Minutes: October 9th, 2007

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING

MINUTES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007

SEVEN HILLS CONFERENCE CENTER, NOB HILL ROOM

2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

The

meeting was opened with a demonstration of a spectacular oscillating chemical

reaction by Senator Raymond Trautman of the Department of Chemistry.

OPEN

FLOOR PERIOD: 2:00 - 2:10 p.m.

The Open Floor Period

provides an informal opportunity for faculty members to raise questions or make

comments directed to Senate officers or to university administrators. Please

arrive promptly at 2:00 p.m.

CALL

TO ORDER: 2:15

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There

were no announcements

AGENDA ITEM

#1—Approval of the Agenda for October 9, 2007

The agenda was approved.

AGENDA ITEM

#2—Approval of the Minutes for the Academic Senate meeting on September 25,

2007

Minutes are attached on GREEN.

The minutes were approved.

AGENDA ITEM #3—Report

from Kirk Gaston, Chief of Police, University Police Department: Introduction

of Emergency Preparedness Coordinator—Gayle Orr-Smith

SF State Police Chief Kirk

Gaston reported that last spring the campus underwent a high-level review of

emergency needs following the tragedy at Virginia Tech University. Two needs

were highlighted, improved emergency communications and the designation of an

individual with full-time responsibility for campus emergency preparedness.

Communication issues are being solved with the assistance of service companies

that work through cell phone networks. Chief

Gaston then introduced Gayle Orr-Smith, who will fill the newly-created

position of Emergency Preparedness Coordinator in the Police Department. Ms. Orr-Smith

addressed the Senate briefly, indicating that her first goals were to review

all campus emergency procedures and to prepare for a campus-wide emergency

drill this year.

AGENDA ITEM #4—Report

from Rob Strong, Manager, SFSU Bookstore, and Corless Smith, Chair, Franciscan

Shops Board: Textbook Cost Reduction Initiative—Report to be heard no later

than 2:20 p.m.

Dr. Smith and Mr. Strong

gave an extensive report on steps the Bookstore is taking to reduce textbook

prices to students. Most important among these is encouraging faculty and

departments to submit book orders on time. The costs of late orders can add

significantly to the Bookstore's price for a text and limit the price it can

pay when repurchasing books from students. Continuing to use older editions of

books can increase the supply of used books for students. The Bookstore is also

encouraging the use of electronic texts, although Mr. Strong noted that they

were not very popular with students. Mr. Strong reminded the Senators that the

Bookstore provides a complete reader printing service, including copyright

checking and payment of copyright fees when necessary.

Last year the Bookstore paid

the Student Center $665K, put aside $600K towards a new bookstore as part of

the SF State Master Plan, provided $130K in marketing support for campus

organizations and events, and donated $325K to the University's General Fund.

AGENDA ITEM

#7—Recommendation from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee: Proposed

Revisions to the BA Degree in Journalism: Concentrations in Photo Journalism,

and Print and On-line Journalism— Proposal to be heard no later than 3:00 p.m.,

1st Reading

Attachment on BUFF.

The CRAC recommendation was

taken out-of-order on the agenda because its time-certain had arrived. The item

was moved by Senator Linder, Chair of CRAC, and no second is required for

motions from a standing committee. After brief discussion there was a motion

(Steier/Danner) to move to second reading. The motion passed, and then the

proposal passed on a unanimous voice vote.

AGENDA ITEM

#5—Recommendation from the Executive Committee: Proposed Revisions to the

Faculty Statement on Course Requirements, Academic Senate Policy # S82-90—1st Reading

Attachment on IVORY.

The discussion started in

first reading, then a motion (Ulasewicz/Behrooz) to move to second reading

passed with 3/4 vote.

Senator Ulasewicz moved to amend the proposal (seconded by

Robertson) to insert at the top of the numbered list before line 11:

1. the

instructor’s name, office number, and contact information;

2. the

course title and number;

and adjust the numbers of

the existing items appropriately.

The amendment passed

unanimously on a voice vote.

Senator Stowers moved

(seconded by Whalen) to amend the proposal in three ways:

1. Change the title to "Policy on Course

Syllabi"

2. Modify line 8 from "Syllabi shall be distributed

at the first course meeting..." to "Syllabi shall be modified at or

by the first course meeting..."

3. Delete item 5 beginning on line 18.

After some discussion Chair Kohn divided the issue. Items (1) and (2) both

passed on unanimous voice votes. Discussion continued on (3). Senators Stowers

and Whalen agreed to modify their motion to read: Modify item 5 beginning on

line 18 by deleting the word "substantive".

After more discussion it was moved (Chelberg/Ulasewicz) to call the question on

the amendment. Following a voice vote, Senator Steier called for a division of

the body. The motion failed 25-11.

After additional discussion, Senator Whalen (seconded by Stowers) moved to

return the proposal to the Executive Committee. This motion passed on a

unanimous voice vote.

AGENDA ITEM

#6—Recommendation from the Executive Committee: Proposed Policy on Disability

Access Statement, 1st Reading

Attachment on PINK.

The motion was moved by

Senator Whalen for the Executive Committee. No second was required. After some

discussion it was moved (Steier/DuVal) to take the motion to second reading.

This motion was passed unanimously on a voice vote. Then the main proposal was

passed unanimously on a voice vote.

AGENDA ITEM

#8—Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee: Proposed Graduate

Continuous Enrollment Policy—1st

Reading

Attachment on TAN.

The proposal was moved by

Senator Trautman, Chair of the APC. No second was required. Comments were

received from two guests invited by APC: Kathleen Mosier, Chair of the Graduate

Council, and Ann Hallum, Dean of Graduate Studies, and considerable discussion

ensued. The motion will return in second reading at the next meeting of the Senate.

AGENDA

ITEM #12—Adjournment—no later than 4:30 p.m.

The Senate adjourned at 4:30 p.m.