of December
3rd, 2002
Chair
Robert Cherny called the Academic Senate to order at 2:10
p.m.
Senate Members Present:
Aaron, Eunice Avila, Guadalupe Bartscher, Patricia Bernstein, Marian Bernard-Powers, Jane Blando, John Blomberg, Judith Chen, Yu-Charn Cherny, Robert Consoli, Andres Corrigan, Robert A. Daniels, Robert Edwards, James |
Fielden, Ned Fung, Robert Garcia, Oswaldo Garcia, Velia Gerson, Deborah Gill, Sam Gonzalez, Dan Gregory, Jan Houlberg, Rick Jerris, Scott Johnson-Brennan, Karen Kassiola, Joel |
Klironomos, Martha Luft, Sandra McKeon, Midori Meredith, David Morishita, Leroy Nichols, Amy Noble, Nancy Otero, Aina J. Pong, Wenshen Raggio, Marcia Short, Larry Smith, Brett Smith, Miriam |
Steier, Saul Stowers, Genie Strong, Rob Terrell, Dawn Turitz, Mitch Warren, Penelope Whalen, Maureen Williams, Robert Wolfe, Bruce Yang, Nini |
Senate Members Absent: Newt-Scott, Ronda (abs), Carrington, Christopher (abs), Collier, James (exc), Colvin, Caran (exc),c) |
Guests: Sheldon Axler, Dan Buttlaire, William Christmas, Suzanne Demetrenko, Elise Earthman, Ann Hallum, Sung Hu, Alan Jung, ShyShenq Liou, James Newton, Marilyn Verhey, Gail Whitaker |
CALL TO ORDER 2:10
p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Senate Chair Robert Cherny indicated that it is often difficult
to see all Senators who are seeking recognition. Cherny asked that Senators hold nameplates up high until they are
are visually noted.
Cherny thanked the SFSU Conference center
for providing each Senator a holiday treat of a poinsettia plant to take home
with them.
Senator Mitch Turitz reminded Senators that the bookstore
is holding a special appreciation for faculty and staff 4-6 this afternoon
with a 20% discount on most items.
CHAIR’S
REPORT
The senate
chair did not give a report in order for the senate to have more time for
discussion.
AGENDA ITEM #1—APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR December 3, 2002
m/s/p (Houlberg, Terrell) to approve the agenda
AGENDA ITEM #2—APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES FOR November 19, 2002
m/s/p (Houlberg, Terrell) to approve the minutes as corrected
AGENDA ITEM #3—ELECTION
OF A MEMBER AT LARGE OF THE SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Rick Houlberg has had to resign from the Executive Committee due
to departmental obligations.
Senate Chair Cherny thanked Senator Houlberg for all his work
this past semester as a member of the Senates’ Executive Committee. He announced
that the senate election committee would now take nominations from the floor.
The newly elected Member at Large should be able to attend the Senate Executive
Committee meetings held every Tuesday from 12 to 2 PM.
Senator Robert Williams, Department of Counseling, was elected by acclamation
AGENDA ITEM #4-RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE ACADEMIC POLICIES COMMITTEE: CHANGES IN THE UNIVERSITY POLICY ON WRITTEN
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (S93-114), 2ndREADING
The Academic Policies Committee recommends the changes in the University
Policy on Written English Proficiency (S93-14). The
entire policy can by found at #s93-014
Senator Gregory indicated her support for the changes to the policy.
The changes will allow students to meet the requirement in a timely fashion.
Voting on the changes to the policy - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #5—RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: UNIVERSITY
POLICY ON ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT. 2nd reading
Senate Chair Robert
Cherny introduced the resolution
with the unanimously recommendation of the Senate Executive Committee. He
indicated a couple of minor changes since the last senate meeting. The two
important changes are in the composition of the committee. First, the committee
has been reduced by two members. The new composition will include two student
representatives rather than three and three faculty representatives rather
than four. This is an attempt to make it easier for the committee to find
a convenient meeting time and to hold discussions. Secondly, the two Vice
Presidents have been replaced by two members appointed by the Vice President
of Academic Affairs. It is anticipated
that these will usually be the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Dean of Undergraduate
Studies. Senator Williams ask for clarification on the appointment of the deans
to the committee. Senator Chair Cherny indicated that the change was at the request of the
Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Voting on the proposed policy - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #6—RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION
AFFIRMING THE ROLE OF FACULTY IN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS,
2nd reading
Senate Chair Robert
Cherny introduced the resolution
with the unanimously recommendation of the Senate Executive Committee. The
resolution supports the role of faculty in the development and housing of academic programs.
Voting on the proposed resolution - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #7—RECOMMENDATION FROM
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING REDEFINITION OF THE FACULTY WORKLOAD AND CREATING A TASKFORCE TO
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, 2nd reading
Senate Chair Robert
Cherny introduced the resolution
with the unanimously recommendation of the Senate Executive Committee. The
resolution supports redefinition of the faculty workload and creating a taskforce
to plan implementation.
Voting on the proposed resolution - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #8—RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE TRUSTEES’ PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2003-04,
2nd reading.
Senate Chair Robert
Cherny introduced the resolution
with the unanimously recommendation of the Senate Executive Committee. The
resolution calls for reconsideration of the trustees’ proposed budget for
2003-04. The Executive Committee approved
a similar resolution on November 12 and faxed it to the Trustees, then
meeting in Long Beach that same day; a copy can be found at: budget0203
Voting on the proposed resolution - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #9—JOINT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ACADEMIC POLICIES COMMITTEE
AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: POLICY
ON LIMITING ENROLLMENT FOR STUDENTS ON PROBATION, 1st and 2nd
reading
Midori McKeon, chair of the Academic Policies Committee, announced
that her committee and the Student Affairs Committee met jointly and recommends
the attached policy on limiting enrollment for students on probation.
m/s (McKeon, Gerson) to approve
Midori McKeon, chair of the Senate’s Academic Policies Committee
presented the following in support of approval of Agenda Item #9.
The Academic Policies Committee and the Student Affairs Committee
jointly recommend a policy on limiting the number of units taken by undergraduate
students on academic probation.
A draft of the policy was originally brought to the APC and the SAC
on March 12, 2002, by Jo Volkert, Assistant Vice President for
Enrollment Planning and Management, Registrar Suzanne Dmytrenko, and Helen
Goldsmith, Acting Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, on behalf of
the Registration Advisory Committee, which consists of representatives from
all eight colleges. The Registration
Advisory Committee had been presented with the practice of the College of Business to limit Business students
on probation to registration in 13 units, a practice that started in Fall 2001. Representatives
of the other colleges on the Registration Advisory Committee expressed interest
in extending the unit limitation to all undergraduate students on probation,
which prompted the committee’s drafting of the policy.
Because of additional statistical data made available to the APC and
the SAC in Fall 2002, which strongly suggested the
necessity of the policy, and through careful deliberations at the joint committee
meetings this semester, the committees were able to finalize the proposed
policy.
If approved, this policy will work in conjunction with the existing
Policy on Academic Advising (Academic Senate Policy #S95-191). The latter policy stipulates advisement for
students at “5 pivotal points,” including pivotal point #3, which is described
as follows: “if and when the student experiences academic difficulty, including
probation and possibility of disqualification.”
Under this current policy on academic advising, students on probation
are required to meet with and receive advisement from their program advisor,
department chair, and college dean on specific courses to take and the total
number of units for the semester. Statistical
data show, however, many students on probation do not honor the advisement
received and keep taking more units than approved by their advisors and thus
tend to remain on probation.
The new policy will help students in two ways: (1) Students who are
struggling academically are not tempted to take heavier course loads than
they can handle; (2) Other students who are not in academic difficulty have
better access to higher demand courses.
The
registration system can be coded to limit students on probation from registering
in more than a specified number of units. Adopting this policy will provide colleges with
a way to enforce unit limits that advisors may have been only able to recommend
in the past. If students have legitimate reasons and needs for taking more
than 13 units, they can do so with the approval of the department chair and
the college dean. Associated Students,
Inc. has passed a resolution on November 6, 2002, in support of the policy.
Registrar Suzanne Dmytrenko was available for answering questions from the floor.
Senator Gerson, chair of the Student Affairs Committee, indicated
that after extensive committee discussion and with lots of student input the
committee consensus is that the new policy will be a service to our students.
Senator Williams noted that the policy
states 13 and asked if that means enrollment limit is 13 units per semester?
Secondly, will the new policy apply to new students or all students? Senator McKeon indicated that the
proposed policy limits the enrollment to 13 units per semester and that it
would affect both new and current students. Senate Chair Cherny accepted the friendly amendment
of Senator Williams to insert the words “semester units” after 13. Senator Wolfe pointed out that
advising varies and that just requiring mandatory advising may not improve
student’s performance. His concern is that for students who seek advising
does that mean advising from their department? Senator McKeon asserted that the role of curricular advising rest
with the departments. Senate Chair Cherny reminded senators that we are discussing the policy
before the Senate and not the entire policy on university advising. Senator Houlberg indicated his support
for the policy. He strongly supported the mandatory advising requirement as
it is written in the policy. He had some reservation on the rationale for
the policy.
m/s/p (Meredith, Terrell) to second reading
Voting on the policy - passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM #10 - PROPOSED ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2003:
1st and 2nd readings
Senator Dawn Terrell, Member at Large of the Executive
Committee moved that the Senate approve the spring meeting schedule. She indicated
that the first committee meeting date of January 28th would depend
on the need of each committee’s agenda.
m/s (Terrell, Colvin) to approve the spring
semester calendar
Senate Chair Robert
Cherny indicated that the
individual committee chairs would notify committee members concerning meeting
on January 28th.
m/s/p (Houlberg, Johnson Brennan) to second
reading
Senator Steier asked if the 28th was the first day of classes
for the spring semester?
Cherny indicated that the semester will start on the 27th
AGENDA ITEM #11--
ADJOURNMENT
m/s/p (Colvin, Terrell) to adjourn
Senate adjourned at 2:41 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted
James Edwards,
Secretary to the Faculty