UB Faculty Senate

FACULTY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Minutes of April 1, 2008

(unapproved)

The Faculty Senate met at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at the Center for Tomorrow to discuss the following agenda:

Approval of the minutes of March 4, 2008
Report of the Chair
Report of the President/Provost
Discussion of UB Recycled Paper Purchasing Policy
1 st reading – Grading Committee Policy Revisions:
Drop/Add Latin Honors Non-Matriculated, Visiting and Special Programs Student
Viewing of DVD: “Shots Fired” and Feed
Gerard Schoenle, Chief of Police
Old/New Business
Adjournment

Item 1: Approval of the minutes of March 4, 2008

The minutes of March 4, 2008were unanimously approved.

Item 2: Report of the Chair

The Faculty Senate Grading Committee has met twice this month; the results of its deliberations on shortening the Drop/Add window, Latin Honors policies, and policies regarding non-matriculated, visiting, and special programs students will be discussed during today's meeting and next month as well.
The Faculty Senate Computer Services Committee met on Friday, March 7:

Matt Stock (CIT) discussed the results of the faculty research computing survey;
Professor Troy Wood delivered an update on the search for the Director for the Teaching & Learning Center ;
CIO Sandy Peters discussed the results of a survey about outsourcing of student e-mail to Google

The Academic Planning Committee met on March 21 with Prof. Shibley to discuss the latest developments on the Physical Master Planning process.
The Budget Priorities Committee met twice this month. Associate VP Sean Sullivan presented and discussed a projected University Growth Model, the 5-year plan capital projects across SUNY, and possible distributions of programs and schools across the three UB campuses.
The Athletics & Recreation Committee has also been active; Co-Chair Prof. Brazeau presented to the FSEC a rough draft of a resolution calling for a wellness/fitness component as a general education requirement. The proposal was well received and timely; Vice Provost Michael Ryan will visit the FSEC next week to discuss reviewing the Gen Ed requirements.
The Graduate School Executive Committee met last Thursday. Among other items, it considered procedural changes for Graduate Transfer Credit --- in particular, evaluating transfer credit upon completion of a course rather than during the application process, for earlier assessment. The GSEC also discussed and endorsed the Grading Committee's proposed changes to the Drop/Add window.

Announcements

“Connect the Dots”, a campus-wide conversation, will take place on Tuesday, April 8, at Alumni Arena, from 11:00 to 12:30 PM. The Chair encouraged all faculty and staff to attend this important event, designed to facilitate communication amongst everyone at UB.
He reminded the Senate also of UB's “Wellness Awareness Day” on Wednesday, April 9, from 10-2, also in Alumni Arena.
UB's “Celebration of Academic Excellence” will take place on Thursday, April 17, in the Center for the Arts. All faculty are encouraged to attend.
The next presentation of the Physical Master Plan will take place on Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day), at the Center for the Arts. Prof. Shibley is pleading for faculty participation.

Item 3: Report of the President/Provost

President Simpson reported on the ongoing budget process in Albany and its implications for the university as well as for public higher education across New York state. He referred to the unexpected resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer: “Having lost Eliot Spitzer as governor is a serious loss,” Simpson stated, “because the former governor had--as a primary agenda--higher education in general and UB in particular. ”The new governor may be similarly inclined and may share the same degree of commitment to higher education, Simpson added, but that remains an unknown.

Simpson indicated that the ongoing discussion among the Legislature suggested cuts for many state agencies. The magnitude of the cut is uncertain, he said, but it was clear that UB's general operating budget would be decreasing in the near future. He noted that there was disagreement over what exactly the state has to spend and that what will determine what funds will be available for UB are the differences between the revenue forecasts of the executive branch, Assembly and Senate as well as the budget maneuvers among state legislators. How does this contextualize itself for UB2020? Simpson stated that while the loss of the governor and the lack of revenue in the state were anything but good things for this university, the strategic planning process UB entered has changed the campus irrevocably and is independent of the state Legislature. In this sense, Simpson stressed, “perturbations that exist year to year are not going to determine the long term outcome of where this university is going.” While acknowledging that the university would certainly be facing difficulties if its budget is cut, “when it comes to events that we can control ourselves—which is our sense of who we are and where we're going and what we're planning to do—that remains utterly unaltered by events that occur in Albany, and over the long term, I still have as much optimism and commitment for where this university is headed as I did six months ago.”

Claude Welch (Political Science) reported that, as departments are cutting over to a new system, it is up to faculty to update the university telephone directory. President Simpson said that he would look into the possibility that this be done automatically instead.

Item 4: Discussion of UB Recycled Paper Purchasing Policy

The chair invited a couple of guests, William Wachob, assistant dean for resource management in the School of Nursing , and Domenic Licata, instructional support technician in the Department of Visual Studies, to speak in support of the proposed UB Recycled Paper Purchasing Policy. The Policy is endorsed by the Environmental task force and UB Energy Officer Walter Simpson and calls for all general purpose 8.5” x 11” white copier and printer paper purchased by all units in the university to be 100% post consumer content processed, chlorine-free recycled paper.

The speakers listed the environmental and health benefits of using recycled paper (e.g. 100% recycled paper uses 100% less wood, 6% less energy, 80% fewer nitrogen oxides and hazardous air pollutants, 100% reduced sulfur and generates about 40% less solid waste). In addition, they explained that the University has been at the forefront of universities in the US in terms of sustainability and environmental consciousness. “Having a policy,” they stressed, “demonstrates to the US and the world that we are walking the talk.” The quality and reduced cost of recycled paper was also emphasized as well as its compatibility with all Xerox machines. The university uses 186 tons of copy paper annually, i.e. 3125 trees or enough energy to heat 24 homes, so using recycled paper “makes economic and environmental sense.”

Jim Campbell from Political Science interjected that if switching to recycling paper is indeed so cost effective and reduces emissions by such a great extent, then why have only 3 universities adopted this policy? Domenic Licata responded that this is what distinguishes leaders from followers and that UB aspires toward environmental excellence. In response to the President's question about the necessity of specification in the policy, Licata explained why a general statement of what is intended without degrees of restrainers (post-consumer, chlorine-free) would not be sufficient. Jim Campbell objected to the policy as a form of “micro-management.” He offered an amendment to the policy, namely “strongly encourages all units,” that was subsequently rejected by the FS. A majority of senators voted to endorse the policy. Claude Welch reminded everyone that anything the Senate does is merely advisory to the President.

Item 5: 1 st reading – Grading Committee Policy Revisions:

Drop/Add

Latin Honors

Non-Matriculated, Visiting and Special Programs Student

Bill Baumer, chair of the Grading Committee, outlined the terms of the new drop/add policy: the proposal shortens UB's “add/drop” period from two weeks to seven days for enrollments and to six days for cancellations . In addition, if a student wants to drop the course in the second week, they will be able to do so through procedures prescribed by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (although the student may still have liabilities for tuition and fees). “Having unrestricted adds/drops during the second week of the semester is too disruptive,” Baumer stated, because students sometimes come in on the last day of the second week and do not begin their semester until the beginning of the third week. The changes proposed, he emphasized, “will not prove to be an impossible burden.” He added that the proposal permits departments to control their enrollments in the second week and to give priority to students who need the course. Chair Hoeing concurred that this will place more responsibility on the advisor to try and steer students into the right course. Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Kara Saunders also pointed out that SUNY has a policy that dictates when the university needs to charge financial. UB's drop/add policy is out of alignment with that policy so it would be beneficial to shorten the add/drop period on those grounds too.

Claude Welch asked what happens to students who register in courses that are then cancelled. Is it the department's or the student's responsibility to find a substitute? Under the current situation, Baumer explained, if a section is cancelled at the end of the first week and seats in other sections are limited, departments have a big problem on their hands. Under the new situation, departments would have the opportunity to move the students as needed. The change, he added, would be effective fall 2009 at the earliest and fall 2010 depending on the speed with which the new system could be put into place.

Bill Baumer then discussed the Latin Honors Policy Revisions that would replace the policy established in the early 1990's. The student would have to have completed at least 60 undergraduate credit hours at UB with at least 54 graded. Currently, he said, it is possible for a student to transfer to UB for a final year of a BA, pursue only 1xx and 2xx UB courses for the 30 required credits and qualify for Latin Honors. That diminishes the recognition for all, he said. The proposed criteria eliminate the inclusion of transfer credits and increase the UB credit hours required for Latin Honors to twice the 30 required for a UB baccalaureate, while continuing the gpa minima for UB courses. According to the revised policy, if the student's UB grade point average is:

• At least 3.20 but less than 3.50, degree = cum laude

• Between 3.50 and 3.75, magna cum laude

• 3.75 and more, summa cum laude .

Kara Saunders commented that the new requirement of 60 UB credit hours parallels those at other AAU and peer universities.

Dr. Baumer then outlined the policy for non-matriculated students, visiting students, and special ad certificate programs policy. The revised policy, he explained, seeks to address the cases when non-matriculated students pursue course after course or repeat the same course without limit even though their academic record includes not a single passing grade. Without the proposed policies, he added, students cannot be denied further enrollment and may degrade the quality of class interaction. Dr. Baumer concluded by explaining that the provisions for Visiting or Exchange student programs and Special and certificate Programs include purposeful but limited approvals that retain flexibility. Any program may still admit visiting students, but the policies assure that Visiting or Exchange Student Programs and Special and Certificate Programs offering courses that may subsequently be included in a degree program at UB or elsewhere do so meeting UB standards and criteria.

Last but not least, Senator Baumer proposed that any action taken on these three policies be taken jointly. The chair clarified that the policy would be included on the agenda of the May FS meeting for a second reading.

Item 6: Viewing of DVD: “Shots Fired” and Feed

Gerald Schoenle, Chief of Police

Gerald Schoenle, chief of university police and chair of the UB Personal Safety Committee, screened “Shots Fired,” an instructional video produced by the Center for Personal Protection and Safety. He explained that the university police purchased the video to educate faculty and staff about appropriate responses in case of an active shooter situation on campus. Although the chances of being in an active shooter situation on campus are far less than being struck by lightning, Schoenle said that as we are closing in on the anniversary of the Virginia Tech Shootings, it was important to teach faculty and staff how to act and protect themselves in the instance of a shooting.

The video “Shots Fired” listed guidelines on what to do in emergencies and the measures aimed at identifying assailants before they fire. It focused on how to develop a survivor mindset to act quickly and effectively in the event of an active shooter situation on campus, and to prepare oneself both mentally and emotionally to survive the outcome. Many incidents are over in 10 or 15 minutes, so it is all the more difficult to develop effective response strategies.

After screening the video, Gerald Schoenle asked for feed on it. Bonnie Ott, associate professor of architecture, suggested that graduate students and teaching assistants would especially benefit from such a presentation. She mentioned an incident when a distraught graduate assistant came across a threat of suicide in an undergraduate student essay. Chief Schoenle responded that Counseling Services offers QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training to all faculty and staff. QPR is a behavioral intervention program that helps distraught students access professional help. In addition, there is a “students of concern committee” on campus whose job it is to identify at-risk students and collect information about them (through Student Affairs).

Jim Campbell, chair of political science, commented that personal security issues on campus often revolve around the areas off of South campus where a number of incidents recently occurred. Chief Schoenle emphasized that while it is true that University Heights seems to be a problem area, UB has experienced a significant reduction in crimes within the past 10 years with the biggest concern being robbery (usually at the rate of one a semester).

Item 7: Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:09PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Carine Mardorossian, Secretary of the Faculty Senate

Attendance

School of Architecture and Planning

Danford G. Scott no

Ott, Bonnie yes

College of Arts and Sciences

Bagchi-Sen, Sharnistha no

Blair, Sampson no

Bruckenstein, Stanley no

Campbell, James yes

Churchill, Melvyn yes

Csatho, Beata no

Dryden, Lee no

Dyson, Stephen no

Giese, Rossman no

Hennessee, Todd no

Lo, Marieme yes

Ludwig, Jeannette yes

Medler, Kathryn yes

Pierchala, Brian no

Read, Justin no

Rothenberg, Stephanie no

Shiode, Narushige yes

Street, Debra no

Subramanian, Chetan yes

Takeuchi, Kenneth yes

Timler, Geralyn yes

Watrous, Bernard no

Weinstein, Bernard yes

Welch, Claude yes

Woelfel, Joseph no

Young, Jason yes

School of Dental Medicine

Bradford, Peter no

Bush, Mary yes

Ferry, George no

Mang, Thomas yes

School of Education

Ageyev, Vladimir no

Berry, Ruth yes

Liu, Xiufeng excused

Schroeder, Thomas no

School of Engineering

Alexandridis, Paschalis yes

Batalama, Stella yes

Jensen, James no

Soom, Andres no

Srihari, Rohini no

Srihari, Sargur no

Wetherhold, Robert yes

Wie, Chu-Ryang yes

School of Law

Bartholomew, Mark yes

Boyer, Barry no

Braverman, Irus no

School of Management

Cohen, Ann yes

Isse, Hodan no

Simpson, Natalie no

Star, Harold no

School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Brooks, Victoria no

Brown, Jennifer no

Cherr, Gregory no

Crawford, Elpida yes

Dobson, Kim no

Duffey, Michael no

Ellis, David no

Fiden, William no

Fine, Edward yes

Fudyma, John no

Harris, Linda excused

Hassett, James no

Hershey, Charles no

Krause, Richard no

Lackner, Jeffrey no

Mastrandrea, Lucy no

LaDuca, John no

Lockwood, Alan excused

Lukan, James no

Mahl, Thomas no

Ostrow, Peter excused

Sands, Amy excused

Springate, James no

Spurgeon, Stanley no

Sundquist, Janet yes

Yale, Sandra no

Young, Herb no

School of Nursing

Curran, Cynthia yes

Pomeroy, Sherry yes

School of Pharmacy

Brazeau, Gayle no

School of Public Health & Health Professions

Farkas, Gaspar yes

Horvath, Peter yes

Tomita, Machiko yes

School of Social Work

Rittner, Barbara no

SUNY Senators

Baumer, William yes

Bradford, Peter excused

Durand, Henry no

Kramer, Marilyn yes

University Libraries

Adams-Volpe, Judith excused

Bertuca, David yes

Taddeo, Laura yes

Tao, Dorothy yes

Guests

Spectrum Jonathan Clayton yes

VPUE Kara Saunders yes

Ex-Officio Peter Nickerson yes

Tel: 716-645-2003
Fax: 716-645-2717
Email: faculty-senate@buffalo.edu
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