October 29, 2019

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING

MINUTES

Tuesday, October 29,  2019

SEVEN HILLS CONFERENCE CENTER

NOB HILL ROOM

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Attendance:

Absences:

Guests:

 

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.

• Wei-Ming Dariotis - Spring 2020 Faculty Retreat, January 23^rd

CALL TO ORDER: 2:10 p.m.

1. Approval of the Agenda for October 29, 2019

• Sen. Mooney proposed that items 14 and 15 are switched to allow for the presentation before the proposed resolution.
  • Change approved unanimously
• Approved as amended.

1. Approval of the Minutes for October 15, 2019

• Approved as submitted.

1. Announcements from the Floor

• none

1. Reports
   1. Senate Chair

• Chancellor Tim White announced his retirement this week. Search committee is being formed now and will have a variety of stakeholders. A listening tour will commence in November and December that should help to guide the search committee.
• New tutoring and academic support center (TASC) – looking for faculty to serve
• ASCSU is asking for campus feedback regarding the Ethnic Studies requirement. Please submit feedback to Chair Gerber prior to Friday.

1. Standing Committees
   1. Strategic Issues Committee

• Finished resolution on the floor today
• Met with CSUEU President Sandy Noda to discuss staff involvement in shared governance
• Upcoming meetings with Alex Hwu and Jeff Wilson

1. Academic Policies Committee

• Three items on the agenda today (see below)
• Previously in committee worked on a revision of the discontinuance policy.

1. Curriculum Review and Approval Committee

• Several items on the agenda today (see below)

1. Faculty Affairs Committee

• Two items on the agenda today (see below)
• Provost Summit visited and provided direction on the work they are doing on the normative workload document.

1. Student Affairs Committee

• Working on title IX services for students
• Visit from Fredrick Smith to inform the committee on supporting the Dream Resource Center.
• Working on a renewed resolution to support CAPS.
• Other topics: student fees and transparency, parental leave for students.

1. Provost Summit

• When the campus went from 3/3 to 4/4, the decision was memorialized in a document that is no longer as helpful and we need it to be to maintain that workload going forward.
• To be clear…the goal is not to roll back to a 4/4, but we do need structures in place to support he 3/3 workload.
• Enrollment concerns – president is forming a committee charged with examining enrollment trends within the context of the areas of the state we are in and in relation to the city high schools. Hopefully, it will lead to a stabilization and growth in our enrollments.

Old Business

1. Recommendation from the Educational Policies Council: Proposed Discontinuance of the MS in Biology, Concentration in Microbiology – second reading

• Sen. Stowers: moved to floor and spoke to the item
• Approved unanimously @ 2:27pm

1. Recommendation from the Educational Policies Council: Proposed Discontinuance of the MS in Biology, Concentration in Marine Biology – second reading

• Sen. Stowers: moved to floor and spoke to the item

• Approved unanimously @ 2:28pm

1. Recommendation from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee: Proposed Minor in Spanish–second reading

• Sen. Hines: moved to floor and spoke to the item
• Approved unanimously @ 2:31pm

 

New Business

1. Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee: Proposed Policy on Maximum Units in a Single Semester – first reading

• Sen. Stowers: moved to floor and spoke to the item – brand new policy

• Sen. Pasion – probation maximums and the
• Sen. Hines – some concerns with lines 23 & 25 regarding the connection between undergraduate and graduate unit equivalencies
• Sen. PK – regarding maximum for probation – the form can e useful in some situations.
• Sen. Hulik – the lower unit count for students on probation is helpful. The form needs to be improved. Also, thank you for considering the Scholars Program students.
• Sen. Wilczak – lines 23-25, are you counting them always or only when maximum number of units is being considered. Also regarding lines 51-53: does anyone take more than 23 units? If so, this needs to be addressed!
• Sen. Harvey – line 19 – university’s right to limit the number of units – has the committee considered the affect on students financial aid
  • Sen. Stowers – yes, the committee did consider that.
  • Sen. Holmes – re: line 19 – personal story was shared to
• Sen. Stowers – line 39/82 – inserted new language to encourage assessment of the individual student’s experience and standing.
• Sen. Pasion – just sharing that a student did present a petition for 24 units and Sen. Pasion did not sign it.
• Item is returned to committee @ 2:47pm

1. Recommendation from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee: Proposed Revision of the Minor in Industrial Arts – consent item

• Sen. Hines moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
  • Sen. Hulik – clarification on some of the classes and clean up
  • Sen. Way – guided electives mean that students can choose their own pathway.
• Adopted by general consent @ 2:51pm

1. Recommendation from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee: Proposed Revision of the Minor in Technical and Professional Writing – consent item

• Sen. Hines moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
• Adopted by general consent @ 2:52pm

1. Recommendation from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee: Proposed Minor in Media Literacy – first reading

• Sen. Hines moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
• Sen. Drennan - ceded time to Chris Clemens (BECA) to describe the program briefly.
• Sen. Way – one question about the minimum requirement of 2.0 GPA. Could it be over in the entire minor curriculum?
• Sen. Holmes – the committee discussed
• Sen. Sinha – maybe we can have all students sign an oath.
• Sen. Gerber – average GPA or each class?
• Sen. Way – Point of Information - BRC requires the line about 2.0 GPA
• Sen. Leopardo – teaches one of the courses in the minor – wondering if College of Ethnic Studies were consulted.
  • Mr. Clemens – not yet consulted with College of Ethnic Studies, but have had other conversations. Also did not want to put pressure on other departments.
• Item returned to committee @2:56pm

1. Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee: Revision of #S19-241, Retention, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) Policy – first reading

• Sen. Wilczak moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
• Sen. Boom – Point of Information – how does this policy apply to different contract years
  • Sen. Gerber – All faculty follow the policy which is active when their contract begins
• Sen. Gerber – would departments need to adjust their criteria to comply with this change.
  • Sen. Wilczak – the committee does not think so.
• Sen. Goldman – Can the committee consider language that addresses collegial behavior?
• Sen. Harvey – recommend more expansive language instead of “community” and clarification of the type of “days”
• Items returned to committee @ 3:08pm

1. Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee: Revision of #S17-190, Policy on the Designation of Colleges and the Characteristics of, and Changes to, Departments, Schools and Programs – first reading

• Sen. Wilczak moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
• Sen. Stowers – disagree with the addition. Many programs on campus act as units and can really use policy to back them up. More information should be gathered about campus units and programs before making changes such as these.
• Sen. Harvey – how does a minority voice get heard?
• Sen. Hines – support Sen. Stowers point. More research needs to be done about programs on campus.
• Sen. Bloom – confusing and confounding. How is a program not subject to the CBA?
• Sen. Wilczak – CBA applies to all. And thanks to Sen. Stowers for the suggestion to do more research.
• Returned to committee @ 3:20pm

1. Sheldon Gen, Faculty representative, SF State Foundation Board – Conceptual proposal for first-time homebuyer assistance program at SF State.

• Sheldon Gen presented the proposal that he (and others) have been working on.
  • Sen. Albiniak – Are there tradeoffs or do other programs suffer when and if this program goes into affect based on the idea that there is a finite amount of capital that can be raised for such programs.
  • Sen. Albiniak - Are there any long-term consequences with the university getting involved with home purchasing?
    • University Corporation is a separate entity and will only be assisting in the process in a way
• Sen. Stowers – thank you to Sheldon Gen for getting an actual proposal on the table
• Sen. Sinha – commercial properties are going up. Can we approach those companies and make deals with them.
  • The down payment is the item most people need help with at this time, but UCorp is and has been working on a variety of ways in which they can support faculty in rental situations.

1. Recommendation from the Strategic Issues Committee: Resolution in Support of the Development of a Faculty & Staff First Time Home Buyers Assistance Program – first reading

• Sen. Wilczak moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.

• Sen. Wong – since the program is about recruitment and retention….it should be noted that even non-first-time home buyers are in a similar situation if they are moving from another cheaper state.
• Sen. Harvey – wondering about the 30% guideline and whether that should be in the resolution.
  • Those details will be worked out when the program is instituted.
• Chair Gerber – are there taxable implications
  • Sheldon Gen – there are tax implications when a university sells property below market value, but that’s not what this is addressing.
• Sen. Holmes – wondering how semi annual property taxes are dealt with?
  • Sen. Mooney – this current resolution doesn’t cover that, but perhaps the program can when it goes into affect.

Presentations/Information Items

1. Christina Sabee, Dean of Equity Initiatives – Ombuds report

• Sen. Thomas – what happened with the process that was leading toward a bullying policy
  • Ms. Sabee – there was a task force formed and language developed and has been presented to the Chancellor’s office. The information is on the
    • Chair Gerber – the Chancellor’s office has made it clear that we cannot have a bullying policy because it may overlap the
  • Sen. Wilczak – campus climate survey had a very low response rate, so it would be great to hear some specific numbers
    • Ms. Sabee detailed the number of the first 2 years and the current numbers of this year.
  • Sen. Hines – what movement is there toward a student ombud?
    • Ms. Sabee – hopefully there are folks actively considering that previous resolution, but that is outside of the range of information that she has access to.
  • Sen. Chen – What can we do to relieve the suffering of the people who are in need of help and who are in toxic situations?
    • Human Resources has developed an exit interview protocol which will roll out soon.

1. Revision to the Definitions of Substantive and Non-Substantive Curricular Changes – information item

• Sen. Hines moved the item to the floor and spoke to the item.
• Sen. Way – would like the senate to consider most faculty don’t revise curriculum in the semester that these revisions are passed. Might want to try to stick with the definitions for a couple years before changing it again.

1. Adjournment - @ 4:07pm

 

 

 

Summary of agenda items

Agenda Items 5 & 6

The Educational Policies Council (EPC) has recommended that the Senate approve proposed discontinuances to two concentrations in the MS in Biology. This is part of an overall restructuring of the MS in Biology that includes the revisions already approved by the Academic Senate. It was approved by CRAC unanimously.

Agenda Item 7

The Curriculum Review and Approval Committee (CRAC) is recommending approval of a new minor in Spanish that provides a variety of pathways depending on the student’s previous level of experience in the Spanish language. This minor could be used to fulfill the complementary studies requirement for BA degrees. It was approved by CRAC unanimously.

Agenda Item 8

This new policy sets a maximum number of units for undergraduate and graduate students in a single semester as well as procedures for obtaining waivers of the policy. The policy outlines groups of students who are exempt as well as taking into account the shorter summer sessions. It was approved by APC unanimously.

Agenda Item 9

The proposed revision of the Minor in Industrial Arts is to a Minor in Design is intended to reflect the name change for the department (from “Design and Industry” to “School of Design”) and to better reflect the proposed curriculum. Students now take a core of two courses then select electives in an area of focus (Industrial Design or Visual Communication Design). It was approved by CRAC unanimously.

Agenda Item 10

The proposed revision of the Minor in Technical and Professional Writing to a Minor in Professional Writing and Rhetoric is intended to mirror the formation of a concentration in Professional Writing & Rhetoric within a revised BA in English and follows the proposed discontinuance of the major in Technical and Professional Writing. The number of units in the minor are being reduced to help facilitate completion of the minor without sacrificing a robust curriculum. It was approved by CRAC unanimously.

Agenda Item 11

The proposed Minor in Media Literacy is designed to prepare students to understand the impact of media technology, how media is created, why it is created, who creates the messages and the impact of those messages on the individual and society as a whole. It was approved by CRAC unanimously.

Agenda Item 12

Brings categories of service into compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Agenda Item 13

Clarifies the characteristics of a Program.

Agenda Item 15

This resolution supports the development of a first-time home buyers loan program for faculty and staff, spearheaded by the SF State Foundation. A supporting presentation will be given by Sheldon Gen, the faculty representative to the Foundation Board (agenda item 13). It was approved by SIC unanimously.