UNAPPROVED
Kennedy
Union Ballroom
Presiding: Dr. John
Rapp
Senators Present: Anderson, Biers, Chen, Courte, Darrow, Doyle, Eloe, Gauder, Gerla, Hardie, Hartley, Ilg, Kloppenberg, Kocoloski, Lewis, Meyers, Morman, Mullins, Pestello, Roecker-Phelps, Saliba, Thimmes, Watras, Yungblut
Guests: Bickford, Brecha, Buchino, Fisher, Schuman, Sucher, Stimmer, Westendorf, Wilkinson
1.
Opening Prayer:
Pamela Thimmes began the meeting with a
prayer.
2.
Roll Call:
Twenty-five of thirty-nine Senators were present.
3.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of March 12, 2004, were approved
with minor changes.
4.
Announcements
John Rapp welcomed the new student
Senators and asked them to introduce themselves.
Fred Pestello
thanked the Academic Senate for its work this past year, especially for its
efforts to improve academic excellence and Vision 2010.
5.
Special Resolution of Thanks to Paul Morman
John Rapp, on behalf of the
Academic Senate, presented a plaque to Paul Morman
honoring him for his years of service on the Academic Senate.
6.
Excellence Committee Reports
Deb Bickford described the Faculty Development Committee’s work on the
one-time grant opportunity provided by the Academic Senate. With a focus on academic excellence for
first-year students, the committee approved 5 grant applications. The committee was also able to secure
matching funds from the Deans with the provision that the applications aligned
with unit goals.
The grants were awarded to the following groups and
persons:
a.
CORE Program:
This program will utilize student tutors to help first-year
students. Monies will go to training
workshops and writing across the curriculum.
b.
Pat Johnson:
The College will be training student mentors to deliver ASI 150 this
fall.
c.
Dick Ferguson and the Dayton Civic Scholars: This project will assist Undeclared Social
Sciences students. Pulling students from
ASI 150, they will work with the students on service learning. Part of a three-year effort, these students
will then mentor students the following year.
d.
Pat Hart and the School of Education: Within the EDU 110 course, faculty will work
to connect the discipline with the pedagogy.
e.
Malcolm Daniels and the School of Engineering: Undeclared Engineering students will connect
with faculty about the buildings across campus.
Q: Don’t ASI 150 mentors exist already?
A: The current mentor system is voluntary with
vary little opportunity for training.
This grant will help provide uniformity across the field.
Q: Are these ongoing grants?
A: No, just one-time. They are intended to stimulate thinking.
Bob Brecha,
on behalf of the Academic Senate Committee on Excellence, reported on the
group’s efforts this year. The group has
been listening much of the semester as it works on figuring out where the
committee fits in on the issue without duplicating efforts elsewhere on
campus. In particular, the committee
intends to review NSSE data and is also interested in working with Enrollment
Management and Financial Aid to optimize scholarships. Currently, most of the funding remains
unspent as the committee is looking for ways to inject small amounts into
strategically appropriate projects; however, it is moving carefully to ensure
academic excellence for the long term.
7.
Final Tests Schedule, I-04-04
Adam Kokoloski, on behalf
of the Student Academic Policies Committee, presented Senate Document I-04-04
to the Academic Senate for a vote. The
action is legislative.
Currently there is a discrepancy between the time allotted for day and evening finals. Final tests for day classes are scheduled for 110 minutes and evening class final tests are scheduled for 75 minutes or more. This proposal seeks to standardize the time allotted for finals tests—all tests would run 110 minutes regardless of day or evening class time. Time between tests would also be increased to 20 minutes for day tests and 10 minutes for evening tests.
Q: Are there any problems by moving to this new schedule?
A: Tom Westendorf has checked with his office. There are no anticipated problems with this change.
Favor: 24
Oppose: 0
Abstain: 0
Comment: There will need to be good PR about this new finals testing schedule to make sure everyone is aware of the changes.
8.
Update on Vision 2010
Sean Wilkinson provided an update on Vision 2010. The process of developing the statement has
been just as important as the statement itself.
They are working on a balance between articulating ideals and actual
pragmatic objectives. The group has been
working with leadership groups across campus to develop a draft statement which
will be refined and revised this summer so that a draft may be presented to the
entire UD community this fall.
9.
Report from ECAS
John Rapp reported for the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate
regarding the Academic Calendar status.
At issue is when to start the academic school year in Fall 2005: Monday or Wednesday? Discussions in the Calendar Committee and the APC provided no resolution on the matter, so the ECAS endorsed a school start of Monday. This Monday start recommendation was sent to the Provost’s Council.
Q: What about Tom Skill’s earlier concerns?
A: These concerns are not resolved as near as we know. However, Student Development strongly endorses a Monday start and provided multiple rationales for doing so.
Comment: When looking at academic excellence, Mondays seem more favorable to upholding this effort.
Comment: The need for a mid-term break was another reason for the Monday push. If there is no clear ruling, we should defer to the student schedule.
Q: Concern expressed about the traditional Sunday orientation Mass and the fate of Convocation.
A: We are looking at possibly a weekend Convocation, modified with perhaps a famous speaker and tied to first-year readings. The likelihood is that Convocation will not be on Mondays any more.
Comment: Please note that this change is only for 2005. We are not tied to a five-year plan, so if this change does not go well, we are not chained to a Monday start.
10.
Standing Committee Reports
Faculty Affairs Committee: Harry Gerla
reported for the FAC. The committee
dealt with 2 issues this term:
a. Faculty maternity leave.
b. Proper use of student evaluations in faculty evaluations.
Q: The committee declined to give the Vice President of Research a seat on the Academic Senate. What about the Vice President of Graduate Studies?
A: The title is Dean of Graduate Studies; accordingly, that position will remain on the Academic Senate.
Academic Policies Committee: Dave Biers reported for the APC. The committee has two ongoing items:
a. Thematic clusters.
b. Walking in Commencement when short the necessary credit hours. A statement will be formalized in time for the May 2005 graduation.
Q: Why is there a limit of 7 credit hours short? What about summer students who take 12-18 hours to finish by August?
A: Sam Johnson recommended 7 credit hours. There is a potential problem in that students may not finish in the summer; that is, they sign up for 15 credit hours and then drop courses. The ability to finish 7 credit hours is more realistic.
Student Academic Policies Committee: Adam Kocoloski
reported for the SAPC. The committee has
one ongoing issue: developing guideline
language for students scheduled for 3 or more finals on the same day.
The meeting adjourned at 3:55pm.
Respectfully submitted:
Heidi Gauder, Secretary of the Academic Senate.