Academic Senate Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio  44555

September 11, 2002

Note 1: Please submit agenda items and cover sheets for the October 2, 2002, Senate meeting to Bege Bowers in the Provost's Office by noon on Friday, September 20, 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:

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Major topics presented/discussed: 

Ad Hoc Ethics Committee's proposed professional conduct policy; nominations for Senate chair, Charter and Bylaws Committee, and Ohio Faculty Council; report of the Senate chair; proposed policy concerning certification of a single course in all three of the general education intensive areas; use of Mel Watkins’s Dancing with Strangers for fall 2002 Freshman Readers Dialogue; Provost's address.

• The following motion carried:  a motion that the motion concerning adoption of a professional conduct policy be referred back to [the Ad Hoc Ethics] committee.
• A motion that "no course designed as intensive may be certified for more than two of the three intensive areas (writing, oral communication, and critical thinking)" was superseded by a motion that "the matter concerning the number of certifications for intensive courses be referred to the Academic Standards Committee." 

Jim Morrison, chair of the Academic Senate, called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.  The Senate Bylaws stipulate that the first order of business at the opening Senate meeting of the academic year is to be nominations for chair of the Senate and for open positions on the Charter and Bylaws Committee.  However, an Ad Hoc Ethics Committee motion and a proposed amendment were on the floor when the Senate lost a quorum at the May 2002 meeting, and Senate procedures also require the meeting to begin with the business that was on the floor when the quorum was lost. Therefore, Morrison recognized J-C. Smith to proceed with that business.

J-C. Smith, chair of the Ad Hoc Ethics Committee, moved that the motion concerning adoption of a professional conduct policy be referred back to committee because of matters pending before the committee and the fact that a new set of senators has assumed office.  Smith's motion to refer the matter back to committee was seconded, and Morrison explained that it takes precedence over the main motion and proposed amendments.

In response to questions, Smith explained that Dean Kasvinsky and the General Counsel raised objections beyond those on the floor when a quorum was lost last May. The committee, now engaged in responding to those objections, met after the May Senate meeting and adopted further changes in the proposed policy.  As a result, the committee feels it would be better to revise the proposed policy further in committee and bring it to the Senate at a later date.

A vote was taken, and the motion referring the matter back to committee carried. See further explanation of the proposed delay, under Unfinished Business below.

Nominations for Chair of the Senate and Members of the Charter and Bylaws Committee:

Nominations for chair of the Senate:

Louise Aurilio, last year's chair of the Elections and Balloting Committee, called for nominations for chair of the Senate. The following individuals were nominated:  Jim Morrison, who "respectfully declined," Daryl Mincey, and Tom Shipka.  There being no additional nominations, Aurilio called the nominations closed.  The names of Mincey and Shipka will appear on the mail ballot.

Nominations for members of the Charter and Bylaws Committee:

Aurilio called for nominations for the three open positions on the Charter and Bylaws Committee, noting that the colleges of Health and Human Services, Business, and Fine and Performing Arts are not currently represented on the committee.  Nominees do not have to be members of the Senate or represent a particular area.  The following three individuals were nominated for two-year terms:  Christian Onwudiwe, Lowell Satre, and Bill Buckler.  There being no additional nominations, Aurilio called the nominations closed.  The Bylaws stipulate that the election take place by mail ballot.

Nominations for Ohio Faculty Council Representative:

Aurilio then called for nominations for Ohio Faculty Council representative.  Tom Shipka, who has served for the past two years, was nominated to serve again for the 2002-2004 term.   There being no additional nominations, Aurilio called the nominations closed.

Top of Page

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

Minutes of the 1 May 2002 meeting were approved as posted.

To view the May minutes, click here; click your “Back” button as necessary to return to the September minutes.

Senate Executive Committee (SEC) / Report from the Chair:  Jim Morrison reported:

• The SEC has met and made most of the faculty appointments to standing Senate committees.  Committee assignments are posted on the Senate web site (follow links at <http://www.ysu.edu/acad-senate/>).   People whose names are marked with an asterisk should call the first meeting to elect a chair.  Administrative committee members have also been assigned; Student Government has not yet submitted names of student committee members.

• The Senate needs to study charges of existing committees and review appropriate realignment of committees, considering changes in the University and the Academic Division. For example, the Senate has a University Outreach Committee. You will hear from the Provost ideas about potential restructuring of the Metro College. The Outreach Committee should have input into the restructuring, and the shape and charge of the committee should reflect changes that are going on. The same is true for the Ad Hoc Global Awareness Committee and changes taking place in the Center for International Studies and Programs.

• Morrison noted that he declined nomination for another term as Senate chair because he has "done it for too many years.  Organizations such as the Senate need a continuous influx of ideas, talent, and energy." The new chair and vice chair will take office at the end of the December Senate meeting or, if there should be no December meeting, on December 1.

Ohio Faculty Council (OFC):   No report; the OFC has not met since spring. 

Charter and Bylaws Committee:  No additional report.

Elections and Balloting Committee:  A list of those elected to Senate positions for the 2002-2003 academic year was posted to the agenda for the September 11 meeting at <http://www.ysu.edu/acad-senate/election_report_2001_2002.pdf>.  Louise Aurilio reports that Thelma Silver will fill the senator-at-large vacancy for the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services (replacing Robert Frampton, who has left the University).

Academic Standards Committee (ASC):   No report.

Academic Programs Committee (APC):  Patricia Hoyson, chair of last year's committee, reported.  Attached to the agenda for the September 11 Senate meeting was a list of programs, changes, and minors approved by the APC and circulated during the 2001-2002 academic year.  The list is available at the following address: <http://www.ysu.edu/acad-senate/sep02_aprc.htm>.  The list includes approved programs that were still in circulation at the time of the May 1 Senate meeting.  No action is required.  Proposals for which action is pending will be considered at the first meeting of the committee.  Send proposals to Hoyson in the Department of Nursing.

University Curriculum Committee; Academic Planning Committee:  No reports.

General Education Committee (GEC):  Bill Jenkins, chair of the committee, reported:

• Recently, a proposal for a course was sent forward for certification in all three "intensive" areas:  writing, oral communication, and critical thinking.  Although the GEC has allowed individual courses to be certified in two of the three areas, the committee feels certification of a single course in all three areas is inappropriate:  students should experience the intensive areas in different classes and even in different disciplines.  In the absence of a policy governing the matter, the GEC has decided to bring forward a motion.  

Jenkins therefore made the following motion:  “No course designed as intensive may be certified for more than two of the three intensive areas (writing, oral communication, and critical thinking).”

The motion was seconded, and discussion followed. 

Martha Pallante, former chair of the Academic Standards Committee (ASC), noted that in the past, most policies related to intensive courses were considered by the ASC.  She moved that "the matter concerning the number of certifications for intensive courses be referred to the Academic Standards Committee." 

Pallante's motion was seconded, and discussion followed, focusing on whether the issue needs to go to the ASC and whether referring it to the ASC will hinder a timely decision on courses proposed for intensive certification.

A vote was taken, and Pallante's motion carried, taking precedence over Jenkins's motion.

• Jenkins asked that proposals for intensive courses be forwarded to the GEC as soon as possible.

• Jenkins reminded those present about the Freshman Readers Dialogue.  Designed to encourage students to read and think about a particular book, the program is expected to build community and evoke interdisciplinary dialogue about an issue of broad ramifications and appeal.  This year, the book is Mel Watkins’s Dancing with Strangers, and the topic of discussion will be race relations.

Watkins--who grew up in Youngstown, went to Colgate University, and became editor of the New York Times Book Review--will be in Youngstown the week of October 7.  In addition to making a public presentation in the Chestnut Room on Wednesday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m., he will meet on the YSU campus with Youngstown and Warren City high school seniors Thursday morning, October 10.  Information about the project is available via one of the scrolling links on the YSU home page at <http://www.ysu.edu/>.  Jenkins urges all to read the book, use it in classes, and participate in the dialogue. 

The planning committee will soon request suggestions for possible books/topics for next year's Freshman Readers Dialogue.

Integrated Technologies Committee; University Outreach Committee:  No reports.

Library Committee:  Dorcas Fitzgerald, chair of the Library Committee last year, announced that Tom Atwood has left Maag Library to take a position with NEOUCOM.  She introduced Jan Schnall, the interim executive director of the library.  Fitzgerald also noted a recent state funding-induced cut in the library budget.

Academic Research Committee; Student Academic Affairs Committee; Student Academic Grievance Committee; Honors Committee; Academic Events Committee:  No reports.

Unfinished Business:  Continuation of Ad Hoc Ethics Committee discussion begun earlier in the Senate meeting: 

Elaborating on his earlier comments, J-C. Smith, chair of the Ad Hoc Ethics Committee, gave the following informational report:

The discussion of the committee’s motion to adopt the proposed Professional Conduct Policy led to a loss of quorum at the last two meetings of the Senate.  After the final meeting, the committee met again and tentatively adopted new language dealing with plagiarism.  This language was communicated to Dr. Jenkins, who, I believe, also tentatively agreed to it.  At this time, the committee is awaiting input from outside sources concerning that issue.

In regard to the objections mentioned earlier, from Dean Kasvinsky and Counsel Denman, I have constructed a response that is, or will be, under consideration by the committee as soon as it meets this year, before the next meeting of the Senate.  Some of the objections put forward were strange or unexpected.  For example, it was objected that the new policy, which is intended to supersede current Board of Trustees policy, conflicts with that current policy.  It was also objected that the institutional authority under the current Board of Trustees policy would not be the authority under the new policy.  So clearly there is a turf issue for some in the administration concerning this policy.

Another objection was that the new policy, which would be sent to the Board of Trustees for approval, has not been so approved at this time and so could not be applied to administrators, since the Academic Senate does not, itself, have that authority.  Lastly, the General Counsel raised an issue concerning due process that the committee will be investigating, and Dean Kasvinsky claimed that there would be a lack of expertise and no chance of agreement or confidentiality among an Ethics Committee of twelve, which, of course, has yet to be appointed.

I will report back to the Senate at its next regular meeting, in regard to the disposition of these matters.  Any questions?

Provost's Address:  Jim Morrison introduced Tony Atwater, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, who gave the address summarized below. The address focused on reinstitution of program review, restructuring of the Metropolitan College, and new directions for the Center for International Studies:

Welcome to another academic year.  I am grateful for this opportunity to inform you about several major goals being undertaken by the Academic Affairs Division.  First, let me say that I am pleased that the administration and the faculty union were able to reach agreement on a new three-year contract.  It is in the best interest of YSU that our faculty be paid a competitive wage in the higher-education market, and the Academic Affairs Division feels strongly about this priority.

Reinstitution of Program Review:

Program review was put "on hold" during the transition to semesters because of the volume of work associated with the transition.  It is now time to re-institute the process.  After consultation with the deans, about eight departments have been selected for program review during the coming academic year.  The previous method of program review will be modified somewhat to expedite the process and cut down on bureaucracy.  Academic Affairs will work with representatives from relevant Academic Senate committees as it modifies the process.

The process will provide for review at the department, college, and provost levels and for review of graduate programs by the Graduate Council.  I see program review as a formative process aimed at making programs as strong as they can be; review is only as good as the recommendations it yields and the actions that are taken on those recommendations.

Metropolitan College Reform:

As I have noted before in addressing the Senate, I am aware of the history behind the establishment of the Metropolitan College.  In restructuring Metro, we are looking at ways of aligning it more closely with the mission of the academic colleges.

We are also sharpening the focus of the unit in three areas:  continuing education, adult education and individualized learning, and workforce education.  I use the term "workforce education" deliberately; I believe there is an educational mission in developing human capital.  

The name "Metro College" was a misnomer.  The name of the unit will likely be changed to reflect its reorganization as a "school," and a dean will likely be its chief academic officer.  Appropriate Academic Senate subcommittees will be consulted in the realignment process.

New Directions for the Center for International Studies and Programs:

We are also looking at new directions for the Center for International Studies and Programs.  These new directions are aimed at strengthening the Center's relationship with academic units and programs and at increasing global awareness, international student enrollment, and study-abroad opportunities. 

The Center will be relocated from Phelps to Kilcawley Center, a more central location on campus.  In addition, moving international admissions to the Undergraduate Admissions Office, under the direction of Sue Davis, will improve international admissions processing.

New directions require new vision.  Noah Midamba, a respected scholar and talented administrator with a rich background in international affairs and international studies, became interim administrator of the Center on September 3.  He will help the Center redefine its emphasis on study-abroad, build closer working relationships with academic departments, and expand recruitment of international students.

Finally, an International Affairs Advisory Committee, chaired by Tod Porter, was formed to assist the Provost in recommending areas of improvement and methods for implementation.  Some of the committee's recommendations will be implemented this year as the Center takes on a more vital role in academic and student life.

[The Provost ended his address by thanking Jim Morrison for his long leadership of the Academic Senate and thanking Bill Jenkins for his role in establishing the Freshman Readers Dialogue.]

New business:  None. 

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.