UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
FACULTY SENATE PRÉCIS
May
12 and 14, 2009
12:15 p.m.-1:40 p.m., Auerbach 426
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Attendance:
|
P |
Balco,
Cat |
P |
Gray,
Edward |
P |
Poggio,
Natacha, |
|
P |
Ball,
Kevin A. |
P |
Gray,
John S |
P |
Rosiene,
Carolyne |
|
P |
Beaulieu,
Mark |
P |
Hansen,
Dee |
P |
Russell,
Ingrid |
|
P |
Blett,
George |
P |
Hill,
Jonathan |
P |
Shapela,
Sharon |
|
P |
Borucinska,
Joana |
P |
Lashgari,
Malek |
P |
Siegel,
Paul |
|
A |
Canedy,
Charles |
P |
Lei,
Yu |
P |
Tetel,
Mihai |
|
P |
Carey,
Ellen |
P |
Lewis,
Katherine |
P |
Weinholtz,
Donn |
|
P |
Comiskey,
Anne |
P |
Machuga,
Susan |
P |
Westfall,
David |
|
A |
Decker,
Robert |
P |
McCloskey,
Kathy |
P |
Williamson,
Daniel |
|
P |
Diehl,
Susan |
P |
Mellodge,
Patricia |
P |
Zimmerman,
Christopher |
|
P |
DiChiara,
Albert |
P |
Mori,
Akane |
|
Present/Absent |
|
P |
Fang,
Clara |
P |
Pedro,
Joan |
|
|
|
P |
Frey,
Mary |
P |
Petry,
Elizabeth |
|
Attendance: (34 out of 36*) |
|
|
|
|
*Additional
New Senators Present |
||
CALL
TO ORDER/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chair
Weinholtz called the last meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year to order. He
thanked the outgoing Senators or their service and expressed how much he
enjoyed working with all of the Senators. He commented on the synergy between
the faculty and administration. A small reception was held for the outgoing
Chair and Senators.
The following were presented to the Faculty Senate for a vote:
·
A
viable slate for Faculty Senate Officers for the Academic Year 2009-2010 was
presented by the Faculty Affairs Committee. Sharon Shepela as Chair, Ingrid
Russell as Vice Chair and Paul Siegel as Secretary and was unanimously
approved. (The new Chair Shepela commented that she is proud to be the second
woman Chair, only followed by Ann Fitzmaurice (1989-1990).
·
The newly
re-elected officers were also approved as the representatives for the Board of
Regents.
·
Authorization by
vote was also demonstrated authorizing the Executive Committee to act for
Senate until the September Senate Meeting.
·
One representative for the Budget Advisory Team
(BAT) – Professor Ivana Milanovic, CETA was elected to another term.
·
By
acclamation, two representatives for the Provost’s Committee on
Promotion, Tenure, and Academic Freedom. Both names will be given to the
Provost: at the same amount of votes: Professor Laurence Gould, A&S
Physics, and Warren Goldstein, A&S (The
Provost will select one.) (Post-meeting: the Provost has selected Professor
Goldstein).
The new
Chair, in closing remarks for Donn Weinholtz, thanked him for his two years of
service as Faculty Senate Chair, and complimented him on his successful terms.
He shared the credit with his co-officers and the Faculty Senate Coordinator.
PRESENTATION
1. Dean of Graduate Studies Peter Diffley, Dean of Graduate Studies, summarized progress in graduate education over the 2008-09 Academic Year.
With regard to recruiting and admission, several new initiatives were launched; e.g., the Presidential Scholarship program to recruit the top applicants, programmatic e-brochures, and student-help grants to assist in post-acceptance recruiting. A new policy was instituted that requires international applicants to submit their transcripts to the World Educational System (WES) for evaluation and translation.
With regard to graduate training, the Counseling and Neuroscience programs were reviewed under a newly developed process. A proposal for a program in Orthotics and Prosthetics was approved under a new procedure. Finally, the Graduate Council began a multi-year process of revising portions of the Manual of Academic Policies and Procedures (MAPP) to better define the role of graduate students and graduate education at the University.
Next year, the dean hopes to launch an on-line orientation for incoming students, write a primer for new graduate program directors, and guide the Graduate Council in a study of the upcoming NEASC university accreditation visit.
2.
Benefits Task Force -- Professor
Karen Case updated the Senate on the Benefits Task Force. Following is
information and guidelines.
·
Tuition Exchange- Nationally offers - 5,300
scholarships which all total equals
a cash value of $115 million. It’s a
reciprocal scholarship program, which finances college tuition for the
children and other family members of faculty and staff employed at
participating institutions.
·
Members - 590 private and public, not for
profit, participating institutions located in 47 states, DC and UK Around
fifteen schools join each year. 5,300 awards annually at full tuition or a set
rate ($26,800 for 2008-2009 and $29,000 for 2009-2010) if an institution's
tuition is higher than this rate - Average scholarship is about $22,000.
Exchanges are accomplished through trading, no money changes hands and no
accounting is done for variations in tuition.
·
Award Process - The employing institution certifies
candidates as scholarship applicants. The receiving institution sets the number
and criteria for award decisions. Satisfying admissions criteria does not make
awards automatic. About a third of our members make awards to less than half
of the qualified applicants.
·
Compatibility - Remitted tuition exchanges are an
extension of "at home" tuition waivers. Many of our members belong
to two or more exchanges and some also provide tuition grants.
·
Cost for Member Schools- Annual Dues $400; Participation Fees
$35 per export; and one-time Initiation Fee $350 - dues and fees increased
periodically, not annually.
·
Logistics of working the program - The primary obligation of a TE
member institution is to maintain a balanced exchange pattern, a reasonable
match between student "exports" and student "imports". A TE member institution may import as many as
it wishes; however, it may not export more than it imports.
·
Students - apply for admission to the TE member
institution they wish to attend and are subject to all academic rules,
regulations and fees which may apply. In
addition, students are responsible for any costs which exceed the TE member
institution’s awarded scholarship amount.
TE member institutions are allowed to
determine admission and acceptance procedures as well as determine the value of
the scholarship it awards to each incoming student.
The
following guidelines apply to the University of Hartford’s TE scholarship
program:
ELIGIBLE
EMPLOYEE: A regular
full-time faculty and staff member currently employed at the University of
Hartford who has completed a minimum of 5 years of continuous full-time service
at the onset of the dependent child’s first semester participating in TE. Note:
For purposes of the TE policy, if both parents are employed by the
University of Hartford, the parent with the longest length of continuous
service will be considered an Eligible Employee.
ELIGIBLE
PARTICIPANT: A dependent child of an Eligible Employee,
legally adopted by an Eligible Employee, or for whom legal guardianship of an
Eligible Employee can be documented. The
Eligible Participant must be certified (sponsored) by the University of
Hartford for a full-time undergraduate degree of study at a TE member
institution.
Note:
Having a dependent child participate in the TE program does not preclude
an Eligible Employee’s other dependent children from utilizing the University
of Hartford’s Tuition Remission benefits at the same time.
1)
MAXIMUM
TE SCHOLARSHIP: A TE scholarship typically does not exceed a
maximum of eight semesters and is typically not awarded to more than one
Eligible Participant at a time. TE
scholarships are granted on a year-by-year basis and are not guaranteed for all
eight semesters. A new application for
participation in TE must be filed each year.
Scholarships are not granted for graduate study, non-degree study or
second undergraduate degrees.
If
an Eligible Employee’s employment at the University of Hartford ends at any
time after the onset of a given semester or before the last day of classes
during that given semester, the Eligible Participant will be allowed to
continue courses until the end of that semester under the University of
Hartford’s TE program. Approved TE
scholarships continue if an Eligible Employee is on an approved leave of
absence.
If
an Eligible Employee’s employment at the University of Hartford ends before the
first day of classes, and a dependent child elects to enroll or continue
enrollment at a TE member institution, the dependent child will be responsible
for the full tuition for the courses taken that semester, as determined by the
admitting institution.
2)
SCHOLARSHIP
CONSIDERATION CRITERIA
·
First
consideration for TE is given to Eligible Employees with the longest term of
service and the first Eligible Participant applying, for up to eight semesters.
·
Second
consideration for TE is given to Eligible Employees with the longest term of
service and the second Eligible Participant applying, for up to eight
semesters.
·
Third
consideration for TE is given to Eligible Employees with the longest term of
service and two Eligible Participants concurrently, for up to eight
semesters.
3)
TE Liaison Officer: Shane Ciccarelli,
Associate Director of Admission & Student Financial Assistance, serves as
the University of Hartford’s Liaison Officer and can be reached at 860.768.4062
or ciccarell@hartford.edu.
The
University of Hartford intends to continue participation in the TE program
indefinitely; however, the University reserves the right in its discretion to
amend, suspend or terminate the program at any time.
PROCESS FOR SELECTION
OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS - By
October 1st of each academic year, an Eligible Participant who
wishes to be considered for TE must notify the TE Liaison Officer of intent by
completing and submitting the preliminary application.
By December
1st of each academic year, the University of Hartford will determine
how many Eligible Participants can be certified and approved for “export”.
Eligible
Participants are responsible for completing the necessary admission application
materials to the TE school(s) and must inform the TE Liaison of their acceptance
or rejection.
If the
number of prospective Eligible Participants exceeds the number of slots,
Eligible Participants will be selected based on the above noted Scholarship
Consideration Criteria.
The TE
member institution is notified of the sponsored students (“exports”). It is up to the TE member institution to
offer or decline a TE scholarship.
Sponsorship by the University of Hartford DOES NOT guarantee a scholarship.
The TE member institution may have specific criteria for awarding of a
TE scholarship or may not be in a position to offer a scholarship (i.e. if
their “exports” have exceeded their “imports”).
Acceptance or rejection by a TE member institution normally occurs in
late spring. The Eligible Employee will
be notified by the TE member institution to which the Eligible Participant has
applied.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
|
COMMITTEE
REPORTS |
|
Administration
Liaison—Senator E. Gray |
|
|
|
Curriculum—Senator Russell gave the report from the last Curriculum
Committee, of note, A&S CHN 110 and 111 was reviewed by the Committee
electronically and was also presented to the Senate for consideration. All
material was approved by the Senate.LINK |
|
Environmental
& Sustainability—Senator Borucinska and Senator J.Gray each presented a
summary of various achievements during the year. |
|
Faculty
Affairs—Vice Chair Shepela read the proposed change for a course reduction to
include the Faculty Senate Secretary and the Chair of the Faculty Senate
Curriculum Committee. After
discussion, these changes were approved by the Senate with one
abstention. She then presented for a
vote the revision in the scholarship of engagement. After reflection and
discussion, the Senators voted (with three abstentions) to send revised
wording to the Council of Deans. |
|
Faculty
Diversity—Senator Pedro gave an update explaining the kit the committee
developed to help with hiring. |
|
Grants
(& Stipends)—Senator Williamson |
|
Student
Affairs—Secretary Petry reported the MAPP revision on attendance policies did
not go through to the C.O.D. Associate Provost, C. Colarulli submitted a
“no-pass” to the Academic Standards Committee. The Council of Assistant Deans
serves as an advisory committee to C.O.D., it does not have official veto
power and the Chair Weinhltz has requested a C.O.D. vote on the matter. Senator
Petry presented changes in the MAPP on medical leaves and course withdrawals
policies. These changes were approved unanimously by the Senate LINK . |
Orders of the Day
Thursday May 14, 2008
Attendance:
|
P |
Balco,
Cat |
P |
Lashgari,
Malek |
P |
Rosiene,
Carolyn |
|
P |
Blett,
George |
P |
Lei,
Yu |
P |
Russell,
Ingrid |
|
A |
Canedy,
Charles |
P |
Lewis,
Katherine |
P |
Shepela,
Sharon |
|
P |
Carey,
Ellen |
P |
Machuga,
Susan |
P |
Siegel,
Paul |
|
P |
Decker,
Robert |
A |
McCloskey,
Kathy |
P |
Tetel,
Mihai |
|
A |
Dello
Iacono, Frank |
A |
Mellodge,
Patricia |
P |
Weinholtz,
Donn |
|
A |
DiChiara,
Albert |
A |
Moslehpour,
Saeid |
P |
Wetherbee,
Ellen |
|
P |
Fang,
Clara |
P |
Pedro,
Joan |
P |
Zimmerman,
Christopher |
|
A |
Fonte,
Henry |
A |
Pense,
Laura |
|
Present/Absent |
|
A |
Gray,
Edward |
P |
Poggio,
Natacha |
|
Attendance: (22 out of 30) |
|
P |
Hansen,
Dee |
|
|
|
73% |
|
P |
Hill,
Jonathan |
|
|
|
|
Reconvene
Chairperson
Shepela called the meeting to order at 12:25 PM. We welcomed new senators, and joined in
wishing President Harrison a happy birthday (Friday, the 15th).
Presenters:
President
Harrison
The president reviewed for us how
difficult a year this was, in terms of the tragedy of student deaths and
multiple arrests of students on serious charges. Much discussion ensued of how to identify and
help at-risk students, and the challenge of ensuring campus safety.
Also
presented were detailed statistics to date on applications, admissions, and
yield figures, school by school. The
figures were a source of relief as compared to earlier fears.
Provost
Pasquerella
The provost
reminded us that the NEASC re-accreditation process will find us doing much
preparation for the evaluators’ visit in 2011.
Many faculty members (and other campus constituencies) will be called
upon to work on the various task forces.
Other
topics addressed included an ongoing, 5-year commitment the University of
Hartford has undertaken to improve the lives of women in a western lakes region
of Kenya, focusing initially on clean water, but also on numerous
socio-cultural complications.
The provost
also spoke of how her office will work toward enhancing the experience of
service learning for students, and will help to coordinate the various entities
on campus addressing environmental sustainability.
Regent
Committee Representatives
Faculty
Senate Representatives Shepela, Weinholtz and Russell made brief reports about
activities related to the Regents’ University Education and Strategic Planning
committees. With respect to the latter,
much of the committee’s work resulted in a draft of the Strategic Plan, which
was sent back for more outcome-oriented benchmarking, in light of the unfolding
financial crisis nationwide.
All the
representatives agreed that the overall climate for faculty working with
administration and regents has improved dramatically in recent years.
Next
meeting and adjournment
The
next meeting of the Faculty Senate will be Next meeting of the Faculty Senate
will be September 9 and 11, 2009, 12:15 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. This meeting adjourned
at 1:50 pm
Respectfully
submitted,
Maria
Marques, Recorder 5/12/09
Office
of the Faculty Senate
Paul
Siegel, Recorder 5/14/09
2009-2010
Faculty Senate Secretary