SFSU Academic Senate
Minutes of December 1, 1998
The Academic Senate was called to order by Chair Mark Phillips at 2:10 p.m.
Senate Members Present:
Aaron, Eunice; Bartscher, Patricia; Bernstein, Marian; Cancino, Herlinda; Cherny,
Robert; Consoli, Andres; Contreras, Rey; Craig, JoAnn; Cullers, Susan; Duke,
Jerry; Eisman, Gerald; Elia, John; Fehrman, Ken; Ferretti, Charlotte; Ganji,
Vijay; Goldsmith, Helen; Graham, Michael; Graham, Minnie; Gregory, Jan; Harnly,
Caroline; Hom, Marlon; Hu, Sung; Jenkins, Lee; Jerris, Scott; Johnson, Dane;
Kelley, James; La Belle, Thomas; Moss, Joanna; Oñate, Abdiel; Phillips,
Mark; Raggio, Marcia; Shapiro, Jerald; Shrivastava, Vinay; Simeon, Roblyn; Smith,
Miriam; Strong, Rob; Tarakji, Ghassan; Terrell, Dawn; Turitz, Mitch; Valledares,
Juan; Vega, Sandra; Vaughn, Pamela; Verhey, Marilyn; Wade, Patricia; Warren,
Mary Anne; Wong, Alfred; Zieff, Susan; Zoloth-Dorfman, Laurie.
Senate Members Absent: Swanson, Deborah(exc.); Fielden, Ned;
Choo, Freddie; Chen, Yu-Charn(exc.); Hammett, Jennifer(exc.); Gonzales, Angela;
Barnes, Paul(exc.); Warren, Penelope(exc.); Flowers, Will(exc.); Scoble, Don(exc.);
Collier, James; Corrigan, Robert(exc.); Montenegro, Ricardo.
Senate Interns Present: Happy Dayleg, Marvin Dumon
Guests: D. Schafer, M. Kasdan, R. Maghroori, E. Williams, J.
Randolph, G. Whitaker, J. Volkert, J. Middlebrook, D. Zingale, S. Taylor, J.
Kassiola, J. Davis, M. Potepan, G. Manning, M. Love.
Announcements and Report
Chairs Report
- CSU Trustee Anthony Vitti will be meeting with the Academic Senate
Executive Committee on December 6.
- David Spence, CSU Vice-President for Academic Affairs, will visit on
Dec. 9-10, meeting with both the Senate Executive Committee and the Cornerstones
Task Force. Any comments on the draft implementation plan for Cornerstones
should be turned in to the Executive Committee, members of the Cornerstones
Task Force, or department chairs.
Agenda Item #1 - Approval of Agenda for Meeting of December 1, 1998
M/S/P (Vaughn, Fehrman) to table Agenda Item #12, the proposed revisions
to A.S. Policy F87-32, Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement,
for further consultation.
The agenda was approved as amended.
Agenda Item #2 - Approval of Minutes for Meeting of November 17, 1998
The minutes were approved as printed.
Agenda Item #3 - Report from Statewide Senators
Robert Cherny briefly discussed the CSU Academic Conference and
suggested that we review the remarks given by Chancellor Charles Reed.
Phillips added that it was a useful conference, and, although it was not on
the agenda formally, Cornerstones was the subtext.
Agenda Item #4 - Proposed Policy and Guidelines for Offering Existing SFSU
Degrees via College of Extended Learning
Helen Goldsmith, chair of the Academic Policies Committee, introduced
the proposed policy and guidelines for offering existing SFSU degrees via College
of Extended Learning, which returned to the Senate in second reading. Goldsmith
stated that in response to concerns raised at the November 17 Senate meeting
and based on discussions with Bob Cherny and CFA leaders Margo Kasdan, Tim Sampson,
and Jan Gregory, APC unanimously agreed to the friendly amendments included
in the CEL policy attached to today's agenda, which are underlined. The policy
fills a void--many programs are desirous of offering programs through CEL and
there are currently no control mechanisms on what gets offered and how. The
reexamination provision allows us to address any problems that were not foreseen
in the development of this policy. Goldsmith reiterated that it is not intended
that every department or program be involved. She added that Cherny's additional
amendments distributed on the floor today would be considered friendly as well.
With regard to the amendments, the primary changes have to do with faculty,
regarding personnel policy. There are also changes to make sure that quality
is addressed and the reexamination, so that if there are problems, they will
be addressed.
Phillips urged the Senate to approve the policy as amended because it
is a very good policy. He said that if this policy is not passed today, it will
come back to the Senate sometime in February, which means we will not have a
policy until mid-spring. CEL has the power and right to offer programs, and
they will do so in the absence of any policy that comes from the faculty and
provides guidelines, limitations, and safeguards.
Minnie Graham, lecturer in the Communicative Disorders Program within
the Department of Special Education for 18 years, spoke in favor of the proposed
policy based on the experience of the Communicative Disorders master's degree
program in Guam. In setting up and administering this unique project, guidelines
such as those offered in the CEL document would have been helpful. Graham went
on to describe the program, explaining who the students were, why they could
not attend our campus, the benefits for the students and faculty, as well as
other details of the program. Her description addressed many of the concerns
faculty have raised about CEL offering existing degrees, and she reiterated
that guidelines need to be in place for future projects that tie in to SFSU's
mission statement of community outreach.
Donna Schafer, Associate Dean of the Graduate Division, concurred with
those who have spoke in favor of the proposed policy, sharing a perspective
gained from operating without a policy. Given the 12-unit rule and without an
explicit policy regarding CEL, programs are limited in flexibility to meld CEL
and regular graduate units for a cohort of students. Faculty are forced to submit
a series of waivers to permit those students to enroll, and there is little
guidance for someone to decide on waivers and exceptions. Schafer concluded
that we should be offering degrees through a mechanism that has been subjected
to scrutiny and approval of the faculty according to criteria and procedures
upon which the faculty has agreed rather than through waivers and exceptions
that require administrative action.
Margo Kasdan commented that the CFA sees this as a contracting-out situation,
which makes this policy subject to collective bargaining. She suggested sending
it back to committee.
Patricia Bartscher, University Counsel, responded to concerns raised
by CFA and other faculty members. CEL is clearly authorized to offer these programs
and the policies governing the program content is what is important for the
Academic Senate to review. She added that as she read the amendments, they suggest
that faculty could only teach on a release-time basis, which limits faculty
member ability for extra income.
Bartscher commented further on the amendment to the section entitled Faculty
that begins "All faculty personnel policies and procedures." Given that you
cannot expand on what the collective bargaining agreement allows for policies,
practices, and procedures, terms and conditions of employment, including benefits,
careful consideration and entitlement for lecturers, nor can you authorize increase
of compensation that is different from CBA for tenure/tenure-track faculty,
the only way to interpret this language is that the people would teach on a
release-time basis.
Tom La Belle asked if Cherny intended it that way as part of his amendment,
adding that he could not support it if this is the interpretation of the counsel.
Cherny commented that such legal advice goes to the Provost, and the
Provost makes decisions based on that advice. Cherny said that we permit faculty
to do overloads, and he did not prohibit that in his amendments. With regard
to benefits, that word does not appear anywhere in his amendments.
Phillips provided a point of information: If there is a question regarding
legality, there is no contesting; that is, if we were to pass this as amended
by Cherny and, after close examination, the decision was that this was indeed
a violation of the contract, the President can make changes based on advice
of counsel before the policy is signed.
Julian Randolph raised questions regarding parts of the document with
which he has major problems. He wondered if making units earned in such programs
resident units can be done by fiat. The issue of impact seems to be contradictory
in the proposal. There must be a distinction between regular continuing education
and special sessions. Randolph also wondered how one offers a full degree through
CEL. He concluded that he objected most strenuously to the possibility that
there might be two classes of students based on what they can afford.
Goldsmith addressed the concept of the full degree through CEL, pointing out
that most of the programs that are interested right now are graduate programs
and credentials. The reality is that if undergraduate programs were to be offered
through CEL it would probably be upper-division only with very specific requirements.
Jo Volkert, Associate Dean of the College of Extended Learning, responded
to the issue of residence credit. It is the definition of special sessions that
it does earn resident credit and is what we do in summer and winter.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Fehrman) to close debate.
Sandra Vega called for a roll call vote on the proposed policy (as printed
in the agenda with friendly amendments from Cherny).
The following Senators voted yes: Eunice Aaron, Patricia Bartscher,
Marian Bernstein, Herlinda Cancino, Robert Cherny, Andres Consoli, Rey Contreras,
JoAnn Craig, Jerry Duke, Gerald Eisman, John Elia, Ken Fehrman, Charlotte Ferretti,
Vijay Ganji, Helen Goldsmith, Michael Graham, Minnie Graham, Caroline Harnly,
Sung Hu, Lee Jenkins, Scott Jerris, Dane Johnson, James Kelley, Thomas La Belle,
Joanna Moss, Abdiel Oñate, Mark Phillips, Marcia Raggio, Jerald Shapiro,
Vinay Shrivastava, Roblyn Simeon, Rob Strong, Dawn Terrell, Ghassan Tarakji,
Juan Valladares, Pamela Vaughn, Marilyn Verhey, Patricia Wade, Mary Ann Warren,
Alfred Wong, Susan Zieff.
The following Senators voted no: Jan Gregory, Miriam Smith, Sandra Vega.
The following Senators abstained: Marlon Hom, Mitch Turitz, Laurie Zoloth-Dorfman.
The policy passed with a vote of 40 yes, 3 no, 3 abstentions. (To view
this policy, click here.)
Agenda Item #5 - Proposed Undergraduate Certificate Program in Youth and Human
Service Nonprofit Agency Administration
CRAC Chair Alfred Wong introduced the College of Health and Human Services
proposed undergraduate certificate program in Youth and Human Service Nonprofit
Agency Administration, a field where the demand for candidates to fill entry-level
professional positions far exceeds the supply of qualified candidates.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Ferhman) to second reading.
M/S/P (Ferhman, Vaughn) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Proposed Revision to the Bachelor of Arts in Economics
CRAC Chair Wong introduced the Department of Economics proposal to add
Econ 610 to the core course requirements. Econ 610 is the new capstone course
and an integral part of the department's Student Learning Outcomes Assessment
Plan.
Cherny asked if they would require additional resources to make this
change. Economics Department chair Michael Potepan answered that with
160 majors, more resources will be needed to staff the anticipated three sections.
M/S/P (Kelley/Vaughn) to second reading.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Cherny) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Proposed Revision to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
CRAC Chair Wong introduced the College of Business proposal to reduce
the total number of units for the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration
from 130 to 127.
Marvin Dumon asked which part of the program has one less class in this
proposed policy. Associate Dean of Business Gerry Manning answered that
there are no classes that are being removed; the policy changes nothing in terms
of courses if students plan their program carefully.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Ferhrman) to second reading.
M/S/P (Ferhman, Kelley) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Proposed Revision to the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality
Management
CRAC Chair Wong introduced the College of Business proposal to reduce
the total number of units for the Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality
Management from 132 to 128.
Vaughn asked if the rationale and results are the same for this proposal
as for the previous one. Dean Manning replied in the affirmative.
Dumon expressed concern about the reduction in units, suggesting that
it is a strength to require more units.
M/S/P (Fehrman, Kelley) to second reading.
M/S/P (Minnie Graham, Vaughn) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Proposed Discontinuance of the Bachelor of Arts in Creative
Arts: Concentration in Interdisciplinary Arts
Educational Policies Council Chair Helen Goldsmith introduced the College
of Creative Arts proposal to discontinue the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts,
Concentration in Interdisciplinary Arts, stating that EPC (made up of APC and
CRAC) discussed the proposal and concurs with the discontinuance.
Lee Jenkins asked to know more about why it is being discontinued. Jim
Davis, director of the Inter-Arts Center, replied that it is all about money.
The program was barely making it with funding back in 1989, and the massive
cuts in 1992 made it worse. He said that with three programs, they decided to
do two well rather than three poorly. They inquired about archiving it, but
you cannot archive programs, just courses. The Inter-Arts Center still offers
course opportunities campus-wide for undergraduates.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Kelley) to second reading.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Kelley) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed.
Agenda Item #10 - Proposed Revisions to the Master of Arts in Creative Arts:
Concentration in Interdisciplinary Arts
CRAC Chair Wong introduced the College of Creative Arts proposal for
changes in the M.A. in Creative Arts, Concentration in Interdisciplinary Arts,
that will increase the applied aspect of the M.A. program so that a greater
balance between theory and practice is provided the students.
Vijay Ganji asked about the funding situation for this master's program.
Davis answered that it is a small program, and the funding level will be better
with the elimination of the B.A., comparable to most programs. He said that
they have a tenure-track search, which will stabilize the program, and the proposals
increase core requirements, which indicates greater support.
M/S/P (Fehrman, Vaughn) to second reading.
M/S/P (Oñate, Vaughn) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Proposed Revisions to the Master of Arts in Creative Arts:
Concentration in Creativity and Arts Education
CRAC Chair Wong introduced the College of Creative Arts proposal for
revisions to the Master of Arts in Creative Arts, Concentration in Creativity
and Arts Education.
M/S/P (Vaughn, Fehrman) to second reading.
M/S/P (Fehrman, Vaughn) to close debate.
The vote was taken and the item passed unanimously.
The Senate was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dane Johnson
Secretary to the Faculty