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Sept 26, 2001 Minutes

APPROVED FACULTY SENATE MINUTES 43RD FACULTY SENATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2001



 


Approved Senate Minutes

September 26, 2001

Senators present: Renick (chair), Carn, Stutzman, Brennan, McKinney, Hindson, Stimmel, Blevens, Blanda, Hays, Stone, Peeler, Sawey

Senators absent: Gillis

Guests: Roy Martin, Robert Pankey, Susan Day (representing the Council of Chairs), Micky Henry, Lawrence Estaville, Gary Winek, Ralph Borchers, Charles Johnson, Matthew Swartz, Mike Moore

Meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm by chair, Oren Renick.

Dr. Roy Martin, Chair of the Curriculum Committee, presented the new curriculum items that had recently been reviewed giving the Senate the recommendations of the committee.  The Senate chose to act on each item individually.

The Department of Health Services and Research has proposed changing the title of two degree programs.
1. The first change was to change the BSHP degree in Long Term Health Care Administration to a BS degree with a major in Long Term Health Care.  Sawey moved, Hindson seconded that the Senate accept this recommendation.  The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
2. The second change was to change the MSHP degree to an MS with a major in Health Services Research. Stone moved, Brennan seconded that the Senate accept this recommendation.  The vote was unanimously in favor.

The Department of Health Services and Research proposed adding certificates in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Information.  None of these three certificates would require new courses or new faculty.  These are 15 SCH programs each and are state approved.  Stimmel/Stone, moved to accept the recommendation.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of HPERD proposed a minor in Coaching.  This would not be an Option II program, just a separate minor. Sawey/Stone moved to accept the recommendation.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of Mass Communications proposed replacing the Broadcasting class with course work entitled Electronic Media.  The Broadcasting course is 3 SCH.  The Electronic Media Course would be two 3 SCH courses.  Hindson/Peeler moved for acceptance.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of Modern Languages has proposed dropping the minor in Russian due to low enrollment.  Students currently in that minor will be able to complete course work. Blevens/Carns moved for acceptance.  There were 10 votes for and 3 abstentions.  It is so unusual to delete a program that the Senate was slightly non-plused.  Both Hindson and Stimmel expressed disappointment that this important language would be dropped from the curriculum.

The Department of Sociology has requested adding an undergraduate minor in Studies in Popular Culture.  It would be an interdisciplinary offering with no new course work or faculty required.Sawey/Hindson moved for acceptance.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of Mathematics requested new courses for the MTE degree.  Part of this effort was to change the descriptions on topics courses. Sawey/Stone moved for acceptance.  It was approved unanimously.  All of this moving and seconding was certainly giving the Senate some exercise!

The Department of Technology proposed adding a major in Imaging Science under the B.S. and deleting the Visual Communication major under the B.S.T.  This degree in no way competes with the Department of Art and Design. Stimmel/Brennan moved for acceptance.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of Physics asked to delete the Physics major under the MA stating that it had not been functioning for a long time.  We always appreciate a little house cleaning. Hays/Stimmel moved for acceptance.  It was approved unanimously.

The Department of Geography proposed adding a Doctor of Philosopy in Geographic Information Science and adding 28 hours of doctoral level courses.  The Senate was assured that no new faculty were needed at this time since faculty hired for the original doctoral programs are qualified to teach these courses.  One new faculty will be needed later but will be hired as a replacement for retiring faculty.  The Senate asked about the growth of the current doctoral programs and if they had ever had the projected number (36) of students enrolled.  Dr. Estaville replied that they had not but that now that undergraduate caps had been removed he anticipated more candidates.  Dr. Estaville eloquently defended the proposed budgets of the new program as well as fielding questions about the original degree programs.  He pointed out that the current doctoral programs have more than reached the target financial goals including much greater success in external grants.  He stressed that these grants are returning money through redirect payments to the university.  Senator Sawey commented that Dr. Gratz, just the previous week, had suggested the first Geography doctoral program was considered a "premier" program and was never expected to make money.  It had been the understanding of the Senate at the time that it was proposed that it was, in fact, expected to at least break even.  Dr. Ellis reminded the Senate that the expenses of the first program have been used to build an infrastructure that will serve to support this new program.

At this point the Senate determined that there were two separate points of view and perhaps, two sets of "books"concerning this issue and that we needed to have more information.  The motion was made by Sawey and seconded by Blanda that the Senate withhold approval of the new degree proposal until the stories from the VPAA (losing money) and Estaville (exceeding targets) could be reconciled.  This motion was approved unanimously.  It is the intention of the Senate to address this issue at the PAAG meeting October 3, 2001.

The agenda item asking goal team members for a plan of action for each Senate goal was RTAd.

Chair Renick has learned that the Senate may nominate 3 faculty members to be considered for the search committee for the new university president.  One faculty member will be selected from this list to serve.  The search committee will consist of 9-10 people including 4 regents.  After some intense discussion it was decided that we would all think about who might best represent the academic component of the university and bring those names to the Senate on Oct. 3rd.  There was heavy sentiment for having a Senator in the committee.

Senator Peeler, the Faculty Senate representative on the University Name Change Committee, reported on the committee activities.  A committee that was originally established to help implement the change should it occur has morphed (a popular culture expression) into an active advocate for the name change.  The committee is made up primarily of non-faculty and the input into the committee is essentially from students and alums and not from faculty.  We have been informed but not solicited.  Senator Peeler reported a fair amount of pro-name change propaganda going out to students such as T-shirts at PAWS preview with Southwest Texas State University with the southwest in very small letters.  If we indoctrinate the freshman, in four years we will have a new name.  When Dr. Supple retires this is, ostensibly, his continuing project.  It seems that the stage is being set for what could be considered a "done deal."  The Senate, in its corporate body, mused on how the Regents, the other schools in the TSUS system, the nearby universities, and the legislature will feel about this.

The Senate was asked to consider and the give feedback about the proposed increase in graduate tuition.  Dr. Willoughby, Dean of the Graduate College, has asked for our input by Oct. 5th.  Senate members were asked to send suggestions to Terry Aguirre, the Senate secretary.

The Senate then briefly went into executive session.  We did not sprain anything.

The Senate then agreed that the Geography proposals, Graduate Tuition and the University Name Change would be on the PAAG agenda for Oct. 3rd.

The Minutes from the September 19, 2001, meeting were approved with a small addition.

The meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.  Your Senators at work!

Timidly submitted by Joan Hays