THE
presidential advisory committee (university SENATE) OF
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Meeting 418
9 February 2005
Synopsis:
(1) The PAC approved 4 degree programs in Fine Arts (Theatre) and 2 in Chemistry (Cheminformatics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry).
(2) The PAC approved an interdisciplinary minor in Nanoscale Science and Engineering and a certificate in Actuarial Science (Math. Sci.).
(3) The PAC approved a name change from Pre-Law to Law and Society.
(4) The PAC voted to change the date of Homecoming 2005 to one week earlier.
(5) The PAC heard that the evaluation of the President was reasonably good, and that the evaluation instrument needs some work to facilitate analysis.
(6) The PAC elected Rosalie Kern and Michelle Miller to serve on the Search Committee for Graduate Dean.
1. CALL TO
ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Monson called the Presidential Advisory Committee (University Senate) Meeting 418 to order at 5:32 pm on Wednesday, 9 February 2005 in Room B45 EERC.
Secretary Glime called
roll. Absent were representatives from
Army/Air Force ROTC, Computer Science, Education, Materials Science and
Engineering, Physical Education, Physics,
2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Guests included David Reed (Provost), Travis Pierce (Student Life), Max Seel (Dean Sciences & Arts), Milt Olsson (Fine Arts), Mary Carol Friedrich (Fine Arts), Christopher Plummer (Fine Arts), and Alphonse Baartmans (Mathematical Sciences).
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Monson added several items to the agenda:
D. Proposal 23-05, Proposal for a Change in the Homecoming Recess in the 2005-2006 Academic Calendar.
E. Election of PAC representatives to the Search Committee for Graduate Dean.
The original Item D would become Item F: Report of the Administrative Policy Committee on the Presidential Evaluation.
C. Selfe MOVED and Turnquist seconded the motion to approve the agenda as modified. The motion to approve PASSED on voice vote with no dissent. [Appendix A. NOTE: Only official senate and library archival copies of the minutes will contain a full complement of the appendices.]
4. approval of minutes from meeting 417
Secretary Glime read a correction from Vable to Item J, first full paragraph, replacing "Wray and Durfee suggested that the procedures on mandatory transfer be separated from those of a faculty-initiated transfer." with "Wray and Durfee gave the committee a document that contained two procedures that weaved in and out regarding mandatory transfer due to closure of a unit and transfer initiated by a faculty member. The committee recommended separation of the two procedures."
Beck (at-large) pointed out that in Item I, "Low" should be "Law."
Janners noted that "Bray" in Item H should be "Pray." [Prey in the visitor list should also be Pray.]
C. Selfe MOVED and Bruch seconded the motion to approve the minutes of Meeting 417 as corrected. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.
5. CHAIR’S REPORT
1. Results of the constitutional referendum
(approved by PAC in Meeting 415) are:
|
|
Numb |
Numb Votes Cast |
% Voting |
Numb |
% Votes Cast |
Numb Votes Against |
|
Prof Staff |
432 |
218 |
50% |
145 |
67% |
73 |
|
Fac |
379 |
205 |
54% |
147 |
72% |
58 |
|
Total |
811 |
423 |
52% |
292 |
69% |
131 |
2. At the Board meeting on 25 February 2005 President Monson
will ask the Board of Control to approve this Senate Constitution.
3. Memos
were sent to the Administration on Proposals 09-05 and 10-05, which dealt with
changes in the sabbatical leave policy and a change in the Board of Control
policy on sabbatical leaves. The Provost has just informed the PAC president
that Proposal 10-05, Request for Change in Board of Control Policy 6.1 on
Sabbatical Leave, has been approved and is being sent to the Board of
Control. Proposal 9-05 is still under
review. [see minutes, page 11300, for a
copy of these proposals]
4. The Executive Committee met yesterday and will consider introducing a proposal that will define Senate membership for purposes of a quorum as being Senators from representation units that have selected Senators and Alternates.
6. UNFINISHED business
A. Proposal 11-05, Fine Arts Theatre and Entertainment Technology, B.S.
B. Proposal 12-05, Fine Arts Audio Production and Technology, B.S.
C. Proposal 13-05, Fine Arts Theatre and Entertainment Technology, B. A.
D. Proposal 14-05, Fine Arts Sound Design, B.A.
[see minutes, page 11317-11369, for a
copy of these proposals]
Monson suggested that these four proposals could be considered as a group. Bruch MOVED and Turnquist seconded the motion to consider Proposals 11-05, 12-05, 13-05, and 14-05 as a group. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.
Bruch MOVED and Janners seconded the motion to approve these four proposals. There was no discussion and the motion PASSED on voice vote with no opposition, academic units only.
E. Proposal 15-05, Chemistry Cheminformatics, B.S.
F. Proposal 16-05, Chemistry Pharmaceutical
Chemistry, B.S. [see minutes, page 11370-11383,
for a copy of these proposals]
Bruch MOVED and Turnquist seconded the motion to consider Proposals 15-05 and 16-05 together.
Bell (USG) asked what approval by the PAC would mean. Provost Reed responded that the proposal would need to go to the Administration for approval, then the Board of Control, then to the state level, and then back for final approval by the Board of Control. It could come back to the Board for the April meeting.
The motion to approve both proposals PASSED on voice vote with no opposition, academic units only.
G. Proposal 17-05,
Interdisciplinary Minor in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (Nanotechnology) [see minutes, page 11384, for a copy of
this proposal]
Turnquist MOVED and Janners seconded the motion to approve
Proposal 17-05. The motion PASSED on
voice vote with no opposition, academic units only.
H. Proposal 18-05,
Certificate In Actuarial Science, Mathematical Science. [see minutes, page 11392, for a copy of this proposal]
Lewandowski MOVED and Turnquist seconded the motion to approve Proposal 18-05.
Monson pointed out that Forel (GSC) had raised questions to usenate-l about the proposal and that David Olson had responded.
Baartmans (Math. Sci.) added that this certificate does not compare to a law degree. Pray (actuarial scientist in Math. Sci. Dept.) took seven years to pass all the exams required; no one passes the seven required exams immediately.
Forel (GSC) asked why a certificate is needed if it doesn't make a person an actuarian. Seel (Dean Sci. & Arts) responded that it makes it easier – it gives an option to students in other disciplines. They must take specific math courses. These courses should prepare them for the battery of 7 exams. The B.S. degree requirements may be separate from the certificate requirements.
Janners added that a student could just take courses for the certificate and not earn a degree.
Mork added that this certificate provides a grouping of courses that can be offered [as guidance].
Forel questioned the description that states that "Students who complete this program, and an undergraduate degree in Business, the sciences, or engineering, will be able to pursue employment as Actuary," stating that anyone can "pursue" employment as an actuarian. He asked why someone must have a bachelor's degree to get the certificate. How does that sentence aid?
Forel MOVED and Wood seconded the motion to strike the sentence in question. Selfe and Cornilsen suggested a friendly amendment to change "will be able to" to "be better prepared to" in the statement in question. Forel accepted the friendly amendment to the original wording, withdrawing the motion to strike. Monson added two editorial corrections: Business should not be capitalized and the sentence should end with "an Actuary."
Sutter asked if someone in the STC program would also be better prepared. Seel responded that the original proposal was more general, but that the proposers thought that specifying these disciplines would be more appropriate.
Forel noted that the certificate is less than a Bachelor's Degree.
Bruch (Fine Arts) called the question. The motion to call the question PASSED on voice vote with opposition.
The motion to approve Proposal 18-05 with its friendly amendment and editorial changes PASSED with dissent on voice vote of academic faculty.
Monson reported that he had checked and learned that there is already a means to handle credit for passing a test.
I. Proposal 19-05,
Name Change, Pre-Law to Law and Society. [see
minutes, page 11394, for a copy of this proposal]
Gordon MOVED and C. Selfe seconded the motion to approve Proposal 19-05. There was no discussion. The motion PASSED on voice vote of academic faculty with no opposition.
J. Proposal 20-05,
Transfer of Tenure and Rank Between Academic Units [see minutes, page 11395, for a copy of this proposal]
C. Selfe MOVED and
Sutter (At-Large) stated that deans of schools should be involved in the transfer. Vable (ME-EM) responded that the Provost can appoint the dean as the facilitator. Sutter asked why the schools should not be treated the same as the colleges. Vable responded that schools are more likely to be closed than colleges. Colleges have a different administrative structure with another level of administration. For example, deans of schools are appointed for three years and those of colleges are appointed for four years.
Sutter argued that colleges could get closed and the policy should be written to cover that case as well, so the policy should be consistent. Vable responded that if a department is closed, the dean is involved. If a school is closed, there is no higher administrator between the school and Provost.
Sutter MOVED and Pollins seconded the motion to table Proposal 20-05 and send it back to committee. The motion to table PASSED with opposition.
Monson asked Sutter to suggest new wording for the proposal. Beck suggested the committee should also seek input from the Provost.
A. Proposal 21-05, Additional Responsibilities for Elections Committee.
[Appendix
B]
Monson pointed out that "Voting Unites" should be "Voting Units."
B. Proposal 22-05, Minor in Bioprocess Engineering
[Appendix
C]
Janners reported that this proposal is a joint proposal from Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences. Students can take either a biology or engineering track. It requires one new course and otherwise is just a re-organization of existing coursework so that there should be no financial impact.
C. Report from the Instructional Policy Committee.
Wagner reported that she had talked to various administrative groups regarding times of final exams and the policy on exam times is being reviewed. She also reported that many faculty have been unaware of the policy that no exams can be given after 2 pm on Tuesday of Carnival week. The committee is also reworking the add-drop procedure for first-year students.
D. Proposal 23-05, Proposal for a Change in the Homecoming Recess in the 2005-2006 Academic Calendar.
[Appendix
D]
C. Selfe MOVED and Wagner seconded the motion to consider Proposal 23-05 as an emergency proposal. The motion to consider this an emergency proposal PASSED on secret ballot of the entire Senate.
Gorman MOVED and Flynn seconded the motion to approve Proposal 23-05.
Wagner explained that two large events had been planned for the same week-end and there was concern there might not be enough hotel/motel rooms to house the participants. All concerned departments and units have been consulted, including USG. The planners of Family Week-end would like to move that event to the week currently planned for homecoming and to move homecoming one week earlier. The Athletic Department was happy because it allows two home football games on weekends with lots of potential spectators. Members of Humanities, Alumni Relations, Rosza, Student Life, and Student Affairs all agreed to the change.
Monson ruled that the calendar was an academic issue. [There was not a quorum of the entire PAC but there was of the faculty.] The motion to change the date of homecoming (Proposal 23-05) PASSED on voice vote of academic faculty with 1 dissent.
E. Monson reported that there were three candidates to serve on the Search Committee for the Graduate Dean: Rosalie Kern (Education), Michelle Miller (ME-EM), and Judith Perlinger (Civil and Environmental Engineering).
Kern and Miller were ELECTED by secret ballot of the academic faculty.
F. Report from Administrative Policy Committee on the Presidential Evaluation.
Vitton (Civil & Environmental Engineering) reported the results of the presidential evaluation conducted in the fall semester. The number of respondents was 66 faculty, 48 staff, 3 unknown. Only about 30% provided written comments. The general sentiment was that it was too early to make comments. Respondents felt that communication needs to improve. Overall, the evaluation was good, with none of the items receiving an evaluation less than 3.2. The highest evaluation was that the President supports quality educational programs. The lowest was that the President maintains an effective senior administrative team. Analysis of the evaluations was completed in November.
Vitton reported that the computer format had been difficult to analyze. The written comments were much better in that format because they were easier to read but they came as a single large mass that needed to be organized. The use of 1 as a score for "insufficient information" skewed the results presented because that number had been included in the analysis. We need to develop a better way to process the results.
Vitton stated that the full report and written comments would go to the President. The President would then respond to the comments and report and that response would be presented to the Senate. Vitton expressed the opinion that the results should otherwise be kept confidential.
Wood (Geological Sciences and Engineering) commented that the form was a little confusing to use.
8. Adjournment
Maplethorpe MOVED and Wood seconded the motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted by Janice M. Glime
Secretary of the PAC/University Senate