Minutes13-14/Attachments12Sep13/Committeecharges13

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.1: The Committee on Academic Resources and Computing shall recommend policies and operational procedures on the acquisition and utilization of computers and academic resource material.

1. Allocate ARCC resources, including Dee Family Technology Grant funds, using consistent, objective, fair and reasonable criteria.

2. Review funding criteria and procedures for ARCC for possible revision or clarification.

3. Assess faculty and student computer needs, solicit faculty input and lobby for faculty computer-related interests.

4. Examine product implementation in computer labs to determine if some products could be used on a campus-wide basis.

5. Review (with computing support) standards and policies for hardware and software purchases.

6. Maintain close communication with other computer resource entities on campus, including CE and IT online instruction.

7. Research ways to strengthen academic computing, by exploring opportunities on external grant support.

8. Align ARCC process with the ITAC (Information Technology Advisory Council) process.

9. Investigate and report on the committee reorganizations in IT, specifically the portfolio divisions and its effect on faculty representation on IT committees.

Becky Marchant, Chair

Carol Naylor, Liaison

ADMISSIONS, STANDARDS AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.2: The Admissions, Standards and Student Affairs Committee shall be concerned with standards for admission, retention and graduation from the University and policies pertaining to student affairs

1. Study PPM 6-22, Student Code, and make recommendations concerning students getting permission from faculty and other students regarding taking photographs, recording lectures, and dissemination of such media.

2. Review and consider other outdated PPM’s in Section 6 – Student Services.

3. Discuss the reporting of cheating and plagiarism in PPM6-22, IV, D, 2, a. Cheating and b. Plagiarism.

4. Insert language to PPM 6-22, VIII, E, 1, d. Procedures for Student Petitions for Academic Grievances, to allow for University legal counsel to take the lead in resolving sanctions from outside entities.

5 Establish a timeline with dates and directives for students wishing to file a complaint against a faculty member (PPM 6-22 ).

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.3: The Committee on Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure shall formulate policies and operational procedures on these matters and on due process and merit.

1. Review the post-tenure review documents of the four colleges whose post-tenure review plans have yet to be approved. (This should require at least two APAFT meetings in 2013.)

2. Once all college post-tenure documents have been reviewed, the APAFT Committee should provide recommendations to the Executive Committee and Provost regarding future changes or needed clarifications for the University post-tenure review policy (e.g., develop institutional policies for instances when a faculty member fails to remediate identified deficiencies, etc.).

3. In anticipation of the formation of a cross-disciplinary, university committee to evaluate the use of electronic portfolios for promotion, tenure and review documents, the APAFT Committee should investigate and provide a summary report of the following items:

a. the potential uses of electronic portfolios (e.g., promotion, tenure, accreditation, etc.)

b. the potential benefits of using electronic portfolios (e.g., easy to update, backup to paper files, easier presentation of multimedia, etc.)

c. potential pitfalls (e.g., privacy or security concerns, disadvantages for non-technologically savvy faculty, etc.)

e. possible platforms and vendors of software (e.g., homegrown versus commercial software, etc.)

4. Review and revise PPM8-26 to address situations in which a faculty member receives a conditional termination. Does "advance notice" as written in the policy cover cases in which the notice includes a condition, e.g. "unless there is substantial improvement in your Service to the University as detailed in your recent mid-tenure review, your appointment will be discontinued twelve months from the date of this notice." If necessary, investigate the legal interpretations of this policy with University Counsel.

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.4: The Committee on Constitutional Review, Apportionment and Organization shall review, update and preserve the integrity of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Weber State University faculty government. This Committee shall study ratios of college representation on the Senate and recommend procedures for electing its members. The Committee shall also be responsible for recommending policies on the organization and operational procedures of the University.

1. Calculate apportionment for Faculty Senate representation using the Hamilton Method and present the apportionment figures to the Faculty Senate during Fall Semester. (November deadline).

2. Continue to work on Apportionment Procedures document to deal with the questions: ”Under what types of leave would faculty be counted for apportionment?”

3. Continue to work on the proposed changes to the PPM related to representation of faculty outside of the “organizational units” defined in section B-II as the Library and the Colleges.

4. Possibly consider a modification to the ppm to more carefully define the term organizational unit. Should the colleges all be listed explicitly in the ppm? should there be a broader and more inclusive definition of organizational unit?

5. Research questions and make recommendations that are brought to the attention of the CRAO Committee. (Ongoing)

6. Review PPM for nonsubstantive terminology changes such as department name changes, etc. (Fall)

7. Review PPM policies (20 years or older) to identify possible action. (Time permitting)

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.5: The Curriculum Committee (CC) shall study and evaluate the curriculum needs of the University by reviewing program, certificate, and course proposals (including courses proposed to fulfill specific General Education designations as defined in the CC manual), which have been approved by college curriculum committees or programs that report directly to the Office of Academic Affairs.

The Environmental Issues Committee shall help facilitate the integration of environmental initiatives into academic affairs, student affairs, and facilities management. The committee shall serve as a local and statewide source for scientifically‑based information and for leadership on environmental issues affecting Utah, the Wasatch Front and WSU campus communities.

1. Continue to work to improve WSU’s STARS application, particularly with regard to the education and research section, with an eye to achieving a SILVER certification in the next two years or so.

2. Make a concerted effort to find ways to better reach students with sustainability – related curricular offerings.

3. Advertise and promote on campus, review, and select projects for the 2013-2014 Student Sustainability Research Awards, and the Faculty Sustainability Research Award. EIC would like to shift the time of this process so that the awards could be made publically at the Intermountain Sustainability Summit in the Spring Semester.

4. Work to build a plan, with partnerships across campus to reduce WSU’s commuting – related Scope 3 emissions. This will be an important part of the revised Climate Action Plan. Explore ideas for creating under Administrative Services and “Integrated Transportation Management Group” that would help integrate discussions on public transportation, bike commuting, motor vehicle commuting and parking. Parking Services in the future will increasingly be part of any solution to managing the number of cars coming to campus and also part of reducing the overall WSU carbon footprint, and the EIC would like to encourage Parking Services to begin considering how this office could play a role beyond assigning permits, enforcing regulations and so forth.

5. Coordinate with the Center for Community Engaged Learning Center (CCEL) for the 2013-14 Engaged Learning Series with the theme “On Air” for films/speakers/panel events that the EIC can coordinate and host or partner with the other departments and programs to host.

6. Connect with WSU faculty, staff and students to the Utah Moms for Clean air group by establishing an Ogden chapter. Connect WSU students to the new Utah Students for Clean Air Group.

7. Help to implement the new no-smoking zones and idle-free policies if approved this spring (2013) by President’s Council and the Board of Trustees.

8. The EIC Chair will sit on the Sustainability Fund Oversight Committee to determine next year’s Student Intern as well as approve projects that utilize the $16,000 for the next year.

10. Work with the Teaching and Learning Forum to bring sustainability awareness into their New Faculty Retreat and other TLF sponsored events.

11. Work to partner with the Wellness program (both student and staff) to include sustainability-related components/information in their offerings and announcements.

12. Continue our general efforts to expand partnerships across campus with the WSU Outdoor Program, alumni, student affairs, Center for Community Engaged Learning, student organizations, and in the broader community (e.g. Ogden City) to envision and implement sustainability-related initiatives.

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.7: Committee on General Education Improvement and Assessment

The General Education Committee (GE) shall articulate the mission and goals for the General Education program and University core requirements and review these on a regular basis. The General Education Committee shall define the standards for the General Education program and oversee the assessment of the General Education program and University core requirements.

1. In consultation with WSU’s deans and department chairs, members of the GEIAC will identify faculty members to fill vacancies on the General Education Area Committees: Composition; American Institutions, Quantitative Literacy; Computer & Information Literacy; Humanities; Creative Arts; Social Sciences; Physical Sciences; Life Sciences; Diversity. (Ongoing)

2. The GEIAC will guide the GE Area Committees as they systematically collect and analyze assessment data and make recommendations for the improvement of General Education courses in their area.

· Provide training to the GE Area Committees in the proper collection, reporting, and assessment of data collected and – if requested by the college, department, or program -- provide training in the proper collection, reporting, and assessment of data collected to faculty teaching general education courses.

· The GE Area Committees will provide a report to the GEIAC on the data collected during the spring and summer 2013 semesters (due November 15, 2013). The GEIAC will provide a summary report to the Faculty Senate in March 20, 2014.

· Provide and document interpretations and clarifications as to the intent of the general education outcomes to faculty.

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.6: Faculty members on the Honorary Degree Committee shall review the recommendations presented to them and shall act as the faculty representatives on the Committee on Commencement and Honorary Degrees.

1. Meet separately and early as the faculty portion of the committee to discuss representing in a unified manner the constituent needs and interests of the faculty in the deliberation of the larger committee.

2. Ensure faculty involvement in the nomination and selection of candidates for honorary degrees and for commencement speakers through maintaining the important voice of the faculty and the Faculty Senate as a major force on the institutional committee.

3. Consider ways to encourage more nominations from faculty for honorary degrees.

4. Encourage the selection of at least one honorary degree recipient each year who has made an outstanding academic contribution to higher education, preferably a retired WSU faculty member or past faculty member who has left Weber State University. Current faculty members are not eligible.

5. Work to achieve a representation of gender and ethnicity among degree recipients and ensure that all recipients are of stature to enhance the image of Weber State University.

6. See that the criteria for honorary degrees are considered, so that the understandable desire of the administration to cultivate donors and potential donors does not overwhelm the deliberations and pass over otherwise worthy candidates.

7. Provide the larger committee with a way to carry forward information so next year’s committee can benefit from work done this year.

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.7: The Committee on Research, Scholarship and Professional Growth shall recommend policies on research, scholarship, teaching loads, instructional and faculty development and faculty productivity. It shall facilitate faculty in obtaining grants, travel funds, physical facilities, etc., to collaborative research and scholarly activities.

1. Continue to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for Research and Instructional Improvement grants, and Hemingway Vitality, Excellence and Collaborative awards, and review the proposals in a timely manner.

2. Continue to coordinate deadlines for submission of proposals with the chairs of the Institutional Review Board and the Animal Care and Use Committee.

3. Review and update as needed the proposal guidelines. Clarify and report the criteria for awarding the grant. Explore ways to simplify the process and broaden the criteria.

5. Continue efforts to publicize the committee’s activities. Seek ways to broaden participation campus wide including adjunct faculty. Explore opportunities to disseminate information about the funded projects, including workshops, in order to provide consistent information and feedback to potential applicants.

6. Work with the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee to find non-monetary ways to promote and recognize faculty research and scholarship.

7. Work with the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee to help faculty identify new methods of scholarship.

8. Keep in communication and continue to cooperate and coordinate with OUR (Office of Undergraduate Research), CIC (Community Involvement), Hall family, and ARCC (Academic Resources and Computing Committee).

9. Continue to coordinate with OUR to provide faculty with funding for research assistants.

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.8: The Committee on Salary, Benefits, Budget and Fiscal planning shall study, evaluate and make recommendations on faculty salaries, benefits, budgets and fiscal planning issues.

This Committee shall not exceed nine members with representation from each organization unit. The Faculty Senate chair shall serve as the Executive Committee liaison. A subcommittee shall serve under the direction of this Committee and represent the faculty in salary and related negotiations with the University administration. No two members of this subcommittee shall be from the same organizational unit. This subcommittee shall consist of the Faculty Senate chair, the chair of the Committee on Salary, Benefits, Budget and Fiscal Planning and a third member nominated by the Committee and approved by the Faculty Senate.

1. Examine salary options for compensation increases and prioritize recommendations. (Spring)

2. Examine the dollar amounts of equity and merit adjustments each year. (Spring)

3. Review campus salary levels using CUPA data, turnover data, and data from regional peer institutions. (Spring)

4. Assess the current state of compression and inversion within departments across campus in light of recent hires and changes in salary increases for promotions. (Fall)

5. Explore and make recommendations on overload teaching and reassigned time. Are they mutually exclusive? (Fall)

PPM 1-13, Article 5, Section 4.11: Committee on Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The Committee on Teaching, Learning and Assessment endeavors to enhance the learning environment at Weber State University. When the opportunity and need arise, and as charged by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, the Committee studies, evaluates, and makes recommendations on issues affecting the teaching environment and the assessment of student learning at Weber State University. It also advises the Chair of the Committee in his or her capacity as the Director of the Teaching and Learning Forum and supports the activities of the Teaching and Learning Forum.

This committee shall have one faculty representative from each organizational unit. The Chair of the Committee shall be selected from a pool of applicants by a selection committee appointed by the Executive Committee and comprised of members of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Teaching, Learning and Assessment. The Committee shall be recommended to the Senate by the Executive Committee. The Chair will serve for a three-year term and will be evaluated annually by members of the Committee on Teaching, Learning and Assessment. The Chair of the Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Forum on Teaching and Learning.

1. Continue to sponsor and promote book discussion groups for fall and spring semesters.

2. Continue to sponsor the Faculty Forum along with the Last Lecture during the fall semester (October 2013).

5. Co-sponsor the Teaching with Technology – a Professional Development Program with Continuing Education that will change themes annually; Flipped Classrooms and Blended Learning for this Spring 2014.

6. Sponsor brown bags on topics related to pedagogy weekly during the fall and spring semesters in the Library, Hetzel Hollein Room.

7. Sponsor a Summer Learning Series, providing professional development throughout the summer semester to faculty on a range of topics (began Summer 2013).

8. Sponsor professional learning groups for any group of faculty wanting to meet with common interests (Ongoing).

9. Continue to support and maintain the digital technology library, specifically podcasts of training and workshops sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Forum (Ongoing).

10. Co-sponsor ePublishing session during the spring 2014 semester to assist faculty with creating and publishing educational materials. This may involve a small group of faculty with the goal of continuing in the following years (Summer 2014).

12. Sponsor graduate student fellowship for one master student during their second year to help with various TLA events, building and maintaining the digital library, and to help faculty interested in pedagogical research across disciplines. A stipend is provided (All year).

13. Continue to support faculty through technology and conference equipment check out (Ongoing).

14. Fostering scholarship and publications based on teaching and assessment work. Lectures and meetings building on TLF’s past research initiatives to publish the vast amounts of collected data and build faculty collaborations across campus.