MUW Faculty Senate
December 10, 2004
Minutes Approved: January 28, 2005
Members present: Lea Helen Evans, Pres. (ED/HS); Jimena Aracena, VP (S/M); Brian Anderson, Sec. (HU); Shawn Dickey (FPA); Richard Holden (ED/HS); Scott McKenzie (IS); Bonnie Oppenheimer (S/M); Glenn Rhyne (B&C); Van Roberts (B&C); Tom Velek (HU); Cathy Young (LIB)
Guest present: Sam Gingerich (Provost/VPAA)
Members absent: Richard Bailey (FPA); Linda FortJ (NU); Ellen Jackson (H&K); Theresa Sparks (NU)
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The meeting was called to order at 12:15pm.
2. No additional agenda items were raised.
3. The meeting agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.
4. The Nov. 19 minutes will be approved at the Jan. 28 meeting.
5. Updates
a. Administrative Council: Discussion of staff classification plan, changes in preregistration procedures, W-2009 review, the one-card proposal, the impending publication of Visions, renovation money. It will be a bleak year for government services in the state, as up to 10 percent of state employees may be laid off. MUW staff are concerned that positions may be cut as a consequence of reorganization, but they were assured that will not be the case.
b. Academic Council: The 5-year calendar is out (MUW will start earlier in both semesters and a Fall Break was added). Faculty reports of student academic dishonesty are inconsistent: the procedure is voluntary, but simple awareness building/training is considered necessary. There should be a campus consensus about how such violations are addressed.
c. Meeting with Pres. Limbert: Scheduled for the week of Dec. 13.
d. UCC: Several modifications were made to courses/curricula in FPA, S/M, H&K. Two new courses were added in S/M.
e. PIE Council: Meeting at 1:30 today.
f. UFSA: No meeting this month.
6. Business
a. Dr. Gingerich: The faculty meeting on Dec. 8 concerning academic restructuring saw many issues raised: Should the colleges be of roughly equal size? That would be impossible. Should the colleges have a commonality of purpose? Yes, but the distinctiveness of the colleges will be emphasized too. What about implementation, regarding reallocation of seats on Faculty Senate and councils/committees, faculty evaluation procedures, promotion and tenure procedures, budgeting? Gingerich believes it is futile to study implementation in depth before the time you implement, as you inevitably learn a great deal along the way. Gingerich also modified the reorganization committee’s final report (e.g., moving H&K from College of A&S to College of Education & Human Sciences). Time was spent discussing his move of the paralegal program from the College of Business and Professional Programs to the College of A&S. Faculty would be part of a Department of History, Political Science, Geography and Paralegal Studies, but they would also operate an Institute of Paralegal Studies, which may become their separate home (likely in conjunction with Continuing Education) if they develop the program further. Gingerich favors this move for two reasons: 1.) He believes paralegal programs nationwide have deemphasized their business/professional characteristics, which leaves the College of A&S as the best location; 2.) A renamed College of Business will allow its programs, especially accounting, to strengthen, which Gingerich believes is important at this time. The paralegal institute will perhaps be modeled after the Institute of Culinary Arts, which thrives on its autonomy (e.g., recent plans to start an on-campus restaurant plus other entrepreneurial initiatives). There will be three issues to be reviewed after five years: 1.) Potentially splitting the Dept. of Science and Mathematics into two; 2.) Evaluation of the culinary and paralegal institutes; 3.) Move psychology and sociology (Gingerich believes MUW should hire at least one full-time sociologist) to College of A&S. Discussion: Evans–Will graduate programs reside in the undergraduate colleges or should we consider a separate graduate college? Gingerich–MUW is not big enough to have a separate graduate college. Velek–How will it work that the paralegal program will be in both the College of A&S and its own institute? Gingerich–The paralegal faculty will be part of A&S for now, but we hope the institute can evolve (perhaps with Continuing Education affiliation) so that they may leave A&S at some time in the future. Anderson–Paralegal has its own budget now (as per ABA requirements), but if ABA accreditation is somehow lost, would history, political science and geography have to compete with it for funding? Gingerich–No, in a situation like that, the institute structure would prevent it from presenting a burden to A&S. Velek–In the original proposal Honors was part of A&S. Where did it go? Gingerich–Honors is an enrichment program (similar to Governors School and PEP) and such programs will be designated as administrative units. Aracena–There is still concern among faculty regarding the exact job descriptions of department heads and deans. Trust in administration is sketchy. Attachment: “Academic Restructuring: Issues Raised During Review and Draft of Structure to be Recommended”. Vote: The Senate voted to support the current plan–8 in favor, 0 opposed, 3 abstaining.
b. Academic Master Plan: AMP working groups are now being formed (general meeting of groups will be Dec. 15), and the process will involve greater representation from academic units. Velek added that he will focus on the big picture, that is, what is MUW to become? Are we: A junior/senior add-on to area community colleges? An all purpose four-year university? The Wellesley of the South? Gingerich noted that however the AMP develops, we must remember that money is tight. We also need to keep in mind that a common vision or language may not immediately develop in an AMP.
c. Issues of Concern: Gingerich responded to the concern raised Oct. 29 regarding the end of tuition remission for faculty spouses who wish to take graduate courses at MUW. MUW’s policy was proscribed by IHL policy, which forbids such remissions. MUW instead will establish a pool of money for graduate scholarships. /// Oppenheimer was on campus on a weekend, and Parkinson Hall was left unlocked. She found it ironic that the campus gates (including pedestrian entrances) are locked at night and on weekends, making access inconvenient, but a newly-renovated building is left wide open.
7. Announcements: First meeting of the spring semester will be Friday, January 28, 2005.
8. Adjournment at 1:20pm.