 Twentieth Century Europe,
HST 5588 History of Africa, and
HST 5589 Vietnam War

Rationale for deletion: Restructuring HST graduate course offerings

Discussion: Does restructuring include comparable courses? J. Bosworth says yes. Question about whether African American Studies and the Holocaust specifically will be continued. They will still be offered. This just streamlines the process. They will be dual listed (both graduate and undergraduate credit). C. Burns explained that current listings are misleading. J. Murphy asked if the topics course is offered, does this circumvent the curricular mechanism at the university if you can offer anything under a topics course. Languages and Literature and History both use this. N. Werner-Burke took issue with the rationale for the motions to add. Asked about whether night classes would be offered. Answer was rarely. J. Bosworth stated that most of these courses don’t exist here now. They aren’t really eliminating anything. Motion carried.

Motion # 5

AAC moves to approve the new course HST 5531 Topics in United States History

Purpose and Nature of Course: Create an opportunity for students to fulfill Act 48 and master’s education requirements (see below)

Motion # 6
AAC moves to approve the new course HST 5532 Topics in World History

Purpose and Nature of Course: Create an opportunity for students to fulfill Act 48 and master’s education requirements (see below)

Motion # 7
AAC moves to approve the new course HST 5533 Topics in European History

Purpose and Nature of Course: Create an opportunity for students to fulfill Act 48 and master’s education requirements

Discussion: Motions 5, 6, and 7 were considered together with no objection from the assembly. This mirrors the same structure in their undergraduate curriculum. J. Murphy spoke to the idea again of circumventing the curriculum machinery. S. Brown called a point of order—whether topics courses are appropriate in the university curriculum is not the issue here. W. Keeth asked if this will create a problem for people to fulfill Act 48 and M.E. requirements. C. Burns clarified that education will decide if courses count for M.E. requirements. Question about whether students could repeat special topics courses under another topic to erase a failure or improve a grade. T. Elsasser clarified that the student must retake the same topic course to change the grade. L. Rashidi said that a student had done this through petition. M. Jones said they can only repeat if the title is the same. The history dept. will keep track of the titles. Description of purpose and nature of course was edited to read: “Master’s of Science in education.” Motion carried.

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B.

Academic Planning (P. Savoye)

Approved radiology changes and program changes for the B.S. in Communication. They have a long agenda for tomorrow.

C.

Administrative Affairs & Elections (J. Benjamin)

Committee updates are reflected on the web page. They met about the parking issue and asked M. Reid to inventory parking spots on campus and permits issued. Looking at reserved spaces being taken by students.

D.

Student Affairs & Admissions (S. Holderby)

Students upset by registration lockout. System can only handle 150 at a time. Students are extremely upset. D. Dietz asked if this might be a retention issue. Also, increasing racial and gender issues in the classroom. No specifics, but there have been disruptions and racial insults from student to student and student to faculty. Records office has helped distraught students get registered. D. Dietz said at another university they had time tickets. W. Keeth asked about updates to the master schedule. T. Murphy said that the registrar’s office has been extremely helpful. Applause from the assembly.

E.

Information Technology (F. Craig)

Will be looking at the number of people who can register at a time. A. Longoria asked how long students get email after they graduate. It’s a few months. Very difficult to get email extended. F. Craig will look into this.

F.

Library Advisory (L. Rashidi)

No report.

Provost (M. Lane)

No report.

V.

Old Business

1. Faculty Assembly had a good turnout and lively discussion. The changes to the constitution must be voted on by mail ballot. AAC is working on the attendance policy. Another faculty assembly meeting will be scheduled for January.

VI.

New Business

1. Proposal for a constitutional amendment. Only faculty may vote in Senate or on Senate committees on matters of the curriculum. K. S. Young explained that faculty assembly had voted to recommend this to the senate. It is now before the senate for a vote. If it is approved, then it goes through the rest of the process for amending the constitution. If it is not approved, it goes back to the assembly.
   
   Discussion:
   
   T. Elsasser said that the Board of Governors has students who have a right to vote and that taking away that right would be detrimental to the climate on campus.
   
   A. Gaskievicz said it is a contractual issue. It is the union’s view that curriculum issues are under the purview of faculty. Senate administers committees, but they serve APSCUF. Most SSHE campuses don’t allow students. We are an exception. Staff and students should have a vote on all else, but not on curricular issues. Violation of APSCUF for 20 years on this issue.
   
   T. Elsasser said he doesn’t see APSCUF governing senate. Doesn’t want APSCUF governing senate. Boar of Trustees had a student who votes as 1 of 11 members.
   
   F. Craig said APSCUF and constitution are at odds. What was original intent? He read the preamble of the constitution. APSCUF has the right to challenge that, but original intent was to work together.
   
   A. Longoria spoke against it. SGA students are dedicated and hard working.
   
   B. Manavizadeh said students may not be professional but they need a voice. SGA would be angered by this move.
   
   F. Craig said this is fixated on the practical and specific. We need to look at the bigger issues of the message we are sending when we tell a group they can’t have a vote.
   
   S. Brown said that the faculty assembly can turn over any decision senate makes.
   
   Question about what would happen if we voted no—A. Gaskievicz said they could file a grievance which would go to Harrisburg. They could take back AAC and administer it through APSCUF.
   
   Motion to postpone this motion until the next meeting. (A. Gaskievicz/S. Brown) Motion carried.
2. K. Thorne asked about who is in charge of enforcing the smoking policy. She is having medical problems, and people smoking close to the building allows for smoke to enter doorways and air intakes. J. Halstead stated that he approved the policy but that nothing is in place to enforce the policy. Administrative Affairs needs to review this. Student Affairs could also look into it.
3. A. Longoria announced Misty Recollections is running Nov. 11-14. Also, he was told by a student that they could no longer get a Theatre minor. Then he found out the chair was talking to the Provost about whether to keep the minor. He asked AAC to look into the procedure for making these decisions.
4. C. Burns made a statement about being grateful for shared governance.

VII.

Remarks for the Good of the Order

None.

VIII.

Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. (A. Longoria/S. Holderby).

Respectfully submitted,
K. Sue Young
Secretary of Senate