Draft 4-19-06

Thursday
April 13, 2006
2:00 p.m.
MA 211K

AGENDA SETTING

PRESENT
Bill Clapp, Tamara Chase, Gary Dohrer, Dawn Gatherum, Bruce Handley - Chair, Becky Johns, Wade Kotter, Jack Mayhew, Gene Sessions, Mike Vaughan - Kay Brown - Secretary

EXCUSED 
President Millner

GUESTS 
Erika Daines, Doris Geide Stevenson, Thom Kuehls, Brenda Kowalewski

MINUTES 
Gary Dohrer: Moved to approve the minutes from the April 6, 2006 meeting.
Second: Tamara Chase
Outcome: The minutes were approved.

AD HOC GEN ED 
Thom Kuehls, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on General Education Improvement and Assessment, presented the following.

SOCIAL SCIENCE GENERAL EDUCATION AREA

Mission Statement

The mission of the Social Science general education area is two fold: 1 - to provide students with a basic understanding of humans and their behavior within their environments; 2 - to assist students in their efforts to contribute to society in their particular professions and as responsible citizens of their various communities.

Student Learning Outcomes

A student completing a social science general education course should be able to accomplish 3 of the following 5 learning outcomes:

1. Describe a social science approach to studying and understanding human behavior.

2. Describe basic assumptions about humans and their behaviors from a social science perspective.

3. Explain the basic elements and operation of a sociocultural system.

4. Explain the interactions between individuals and their sociocultural and/or natural environments.

5. Apply a social science perspective to a particular issue and identify factors impacting change (past or present).

Mission statements and student learning outcomes are also being developed for Arts & Humanities and the Sciences. They will come to the Faculty Senate in the Fall.

The Executive Committee commended Thom Kuehls and the Ad Hoc General Education Improvement and Assessment Committee on their work.

MOTION 
Gene Sessions: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above Social Science mission statement and student learning outcomes.
Second: Wade Kotter
Outcome: the motion passed unanimously.

ASSA 
Erika Daines, Chair of the Admissions, Standards, and Student Affairs Committee presented proposed changes to PPM 4-21 Final Examinations, and PPM 4-1 Graduation Standards.

PPM 4-21 - FINAL EXAMINATIONS

A. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, Comprehensive final examinations are to be given only during the designated examination period of each term. These periods are scheduled by the University and not by the individual instructor. Comprehensive final examinations shall not be given during the week preceding the designated examination period for each term. Make-up examinations and/or non-comprehensive exams previously scheduled on the syllabus may be given. However, at least five calendar days must separate a terminal course exam and a comprehensive final exam. Courses exempt from this policy include graduate courses, online courses, courses that meet only once a week, 1-2 credit hour courses, courses that use performances as a final assessment, and courses that use a laboratory experience as a final assessment.

Some editorial changes were made to the above policy by striking the beginning phrase, and moving the course exemption statement to the end (as shown above). The proposal was presented to the Student Senate and was viewed positively.

Without an adjustment to the final exam week this policy could be problematic for classes taught Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by cutting short their lecture days.

Due date for final grades was discussed. It was suggested that grade deadline dates be reviewed by the ASSA Committee next year as a committee charge.

MOTION 
Wade Kotter: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above proposal to PPM 4-21 Final Examinations as stated above.
Second: Becky Johns
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

PPM 4-1 GRADUATION STANDARDS

B. General Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees

1. Weber State University offers the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.); Bachelor of Science (B.S.); Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.); Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), and Bachelor of Integrated Studies (B.I.S.). Not all baccalaureate degree types are offered in all majors.

2. A minimum of 120 semester credit hours must be completed.

3. A minimum of 40 semester credit hours of upper-division work must be completed. Departments with a significant number of lower-division sequential classes required for completion of a major may petition the University Curriculum & General Education Committee to reduce the required number of upper-division semester credit hours to no fewer than 33.

MOTION 
Becky Johns: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above proposal to PPM 4-1 Graduation Standards.
Second: Wade Kotter
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

APAFT 
Doris Geide-Stevenson, Chair of the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee reporting.

PPM 8-24 - SERVICE AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS

POLICY

Up to three two years of satisfactory full-time service at other accredited institutions of higher education may normally be counted as part of the probationary period at Weber State University. In exceptional cases, more than three two years credit may be granted. In any event, credit for two years or fewer of service at other institutions shall be negotiated between the appointee and the dean provost, upon recommendation of and in consultation with the department chair and approval by the provost. the dean, and shall be written as part of the initial contract issued by Weber State University. If more than three two years credit is to be awarded, the provost must also consider the recommendation of the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee. Years of credit for service at other institutions and the time line for formal reviews shall be included in the initial contract of employment issued by Weber State University.

The above changes are tied to changing the time line for tenure from 4/7 to 3/6. Currently no department on campus is giving more than two years toward tenure.

MOTION 
Gene Sessions: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate PPM 8-24 Service at Other Institutions.
Second: Gary Dohrer
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

PPM 8-6 - FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

III. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA

A. Instructor Specialist

Substantial competence in the profession, the ability to communicate training and subject matter to others and professional licensing (when appropriate) to perform or supervise in the particular field shall be considered requisite for appointment to this rank. A baccalaureate degree may be required. The hiring department determines the degree requirements.

B. Instructor

The same basic requirements of the instructor specialist are necessary except that the baccalaureate The master’s degree shall be the minimum degree for appointment to this rank. Where the master’s degree is the terminal degree, a baccalaureate degree will be accepted upon approval of the faculty of the discipline, the chair, the dean, the provost and the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee.

In those areas where it is clearly established that a baccalaureate degree is not offered, a requisite degree and experience as determined by the department faculty, the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee and the appropriate dean and approved by the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Faculty Senate and the provost may be substituted for the baccalaureate degree.

The Instructor Specialist rank is for departments on campus that want to be able to bring in professionals with substantial experience and have them teach in a rank. The hiring department determines the degree requirement. The Instructor Specialist rank is not linked to the Instructor rank. The Instructor rank requires the master’s degree as a minimum degree. "Where the master’s degree is the terminal degree, a baccalaureate degree will be accepted upon approval of the faculty of the discipline, the chair, the dean, the provost and the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee."

The interpretation, practice and function of these two ranks has changed through the years. Initially the Instructor Specialist title was created for people who may or may not have master’s degrees to teach lower division courses. They would not be in the regular tenure track as that of Associate and Assistant professors, and they would not be eligible for promotion. Currently there are ten Instructor Specialists on campus (four from COAST that are not tenured per their college tenure document; the other six on campus are tenured). Other than A&H the college tenure documents do not mention the Instructor Specialist rank.

The proposed policy differentiates the Instructor and Instructor Specialist, and does not link them. Discussion of whether the Instructor Specialists be granted tenure.

PPM 8-11 - EVALUATION OF FACULTY MEMBERS

D. Criteria for Granting Tenure

Each college has formulated a written policy statement, the college tenure document, containing the criteria to be used in tenure review. These statements include (1) the criteria, consistent with the minimum criteria outlined below; (2) the rationale for the criteria; and (3) the method for measuring performance with respect to the criteria. Colleges who hire instructor specialists on tenure-track positions shall specify tenure review criteria for this rank in their college tenure document.

MOTION 
Wade Kotter: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate PPM 8- 24 Service at Other Institutions, PPM 8-6 Faculty Appointments, and PPM 8-11 Evaluation of Faculty Members.
Second: Becky Johns
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

POLICY CHANGES 
Provost Vaughan indicated that there is a policy at the Regents with regard to tenure, promotion and academic freedom that may require us to send items like the above changes to the Regents.

ARCC 
Becky Johns, liaison to the Academic Resources and Computing Committee, reporting.

RESOLUTION -

Whereas adequate computer technology is now vital for teaching effectiveness; and

Whereas computer technology is rapidly changing; and

Whereas there is only limited funding for faculty computer replacement from department and college funds; and

Whereas ARCC funds cannot be used to replace faculty computers;

Therefore be it resolved: That the WSU Faculty Senate strongly supports a recommendation to WSU administration that every effort be made to evaluate and replace, if necessary, WSU faculty unless not desired by individual faculty, every three years computers that are more than three years old.

Also, it is resolved that the WSU administration find additional sources of funding in order to accomplish this ongoing funding commitment.

Also, it is resolved that the WSU administration determine a method to track and monitor the age and condition of faculty computers in order to make the timely replacement of such computers possible.

The ARCC Committee was charged to look at a policy that looks at faculty computers on a regular basis for possible replacement.

MOTION 
Gary Dohrer: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above resolution from ARCC as stated and revised above.
Second: Wade Kotter
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

CGE MORATORIUM 
Laine Berghout, Chair of the Curriculum & General Education Committee, reporting.

"The University Curriculum and General Education Committee recommends that the Faculty Senate extend the current moratorium on General Education, Scientific Inquiry, and Diversity course proposals with the following modifications: 1) The moratorium shall continue for breadth General Education, Scientific Inquiry, and Diversity course proposals but shall be lifted at the end of Spring Semester 2006 for core General Education course proposals. 2) The moratorium for any breadth General Education, Scientific Inquiry, or Diversity course proposal shall extend until Faculty Senate passes new guidelines related to the proposed course, or until the end of Spring Semester 2007, whichever shall occur first."

" . . . the Curriculum and General Education Committee considers it appropriate to lift the moratorium on course proposals intended to fulfill core General Education requirements at the end of Spring Semester 2006."

MOTION 
Gary Dohrer: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above recommendation to lift the moratorium for core general education course proposals, and continue the moratorium for breadth general education, scientific inquiry, and diversity course proposals until the end of Spring Semester 2007 or until the Faculty Senate passes new guidelines.
Second: Wade Kotter
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

CURRICULUM 
Master of Business Administration - Course Proposals for Quantitative Methods I - MBA 6050, Quantitative Methods II - MBA 6051, Business Strategies for Environmental Sustainability - MBA 6570, and Project Management - MBA 6580; a course deletion for Quantitative Methods - MBA 6041

Health Promotion & Human Performance - Program proposal for Coaching Sport Minor; course proposals for Introduction to Coaching Sport - PEP 2100, Strength Training Level I for Hockey Club Players Only - Athl 1080, and Strength Training Level II for Hockey Club Players Only - Athl 1081

Nursing - Course deletion for Transition Into Associate Degree Nursing - Nrsg 1124

Computer & Electronics Engineering Technology - Program proposals for AAS in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) , BS in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET), AAS in Computer Engineering Technology (CET), BS in Computer Engineering Technology (CET); Course proposals for Embedded Controllers - CEET 2150, and Engineering Technology Research - CEET 3070

Health Administrative Services - Program proposals for Health Administrative Services, HSA and LTC Emphasis Areas, Health Administrative Services Minor - Health Information Management Emphasis, Health Information Technology, Health Information Management, and Health Care Coding & Classification

MOTION 
Wade Kotter: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above curriculum proposals.
Second: Bill Clapp
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

MMET 
Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology - Course proposals for Civil Engineering and Architecture - CMT 5100, and Parametric Design Graphics - DGET 3460

A question was raised about the justification for the Civil Engineering and Architecture - CMT 5100. The course is designed for instructors who wish to teach this course. The justification talks about the program and not about how the course fits into the program. 5000 level course numbers are designed for post baccalaureate courses.

MOTION 
Wade Kotter: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the above curriculum items from Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Second: Becky Johns
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

AD HOC CMTE ON S.I. & DIVERSITY 
Jim Wilson, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on S.I. and Diversity, reporting

Diversity Recommendation

"The Committee recommends that there be continued assessment of both learning and instruction as they occur in diversity courses with the immediate goal of improving the diversity aspect of the courses. These efforts (assessment, pedagogical practices, etc. ) should be coordinated with the Academic Affairs Diversity Action Team. The longer term goal should be the incorporation of diversity as one of the major criteria in qualification of some general education courses, at which time, there would be no need for a separate diversity requirement."

MOTION 
Gene Sessions: Moved to refer this recommendation as part of the charges for the General Education Improvement & Assessment Committee for 2006-07.
Second: Wade Kotter
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

2006-07 COMMITTEES Proposed Faculty Senate Standing Committee membership and committee chairs for 2006-07 was presented to the Executive Committee.

Wade Kotter: Moved to forward to the Faculty Senate the Faculty Senate Standing Committee membership and committee chairs for 2006-07.
Second: Gene Sessions
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

ADMINISTRATIVE STANDING COMMITTEES 
Provost Vaughan distributed a list of Administrative Standing Committees and current committee membership. He has highlight faculty member whose terms expire in June of 2006. The 2006-07 Executive Committee will meet April 27 to make recommendations of faculty members to sit on these committees.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST 
Michelle Heward, Chair of the Conflict of Interest Policy Committee, reporting.

The committee is charged with developing policy for conflict of interest that may arise between the University and faculty. Members of the committee: Nancy Emenger, Michelle Heward, Rich Hill (University Counsel), Doris Geide-Stevenson, Frank Guliuzza, Marie Kotter, and Brian Stecklein. They have reviewed the statutes and the PPM provisions. The are looking as a policy that will be embedded within the PPM, how to disclose a conflict of interest, questions and answers. The state statues requires mandatory termination from your job and criminal provisions for people who are found guilty of conflict of interest. The committee will be meeting during the summer so that the policy is in place for the beginning of Fall Semester 06. Input and suggestions can be sent to Michelle Heward or any of the committee members.

The committee has looked at a number of different policies from universities across the country. The definition of conflict of interest they are looking at is - "A conflict of interest occurs when a university employee is involved in an activity, commitment or interest that adversely effects, compromises or is incomparable with the obligations that the employee has with the University."

Areas that this policy will address

ADJOURN 
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.