|
Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 44555 |
 |
|
|
Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 44555 |
|
March 2, 2005
Note: The next meeting of the Academic
Senate is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, at 4:00 p.m. Please submit
agenda items and cover sheets for the November Senate meeting to
Bob Hogue by noon on Monday, March 28, at the latest. Provide
both a hard copy and a disk or electronic copy of your report and cover sheet
in Word or rich text format. A downloadable cover sheet is available
at the Academic Senate web site [hit "cancel" if asked for a password]:
Note 2: If you want to read or print the pdf version of these minutes and don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may download the program at the following link: <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html>.
To save paper, use the Acrobat Reader menus or toolbar to print the file, not the menus or toolbar in your web browser.
Click on the links in the table to go directly to a specific section of the minutes.
Tom Shipka, chair of the Academic Senate, called the Senate to order at 4:05 p.m.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting:
Minutes of the February 2, 2005, meeting were approved as posted. To view the September minutes, go to <http://www.www.ysu.edu/acad-senate/minfeb05.htm>.
Senate Executive Committee (SEC) / Report from the Chair / Ohio Faculty Council Report: Tom Shipka, Chair of the Senate, reported:
As is my custom, I will consolidate my reports.
1. There is a project underway on campus to raise funds to help the victims of the tsunami in South Asia in December. The solicitation closes on March 14, less than two weeks away. Please make a contribution if you have not already done so. You may donate by cash or check at the YSU Branch of Home Savings in Kilcawley Center. Checks should be made out to the “YSU Tsunami Relief Fund.” All funds collected will be sent to UNICEF and earmarked for tsunami relief. Thus far only $1,647.57, 11% of the goal of $15,000, has been raised. I ask faculty in attendance here today to urge your students to participate. The need is staggering and every dollar counts.
2. The Ohio Faculty Council has not met since our last Senate meeting. The next meeting of the OFC is 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at the Board of Regents Suite in the Rhodes Office Tower in Columbus.
3. Pursuant to action by this body at the last Senate meeting, the resolution opposing the passage of Senate Bill 24 has been distributed to every post-secondary institution of higher education in Ohio. Also, it has been posted on the web page of the Ohio Faculty Council which you can access from the YSU Academic Senate web page.
In this regard, the Senates of two other Ohio public universities, Ohio University and the University of Akron, have adopted resolutions similar to the YSU Senate resolution and those, too, have been posted on the OFC web page.
4. Last month I shared with you my disappointment that the search to fill a new position at YSU - Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations - had been aborted by President Sweet after several finalists had been interviewed on campus by a search committee consisting of Mr. John Habat, Vice President for Administration, Attorney Holly Jacobs, General Counsel, and Dr. Tom Maraffa, Special Assistant to the President. Since our last meeting I met with President Sweet to inquire why the search was aborted and to urge him to fill the position. I followed that meeting with a memo to the President reaffirming my position.
If I understood the President’s explanation when we met, he said that the search had triggered a huge volume of lobbying by important community and political figures off campus near and far on behalf of various candidates so that no matter who was selected to fill the position, some people in high places would be offended. Those are my words, not his. While this may be true, I also believe that the position is too important to abandon for fear of offending certain people and I hope that the President reconsiders.
I also suspect, based on tidbits of information which have reached me, that there may be more to the story than I have been told officially. There’s a wise old saying among long-time residents of Youngstown’s north side. It is: “There’s no secrets on the north side.” I remind all of us that YSU is on the near north side. If there are any deep, dark secrets surrounding this aborted search, they will come to light eventually.
5. You may have read in yesterday’s Jambar about the plan to conduct two spring commencements this year, one for undergraduates, the other for graduate students. I am hopeful that we will have a briefing on this matter from Events Management later in this meeting.
6. Today two committees will bring reports and motions to the floor of this meeting. Charter and Bylaws will propose several changes in the Bylaws of the Academic Senate dealing with nominations and elections. The Ad Hoc Committee on Search Waivers will propose that the Senate recommend that the current search waiver policy (9001.01) be suspended pending modifications to remove ambiguities and integrate desirable specificity.
This concludes my report. I will be happy to entertain comments or questions.
Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez asked about the two commencements in light of the Collective Bargaining Agreement requirement for approximately one-third of the faculty to attend each commencement. Tom Maraffa responded that the President of YSU-OEA was consulted and did not see any problem with the Agreement. This will not require faculty to do any more than is required in the Agreement.
Louise Pavia asked if an outdoor venue was considered, and if there was consideration give to the advantage of having undergraduates see the graduate students receive their diplomas as well. Tom Maraffa responded that there concerns about the weather for an outdoor ceremony. Also, the University did consider the benefit of having undergraduates see graduate students participate in the same ceremony, but it was decided that the separate ceremonies would be the best way to handle commencement for this Spring.
Charter & Bylaws Committee: Louise Pavia reported from the Charter & Bylaws Committee. The full report of the committee is in Attachment 1. Dr. Pavia stated that the committee had met several times to discuss the issues in their motion. She then moved that the Bylaws of the Academic Senate be amended as follows:
BYLAW 2 ELECTION AND BALLOTING PROCEDURESSection 1. General Policies
Original language: (delete)
(c) In those cases where a nominating ballot is held, all persons nominated shall have the opportunity to appear on a subsequent electoral ballot. In all elections, every effort will be made to secure at least twice the number of nominees as there are positions. For elected chartered committees, confirmation of candidacy and eligibility for election shall be made by the Elections and Balloting Committee.
New Language: (add)
(c) Forms for nominating candidates to open Senate offices and committees will be sent to all senators by the end of the first week of the academic year. Forms to invite nominations may be distributed and collected electronically. In addition, nominations may be made from the Senate floor at the organizational meeting. All nominations must be confirmed. All persons nominated shall have the opportunity to appear on a subsequent electoral ballot. In all elections, every effort will be made to secure at least twice the number of nominees as there are positions. For elected chartered committees, confirmation of candidacy and eligibility for election shall be made by the Elections and Balloting Committee.
Add
(d) Faculty and student members may serve on more than one committee.
BYLAW 3 ELECTION OF FACULTY SENATORS
Section 3.
Add “electronically:”
(a) A faculty member will become a nominee in either a departmental or at-large election, or both, by signing a written request which has been distributed by the Elections and Balloting Committee, or by assenting electronically to a nomination.
BYLAW 4 OTHER ELECTIONS
Section 1. Chair of the Senate
Original Language: (delete)
(b) Forms for nominating candidates for this office will be sent to all senators on the first work day of the academic year and returned by the first Wednesday of September. In addition, nominations may be made from the floor at the organizational meeting. All nominations must be confirmed. The Elections and Balloting Committee shall conduct a secret mail ballot, and shall announce the results not later than seven calendar days prior to the scheduled October Senate meeting .
New Language: (add)
(b) The Elections and Balloting committee shall be responsible for seeking nominations for the position of Chair of the Senate and for the proper conduct of the election, the results of which shall be announced no later than seven calendar days prior to the scheduled October Senate meeting.
Section 3. Charter and Bylaws
Old Language: (delete)
(b) Candidates for this committee shall be nominated at the organizational meeting of the Senate, and elected by mail ballot.
New Language: (add)
(b) The Elections and Balloting committee shall be responsible for seeking nominations for vacant positions on the committee and for the proper conduct of the election.
BYLAW 6 APPOINTED CHARTERED COMMITTEES
Section 1. Appointed Chartered Committees and Subcommittees
General Provisions
Old Language: (delete)
(c) Faculty and student members may serve on no more than one committee or subcommittee unless serving as an ex officio, or liaison, member.
Renumber (d), (e), (f), to (c), (d), (e)
The motion was seconded, and discussion was invited. Since no discussion resulted, a vote was then taken. Motion passed.
Elections & Balloting Committee: No report.
Academic Standards Committee: No report.
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: A list of approved courses is contained in Attachment 2.
General Education Committee : A list of approved courses is contained in Attachment 3 .
Committee Chair Bill Jenkins also reported on assessment: The process of establishing the assessment infrastructure at the University is continuing. We would like to move ahead quickly since North Central will be visiting us in two years. A member of the YSU Administration took part in an accreditation visit recently and reported that North Central did investigate the degree and quality of assessment activities at that university. We will need indication that faculty are involved and will need to gather data. Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez noted that The Code gives students property rights to their assignments. Many assessment activities require the retention of some of these materials. Has this issue been resolved? Dr. Jenkins responded that it is partially but not completely resolved. The issue was presented to University Council Holly Jacobs. Her initial opinion was that the collection of data is allowed as long as we are not using it for publication. However she will be checking with the Attorney General's office for an opinion. FERPA allows the exchange of data about students with respect to the internal workings of a university. We will be awaiting further confirmation from Holly Jacobs. Dr. Palmer-Fernandez stated that he would recommend that a waiver for assessment be put in the Code, since he is concerned about possible legal liability if collection takes place. Bege Bowers, Interim Provost, stated that Sharon Stringer has also talked to Judy Gaines about adding a statement to The Code about this, and it appears that this will happen.
Ad Hoc Committee of Waiver of National Searches: Chet Cooper, committee chair, reported: The committee met several times. They reviewed the charge of the committee and reviewed the YSU Board of Trustees policy, as well as those of 6 other similar institutions in Ohio. Our current policy is generally non-specific. The committee's complete report is in Attachment 4. On behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee, Dr. Cooper moved that the Academic Senate notify the YSU administration and Board of Trustees that:
The motion was seconded. Discussion: None. A vote was then taken on the motion. Motion passed.
Adjournment: The Academic Senate adjourned at 4:31 p.m.
For further information, e-mail Bob Hogue .