Minute - m11-04-08

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING

MINUTES

TUESDAY, November 4, 2008

SEVEN HILLS CONFERENCE CENTER, NOB
HILL ROOM

2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER: 2:18 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Associated Students Inc. has requested faculty help in
identifying student representatives to serve on several Senate standing
committees. Send suggestions to the committee chairs. SF State’s Community
Involvement Center can facilitate student appointments to committees, and
provide students the opportunity to earn up to 3 units of course credit for
their committee work.

AGENDA ITEM #1—Approval of the Agenda for November 4,
2008

The agenda was approved by acclamation.

AGENDA ITEM #2—Approval of the Minutes for the October
21, 2008

The minutes were approved by acclamation.

AGENDA ITEM #3—Report from Deborah Masters, University
Librarian: Update on the J. Paul Leonard Library

The Senate heard a report from Deborah Masters, University
Librarian. The Library building will close on Sunday, November 23, 2008.
Library Annex I, a new, temporary building near the Lot 20 parking garage, will
open on Monday, November 24, 2008. Book pick-up (HSS 101 and 107), library
media services (HSS 127), and book check-out and class reserve services (HSS
102) begin in the HSS building on Monday, November 24, 2008. The new Leonard
Library building is expected to open in Fall 2011.

AGENDA ITEM #4—Report from Leroy Morishita, VP/CFO
Administration & Finance, and Carlos Davidson, Director, Environmental
Studies Program: Seating of the new University Sustainability Committee

The Senate heard a report from Leroy Morishita, Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, and Carlos Davidson, Associate Professor
and Director, Environmental Studies Program. A new University Sustainability
Committee has been established.

AGENDA ITEM #5—Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs
Committee: Proposed Revisions to the Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Policy,
Section 1.2: General Principals for Retention, Tenure & Promotion
Materials, Second Reading

Senator Levy, on behalf of the Faculty Affairs Committee,
moved that the Senate approve two revisions to the Retention, Tenure, and
Promotions Policy. The revisions consist of the addition of “Reports and rebuttals, if any, from
all prior substantive reviews at San Francisco State of candidates applying for
tenure and promotion (for promotion, only reports and rebuttals from previous
promotion reviews)” (lines 69-71 of the policy) and “Department/Program RTP
criteria” (line 76) to the list of required contents of a candidate’s WPAF.

The motion passed.

AGENDA ITEM #6—Recommendation from the Curriculum Review
and Approval Committee: Proposed Revisions to the BA Program in Psychology,
First Reading

Senator Shrivastava, on behalf of the Curriculum Review and
Approval Committee, moved that the Senate approve revisions to the B. A.
Psychology degree program.

Discussion items included:

• The
  efficacy and accessibility of the two new online-only courses required in
  the major, at the beginning and end of the degree program, were
  questioned.

• Concern
  was raised about the elimination of “outside” elective courses, that is,
  courses from other departments, as part of the degree requirements. The
  Psychology Department faculty vouch that they are strengthening the major,
  not limiting choices.

• Concern
  was raised about the lack of specification of a GWAR course in the degree
  program. The Psychology Department wants to integrate a GWAR course into
  the major. They are in the early stage of developing, with Mary Soliday,
  Director, Writing Across the Curriculum / Writing in the Discipline, a
  course, or courses, to satisfy the writing requirement; it is too early to
  provide a detailed plan.

• Suspension
  of the minor in psychology shouldn’t be part of this degree program
  revision.

• Concern
  was raised that because majors will be required to earn a C or better
  grade in PSY 200, enrollment might be limited to majors. (Non-psychology
  majors comprise about half the current PSY 200 enrollment.) Sacha Bunge,
  Professor and Chair of Psychology, ensured that PSY 200 will remain open
  to all students.

• Concern
  was raised about the administrative work that will be required to ensure
  that degree candidates have earned a C or better grade in core courses.

AGENDA ITEM #7—Recommendation from the Curriculum Review
and Approval Committee: Proposed Revisions to the BA Journalism, First Reading

Senator Shrivastava, on behalf of the Curriculum Review and
Approval Committee, moved that the Senate approve revisions to the B. A.
Journalism degree program.

Senator Holzman moved that the motion be moved to second reading.
Motion passed.

The main motion, now in second reading, passed.

AGENDA ITEM #8—Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs
Committee: Proposed Revision to the Retention, Tenure, & Promotion Policy,
Section 1.1: Committee Membership, First Reading

Senator Levy, on behalf of the Faculty Affairs Committee,
moved that the Senate approve one revision to the Retention, Tenure, and
Promotions Policy. The revision consists of the addition of the sentence, “The
chair shall receive one course release for two semesters, and the remaining
members shall receive one course release for one semester.” (lines 17-18 of the
policy) to the description of the University Tenure and Promotions Committee.

Senator Ulasewicz moved that the motion be moved to second
reading. The motion failed.

Discussion items included:

• Although
  last year’s University Tenure and Promotions Committee requested an
  increase in the size of the committee from five to seven members, the
  current committee chair recommends against an increase in size.

• The
  workload associated with the careful review of tenure and promotion files
  necessitates assigned time for the committee chair and members, similar to
  that provided for members of the All-University Academic Programs Review
  Committee (policy F06-133).

The speakers list was exhausted. This item will return in
second reading at the next Senate meeting.

AGENDA ITEM #9—Recommendation from the Executive
Committee: Proposed Resolution in Support of International Education Week,
First Reading

Senator McCracken, on behalf of the Executive Committee,
moved that the Senate adopt the resolution in support of International
Education Week.

Senator Chelberg moved that the motion be moved to second
reading. Motion passed.

The main motion, now in second reading, passed.

Chair Whalen declared the meeting adjourned at 4:14 p.m.