APPROVED
Kennedy
Union Ballroom
Presiding: Dr. John
Rapp
Senators Present: Anderson, Biddle, Biers, Bork, Chen, Courte, Donnelly, Doyle, Gauder, Gerla, Gorton, Hallinan, Ilg, Kocoloski, Lewis, Meyers, Morman, Pestello, Roecker-Phelps, Saliba, Skill, Thompson, Villalobos, Watras, Yungblut
Guests: Johnson, Krakowski, Rogatto
1.
Opening Prayer:
Dustin Anderson began the meeting with a prayer.
2.
Roll Call:
Twenty-six of thirty-nine Senators were present.
3.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of
4.
Announcements
There were no announcements.
5.
Professional M.S. in Mathematics Education Program
Development Plan, I-04-03
David Biers on behalf of the
Academic Policies Committee presented Senate Document I-04-03 to the Academic
Senate for a vote. The action is
legislative.
This proposal outlines a new
professional Masters degree summer program in
Mathematics Education. A collaboration between the Department of Mathematics and
the
Comment: The business plan for this program needs
refinement.
Answer: Tom Skill and the Dean of the College are
aware of this aspect. The Academic
Senate is being asked to vote upon the program’s academic qualities. The Provost’s Council will review the
administrative aspects.
Favor: 26
Oppose: 0
Abstain: 0
6.
General Education Issues
Pat Johnson made a presentation to the Academic Senate about Thematic
Clusters. While the issue of concern is
Thematic Clusters, their context in relation to General Education was also
reviewed.
David Biers noted that the
APC was asked to consider reviewing the thematic clusters as a whole. Does the Academic Senate want to review them?
Q: How would the assessment take place?
A: Student and faculty surveys, focus groups,
and review of syllabi.
Comment: Concern about clusters as a generational
issue and faculty turnover. There is not
much information sharing with new faculty, purpose of clusters not clearly
understood.
A: More could be happening with new faculty
regarding enculturation. However, once
new faculty understand the clusters, they are very
interested. It takes energy to sustain
the clusters.
Student: Dissatisfied with some cluster experiences. The problem was not with the structure of the
courses, but problem is that student interest not filled in classroom, not
enough diverse voices. No need to scrap
clusters, however. Don’t tie the
clusters so closely to academic programs.
7.
Proposed Evening Class and Final Test Schedule
George Doyle presented new options for evening class schedules and final test schedules. Currently there is a 5-minute break between evening classes, which can be tight. Doyle presented options for 10- and 15-minute breaks between classes, which would allow instructors more time to set up and/or shut down. There will be more discussion about this topic at the next Student Academic Policies Committee meeting.
Doyle also noted there is a discrepancy in the times allowed for day finals (110 minutes) versus evening finals (75 minutes). The proposed final test schedule seeks to even out the testing periods and allow for more time in between finals.
The proposed final test schedule has been sent to
the Associate Deans and received positive feedback. There has been mixed comments about adding
extra time in between evening classes.
8.
Standing Committee Reports
Calendar Committee: John Rapp reported on behalf of Linda Hartley. The committee is now working on the 2004-2005 calendar. Highlights include:
a. 2004-05 Fall semester will begin Wednesday, August 25.
b. There will be no Fall break.
c. Monday
evening classes (after
d. There
will be a midterm break
Discussion is currently focused on establishing a start date for the 2005-06 academic school year. The Calendar committee and the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate are split on the start dates, whether it should be a Monday or a Wednesday.
The Calendar Committee needs to give a firm recommendation after the spring break to ECAS so that it may be brought to full vote at the next Academic Senate meeting.
Comment: Students really want a Fall break.
Comment: Putting aside the logistics of a Thurdsday move-in, what about the perspective of parents for a Thursday move-in? The Sunday Mass is a powerful community send-off. The weekend move-in is an extremely powerful experience, and generates much goodwill and positive P.R., especially with the parents.
Student comment: Move-in is an important event in family lives; would hazard a guess that families would be willing to take time off if move-in was held on a Thursday.
Comment: University functions would still need reviewing and preparation for a Thursday move-in date.
Student comment: A Thursday move date would allow parents of upper-class students to participate on the weekends.
Faculty Affairs Committee: Harry Gerla
reported for the FAC. The committee is
working on the following items:
a. Consideration of a constitutional amendment to include Vice President of Research on Academic Senate. After reviewing the issue, the committee does not recommend a change in membership.
b. Use of student evaluations in faculty evaluations.
Academic Policies Committee: Dave Biers reported for the APC. The committee is working on the following items:
a. Class Adds. The committee approved a policy of the 5th day of classes as the last day to approve Class Adds. This recommendation was sent to Tom Westendorf.
b. Thematic clusters.
c. Commencement: Can a student walk in the May graduation when s/he is short the necessary hours? The APC will review this issue in time for the May 2005 graduation.
Student Academic Policies Committee: Adam Kocoloski reported for the SAPC. The committee is working on the following items:
a.
Standardizing appeals for 3 or more finals.
b.
2 issues from George Doyle regarding evening class
schedules and final test schedules.
c.
Student evaluations of faculty.
The meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted: Heidi Gauder, Secretary of the Academic
Senate.