FACULTY SENATE PRÉCIS

April 10 and 12, 2007

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

 

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

 

Present: Senators Ball, Borucinska, Canedy, Carey, Comiskey, Davis, Decker, Desplaces, Eppes, Fang, E.Gray, J.Gray, Katrichis, McMiller, Nolan, Oliver, Padberg, Petry, Shepela, Siegel and Weinholtz. Attendance: 71% (23 out of 31). 

 

Absent: Beaulieu, Carey, Comiskey, Deihl, Larson, Mayer, Mohamed, Mori, Russell, Sumukadas, Westfall and Williamson.

 

Chair Katrichis called the eighth meeting of the 2006-2007 Faculty Senate to order.  He announced a faculty/staff vs. students softball game to be held May 1 on the grounds between GSU and the Computer Center. Everyone is welcome. Professor Ed Weinstein will be the coach, and Professor R.J. McGivney and Senator Canedy will Umpire.

 

The following Faculty Senate Committees reported:

 

University Scholars – Senator Eppes introduced Ms Diane Eager, Mr. Michael Porter and Ms. M. Shalane Regan. The students presented the project chosen for the University Scholars Program. (A Powerpoint presentation may be viewed at http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/facsenate/univ-scholars.ppt)

After the presentation, students engaged the Senators in a discussion of “what ifs.” Senators voiced their positive impressions of the project.

 

Academic Standards – Senator Borucinska reported that Academic Standards met February 27 and discussed attendance requirements, a motion presented to the Faculty Senate on January 21, 2007 by Senator Siegel.  A replacing paragraph was proposed at that meeting and now presented for the 1st reading:  The following was sent via e-mail to all Senators:

ATTENDANCE (1ST READING) From Section XIV, part B, 2. Cut Penalties and Excused Absences, paragraph C, which reads:

 “As absence from class inevitably affects a student’s ability to satisfactorily meet the requirements of a course, and since students are graded on their performance in relation to the standards set for the course, their grade should not be further reduced by any arbitrary cut penalty.

 Should be replaced by:

“If attendance will be part of the grading policy, it must be so stated in the syllabus.”

The Senators TABLED the item for further discussion at the next meeting. In the meantime it will be discussed at the Deans Joint Committee. Legal counsel may also be sought.

 

Academic dishonesty policy was presented for a 1st reading and Senators agreed to hold a discussion on the subject at the May meeting.

 

The committee acknowledges that the XX section of the MAPP:

1.        defines what constituted academic dishonesty (points A-E)

2.        precisely describes procedures to be applied in cases when a student is accused of academic dishonesty

(section on Procedures, E-M)  AND

that the above section of MAPP fails to address the following:
1. a uniform university-wide policy in regards to defining the punishment for an incidence of dishonesty,
2. a uniform university-wide policy regarding punishment for recurrent incidences of dishonesty.
3. the need for a centralized data base of academic dishonesty incidents a the intercollegiate level
   THUS, the committee has the following suggestions:
1. that a uniform university-wide policy in regards to defining the punishment for an incidence in dishonesty

   AND for repeated dishonesty incidences, should be designed by the authority in power to apply any level of

   punishment (including dismissal from the university). Although such authority seems to lie with the office of

   the Provost, the committee suggests that the Faculty Senate discusses the proper level of punishment for the

   first, second etc. incident of academic dishonesty, and forwards its suggestion to the Provost. As an example

   of such punishment scale the following could be used:

-          first incident of dishonesty: grade F on the work that was involved

-          second incident of dishonesty: grade F in the class, record on transcript

-          third incident: dismissal from the University

2. that a centralized, University-wide data-base be established for storing all confirmed incidences of academic

   dishonesty,
3. that the procedure for confirming academic dishonesty (i.e. cases where the instructor’s charge is denied by the student) should 

   proceed from the instructor directly to the Dean level (i.e. the first paragraph from point F.2. that involves the Chair of the

   Department, shall be deleted).

The MAPP does not define punishment for offenses. The idea of a centralized database, possibly kept in the Provost’s office to assure privacy was discussed. Also discussed were what is judicial vs. academic procedures.

 

Curriculum Committee – Senator J. Gray presented the list of Curriculum changes discussed at the Curriculum Committee meeting on April 3. He noted that there were two requests from the Barney School that were submitted but not acted upon.  The first was the request to delete the MIS program. No action was taken so that the Provost could present the change to the Faculty Senate as outlined in the MAPP before it was reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. The second request, the reinstatement of the Actuarial Program, was pulled by Barney so that the request could be further evaluated by the Provost.  A number of prerequisite changes (requiring a minimum grade in certain prerequisite courses) was submitted by CETA and approved by the committee. http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/facsenate/CC/cur-rept-april-07.htm

 

Constitution and Bylaws – Senator McMiller presented a viable slate of officers for the 2007-2008 academic year. Vice Chair Donn Weinholtz for Chair; Senator Sharon Shepela for Vice Chair, and Elizabeth Petry for Secretary.

 

Part-Time & Adjunct Faculty – Senator Petry reported on the most recent Faculty Senate Part-Time Committee meeting. She announced the creation by the Provost’s office of an award for Part Time Faculty in the same line as the current Ramsey Award given by Faculty Senate for Teaching Excellence to part time faculty.

 

Professional Standards – Senator Weinholtz had previously reported that Professional Standards was crafting new language regarding faculty working in close proximity to relatives for possible inclusion in the FPM and the University Supervisors Manual. The language has been revised by the Deans and discussion with Senate Dean’s Joint Committee will be scheduled.

 

Student Affairs – Senator Desplaces reinforced the comments made at the April meeting. A copy of the report has been e-mailed to all Senators. The consensus: there is a need to fill the gap between academic and student affairs with more encouragement by the administration; and faculty in Student Affairs (making it part of Promotion and Tenure (P&T) and yearly evaluations). The Associate Provost is working with the University community to develop a community value statement.

 

Orders of the Day – meeting was adjourned until Thursday, April 12.

 

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Present: Senators Ball, Borucinska, Beaulieu, Canedy, Comiskey, Davis, Decker, Diehl, Desplaces, Eppes, Fang, E.Gray, J.Gray, Katrichis, Mayer, Mohamed, Mori, Nolan, Oliver, Padberg, Petry, Russell, Shepela, Siegel, Sumukadas, Weinholtz, Westfall. Attendance: 90% (28 out of 31). 

 

Absent: Carey, Larson, McMiller and Williamson.

 

Prior to the meeting being reconvened, Vice Chair Weinholtz facilitated a celebration of Chair Katrichis accomplishments with sincere thanks for the two years that he served as Chair of the Faculty Senate. Green Bay Packard paraphernalia (his hometown team) was presented to Chair Katrichis and shared with the Senators. Chair Katrichis then reconvened the meeting.

 

President Harrison/Provost Randall – After thanking Jerry for his service as Faculty Senate Chair, the President spoke of  the following:

·         Staff/Faculty Compensation. The national market vs. the local market; we continue to use national market for faculty recruiting and compensation, and local for staff positions.

·         Financial Aid Practices. President Harrison mentioned the article in the Chronicle, on Friday, March 30, regarding the Financial Aid Probe into New York State’s attorney general Andrew Cuomo. "New York State’s attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, has sent settlement agreements to dozens of colleges across the country that he has accused of accepting kickbacks from student-loan companies. Colleges in New York State had until noon today to sign the agreements. If they did not, they faced the possibility of being served with subpoenas from Mr. Cuomo’s office. Colleges in other states were reportedly given a later deadline." The settlement agreements included promises to disclose relationships with preferred lenders, stop taking kickbacks, and tell students they have a right to borrow from anyone, and a promise to reimburse students who took out private loans.

·         Special Admission for Athletics. President Harrison spoke of a New Haven article, as well as a Hartford Courant article on special admissions for athletes.

·         Liane Hansen from NPR will be our Commencement Speaker.

·         Military commission act. President Harrison said that again the New York Times had run an op-ed piece on the Military commission act. He will be submitting the promised editorial representing the Faculty at the University of Hartford to The Hartford Courant or another venue in the future.

·         Legislation planned to nearly double H1-B visas. President Harrison explained that the government currently has a quota of 60,000+ H1 visas for skilled workers. This year starting October 1, it will be 107,500 and then drop back to 65,000 next year if Congress does not support the proposed increase.

·         Provost Randall -- MIS program elimination request. In accordance with the MAPP Section 3D. Program   Elimination, Suspension of Admissions, or Reinstatement, or Admissions (see below), Ms. Randall brought Barney School Dean James Fairfield-Sonn and Associate Professor Barbara Lamberton to speak before the Senate.

Dean Fairfield-Sonn and Professor Lamberton spoke representing the “whys” of the request. A committee reviewed and decided to request that the MIS major be eliminated and the Minor be retained. There is enough demand for the minor. One of the reasons given for the dwindling of the program was outsourcing. According to Ms. Lamberton, a survey of 30 universities showed a 30 to 60 percent decrease in students signing up for the MIS major.

 

Senators asked what would become of the two tenured professors in that program. They were assured that the professors would be teaching basic courses and migrating to closely allied areas but ones with more demand.

 

Vice President Beverly Maksin addressed the Senate as her last visit before her planned retirement on July 31, 2007. After thanking Chair Katrichis for his service as Faculty Senate Chair for the past two years, Ms. Maksin introduced her successor Arosha Jayawickrema, a longtime University employee who was appointed associate vice president for finance in 2004. She echoed the words President Harrison had written in the November 13, 2006 UNotes, “Mr. Jayawickrema has been an important part of the University’s finance team for many years. His deep understanding of higher education and of this University make him an outstanding choice to succeed Beverly. His great work here has earned him the trust of the Board of Regents and high regard by people throughout the University In responding to his election by the Board of Regents, Arosha mentioned his deep love of the University of Hartford, his alma mater.” Ms. Maksin continued, “Mr. Jayawickrema began his University career in 1991 as a staff accountant. He held a series of increasingly responsible positions within the finance organization throughout the next 15 years. Jayawickrema earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a master’s in business administration from the University of Hartford.” The Senate welcomed Mr. Jayawickrema with a strong round of applause. She updated the Senators on the following:

 

FY ’07 Update. Ms. Maksin outlined the FY ’07 budget reminding the Senators that it included a $1.7 million debt service for the new residence hall and increases for health care costs, energy costs, and salaries. She said it also included $750,000 to invest in priorities related to academics, facilities, and student services. Developing it was a 1 ½-year process that involved the Finance team, Council of Deans (C.O.D.), the Budget Advisory Team (BAT) and University officers. Strategic considerations of bigger vs. better, growth vs. quality, and planning long-term also played a role. The conclusion was not to postpone investment, rather to work toward improving the quality of students experience inside and outside of the classroom. Ms. Maksin said the expected 2007 outcome is a modest six (6) figure surplus.

 

FY ’08 planning. Ms. Maksin continued discussing the planning for the FY ’08 budget. She said on April 27, 2007 the Finance Committee will present a five-year (5) model, outlining various scenarios. The priority investments for FY ’08 will be the same as for ’07 and included expected increases for such expenses as healthcare, energy cost, and salaries. Assuming the Finance Committee accepts the recommended budget, it will be presented to the fall Board of Regents at the May 11 meeting.

 

Following, Ms. Maksin opened her presentation to questions from the Senators. Senators asked about part-time faculty compensation. They voiced concern about the percentage of part-time faculty in relation to full-time, what effect that has on the quality of education for the students, and the burden it places in the full-time faculty. A Senator recalled the survey distributed by Professor Stewart last year that indicated the University is trying to catch up, but is not keeping up with peer institutions.

 

Senators inquired about fundraising for the ISET building, i.e., will the Dana bathrooms be updated. Ms. Maksin replied that the ISET Complex fundraising was a major disappointment and that there are no immediate plans for major work in the Dana bathrooms. Resources will continue to be directed to where the needs are greatest.

 

Chair Katrichis remarked on Ms. Maksin’s accomplishments and voiced his appreciation for her contributions to the University. She received a warm round of applause from all the Senators and guests.

 

New Business: Senators requested that representatives from the Situation Management Team be invited to come to the Senate.

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m. The next Faculty Senate Meeting will be held May 8 and 10, 12:15 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., A426.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Maria Marques, Recorder

 

[Note from Maria Marques: Thank you to all Senators and Officers who participated in the “small” tribute to Chair Katrichis. Thank you also to those who brought goodies, to Senator Nolan for the action figure, Professor Thompson for his art work in making Chair Katrichis a famous football hero, and to the incoming Chair, Donn, for an entertaining send-off. We hope you all enjoyed it.]