Faculty Senate
Minutes of November 6, 2007
(unapproved)

The Faculty Senate met at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the Center for Tomorrow to discuss the following agenda:

1. Report of the Chair
2. Report of the President/Provost
3. The UB SEFA Campaign
Marsha Henderson, Vice President for External Affairs
4. Formation, Goals, and Challenges of the UB Academic Health Center
David Dun, Vice President for Health Sciences
5. Distance Education Policy Report: First Reading
Professor Phillips Stevens
6. Report on the SUNY Senate 147 th Plenary Meeting in Cortland
Marilyn McMann Kramer, SUNY Senator
7. Old/New Business
8. Adjournment

Item 1: Report of the Chair

•  Senate Committee Activities:



Academic Planning Committee & Budget Priorities Committee

•  Held an exploratory joint meeting on October 18 to discuss mutual interests and issues as we move forward on UB2020; they set up an online Discussion Board, will determine specific items to focus on in future meetings.

•  APC also met with the FSEC on 10/24 to discuss with Prof. Shibley faculty perspectives about the UB physical Master Plan

•  APC plans to meet again on 11/9 (Fr); one item on the agenda will be an update on the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation

Affirmative Action Committee

•  Met 10/30.: The chair reported that Mattie Rhodes is stepping down as chair of the Affirmative Action Committee. Scott Williams (Mathematics) respectively declined taking over as chair for health reasons. The chair asked that the faculty nominate colleagues to serve on the committee

•  Will compare national statistics on minority hiring ad the issue of diversity at various institutions

•  Will also examine UB-internal statistics and practices; plans to interview representatives of those units which have proven particularly successful in minority hiring



 Athletics & Recreation

•  Met recently – will report to the FSEC on 11/14



Budget Priorities Committee

•  Met on 10/22; discussed among other things the purchase of the M Wile and Trico Buildings in downtown, as well as the Heart of the Campus initiative



Computer Services Committee

•  Met yesterday to discuss the results of the 2007 Faculty IT Survey, Rick Lesniak's presentation on the future of learning spaces and the libraries, and digital faculty progress reports.

•  Updates on ETAG, iTunes U, privacy issues

 

Grading Committee

•  Has a full agenda of meetings and issues to consider this month. Recently meet to discuss a draft on “Grade Submission and Change Politicies”

•  Other topic of urgency: Eligibility requirements for financial aid and their coherences/ differences with requirements for good academic standing or probation for undergraduates.

 

Student Life Committee

•  Re-activated under Dr. Peter Nickerson as Chair

•  Formally charged by the FSEC to:

•  Extend and improve student-faculty relations and interaction;

•  Examine the problem of textbook pricing and propose possible alternatives and/or compromises with the University Bookstore;

•  Investigate the causes and extent of substance abuse (alcohol, drugs) and other social problems, including gambling addiction, and propose awareness programs and other initiatives to help reduce these problems.

•  Assist the UB Critical Incident Management team and Counseling Services in pro-actively helping students who are potentially troubled with thoughts of suicide, violence, and similar emotional problems.

•  Review UB student rules and regulations

 

Teaching and Learning Committee

•  Met 10/19 to discuss the Distance Education Subcommittee's recommendations, which we will be asked to approve today at its first reading

•  Submitted nominations of faculty to serve on the Search Committee for the new Director of the Teaching & Learning Center , these have been forwarded to Vice Provost Finley

 

Information & Library Resources Committee

•  Re-activated with Prof. Stephen Dyson as Chair

•  Of immediate concern are ongoing plans/discussion about the re-purposing of library space in Lockwood, Capen, and Abbott. Librarians held a special meeting on 11/1 and formulated a resolution expressing their concerns about the fate of library space and the Heart of Campus initiative. There will be an Open House on the Overall Master Plan on Dec 4 in the N. Wyle Building downtown.

•  Prof. Dyson has circulated to the Voting Faculty a brief statement about this to alert all concerned faculty; I am trying to schedule an open forum where our protests can be adequately vented.

 

•  The Graduate School Executive Committee met on 10/15; items discussed:

•  The Office of Postdoctoral Scholars is operational and has developed a website

•  Individual Faculty must get institutional approval before legally committing UB to any overseas initiative

•  Several of the professional schools are exploring the possibility of permitting graduate students to take undergraduate language and culture courses for graduate-level credit in order to help prepare them for international careers

•  Priority categories for awarding Schomburg Fellowships have been somewhat modified—the changes are aimed at creating more attractive e aid offers making fellows eligible for in-state tuition rates earlier, more fully integrating the fellows into departmental activities, and increasing the number of fellows that can be supported

•  Office of Institutional Analysis will be adding “customer satisfaction” questions to supplement the AAU Survey of Graduating Doctoral Students currently used at UB. The OIA will also be asked to survey incoming graduate students about their experience with the recruitment process and with the adequacy of support services such as child care and library resources.

•  Revised transfer Credit Policy . Proposed changes to the current policy would limit the number of transfer credits that can be used towards completion of a Master's program to 20% -- the current practice allows up to 50%. Dean Ho characterized this as more of a language change than a substantive policy change.

 

•  We have had a National postdoctocal Team Visit to UB on 10/29 and 10/30:

•  The team included Kathleen Flint, Project Manager of the National Postdoctoral Association, and Karen Sherman Director of Postdoctoral Affairs for Weill Medical College/Cornell University.

•  Prof. Marilyn Morris invited me to meet with the team

•  There will be involvement of the Faculty Senate to discuss policies for postdoc scholars – as yet there are none—concerning titles, hiring, compensation, obligations, compliance with ethical conduct, complaint procedures, etc.

Yet another reason we will need to re-activate both the Bylaws and Research & Creative Activities Committees.

 

•  Candidates for the Dean of the School of Nursing

•  Are in the process of being interviewed

•  Two last week, one being interviewed this Thursday

 

•  The UB Council met yesterday

•  President Simpson discussed his efforts convincing the politicians of the importance of a strong public research university both for NYS and the WNY region; the need for, and various sources of, adequate financing for UB's ambitious plan; the importance of the UB Believers initiative as a community action.

•  Provost Tripathi delivered a updated UB Freshman Survey, pointing out the new students' greater academic self-confidence, heightened academic focus, increased recognition of UB quality and anticipation of greater engagement with a diverse community.

•  Vice president Willis gave a brief update on budget and finance

•  Alexander Cartwright, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, gave a presentation on UB's Strategic Strengths – their purpose, development, status, review process, and current activities

 

•  PSS Chair Janiece Kiedrowski and I are considering areas and issues for possible joint Senate activities and resolutions—e.g. health & wellness, student life, energy and the environment. In particular, we plan to put forward a resolution in support of Walter Simpson's call for the exclusive use of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper at UB.

 

•  DEGW Design Firm will be conducting 3 sets of two-hour workshops on 13-14 Nov. and are seeking faculty volunteers to “envision and map the UB learning landscape as part of the UB Physical Master Plan.” The same workshop will be conducted with 3 different sets of participants.

 

Item 3: The UB SEFA Campaign

Marsha Henderson, Vice President for External Affairs

 

Marsha Henderson reported that UB kicked off the campaign very successfully last month at the South Campus: “One university, one community, one world” is the theme and reflects the connection to the Community. Since 1990, she added, UB has raised more than 12 million dollars through this annual SEFA campaign. Over 10 million dollars remain in Western NY .

 

Henderson then addressed the questions that have been raised regarding the relationship between SEFA, the United Way and Planned Parenthood in WNY. She clarified that the regional SEFA in WNY contracts with the United Way to be the administrator of it but the two campaigns remain two separate organizations and entities. Only 8% of all contributed funds go towards administrative costs; everything else goes toward the organizations designated by the donors. Planned Parenthood remains an option in the campaign and can be designated. Planned Parenthood is very supportive of the SEFA process and donor designation through the process. They benefit from the generosity of individuals through payroll deductions. Also, undesignated funds are distributed equally among the designated organizations.

 

Barbara Rittner inquired whether the UW counts the money that passes through as part of their annual gift total. Does the money that remains in accounts for periods of time stay in interest bearing accounts, is that interest going back to the SEFA or to the UW?

Marsha Henderson answered that our $900 000 is referenced as the total amount raised in the community during this period of time. The regional SEFA organization has its own separate bank account in which these monies are deposited (interest for the benefit of SEFA). The money is distributed as quickly as administratively possible. The biweekly amount is distributed 6 times a year. Barbara Rittner objected that she is on the board of two organizations that receive the funds annually. Marsha Henderson said she would be checking into this.

 

Item 4: Formation, Goals, and Challenges of the UB Academic Health Center

David Dunn, Vice President for Health Sciences

 

David Dunn reminded the faculty that there are 64 SUNY campuses and that UB is one of the two AAUs in the system and is a genuine economic driver for WNY. He emphasized the challenges entailed in having 3 campuses for the Health Sciences: one of the decanal units, Pharmacy, is still on North Campus, for instance, which raises issues when it comes to necessary collaborations between units (e.g. simulation environment where students learn medication dispensing).

 

The Health Sciences at UB include 5 units: the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the School of Public Health and Health Professions, the School of Dental Medicine , and the School of Nursing . The mission statement of t he Academic Health Center has a tripartite structure: education, research, clinical care component. David Dunn then spoke to Strategic Interdisciplinary planning process that was put into place several years ago in relation to curriculum, developing an AHC wide simulation center and looking at the needs for facility and space. The Simulation Subcommittee kicked off 3 weeks ago, and David Dunn reported that they got a 3 million dollar gift from someone who had already given 1.5 million dollars for an endowed chair and who wants to support the creation of a simulation center.

 

David Dunn then discussed the traits that maybe negatively define the UB Academic Health Center: the lack of a university hospital for instance (3 other AHCs within the SUNY system do have a hospital). This means that there is no NY State income stream coming in from a hospital. There are160 faculty who do not receive NY State salary but who do educate medical students, residents, etc. = legacy issue that David Dunn is determined to fix. He then listed the buildings that include the Health Sciences on South Campus and mentioned the kind of remodeling of old buildings that has already happened => focus on re-use of buildings.

 

Dunn emphasized that the schools in UB's AHC graduate about 1,200 professionals annually. Because they constitute a very large engine for public health-sciences education and are turning out the next generation of practitioners in these areas, Kaleida, ECNC, Catholic Health Systems all depend on UB. Kaleida-sponsored study indicates that there will be a dearth of as many as 400 physicians in WNY within 5 years. The planned growth through UB 2020 and the campus master-planning process, David Dunn explained, means the UB Academic Health Center could add 400 new students, 250 new faculty positions, four to five remodeled buildings and three or four new buildings on the South and downtown campuses.

 

Dunn then discussed the problems associated with urban acute care today in WNY. According to him, the recommendations of the “Berger Commission”—the state Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century—have the potential to help UB “vault forward in the rankings, recruit new faculty and possibly have something that looks like a tertiary health-care facility.” It will create, Dunn stressed, a health-care delivery system for Western New York that will assure the highest quality of care for patients, as well as the highest quality of training for health-care professionals with the consolidation of teaching services; expansion of centers of excellence; growth in the student and faculty base through a 5-hospital consortium (Roswell, UB, Hoffman, Woodward, and Kaleida). UB is making its presence known downtown with 6 properties UB has acquired but the challenge is to connect the campuses through maybe light rail.

 

Gayle Brazeau, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, asked about the subject she had asked Dunn about in 2005: giving nurses, pharmacists and other health-care professionals the ability to form practice plans. Dunn explained that SUNY has now been asked to draft legislation in this area, the first step toward changing the law on this issue (which dates back to a 1950s state law).

 

Peter Horvath from Public Health mentioned that Public Health had similar situations with practice plans. Dunn explained that Public Health would be included, particularly in relation to Nutritional Management. Alan Lockwood asked whether the vision of the committee was to coalesce the facilities at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Center . ECMC is ½ way between the South campus and the Niagara Medical campus. Dunn responded in the negative.

 

Item 5: Distance Education Policy Report: First Reading

Professor Phillips Stevens

 

The chair thanked Professor Stevens for resurrecting the Policy on Distance Education. The draft policy was distributed in advance with all the changes. Professor Stevens mentioned that this policy has been on hold for a full calendar year and gave a history of how the idea came about. He explained that there was no standard policy governing the conduct of distance education at UB until Phillips Stevens brought it to the Faculty Senate. The FS Teaching & Learning Committee approved the subcommittee's recommendations that were made a year ago. The aim has been conciseness but also flexibility.

 

Barbara Rittner asked about ownership of images in distance education. Andre Sullivan (Engineering) asked about the “appropriate committee” mentioned in the document that is supposed to approve distance education courses. He also referred to the difference between distance education courses and programs: a program can have a distance education component without needing approval from the state (more than 50% distance learning would require special approval from the state). Phillips Stevens clarified that every teaching unit has a mechanism for approval of courses. The courses are constructed and offered as part of established degrees and certificate granting curricula. State rules are on top of these procedures and will be followed. Barbara Rittner thanked P. Stevens for the policy and made a couple of suggestions for changes that were accepted as friendly amendments. The amendments passed.

 

Motion from the Faculty Senate Teaching and Learning Committee to adopt the policy was unanimously approved.

 

Item 6: Report on the SUNY Senate 147 th Plenary Meeting in Cortland

Marilyn McMann Kramer, SUNY Senator

 

Marilyn Kramer reported about the first of the 3 annual meetings of the SUNY Senate. Muriel Howard, President of Buffalo State College, presented an overview of the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA). This nationwide initiative is a response coordinated by AASCU and NASULGC to the Spelling Commission Report which included a number of recommendations for colleges and universities(e.g. increased assessment of student achievement at various performance levels) . Accrediting agencies are requesting that colleges provide a system of accountability. VSA has the following goals:

• Redefine what is important when choosing a college

• Make it easy to find information on colleges and standardize its presentation

• Add process and outcome measures to what is reported

Marilyn Kramer reported that this later component was the most controversial one since assessment techniques are usually calibrated to reflect the individuality and uniqueness of each campus. A resolution was passed that said that SUNY should not impose a requirement of participation in this VSA. At this time eight SUNY campuses are participating.

Another outcome of the Spelling Commission has been the issue of affordability and the ensuing emphasis on a common course numbering scheme so facilitate transferring among institutions. This will be difficult to implement.

 

Patricia Francis, SUNY Assistant Provost for University Assessment and Academic Initiatives, reported on the implications of VSA for SUNY.

Carey Hatch, SUNY Assistant Provost for Library Services, spoke about a Proposal for a Comprehensive SUNY Digital Library. It will be an essential component to position SUNY as a world-class university system. The plan is to acquire access to digital resources through negotiations at the System level, thereby incurring significant savings and more stability in library budgets.

 

Three resolutions were passed unanimously on October 27, 2007 .

• Resolution in Support of Proposal for a Comprehensive SUNY Digital Library

• Resolution on Endorsement of the University Faculty Senate Consult and Visitation Procedure

• Resolution on the State University and the “Voluntary” System of Accountability, to the effect that

a) The UFS strongly opposes any move to implement the Voluntary System of Assessment as a

SUNY-wide requirement, and

b) The UFS urges prohibition of any additional campus involvement in the pilot process without explicit and meaningful consultation with local governance bodies.

 

Item 7: Old/New Business

 

Item 8: Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 3:38 PM .

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Carine Mardorossian, Secretary of the Faculty Senate

Attendance