UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD

FACULTY SENATE PRÉCIS

November 8, 2007

12:15 p.m.-1:50 p.m., Auerbach 426

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Attendance:

A	Ball, Kevin A.	P	Gray, Edward	P	Patterson, Jerimiah
A	Beaulieu, Mark	P	Gray, John	P	Petry, Elizabeth
A	Borucinska, Joanna	P	Hill, Jonathan	A	Russell, Ingrid
p	Brown, Jennifer	A	Lei, Yu	P	Shepela, Sharon
P	Canedy, Charles	P	Machuga, Susan	P	Siegel, Paul
A	Carey, Elen	A	Mayer, Howard	P	Sumukadas, Narender
P	Comiskey, Anne	P	McMiller, Darryl	P	Weinholtz, Donn
P	Davis, Robert	P	Mohamed, Osama	A	Westfall, David
P	Decker, Robert	P	Mori, Akane	P	Williamson, Daniel
A	Diehl, Susan	P	Nolan, Dennis	A	Zimmerman, Christopher
P	Fang, Clara	P	Oliver, Peter	=	Present/Absent Attendance: 69% (22 out of 32)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Chair Weinholtz welcomed Senators to the third meeting of the 2007-2008 Senate.

The following committees reported:

• Diversity Committee -- Senator Darryl McMiller has accepted to be Chair of the newly created Diversity Committee. Committee membership is being established.
• Academic Standards – Senator Petry shared with the Senate the summary of the Committee’s meeting held on October 16. She reported on the Curriculum Committee’s Request to change wording to reflect the blue sheet, as well as wording on attendance policies, and on the Academic Honesty issues.
• Constitution & Bylaws – Senator Decker reported the committee is currently working on gathering information.
• Curriculum – Chair Weinholtz reported there was no Curriculum Committee’s report for November due to there being no materials submitted for review.
• Development – Senator E. Gray met with Vice President for Institutional Advancement Don Rizzo about ways to encourage faculty involvement in Development Efforts. The Committee will now discuss those and other ideas.
• Computer and Technology – Senator Sumukadas reminded the Senate of the deadline of November 15^th for "Educational Technology Grants for Full-time Faculty" and "School/College- and Program-Specific Educational Technology Needs” Awards.
• International Studies Committee Report – Senator Comiskey announced that the committee would have its first meeting on December 6.
• Part-Time Faculty – Senator Siegel said the committee continues to work on the survey to be e-mailed to adjuncts. They are also working on how to get the best list to include as many as possible.
• Student Affairs – Senator Oliver reported the committee is working on Academic Honesty and Civility and collaborating with Dean Horvath on community civility; i.e., to come up with a statement of the values of the University Community.
• University Scholars – Senator Williamson announced that there were no applicants at this time. He believes it is a faculty member initiative. An E-mail was sent to all staff. Some suggestions of other ways to reach students were discussed.
• Environmental Task Force – Faculty Senate Chair directed the Senate to an attachment to the agenda on recycling. Various outlines were included to show current placement of bins throughout the campus. An e-mail about CUPS activity at Central Connecticut State College (CCSC) was to be shared with the Senators. Representatives from the program will come to Senate next month. Membership for the Committee is being finalized.

PRESENTATIONS:

Vice President for Finance and Administration, Arosha Jayawickrema – Mr. Jayawickrema gave the Senate the annual synapses of the University Budget. He explained the difference in a designated restricted, unrestricted, temporarily restricted, permanently restricted and perpetuated funds. He also explained that spending can only collect on 4% of the pool of the endowment in keeping the core from eroding.

Mr. Jayawickrema gave a quick synopsis of the history of University’s finances for the last 10 years, in which the University operated in the black. A $5 million reserve is also in place. He said that the major expenses have been in compensation and deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance still needs to improve, as depreciation is $10 million a year.

• The endowment has reached $117 million; spending should not surpass 4% as not to erode the endowment core. The University’s operating budget is presently $210 million. 27% is discounted for Financial Aid.
• A Senator asked what is the University’s debt and how does it compare with other Universities our size. Mr. Jayawickrema said the debt is high in comparison to our “peer group” Universities and Colleges.
• Another Senator inquired about the University’s use of the “Green Concept.” Mr. Jayawickrema said we are exploring the solar panels to be installed and maintained by the manufacturer at no additional charge.
• The Political Collection that was displayed at the University a few years ago was also discussed. Mr. Jayawickrema said that there had been some interest in acquiring parts of the collection, but the University would like to keep it together in respect to the donor.
• With the following handout, he brought Senate to fiscal year 2008:
• Mr. Jayawickrema emphasized the need to look at non-traditional revenues, i.e., grants.
• The HCW campus – Two groups have been established to review strategic possibilities for the Hartford College for Women on Asylum Avenue

§ “Best use of the campus,” is chaired by V.P. for Student Affairs Lee Peters

§ “Other possibilities,” such as investors fixing the campus and leasing it back to the University. This committee includes regents and staff.

• Rate of increase in tuition is 4.4%. The discount rate is stable, which he said is a good sign. Our benchmarks continue to be our peer group, bond rating group, balance sheet, etc.

Director for Grants and Contracts Peter Lisi, provided an update the Senators on the Office of Institutional Partnerships and Sponsored Research (IPSR). In the presentation he explained function of the Office, “to be a campus resource for all external institutional funding, provide ‘one stop shopping’ for public and private funders, and to be a support service for faculty and staff.

He outlined the staffing of the Office, which includes Peter Lisi who is Director for Grants and Contracts, and announced the position he is filling for an assistant director.

He described 2006-07 as a successful year.

• 63 awards for a total of $5.5 million
• 31 faculty and staff
• Six colleges represented
• Successful series of workshops (Check schedule to make sure they do not conflict with Faculty Senate meetings.)

A senator inquired to the amount of the largest grant/award, Mr. Lisi said it was $1.2 million.

Mr. Lisi outlined the University’s financial needs in relation to the endowment. He acknowledged the necessity for his office to fill the voids. He gave the following reasons:

• Limited institutional resources
• Desire to operate under the premise of financial equilibrium, which includes drawing from the endowment, tuition revenues, individual giving, and adequately funding capital plant renewal.

In order to research the funders, he believes the following can help:

• Need to match project with funder’s guidelines, i.e., geographic, purpose and activities, types of support, previous funding, and application process
• Can be done collaboratively with, or independent of IPSR.
• Use of Guidestar.org, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Foundation Center, SPIN

Mr. Lisi outlined the elements of a proposal, discussed budget and budget justification, and emphasized the need to include the documentation requested in the proposal. A chart detailing the approval process was also included.

The last points he made: Relationships/good stewards are important, and he emphasized to the Senators: Deadlines are important!

Jason Pomposelli presented a report on the University Staff Association. He said “The Staff Association was established over thirty years ago to provide a means for staff at the University of Hartford to share information, ideas, concerns, and interests. It was a progressive move, resulting in a body of employees that was better educated about their work environment, more involved in defining the concept of staff employee, and more instrumental in building a stronger university community.”

Our philosophy is the same today, he said. “We continue to strive for improvement in employee benefits, facilities, personal and professional growth, and campus spirit. We are represented on university committees such as the Benefits Task Force and the Budget Advisory Team. Both of these, play important roles in the final decisions made about the current and future welfare of all university staff employees.

As a charitable group, we enjoy helping others, whether the help is measured in time, by a material or financial contribution, or simply in support of an idea or an issue. We are not just limited to the university; we also have done some outreach into our surrounding communities” As examples, he stated working with the American Cancer Society, Project Horizon, University Scholars, and others.

The Senate asked Mr. Pompaselli if he thought the Association would be interested in joining the Senate’s Environmental Task Force in efforts to set up more/or better recycling on campus. Mr. Prompaselli said yes.

There are 152 current members of the Staff Association. The University has 649* full time staff.

Orders of the day, 1:50 p.m..

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Attendance:

P	Ball, Kevin A.	A	Gray, Edward	P	Patterson, Jerimiah
A	Beaulieu, Mark	P	Gray, John	P	Petry, Elizabeth
A	Borucinska, Joanna	P	Hill, Jonathan	P	Russell, Ingrid
A	Brown, Jennifer	P	Lei, Yu	P	Shepela, Sharon
A	Canedy, Charles	P	Machuga, Susan	P	Siegel, Paul
A	Carey, Elen	A	Mayer, Howard	P	Sumukadas, Narender
P	Comiskey, Anne	P	McMiller, Darryl	P	Weinholtz, Donn
A	Davis, Robert	P	Mohamed, Osama	A	Westfall, David
P	Decker, Robert	A	Mori, Akane	P	Williamson, Daniel
A	Diehl, Susan	P	Nolan, Dennis	A	Zimmerman, Christopher
P	Fang, Clara	P	Oliver, Peter	=	Present/Absent Attendance: 66% (21 out of 32)

• Reconvene

• Presentations

President Walter Harrison – The President updated the Senate on the Diversity Fellowship Award that came out of the Provost’s Diversity Taskforce. Called the Jackie McLean Fellowship, it will begin in August 2008. The Senate was asked to review the draft of the announcement to be placed in various publications. The University’s faculty is encouraged to assist in the search for candidates.

The following was handed out to the Senators for review:

r Strategic Planning AY 07/08 Vision Statement Proposal

Fall ‘07

Phase 1: Vision and mission clarification

Proposed vision: A Private university with a public purpose

o We will be home to an academically skilled student body (graduate and undergraduate) that is highly diverse by all measures, including an international dimension and the demographic of America’s imminent future. The undergraduates who matriculate with us will enjoy a residential and social experience of high quality, and will increasingly remain with us through graduation. In their years with us they will increasingly develop the ability to think with an international focus.

o We will attract and support a diverse faculty and staff that deliver a first-rate educational experience. We will establish the appropriate combination of full-time and part-time faculty for our wide array of undergraduate programs. We will strengthen further the graduate programs we offer, and support them with faculty and research resources.

o We will provide the financial resources necessary to support the quality of educational and other programs we offer. We will set tuition, room and board rates strategically; continue to increase our fundraising capacity, and develop alternative and non-traditional sources of revenue. We will budget to offer an array of strong programs.

o We will plan for continuous improvement of our campus to support the combination of educational and other programs we offer. We will support those programs with excellent physical facilities, appropriate information resources, and an attractive campus. We will ensure a commitment to sustaining our environment and its resources. We will continue our commitment to the improvement of life in the City of Hartford and its region.

Next steps: Approval of vision by Senate, SGA, Staff Association, COD, University community (Web).

Interim Provost J. Voelker – Provost Voelker addressed the Senate with the notification of Suspension of Admissions for the ENHP Counseling Program. This is a small program that averages 15 full time students over five years. Staffing for the program falls on the shoulders of a single faculty member. Provost Voelker reassured the Senate that the seven (7) other counseling programs in the state make this career available to Connecticut students, and that all current students will be able to complete the degree.

University High School of Science and Engineering Principal Elizabeth Colli spoke to the Senate on about the high school’s first three years and the anticipated move to the new building on the University of Hartford campus.

Some of the highlights she revealed to the Senate:

§ Total enrollment at this time is 340 students

o 205 male; 135 female

o 68 white; 151 black; 99 Hispanic; 22 other

o 109 in Grade 9; 85 in grade 10, 78 in grade 11, and 68 in grade 12.

o 205 are from Hartford; 135 from the suburban towns

§ 20 Members of the Class of 2008 have achieved CAPT Scholar status by reaching Level 4 or beyond in all four tested areas.

§ 23 members of the Class of 2009 have achieved CAPT Scholar status by reaching Level 4 or beyond in all four tested areas.

§ 2007 CAPT Percentages in:

o Math: 85.5% proficient out of goal of 41.7

o Science: 87.5% proficient out of a goal of 35.4

o Reading: 83.4% proficient out of a goal of 41.7

o Writing: 89.5% proficient out of a goal of 59

Principal Colli shared some of the many awards; projects; outreaches; interests, and specific cases that pointed to a very busy and involved school. She stressed the importance of having mentors and asked for the University’s continued support and involvement.

She praised the University’s partnership with the High School and gave specifics on some projects that the University is involved in, as well other Universities that have created partnerships for special projects.

The High School is expected to move to the new facilities, being built on the University Campus, by 2009.

There are 24 classroom teachers, a nurse, and an Administrative Assistant. She shared the list of all University High School Administration with contact information, should any of the Senators want to contact a specific person for more information.

The meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m. The next meeting of the Faculty Senate will be December 11 and 13, 2007, 12:15 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., in A426.

Respectfully submitted,

Maria Marques

*August 2007, HRD.

Notes to all:

• The Grievance Committee has met and has elected Professor Don Ellis as Chair.