FACULTY SENATE
AGENDA
Smith Lecture Hall, WB 206-207, 3:00 p.m.
November 10, 2011

1.     Roll Call

2.     Approve the Minutes from the October 20, 2011 meeting

3.     Academic Calendar -- Mike Vaughan

1.   ROLL

2.   APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Motion: Moved to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2011 meeting.
Made: Julie Buck
Second: Shelly Costley
Outcome: The minutes were approved.

3.  ACADEMIC CALENDAR – Mike Vaughan

Since the last Faculty Senate meeting the calendar has had further discussion.

Elements of the Academic Calendar for 2012-13 approved by President’s Council

• Final exam week for summer term. This is important for summer financial aid.
• Spring Break remains in the calendar
• Spring Semester classes begin the week following the New Years holiday.
• 50 minute class periods. They felt that you could not make up a week of instruction time in 5-minute increments.
• Calendar C approved by the Faculty Senate would give Weber State fewer instruction days than any other institution in the system (about five fewer instruction days).
• Fall semester 2012 would begin on August 27, finals would be the second week in December with graduation on December 14. Spring semester would begin January 7, Spring Break would be the 4^th through the 8^th of March with graduation on April 26.
• Instructional days are not equal in Fall and Spring semesters.
• The Executive Committee is comfortable with changes to the calendar.

Discussion

• Spring semester - 3 days for finals. Is there any way to hold graduation on Saturday and give another day for finals?
• Spring Break during the ninth week of the semester will affect events in Student Government. The reason for Spring Break the ninth week of the semester is it falls in between the first block and the second block

4.   FACILITIES USE POLICY – Stephanie Hollist, Assistant General Counsel

The policy states when facilities on campus can be used, by which groups, during what times, and what charges will be applied.

The entire document can be viewed at: http://www.weber.edu/facultysenate/default.html Click on item five on the agenda.

Discussion

• Section X Food and Beverages - "For the purpose of reducing the risk of Liability and maintaining quality, food safety and control, all food sold and provided on campus must be supplied by the University Food Services or approved by the University in an agreement with a user of University facilities. All food service will be in compliance with University food policies and guidelines."
• There is in policy a $100 limit on food that can be brought in from off campus. This is consistent with the contract with the food vendor.
• Section V, E. Conduct of Classes - "Upon dismissing a student from class, the instructor shall immediately notify the Dean of Students of the action so the student may be informed of the student’s right to appeal the dismissal as per the Student Code.
• Concern was expressed about faculty being responsible for telling students their rights. Jan Winniford indicated that they are revising the language in the policy.
• What does it mean by dismissing a student from class? Does it mean dismissing the student for the rest of the period or removing the student from the rolls of the class? Clarifications will be made. What does the word "shall" mean? This seems to make it a requirement.
• There are changes that will have an impact on students and student activities.
• This is an information item. They are still in the process of getting input.
• The document refers to the University. Who specifically is it referring to? The document needs to make it clear what department or area at the university.
• Could section X Food and Beverages refer to the specific policy on the $100 limit? Yes, they will reference that policy. 
   

5.   ADMISSIONS, STANDARDS & STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE – Kathy Herndon, Chair

PPM 4-1 - Graduation Standards

The document can be found at: http://www.weber.edu/facultysenate/default.html Click on the November 10 Senate meeting, agenda item 5.

A change was made to I, F 1.

F. Requirements for Double Degrees (Two or more different degrees at the same level)

1. Students may pursue different baccalaureate degrees simultaneously by declaring a major in each academic department. A student may be allowed to pursue a double degree within a single academic department (e.g. Communication) at the discretion of the department.

G. Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree (Degree awarded after completion of first degree)

This section still contains the language for Scientific Inquiry (S.I.) because some student may have started the second degree before the change in the BA/BS language.

F. Requirements for Double Degrees (Two or more different degrees at the same level)

2. Students will be awarded one diploma per degree. Students must complete all requirements for each degree (ref PPM 4-2. B and C). Classes required by both degrees need only be successfully completed once. Students must fulfill the foreign language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts.

Motion by the Admissions, Standards & Student Affairs Committee
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

6. GENERAL EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT & ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE – Rick Ford, Chair

Diversity Review Criteria
Intercultural Knowledge Rubric

CHARGE 3: Develop a set of criteria to be used by the Curriculum Committee to review existing Diversity (DV) courses and to approve new Diversity (DV) courses. (November 2011 deadline.

The 79 diversity courses are scheduled to be reviewed in 2012-13. The Gen Ed Committee was tasked with coming up with criteria for that renewal. This criteria can also be used in the future for new proposed diversity courses.

Utilizing the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ VALUE (Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education) Rubric for Intercultural Knowledge and Competence, new courses seeking the Diversity designation (DV), as well as existing Diversity (DV) courses undergoing periodic review by the Curriculum Committee, must meet the following two (2) requirements:

1. All Diversity (DV) courses must include curriculum content and evidence of student learning in 4 of the 6 key components of intercultural knowledge and competence:

The complete document can be found at: http://www.weber.edu/facultysenate/default.html Click on the November 10, 2011 meeting, item 6.

Discussion

• Perhaps the diversity requirement for the bachelor’s degree has served its purpose. We have many diverse course. Could we take this rubric on diversity and fold it into one of the general education requirements?
• Diversity is an important part of undergraduate degrees.

Motion by the General Education Improvement & Assessment Committee to approve the diversity Intercultural Knowledge rubric to use in evaluating existing (DV) diversity courses.
Outcome: The motion passed with 3 opposed.

7. CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW, APPORTIONMENT & ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE – Tim Herzog, Chair

Apportionment

College apportionment figures were presented. Faculty numbers have increased from 462 faculty in the 2009-10 academic year to 470 faculty in the 2011-12 academic year. College representation on the Faculty Senate remains the same as last year.

Results with Colleges Ranked by the Highest Percentage Above a Whole Number

Example: College of Science 76 ÷ 470 X 39 = 6.31

Motion by the Constitutional Review, Apportionment & Organization Committee to approve the above apportionment figures.
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

PPM 1-13 ARTICLE C-III. AMENDMENTS

This amendment will allow for electronic balloting.

Discussion

• Is there an option for a paper ballot? The committee did not discuss an option.
• Some faculty may be concerned about anonymity. In an electronic system, it would be almost impossible to connect a name to a ballot.

The second reading will take place at the December 1, 2011 Faculty Senate meeting.

PPM 1-13 Faculty Senate Chair position was pulled from the agenda. This item will come back to the Faculty Senate at the December 1, 2011 meeting.