Meeting Minutes
ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES
November 5, 2007
Call to Order
The regular meeting of the Academic Senate, held on November 5, 2007 was called to order at 3:07 p.m. by Penny Brooke, Senate President. The meeting was held in room 115 C. Roland Christensen Center.
Roll:
David Ailion, Tim Ameel, Erica Anderson, James Anderson, Shmuel Baruch, Margaret Battin, Brooke Bennett, Paul S. Bernstein, Susan Bratton, Paul Bresslof, Dan Brinton, Jennifer Buhler, Nicola Camp, Kuan Chen, Liz Clark, John Conboy, Lynette Danley, David Derezotes, Marianna DiPaolo, Jessica Elder, Gary Ellis, Phil Emmi, Jessie Fan, Dheerajvalkya Gadicherla, Greg Hatch, Rachel Hayes-Harb, Bob Hill, David Hillyard, Brooke Hopkins, Tiffany Jack, Randy J. Jensen, Ryan Jensen, Mike Kirby, Thomas Kontuly, Stephane LeBohec, Edward M. Levine, Janet E. Lindsley, Janis Louie, Zheng-Rong Lu, Brad Lundahl, James Metherall, Katie Miller, Lex Newman, Maria Newton, Paul Nielsen, Gerado Okhuysen, Richard Paine, Karen Paisley, David Pendell, Kevin Perry, David Plumblee, Kathy Pope, A. Lor Randall, Rita Reusch, Antonio Serrato-Combe, Leslie Sieburth, Randy Silverman, Tim Slover, Bruce Smith, Gerald Spangrude, Nancy Staggers, Paul Stout, Peter Trapa, Andrejs Treibergs, Mary Ann Villarreal, Cecilia Wainryb, Kimberly Walsh, Lisa Western, Mary Youngkin.
Excused: Gene Fitzgerald, Pat Hanna, La Var Harline, Richard Lemons, Karl Lins, Lester Partlow, Donn Schaefer, Raymond Tymas-Jones, Sharon M. Weinstein
Ex-officio: Penny Brooke, John Francis, Kirtly Parker Jones, Nancy Lines, Paul Mogren, Susan Olson, Spencer Pearson, David W. Pershing, Michael K. Young
Others: Martha Bradley, Paul Brinkman, Don Bloswick, Ann Floor, Robert Flores, David Iannucci, Ning Lu, Rochelle McConkie, Lori McDonald, Marko Mijic, Bill Nichols, Chuck Wight, Alex Zuhl,
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Academic Senate meeting of October 1, 2007 were approved unanimously following a motion by James Anderson and seconded by Dheeaj Gadicheerla.
Request for New Business
There was no request for new business.
Consent Calendar
The resignations, retirements, faculty appointments, auxiliary and limited term appointments, appearing in Appendices I dated October 22 and November 5, 2007 received approval, following a motion by Nancy Staggers which was seconded by Brooke Hopkins, to forward to the Board of Trustees.
Executive Committee Report
Sandy Smith, Executive Committee Secretary, summarized the report of the October 22, 2007 Executive Committee meeting.
Report from Administration
President Michael Young extended an invitation to the faculty to attend the Veterans Day Celebration Friday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. in the Union Ballroom. He also invited the faculty to support the Science Day on Saturday.
Report from ASUU
Spencer Pearson reported on the student government’s upcoming plans. They have been working on an academic advising plan to help students; holding a Senate assembly to increase funds for Study Abroad to better assist students; and an Election Party on Tuesday night from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. where they will be broadcasting election results.
Penny extended congratulations to ASUU for their effort in planning a luncheon for students and committee chairs. Katie Miller chaired the event and invited all of the University Committee chairs and all students on the committees so that students would feel better about serving in those committees.
Notice of Intent
There are not items of intent.
Debate Calendar
Mike Magill introduced Rod Larson from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health to explain their proposal for the MSOH/MOH Degree. The new degree would double the number of students over a 5-year period would also encourage entry into the Ph.D. program. Dr. Larson addressed the question of its value to all students. Don Bloswick indicated that one third of Engineering students are female, and stressed the difficulty involved to recruit female students. Sandy Smith inquired about the possibility of nursing involvement and was told that they are actively pursuing partnering with the College of Nursing. The proposal received unanimous approval to forward to the Board of Trustees.
Pater Trombi presented an explanation for College of Science’s request to discontinue the Medical Biology Degree. The three year program has outlived its usefulness and is no longer an accepted fast track into most professional schools. Their goal is to write each student and suggest a lateral move in order that they obtain a diploma from the University. Nancy Staggers called for the question which received unanimous approval to forward to the Board of Regents.
Information Items
John Francis explained the New Degree Proposal process. The current process is cumbersome and the new process would revise the policy and omit the letter of intent. The path to submit the new proposal would be to the regent’s sub-committee who will determine if the proposal goes forward, then to the Graduate or Undergraduate Council, the Executive Committee, the Senate, the Board of Trustees, and the final approval will rest with the Board of Regents. This should save approximately three months for final approvals. A question regarding the denial from the sub-committee was raised. VP Francis responded that you revise and submit as many time as is necessary to obtain approval.
Francis also addressed the ASUU’s legislative request to eliminate taxes on student text books. He introduced Alex Zuhl, ASUU Director of Student Services. Alex explained the program for savings in textbooks with Campus Store. A 5% discount for using the U card in purchasing textbooks; maximizing availability of used books; a revised Textbook Buyback; use of electronic books; and an upcoming textbook rental program are some of the ideas they have pursued to benefit the students. He asked for the faculty’s cooperation in supporting this program.
Penny Brooke reported that the Faculty and Budget Planning Committee addressed their concerns at the Executive Committee in being more interactive on budget and planning matters at the University. They are interested in participating in the Dixie College affiliation with the University and in being more interactive in budget setting.
The President’s Report for October was reviewed.
New Business
There was no new business.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 4:18 pm.