ABSTRACT of Faculty Senate November 21, 2005
Bill Lyne, Senate President, called the final Fall Quarter meeting of the Faculty Senate to order at 4:06 pm on November 21st. Buff Schoenfeld sat in for President Morse. Senators approved minutes of November 7, 2005 and Standing Committee minutes. Central Health and Safety Committee and Transportation Initiatives Task Force minutes were also reviewed.
· Lyne reported on several items: 1) Stephanie Bowers will speak to the January 9th Senate; 2) Lyne learned in a meeting with Jim Shaw that a “supplemental” request was considered as well as seniority in assigning parking spaces; 3) we will maintain our recently updated our peer institution list although will the Carnegie Foundation may be changing its university classifications;
· Provost Bodman announced that President Morse has begun to set up the accreditation planning group, a steering committee that will seek additional faculty for subgroups to attend to assessment and student learning outcomes, QSR and writing, etc. Bodman listed Carolyn Dale, Kathy Knutzen, Victor Nolet, John Richardson, Dean Ghali and Dean Salzman and Joe Trimble who will begin a multi-volume report responding to the nine differing accreditation standards.
· The Senate welcomed Thomas Downing, Chair of Academic Coordinating Commission who reported that “117” was reserved for the FYE courses, and that the ACC had approved the new name of “Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies”. Bodman commended Downing for his work.
· Senators heard co-chairs Bodman and Jeff Newcomer report on the Strategic Action Plan Task Force, which hopes to have a draft for the campus to peruse by the end of January.
· Senators discussed the status of entry barriers to the majors and seek data on why individual departments are using GPA or barriers courses, what types of students are defaulting to General Studies, how many departments are limiting majors, and what is the faculty/student ratio in these departments; how prepared are students? Data is particularly sought in answer to the question: what is the actual capacity of the majors?
· Constituent concerns addressed the faculty review of building design, the question of classroom scheduling the day before thanksgiving, as well as general early enrollment in spring for Fall Quarter, a request that emergency exit notices be posted in every building on campus, and discussion on the role of the Senate in collective bargaining.
· Senators adjourned at 5:58 p.m. The first Winter Quarter meeting of the Senate is January 9th, 2006.