Present:

Present: K. Bonner, C. Burns, K. Carico, L. Cass, F. Chua, D. Crowder, D. Dietz, J.Floyd, A. Gaskievicz, C. Hoy, V. Jenkins, P. Junius, W. Keeth, P. Keller, T. Kiessling, J. Mansfield, M. Moore, J. Murphy, T. Murphy, J. Phillips, C. Pérez, P. Savoye, D. Solan, K.Thorne, M. Renner, D. Seigart, R. Stanley, S. Stein, N. Werner-Burke

I.

I. C. Burns called the meeting to order at 3:35. Minutes of Oct. 6, 2005 approved. (A. Gaskievicz/C. Hoy)

APPROVED

II.

Treasurer's Report (D. Dietz)

$352.56 w/$10.00 undeposited.

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APPROVED

III.

Announcements

1. Curricular action of Sept. 22 approved.
   
   

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IV.

Committee and Other Reports

Academic Affairs (J. Floyd)

Announce deadline for curriculum approval actions: Nov. 22. Question: Any changes in catalog deadline? Response from M. Renner: Must consult with Cathy Martin to determine implications of moving deadline. C. Burns: Therefore, we should aim for early submissions of curricular actions. M. Renner: We can keep developing the curriculum independent of the catalog revisions.

B.

Academic Planning (P. Savoye)

Health Sciences: Radiology Technology will make Math 1128 the official math requirement of their associate programs. J. Murphy: What if someone comes in to the program ready to take calculus? P: That is a reasonable concern. Will e-mail Janeen. C. Burns: Policy is you can’t go backwards. If students have taken college calculus, they cannot go to a lower-level math course. J. Murphy: Doesn’t it make sense to place these students in an appropriate class according to math scores? C. Burns: The action will go to AAC, so there will be time to scrutinize.

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C.

Administrative Affairs & Elections (S. Holderby)

Message from Shawndra is that she was having problems with IT, but the announcement for elections went today. Encourage people to run for these offices.

D.

Student Affairs & Admissions (L. Labuski-Brown)

No report.

E.

Information Technology (A. Gaskievicz)

No report.

F.

Library Advisory (A. Gaskievicz)

No report.

Provost (M. Renner)

No report. Will answer questions.

• N. Werner-Burke: We have had a variance in the number of hours we’ve had to plan for graduate credit (37-42). Is there a number we should try for? M. Renner: 37 is a reasonable baseline. We can be flexible w/in reason, and, absent a clear policy, we will proceed case-by-case. 37 is the number we want to try for w/FTF classes. The proposed new summer school schedule still must go through the agreement process. It is reasonable to start planning as if it will be approved. Free room and board is still on the agenda. We want to understand what the impact on the students will be.
• C. Pérez: If we hire more RAs, and room and board are already paid for, what are they working for? M. Renner: The most honest answer is that we will have to figure that out.

V.

Old Business

1. The Council of Trustees met by teleconference and approved our recommendation that Rod Kelchner be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at the December 17, 2005 Commencement exercises.

VI.

New Business

1. Progress on the task force on smoking: The idea came from Administrative Affairs as a result of concerns voiced about smoke coming into offices through the air intakes. A representative from each building is requested. Discussion: Have a designated smoking area behind the building rather than in front. Easier to enforce in front of building. Problem with this idea: air intakes are in back of the building, too. There are places to put cigarettes out in front of building. Custodians said if ashtrays aren’t there, smokers will throw cigarette butts on ground. Students (and faculty) don’t know what the smoker stations are. There is really no enforcement. Bottom line: We have asthmatic faculty and students, and smoking is still a problem. Please encourage people in your building to get involved.
2. C. Burns: Checked out some of the Discussion Forums over break. Encourage you to check those out and participate.
3. Discussion on retention. K. Thorne: French Universities commonly expect to lose 50 % at the end of the freshman year, with a 25% chance of finishing for those who remain. D. Dietz: Historically, the retention rate has been roughly 50% back to 1920.
4. Reminders: Multicultural Arts activities at the end of next week—call the Art Department. Mid-term grades are due tomorrow.
   
   

VII.

Adjournment at 4:15 (T. Murphy/M. Moore)

Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Carico
Interim Senate Secretary