ACADEMIC SENATE
MINUTES
Wednesday, September
24, 2003
(Approved)
Call to Order
Chairperson Lane Crothers called the meeting
to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Senator Borg called the roll and declared a
quorum.
Approval of Minutes of August 27,
2003
Motion XXXV-9: By Senator
Meister, seconded by Senator Fowles, to approve the Academic Senate minutes of
August 27, 2003. Revisions to the minutes: Green Team Report: Senator Crothers:
Additionally, several one of the prominent environmentalists on campus were was
a members, but chose to leave due to some of the
frustrations you are addressing.
The minutes, as revised, were unanimously
approved.
Chairperson's Remarks:
Senator Crothers: Reported that one
of his students had informed him that the military deployment of her division
has been extended to 12 to 18 months. This extension may also be true for Jack
Howard, former faculty Senate member. Senator Crothers attended the Big Picture
Meeting here on campus. He also attended the CIUS (Council of Illinois Senates)
meeting at the University of Illinois in Springfield. One item of discussion involved
the McKean Bill, which limits tuition to the cost of living index. Other
discussion included the possibility of another budget rescission, which will
depend on the outcome of the next veto session; community college attempts to
offer four-year degrees; and lobby efforts that will begin in February or March
by CIUS.
Student Government Association President/Student Body
President’s Remarks:
Senator Meister: Reported on the activities of the
Student Government Association. The SGA recently held its 14th
annual retreat to set its goals and priorities. SGA has made a great deal of
progress with the student fee process. Senator Meister has spoken with Senator
Bragg about ways in which students can reduce energy costs. Senator Meister
reported that the biggest concern of students at this time is the reduction of
Milner Library hours of operation. He has suggested that student volunteers
work in the library to extend the hours that the library is open.
Senator Razaki: Asked about converting some of the student fees for athletics to academic purposes.
Senator Meister: Student fees for athletics can only be used for that program because of state law.
President’s Remarks:
President Bowman: The governor has finally
released the funds to complete the Femley Hall renovations. The Comprehensive
Campaign is reaching the $70 million mark. Due to the conversation at the last
Senate meeting, President Bowman has asked the Honorary Degree Committee to
bring forward additional nominees.
Provost’s Remarks:
Provost Presley: Announced the
vacancy for the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Paul Walker, AG,
a member of the Panel of 10, will chair the Dean Search Committee. Provost
Presley has asked the Senate to elect two student members to the committee. The
Provost’s report on the budget in its final form will soon be posted on the
Provost web site. The Provost reported that the “persistence” rates for
students at ISU have increased from 80 to 83% and the graduation rate meets the
graduation rate goal of 60%.
President Bowman: The persistence
rate and graduation rate at ISU is better than 90% of the institutions in Tier
3 and is as good as 30% of the institutions in Tier 2.
Senator Kurtz: How do the
minority graduation rates compare?
Provost Presley: Stated that
those comparisons for Tiers 2 and 3 for minority students are being prepared by
Institutional Planning.
Senator Borg: Inquired about a
search committee for the Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
Provost Presley: We are putting
together the structure of that committee now.
Vice President of Student Affairs’ Remarks:
Senator Mamarchev: The Division of
Student Affairs is planning for Family Weekend. The division has also held a
leadership retreat for minority students.
Vice President of Finance and Planning’s
Remarks:
Senator Bragg: The bids for the
prime contractors for the Schroeder renovation have come in $500,000 below the
projected rate. The Capital Development Board will open bids for general contractors
on Thursday, September 25, 2003.The College of Business Building will be ready
by spring of next year. The construction on Julian and Moulton has been
completed a year ahead of schedule. The monies for Stevenson and Turner
renovations have been appropriated, but we have not yet received a formal
letter from the governor. Facilities Management does not have a base budget and
has a 2-week work order backlog. If you are planning any projects for
Facilities Management, you should submit your work orders as soon as possible.
Senator Fazel: What are the
plans for Williams Hall?
Senator Bragg: We are still
evaluating the plans for Williams Hall. We do know that we will return the
former Reading Room there to its former grandeur.
Senator Reid: Will the
classroom space be utilized while a plan is devised?
Senator Bragg: Yes, we will
allocate classroom space as soon as the building is vacated.
Committee Reports:
Academic Affairs Committee
Senator Armstrong: The Academic Affairs
Committee will recommend revisions to the Repetition of Course Requirements in
the University Catalog, as well as recommend revisions to the 124-hour
limit for courses and the School Designation Policy. The committee should
receive the executive report on the General Education Program review in
approximately one month.
Administrative Affairs and Budget Committee
Senator Hampton: Administrative
Affairs is currently discussing the proposed Consensual Relations Policy. The
policy has been distributed to deans and department chairs for distribution to
faculty and staff for their feedback. Senator Hampton and Senator Coliz, Rules
Committee Chairperson, will meet with the Chairpersons Council to discuss the
policy. The committee wishes to add the Randomized Student Identification
Numbers SGA Resolution, Display of Flags on Campus Policy and Religious
Observances Policy to the next Senate agenda.
Faculty Affairs Committee
Senator
Wylie: The review of the use of non-tenure track faculty has been placed on
hold until the NTT unionization issue is settled. The committee will draft a
policy concerning textbook royalties. The committee is currently tracking the
discussion and recommendations by the 2002-03 Faculty Affairs Committee
concerning the appointment of a campus faculty ombudsman.
Planning and Finance Committee
Senator
Kurtz: The Planning and Finance Committee has formed three subcommittees,
the Program Review Committee, Majors and Sequences Approval Committee and
Priority Committee. The chairs of the committees are Senator Borg, Senator
Plantholt and Senator Kurtz, respectively. The Program Review Committee will
supplement the work of the Academic Planning Committee. The Majors and
Sequences Approval Committee will look at the budgetary aspects of new sequence
and program proposals. That committee plans to meet with the University
Curriculum Committee and the Provost’s representative. The Priority Committee
will continue the work of the Planning and Finance Committee concerning the
priorities of the University, including the structural development and
reporting of those priorities and budget processes.
Rules Committee
Senator
Coliz: The Rules Committee is
currently reviewing the recommendations for Blue Book and Senate Bylaws
revisions from students and from the Executive Committee of the Senate. The
committee continues to review the revised College of Arts and Sciences Bylaws.
IBHE-FAC Report
Senator Jerich: The IBHE Faculty
Advisory Council met at Northwestern University. The Council discussed seeking
funding for research for higher education and going forward with the Faculty
Diversity Study. The discussion also included the concern that some community
colleges are seeking to offer four-year B.S. degrees.
Senator Jerich’s Illinois Board of Higher
Education Faculty Advisory Council Report can be found at: http://www.academicsenate.ilstu.edu/committee.html
Advisory Items:
08.22.03.01
University Enrollment Committee Charge
The memo from President Bowman concerning the
University Enrollment Committee’s charge was distributed to the Senate. The
memo informed the Senate that, based on the information compiled by the Office of
Planning and Institutional Research, the University should maintain a steady
on-campus enrollment for Fall 2004 in the 20,500 to 20,750 range. The
Enrollment Committee is charged with establishing targets of 3,000 new freshmen
and 1,800 to 1,900 new transfer students to maintain a stable enrollment. The
primary focuses of the committee include:
Ø
Analyzing demographic research
Ø
Assisting in the creation and review of an enrollment management plan
Ø
Monitoring application/admissions/enrollment data through the cycle
Ø
Overseeing the release of enrollment information to the University
community and the public
09.03.03.01
Student Computer Ownership Initiative
Provost Presley: The Student
Computer Ownership Initiative is a plan to require all new students to own
computers and was created to improve the standardization of technology used by
students and to simplify technological support issues. Computer ownership as a
requirement of admission becomes a cost that is aidable and therefore students
can be eligible for financial assistance loans for this cost. Vendors have
expressed a great deal of interest in the initiative and even a willingness to
provide free computers for economically disadvantaged students. Provost Presley
stressed that this is not a pedagogical issue, but one of technological
standardization and ease in computing for students. Computer labs won’t be
removed, but these labs may be used for more high-end technological purposes.
Provost Presley estimated that about 85% of ISU’s students already own
computers. Each program can establish the requirements for computers and this
information will be forwarded to TechZone, which can then inform students of
the required specifications.
Senator Woods: Will students be
penalized if they do not own a computer?
Provost Presley: They will not be
penalized; but it will be rather like owning on a textbook—it is expected.
Senator Reid: Are you
referring to federally guaranteed loans?
Provost Presley: Yes.
Senator Darden: Who will provide
the necessary technological support?
Provost Presley: The vendors can
provide that support.
Senator Meister: Will the cost of
computers be included in the scholarships for students who are on full
scholarships?
Provost Presley: That is a
specific financial assistance question and I can’t answer it myself. That is
something that the Financial Aid Office would have to address.
Senator Fryman: Will there be
increased budget costs due to this initiative?
Provost Presley: With less lab support costs and with current
initiatives such as extending wireless capabilities, we will spend about the
same amount of money that we are spending now. There are no plans to reallocate
money even from technology support.
Senator Plantholt: How will
international students be affected?
Provost Presley: I really can’t
answer that, but there have been discussions of this proposal with all PAC
members.
Senator Rice: Are there plans
to close the computer labs in the residence halls; will there be more places
for computer connections?
Provost Presley: We have not yet
addressed those issues in our planning.
Senator Adams: There are hidden
costs in this proposal. Not only will students be required to own computers,
but they will need access to printers as well.
Provost Presley: The computer
labs can become more printer intensive.
Senator Page: The
infrastructure of central campus does not support ResNet (Residential
Networking).
Provost Presley: Mark Walbert,
Associate Vice President of Technology, could best answer questions about rewiring
of the residence halls. Unfortunately, Dr. Walbert is unable to be with us
tonight.
Senator Genta: Will there be
restricted e-mail access in the general computer labs?
Provost Presley: You will have
the same access if you have a wireless computer or laptop as you currently
have, I would imagine.
Senator Reid: Why are we
looking at only certain vendors?
Provost Presley: Certain academic
units currently require hardware that these vendors offer.
Senator Rebolledo: Who will repair
the computers?
Provost Presley: TechZone and the
vendors.
Senator Kurtz: My concern is
that with the increased number of computers on campus, there may be a higher
incidence of computer viruses. Is there planning in place to address this
concern?
Provost Presley: Yes, we have
several plans in place to reduce the spread of viruses. Any infected computers
can be quarantined until the problem is eliminated.
Senator Koutsky: If loans are not
available, how can students receive funding for computers?
Provost Presley: We have in place
vendors who will provide certain numbers of free computers and loaner programs;
we will also seek more donations specifically for funding student computer
ownership.
Senator Crothers: President
Bowman, do you intend to go forward with this initiative?
President Bowman: If the conditions
are well-timed, I would like to make it a requirement beginning in Fall 2004.
Communications:
Professor Emeritus and former Senate Chairperson, Jan Cook, reported
on a new program proposed by the ISU Annuitants Association. It is called
“Bring Your Own Book”. Group participants will meet twice monthly to discuss
books of interest; mystery novels will be discussed on the first Tuesday of
each month and history books on the third Thursday. All BYOB discussions will
begin at 11:40 a.m. in the Faculty Staff Commons of the Bone Student Center.
Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch. Dr. Cook extended the
invitation to participate to the entire campus.
Wind Symphony
Senator Borg: A concert by ISU’s
Wind Symphony will be held next Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the Center for
Performing Arts. The concert is dedicated to former student Tim Ryan, who was
killed in the military conflict last May.
Theatre Productions
Senator Hampton: Reported on the
opening of Amadeus at the Center for Performing Arts. Performances will run Tuesday
through Sunday, September 30 through October 4, 2003. Additionally, the Marriage
of Figaro will open in April 2004.
Program Proposals – Approved by the Senate on the
Consent Agenda 9/2/03
08.06.03.01
Mass Communication Program Revisions
08.06.03.02
Social Aspects of Aging Professional Development
Sequence
08.06.03.03
Interactive Media Sequence in Mass Communication
08.06.03.04
Television Sequence in Mass Communication
08.06.03.05
Radio Sequence in Mass Communication
08.06.03.06
Visual Communication Sequence in Journalism
08.06.03.07
News Editorial Sequence in Journalism
08.06.03.08
Broadcast Journalism Sequence
08.06.03.09
Journalism Major
08.06.03.10
African-American Studies Minor
08.06.03.11
Exercise Science and Fitness Sequence Deletion
Budget Session
IBHE Big Picture Meeting
President Bowman: Reported that Dan
LaVista, Director of the IBHE, was in attendance at the Big Picture meeting
held on campus. Dr. LaVista met with the governance groups on campus,
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the Vice Presidents to discuss the
governor’s priorities. Many of the issues of discussion mainly involved
speculation, as there has been no formal statement from the governor concerning
his priorities.
Senator Crothers: Also attended the IBHE Big Picture meeting.
The themes and the priorities of the IBHE included:
Ø Good stewardship
in resources
Ø Increase in
faculty/staff salaries
Ø Deferred
maintenance
Ø Need-based
financial aid, specifically the MAP
Ø Adult education
programming
The IBHE, above all else, wants to shield the
MAP (Monetary Award Program) for students.
Adjournment
Motion XXXV-10: To adjourn, by
Senator Rice, seconded by Senator Fowles, was unanimously approved by standing
vote.