May 12, 2015

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

SEVEN HILLS CONFERENCE CENTER, NOB HILL ROOM

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

ATTENDANCE:

Absences: Collins, Robert (exc); Ginwala, Cyrus (abs); Hammer, Mike (exc); Hill, Lorna (exc); Howard, Pamela (abs); Lewis, Julia (abs); Merchant, Zahira(abs); Yee-Melichar, Darlene (exc); Zink, Attila (abs)

 

Visitors: Rachel Small, Barry Rothman, Connie Yee, Kenneth Monteiro, Sheldon Axler, Mary Soliday, Barbara Lewis, Sacha Bunge, Sheila Tully, Sanaee Nada

 

OPEN FLOOR PERIOD:  2:00 - 2:10 p.m.

The Open Floor Period provides an informal opportunity for campus community 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: 2:10 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AGENDA ITEM #1—Approval of the Minutes for April 28, 2015

Thanks to Rob Collins for taking minutes!

 

AGENDA ITEM #2—Approval of the Agenda for May 12, 2015

Agenda approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM #3—Chair’s Report

Please consider running for Senate officer and committee chair positions. Please consider submitting a position statement that will be on the Senate website: senate.sfsu.edu. Declare yourself as a candidate and why?
Please be judicious in our comments today, as we have a lot to consider.

 

AGENDA ITEM #4—Presentation of the Awards for Distinguished Faculty:

Ramesh Bollabragada- Incoming Chair of Faculty Honors and Awards Committee- thanks to Rob Collins, outgoing chair, for doing all the work this year and giving him opportunity to be chair now! Recognize Collins’ outstanding contributions.

2014-2015-members Ramesh Bollapragada, Sacha Bunge, Sophie Clavier, Rob Collins, Ken Monteiro, Erik Rosegard, and Barry Rothman. Ramesh introduced awardees to the Senate.

 

Excellence in Service: Felix Kury, Latina/Latino Studies

Excellence in Teaching (Lecturer):  Jennifer Arin, English

Excellence in Teaching (Tenure/Tenure-track):  Teaster Baird, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Excellence in Professional Growth & Achievements: Ryan Howell, Psychology

 

AGENDA ITEM#5—Proposed Resolution in Honor of Sheldon Axler, consent item

Passed by acclimation!

 

AGENDA ITEM #6—Proposed Resolution in Honor of Mary Soliday, consent item

Passed by acclimation!

 

 

 

AGENDA ITEM #7—Thanking & Commending Outgoing Senators, consent item

Sen. Carleton read resolution. Please note that Sen. Clavier was left off the list.

 

AGENDA ITEM #8—Report from Dr. Jackson Wilson, Chair, Online Education Committee

Senate set up this committee under Chair Hanley, which is doing excellent work on an important topic!

 

Jackson Wilson presented the report for first year of committee, and survey of online education faculty at SFSU (see full report in Senate documents on iLearn site). All committee members will be continuing for another year.

 

AGENDA ITEM#9—Report—Budget Update from President Wong & VP/CFO for Budget & Administration

VP Ron Cortez presented a slide show about the current budget situation and structural deficit. We need to make changes over a 3-year period in the hope that we’ll get more money from the state or raise revenue. Priorities based on last discussion: minimizing disruption to academic programming. Three pronged approach: reduction to non-faculty salaries ($2.4M); cost allocation ($1.5M); and one-time trust allocations ($3.6M). Cost allocation- reimburse GF for services we provide, e.g. housing.

 

President Wong addressed some budget issues, and responded to questions submitted by people on campus. The campus hasn’t yet received budget from the Chancellor’s office, which usually comes by now.

 

Equity pay program- first time that salary negotiations centrally negotiated by Chancellor had a component that was assigned to the individual campuses, and is very dependent on money available at the campus level. Pres. Wong is meeting with CFA later this week to share plan available; not all campuses doing the same thing.

 

Thanks to President Wong and VP Cortez!

 

AGENDA ITEM #10—Recommendation from the Strategic Issues Committee:  Proposed Resolution Urging Broad Consultation and Shared Governance in Campus Satellite Planning, 2^nd Reading

Discussion about resolution; friendly amendment; last line, major decisions made at time of resolution AND BEYOND. Vote on amendment line 26-27; amendment passed unanimously.

 

AGENDA ITEM#11—Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee—Proposed Revisions to the Title IX Mandate in Regards to the Class Syllabus Policy, 2^nd Reading

Senators engaged in a lively discussion about including the Title IX Mandate in the class syllabus policy. Many were against doing so, speaking to the current length of course syllabi, and its relevance to academic purpose of the syllabus, and wanted other means to convey the policy, such as iLearn or course handouts. Most supported the inclusion of the Title IX Mandate in the syllabus, as it is an academic issue and students need to know that their disclosure in a particular course, by law, must be reported by faculty. It is an academic issue because it affects students’ health and wellness and impedes their ability to engage in their coursework. We are undergoing a culture shift around sexual violence, and students need to be aware that we take sexual violence very seriously. Putting this statement on the syllabus is one way of many that communicates the seriousness of the issue.

 

Move to vote on proposed revision:

Motion passed!!

 

AGENDA ITEM#12—Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee: Proposed Resolution on Best Practices for Lecturer Faculty, 1^st Reading

Sen. Hackenberg moved to first reading. Thanks for comments at last meeting. Motion passed unanimously!

 

AGENDA ITEM #13—Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee: Proposed Revisions to the Retention, Tenure, & Promotions Policy (#S15-241) regarding the University Tenure & Promotions Committee (UTPC), 1^st Reading

Sen. Gerber moved to first reading. Removed language barring faculty from serving, Line 34, regarding conflict. Recommend that other portions of the policy be reviewed by next year’s senate.

Move to second reading.

 

Hanley- amendment- Lines 24-26, strike them, starting with the composition ending with the word “candidate”. Policy about UTPC and should not include RTP committees in general. Move it up in the policy to where department RTP committees are outlined.

Vote- motion passed.

 

Sen. Rosser speaks about lines 6-8 in policy, is this appropriate? Unlikely that we’ll be able to provide assigned time next year, should it be in policy? Move that lines 5-8 be struck. Seconded.

Gerber opposed to motion, Hanley opposed. Very important in heavy workload committee that it behooves all of us to find money for this release.

Rosser- agree that it’s a heavy workload, could be sources for this, some deans give release and some do not. Some members serving with release time, others not.

Motion to strike lines 6-8 failed.

 

Motion passed as amended.

 

AGENDA ITEM#14—Recommendation from the Curriculum Review & Approval Committee: Proposed Pre-Nursing Certificate, 1^st Reading

Sen. Wilczak- add pre-nursing certificate to already existing pre-health professions certificate. Director of SON, and two members of nursing faculty who are on CRAC, have vetted program. All agree that it’s well thought out.

 

Yield time to Professor Rothman- 9 years ago, presented pre-health certificate program. One of most supportive post-bacc programs in the nation! Offers psychosocial support, advising, application process. Students have 80% success rate in gaining admission to medical and dental schools! In 2012, invited pre-nursing students to program, they’ve had an even higher success rate. It’s time that this program is developed into a certificate program.

 

Moved to second reading, motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

AGENDA ITEM#15—Recommendation from the Executive Committee: Proposed Revision to the Baccalaureate Policy, #S15-255, Name Change from GE Overlays to SF State Studies, 1^st Reading

Chair Getz yielded mike to Vice Chair Carleton.

Recognize Sen. Getz. Move to first reading, and speak to motion. Comes from BRC, certified by Senate to change from overlays to SF State studies. Social justice, environmental studies, etc. are core values of the university and indicated through fitting name that helps them understand why they are taking these courses.

Sen. Summit- in favor of motion, having been part of BRC when it was consulting about this change. BRC interested in creating GE curriculum that could be communicated clearly and compellingly to students. Noticed that documents and policies look less than inspiring! Take opportunity to frame our requirements to explain what they were for. Became clear that topics of overlays were signature value in our curriculum and deserve to be pointed out.

Moved to second reading.

 

Question was called and motion passed unanimously.

 

Add Agenda item: Thank you gift for Senator Getz!!

 

AGENDA ITEM #16—Adjournment—no later than 5:00p.m.

 

Adjourned 4:35PM

 

Respectfully submitted by Eileen Levy, Secretary, Academic Senate