Meeting Minutes
ACADEMIC SENATE
Minutes
December 5, 2022
- CALL TO ORDER AND Announcements
The regular meeting of the Academic Senate, held on December 5, 2022, was called to order at 3:00 pm by Senate President Sonia Salari. As had been announced on the Senate website and by email, this meeting was held using the Zoom online meeting platform. Attendance was confirmed by requiring Senate members (and invited guests and public attendees) to register in advance for the online meeting.
Present: Soheila Amirsoleimani, Yoshimi Anzai, Steven Bartlett, Michael Battistone, Pinar Bayrak-Toydemir, James Bekker, Adrian Bell, Matthew Bettini, Melissa Bobick, David Bowling, Jonathan Brogaard, Kenneth Bromberg, Jen Brown, Jessica Brown, Richard Brown, Timothy Brusseau, Jon Chaika, Owen Chan, Holden Cheney, Gerald Cochran, Kevin Coe, Frank Drews, Nanette Dudley, Katie Durante, Nadja Durbach, Atif Ellahie, Melinda Fagan, Stacy Firth, Julia Franklin, Gina Frey, Manu Goyal, Lela Graybill, Amos Guiora, Sara Hart, Tucker Hermans, Anna Hodgson, Heather Holmes, Harriet Hopf, Howard Horwitz, Rory Hume, Susan Johnston, Bryan Jones, Sam Judd, James Karner, Seth Keeton, Sejin Kim, Kai Kuck, Audrey Laney, Shelley Lawrence, John Lin, Jack Longino, Benvin Lozada, Sarah Lucas, Kate Lunnen, Stacy Manwaring, Nancy McLaughlin, Meeyoung Min, Ed Muñoz, AJ Myers, Anna Neatrour, Will Nesse, Dave Norwood, Yihui Pan, Robert Parker, Alek Peterlin, Codrina Rada, Ofer Rog, Carol Sansone, Nathan Seegert, Paul Shami, Xiaoming Sheng, Chris Simon, Jamesina Simpson, Sondra Stegenga , Casey Tak, Anthony Tenney, Maggie Tesch, Matt Tokson, Patrick Tripeny, Jessica Van Der Volgen, Jim VanDerslice, Seetha Veeraghanta, Muskan Walia, Ryan Walker, Jennifer Watt, Melodie Weller, Peter West, Jaclyn Winter, Zhou Yu, Kilo Zamora
Excused with substitute: Michael Abrahamson, Jay Jordan, Alyssa Lee, Alysse Loomis
Excused: Eric Handman, Adrian Palmer
Absent: Andrew Anderson, Simon Brewer, Luca Brunelli, Marc Calaf, Lizabeth Cowgill, Janice Darko, Zak Fang, Ganesh Gopalakrishnan, Jesse Graham, Max Hernandez-Nietling, William Holland, Youjeong Kang, Srabani Karmakar, Titus Larrieu, Feng Liu, Janis Louie, Frank McAlpin, Mikaila McIntyre, Eugene Mishchenko, Susie Porter, Sean Redmond, Alessandro Rigolon, Wayne Springer
Ex Officio: Mike Braak, Robert Fujinami, Michael Good, Savannah Manwill, Paul Mogren, Allyson Mower, Christina Porucznik, Sarah Projansky, Lisa Rigtrup, Sonia Salari, Jane Laird
Announcements:
Senate President Sonia Salari asked Senators to reserve January 30 for a Senate social and to also send her location ideas. Sonia acknowledged continued concern about graduate student housing costs and noted that, while the Senate neither sets nor approves graduate compensation or housing pricing, there are avenues for advocacy. She requested questions to be submitted in advance of AVP of Auxiliary Services Jennifer Reed’s December 12 presentations to the Senate Executive Committee and the January 9 Senate meeting. If Senators have comments about the University budget process discussion, which is in an early stage, they should contact their deans.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes dated November 7, 2022, were approved upon a motion from Christy Porucznik and a second from Jim VanDerslice. There was 1 opposed.
- REQUEST FOR NEW BUSINESS
There were no requests for New Business
- CONSENT CALENDAR
The Faculty Matters Reports were approved after a motion from Harriet Hopf and a second from Jen Brown.
- REPORTS
Report from Administration
SVP Michael Good addressed the Senate request for safety reports from administration by first identifying university websites that list safety metrics such as safety.utah.edu, which includes a daily crime and fire log. He also discussed notable recent safety incidents and their current status. Scheduling a listening session with Chief Safety Officer Keith Squires is also available upon request. The UofU has joined the University Innovation Alliance, a national coalition of 15 leading public research universities working to increase the number and diversity of college graduates in the United States. Administration is setting up a taskforce to address graduate housing and compensation issues.
Executive Committee Report
Sonia Salari outlined the items on this meeting’s agenda that were approved at the November 21, 2022, Senate Executive Committee (EC) meeting. The EC received extensive safety updates from various administrators and Public Safety representatives. The Senate can continue to determine its preferred scope and format for the requested campus safety updates. General Education Standards revisions are currently being reviewed by the Undergraduate Council and the Senate will see those at one of its future meetings.
Report from ASUU
ASUU Vice President Benvin Lozada highlighted recent successful ASUU events and plans for future programming, such as the annual Conference on Diverse Excellence and the Mental health Awareness Concert. ASUU leaders will be meeting with President Randall on December 9 to discuss previously noted concerns about housing and Housing Residential Education. The restructure and funding of the Director of ASUU position is in process, so for the moment that position is vacant.
- NOTICE OF INTENT CALENDAR
There were no items for the Notice of Intent Calendar
- DEBATE CALENDAR
Undue Influence Policy 6-410
Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Steve Robinson introduced Policy 6-410: Undue Influence. There is a need for the University to formalize its commitment to continuing admission and financial assistance award processes that are free from actual or perceived undue influence. Existing policy language does not address the University’s prohibition on that with enough specificity; UofU staff currently employs robust ethical standards to the processes but would be assisted by having a written policy in place. The policy applies to all colleges and areas. Discussion centered on specific examples offered delineating the difference between appropriate support provided to applicants versus what would be undue influence on decision makers. Steve noted the importance of getting the balance right to allow for appropriate advocacy while curtailing inappropriate intervention. Senators also posed improvements to the policy noting some areas where procedures, sanctions, or definitions could be further clarified. For instance, Amos Guiora recommended specifying who would be the final arbitrator in an undue influence situation. Harriet Hopf moved to postpone Policy 6-410 Undue Influence until the next Senate meeting’s Debate Calendar pending a new draft that incorporates the Senate considerations. Amos Guiora seconded, and the motion passed. {Note: this item was ultimately scheduled for the February 6 Senate meeting}
New Certificate: Education in Health Professions
Rebecca Wilson, Academy of Health Sciences Education Director, and Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, AVP for Health Sciences Education, presented a new graduate certificate: Education in Health Professions. This certificate is based on the M.Ed. in Health Professions Education and targeted to students who are on time-limited fellowships, unsure about committing to a M.Ed., or are currently matriculated health professional students. This certificate will provide preparation for teaching in their health profession, knowledge to analyze education scholarship for use in practice, and build education leadership skills. The coursework consists of 6 core courses (11 credits) and 4 selective credits, including an option for teaching practicums. Credits taken in fulfillment of the certificate will transfer to the M.Ed. in Health Professions Education. Harriet Hopf’s motion to approve the proposal passed after a second from Tim Brusseau.
New Certificate: Implementation Science
J.D. Smith, Dept. of Population Health Sciences, explained that implementation science is the study of methods to close the gap between best available health research and healthcare practice. The proposed Graduate Certificate in Implementation Science is a 15-credit hour curriculum comprised 7 credits from 3 new courses and 9 credits from existing complementary courses. The program provides students and faculty with an opportunity to develop a discrete and transferable set of research skills across diverse areas of clinical and translational sciences, health services research, and related areas. The intended target audience includes medical students, physicians, and clinical researchers, and the program is currently expected to take 3-4 semesters. After a second from Julia Franklin, Harriet Hopf’s motion to approve the certificate passed.
New Certificate: Clinical and Translational Investigation
The Co-directors of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Workforce Development Foundation for Discovery, Anthea Letsou and Julie Shakib, introduced a 15-credit Clinical and Translational Investigation Certificate. It provides a flexible route for junior faculty and graduate students to develop a discreet set of research investigation skills in a variety of applications. Upon completion of the certificate, trainees will have knowledge in the core competencies such as study design, research implementation, statistical approaches, responsible conduct of research, and community engagement. Harriet Hopf moved to approve the certificate proposal. After a second from James Bekker, the motion passed.
Family and Consumer Studies Restructure—3 proposals
Department of Family and Consumer Studies’ assessments of how to address contemporary issues–such as faculty changes, shifts in market demand, the need to reduce barriers to students, and develop accurate and inclusive curriculum language–resulted in a curriculum restructure plan. Faculty members Zhou Yu and Jessie Fan outlined the restructure details and resulting changes identified in three proposals to accomplish this: New Degree: Financial Planning and Counseling; Program Change (Major Name Change): Human Development and Family Studies; New Minor: Financial Planning and Counseling. These changes will not require additional resources at this time. Harriet Hopf, seconded by Sarah Lucas, moved to approve the three restructure proposals. The motion passed with one abstention.
New Academic Unit: Division of Games
Michael Young, Director of Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE), and Richard Brown, Dean of the College of Engineering, outlined the opportunities available by proposing that the nationally ranked EAE interdisciplinary teaching program transition to a freestanding division named the Division of Games. These included attracting tenure-track faculty, strengthening faculty governance, and transforming relationships with local, national, and global employers. The status change will have no administrative, budget, or curricular impact. After Sarah Lucas seconded it, the motion from Harriet Hopf to approve the new division proposal passed.
- INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CALENDAR
Chief Safety Officer Updates
Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Keith Squires offered an itemized list of department improvements now in place following the safety investigation report recommendations developed after the Lauren McCluskey murder on the UofU campus. Another area of improvement is the addition of victim advocates to the public safety team, who will provide ongoing resources when needed, and developing a less siloed public safety presence on campus. He introduced Kimberly Barnett, Deputy Chief Safety Officer for Support Services. A search is underway for another deputy CSO overseeing law enforcement. Chief Squires explained that the student ambassador program, Public Safety Advisory Committee, and Independent Review Committee all aid with community engagement and accountability. To address the needs of specific communities, Squires also noted increased efforts to liaise directly with student athletics and University of Utah Hospital stakeholders.
Director of Athletics Report
Director of Athletics Mark Harlan introduced Jason Burrow- Sánchez, the University faculty athletic representative, and presented data and rankings highlighting the academic accomplishments of student-athletes across 20 intercollegiate athletics programs. Student-athletes continue to set record grade-point averages and NCAA Graduation Success Rate metrics. The Athletic Department is working with the Lassonde Institute to aid athletes in the entrepreneurial field because of the shift in college athletics allowing compensation and licensing.
Day of Collective Action
Bryan Hubain, Associate Vice President Student Development and Inclusion, presented updates for this year’s Day of Collective Action (DoCA), taking place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. The event will feature the keynote speaker, Dr. Ann-Marie Núñez, Director of the University of Texas at El Paso’s Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success. After reviewing last year’s DoCA events, he outlined plans for the 2023 DoCA. He will Co-Chair it with David Hawkins, Chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. There will be four themes: Anti-Racism, Indigenizing the University of Utah, Becoming an Hispanic Serving Institution, Community-and Coalition-Building. Session information will be launched in a few weeks. Canceling classes for that day is problematic, but there will be accommodations for participating through Zoom.
Reports and Information
Informational reports included with the meeting’s materials were:
- Athletic Advisory Council Annual Report
- University Report to the Board of Trustees November 2022
- NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business offered at this meeting.
- OPEN DISCUSSION
President Salari solicited comment regarding the evolving administration safety briefings that the Senate had requested. Harriet Hopf noted that the briefings have been helpful so far, but it is not necessary to receive a detailed list what happened each week because crime reports are available. She suggested that an overall discussion of trends and the administration’s vision could be the most helpful format. Paul Shami offered that 2–3-minute reports of major safety events would also work well.
- ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 5:28 pm.