As outgoing chair, I would like to thank everyone who was a great help to me during the past year: the Executive Committee, Casey Bickle, Linda Shepard, Julia Gill, Paul Schacht, Mary Ann Stopha, Joe Remy, and the Nominations Committee.  Thanks also to all senators for your dedication and hard work during the last year. 

Referendum on Addition to Faculty Constitution By Laws -- Results

Elections for the proposed addition to the By-laws of the Faculty Constitution (regarding the selection procedures for faculty representatives on the CAS Board) concluded on April 23, 2004.  The results were as follows:

Yes - 149

No - 7

A total of 156 votes were cast, out of a total of 462 ballots sent out to the teaching and administrative faculty.  This gives a voter turnout of 33.8%, which meets the constitutional requirement for a quorum (at least 1/3).  Thanks to all of those who participated in this referendum. 

This represents a follow-up to the meeting of April 6th where the possibility of supporting a non-binding resolution prepared by the Student Affairs Committee, addressing the needs of students with disabilities, to add a statement on course syllabi was discussed but not acted on in the absence of such a formal proposal. 

On April 13, SAC forwarded the following proposal to our committee for possible support:

Proposal for a Suggested Statement in Course Syllabi

Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities

Whereas the campus community and faculty seek to promote awareness of and support for students with disabilities; and

Whereas some students who have documented disabilities may feel uncomfortable about approaching faculty regarding the appropriate accommodations to which they are entitled; and

Whereas having faculty review relevant policies with all of their students at the start of each semester may make it easier for these particular students to approach their professors; therefore

Be it resolved that faculty are encouraged to include a statement addressing the needs of students with disabilities in their course syllabi.  The following is suggested wording for such a statement:

Accommodations:

“SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities.  Students should notify the Director in the Office of Disability Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin, tbuggieh@geneseo.edu) and their individual faculty of any needed accommodations as early as possible in the semester.” 

On that same day, H. Hoops sent the proposal via Email to the committee members with the question:

"Do you want Policy to endorse the resolution put forth by student affairs?"  Votes were due by April 15. 

The vote passed 8-6 with one abstention.  At least some of the negative votes were not due to disagreement on the resolution itself, but rather these individuals felt that it was not within the purview of Policy.  Susan Bailey pointed out that “The second sentence should say "Students will "consult with" Tabitha and faculty rather than "notify"; they can't notify Tabitha of "needed" accommodations-- she has to approve accommodations after reviewing their documentation.”  This suggestion was forwarded to SAC. 

President Christopher Dahl: Happy to inform you that two faculty members will join the ranks of Distinguished Teaching Professors: Bob Owens and Bob O’Donnell.  News from Albany not bad: we did a lot of lobbying on behalf of college this year, generally favorably received on question of adding 50 million to SUNY budget.  TAP and AOP funds will be restored.  Senate and Assembly understand that asking us to raise three dollars for every 1 dollar for matching funds is unreasonable, but we’ll see what happens.  I’ve also been to Washington asking for money, and have raised requests for federal earmarks, presenting senators and representatives with wish list, including $750,000 particle accelerator, NMRs, and other high impact scientific equipment for new integrated science center.  SPG has been working hard to refine five of six overarching goals, meeting tomorrow to dicuss goal 6.  We’re also looking at progress in meeting goals.  SPG will complete by end of semester and have complete report for college community.  Chancellor has tentatively endorsed giving us support to become a public honors college and thus lowering faculty/student ratio.  We have completed landscape master plan, and are working on an athletic facilities master plan.  Working on matching funds projects as well.  SUNY system engaged in mission review in 1998-1999 resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding between chancellor and college.  This is a cumbersome process, but we will have to go through it again, beginning to gather data in summer and early fall.  Senate and SPG will be involved as we move toward new MOU.  Rather than merely responding to system questions, we will decide what we want.  Commencement: May 8.  Honorary Degree recipient Jim Willey will deliver commencement address. 

Provost David Gordon: We’ve hired 8 new faculty, with one search still ongoing.  Departments with new hires include Business, Chemistry, Communicative Disorders, Education, Geology, Psychology and School of Performing Arts.  This year, faculty activity summaries will be streamlined, using word document on provost’s webpage.  Just type in information and email to office.  Earlier due date: by end of May. Textbook orders: a number of students have complained about lateness of book orders submitted.  I have started discussion with Sundance re: how Provost’s office can help.  Some of the money from first mission review process was invested in new seminar room in library dedicated to Intd 105, with full technical support.  Currently hosting Mandala project.  Honored to serve as interim provost, rewarding experience—thanks everyone for their cooperation.  Looking forward to working with Kate Conway-Turner. 

Chair Charles Freeman: Announce results of 2004 spring elections: Vice chair: Lima, Treasurer: Chang, Secretary: Iyer, among others.  Ongoing election for amendment of by-laws re: CAS board.  Election will end Friday April 23.  We’re 15 votes shy of a quorum—please vote!  Thanks to people who have helped this year: Casey Bickle has done great job with senate web page, bulletins, attendance.  We’re now on pg.  200, and she makes 180 print versions of bulletin.  Total: 36,000 pages!  Julia Gill was Casey’s student assistant.  Also Linda Shepard for helping out when Casey unavailable.  Paul Schact for web page.  Mary Ann Stopha for work with electronic voting.  Thanks to Joe Remy, parliamentarian.  Grateful to President Dahl and Provost Gordon, we are lucky to have such support for faculty governance in the administration.  Thanks Liz Dance for her participation and preparedness.  Thanks senate officers as well for their hard work over the year.  Also thanks committee chairs, who did outstanding job.  Finally, thanks Melissa Sutherland and Ed Pogozelski for work on the nominations committee. 

University Senator William Gohlman: most of real work of UFS is done by standing committees, made up of volunteers.  Encourages members of faculty to be members of standing comm.:  governance, graduate, public information, student life, undergraduate academic programs and policy, university operations.  If any of these committees sound interesting, see Bill.  These committees make the policies that are then passed on to faculty senate. 

Central Council Liz Dance: Thanks everyone for involvement in Stand Up Geneseo activities, a huge success and will probably happen again next year.  March 24 budget advocacy day was also a huge success.  Thanks Evelyn Rodriguez for help.  Last SA meeting will be held in Hunt Room tomorrow, also changing of guard ceremony.  Thanks for a great year.  Mark Ranieri will be vice president next year. 

Ranieri: looking forward to working with SA exec committee and with Jim Collins president. 

Reports of the Standing Committees of the Senate

Undergraduate Curricula Cynthia Klima: no report

Undergraduate Policies Harold Hoops: resolution came from SA subcommittee re: requiring statement on course syllabi for accommodations for students with disabilities.  This would be adding college policy to syllabi, usually focused on courses.  By mandating statement, it’s not clear that all faculty would approach this with proper mindset.  But Policy does think this is an issue that needs to be addressed, but didn’t think mandating a policy appropriate.  But do support resolution from SA “suggesting” a statement on disabilities. 

Graduate Academic Affairs Dale Metz: March 23 acted on two course revisions in school of ed, but since last meeting of year we will wait until next year. 

Student Affairs Michael Lynch: SAC will present proposal for your consideration.  Proposal on p. 200.  Thanks all members of SAC. 

Faculty Affairs Rosanne Hartman: Thanks members of the committee. 

Old Business

New Business

Nomination of Bill Gohlman for Alternate University Faculty Senator: We have a replacement for Bill (Terry Browne), but since we had only one candidate there is no runner-up to be alternate.  Exec.  Comm.  voted Bill Gohlman to be alternate for three year term.  Approved. 

The Geneseo College Senate strongly supports the proposal for how campuses will carry out the assessment of the three “building blocks” of general education [Mathematics, Basic (written communication), and Critical Thinking (reasoning)] that is detailed in the document entitled “Strengthened Campus-based Assessment,” and urges our representatives to the SUNY University Faculty Senate to vote for its approval at the Spring Plenary meeting of the SUNY University Faculty Senate this week in Syracuse. 

Schacht: Gen Ed committee endorses this resolution.  Feeling of committee is that we have come a long way from original proposal that wanted system wide assessment.  Should affect only Intd 105 and Numeric/symbolic reasoning.  We would be able to assess without relying on standardized tests.  We could have a locally developed rubric, if approved by GEAR.  Gen Ed committee pleased with the proposal. 

Gohlman: we will report on debate that will be taking place Friday.  Some campuses on SUNY have turned this down.  But thinks most schools will accept this. 

Senate approves

SAC Proposal for a Suggested Statement in Course Syllabi Addressing the Needs of Students with

Disabilities (see SAC minutes, bulletin 18, page 199). 

p. 200 of Bulletin 18: “SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities.  Students should consult with the Director in the Office of Disability Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin, tbuggieh@geneseo.edu) and their individual faculty regarding any needed accommodations as early as possible in the semester.” 

Lynch: SAC has spent year discussing needs of students with disabilities.  Want to facilitate dialogue between faculty and students re: accommodations, since it is difficult for some students to approach faculty about these issues.  Since students with disabilities already protected by law, SAC wants to articulate policy that already exists.  As faculty we have some obligation to protect rights of students, if we have students that are members of vulnerable population we should offer them extra protection, such as this statement that will begin dialogue.  In our own best interests, b/c we are clarifying what everyone’s responsibilities are in this instance.  This would be a nonbinding resolution encouraging faculty to include a statement on their syllabus. 

Discussion ensued over whether or not this statement a way of bypassing policy committee, or implication that Buggie-Hunt did not support this statement.  Confirmed that policy committee supports this statement and this statement just an expression of current policy, supported by Buggie-Hunt. 

Joe Remy: doesn’t see it as protecting faculty.  It is responsibility of student to seek out accommodations.  Doesn’t belong in syllabi, but rather should be placed in more prominent position in bulletin, etc. 

Teresa Zollo: had three students who claimed to be severely depressed.  Didn’t know what accommodations she was required to make for them.  Wished she’d had a statement on syllabus directing them to office of disabilities. 

Lynch: Respectfully disagrees with Joe.  There are a number of places where policy is made known to students, but often gets lost.  Accommodations impact relationship between students and faculty most. 

Motion carries. 

Adjournment

Minutes: 2004-2005 College Senate Meeting, April 20, 2004

Call to Order and adoption of agenda

Chair's Report Gregg Hartvigsen: Thanks Charlie for all his hard work.  Incoming chair supposed to give gift to outgoing chair.  Returns lost marbles.  Welcomes newly elected senators, and farewell to departing senators.  Welcome incoming officers.  If interested in serving on a particular committee, please let him know over the summer. 

The meeting was called to order at 12:45 p.m. to evaluate Student Summer Research Fellowship applications

Seven Student Summer Research Fellowship applications were received.  We had funding for four applications.  After careful evaluation of the applications, the RC members ranked them.  The first four applicants with the highest ranking received $2,500 each from the Geneseo Foundation

Nader Asgary proposed to review ALL Grants for possible modification of their guidelines, content, dollar amount, and dates. 

1.  Research Travel Grants were evaluated for revision based on the availability of funds, expected number of applicants, and cost of living/expenses adjustment.  The RC members unanimously recommended increasing the award from $ 700 to $800 for domestic trips (including Canada).  Also, RC members unanimously recommended creating Research Travel Grants for International Trips.  The maximum award for international travel is $1000.  This will be effective July 1, 2004. 

Application deadlines are September 17, 2004, January 28, 2005 and May 13, 2005. 

2.  RC members unanimously recommended that the dollar amount of the Proposal Incentive Awards be increased from $ 200 to $ 500.  The aim is to provide financial incentives for faculty to submit more external grants. 

RC members will continue to evaluate other grants in our future meetings. 

The meeting was adjourned at 1:55pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Nader Asgary, Chair of RC

School of Business

Final Report: Graduate Academic Affairs Committee 2003-2004

Summary of 2003-2004 Actions

Respectfully Submitted by Dale Evan Metz, Chair

GAAC unanimously approved the following new and revised courses and new and revised programs.  All course and program changes were subsequently approved by the Senate.** 

** First and second Senate readings will be conducted during the 2004 fall semester. 

Final Report: University Faculty Senator 2003-2004

In 2003-04, the University Faculty Senate became a decisive partner in helping shape SUNY policies.  The year’s meetings, in Oswego, Oneonta, and Syracuse, developed like a three-act play.  In Act I, the Fall Plenary Session, we were faced with the horrible prospect of SUNY-wide achievement tests, pursuant to the resolution passed by the Board of Trustees on 17 June 2003.  That resolution ordered all 64 SUNY units to begin using nationally-normed standardized tests to determine whether we were in fact offering sound General Education programs.  They also included a requirement that we begin value-added testing, to show how much we improved the product (i.e., students) that we were processing.  We immediately charged our President, Joe Hildreth, and our Executive Committee to inform Chancellor King that we were unanimous in our opposition to the resolution of the BOT, and to report back to us at the Winter Plenary Session. 

Act II: Prior to the Winter Plenary, there was much backstage bargaining.  Joe and the Executive Committee were able to convince Chancellor King of our profound opposition, so he proposed a somewhat milder version of the BOT resolution.  It was sent out to all SUNY Senators in December, just when we were immersed in the usual flood of paper—finals, reports, term papers, etc.—followed by (in our case) a short break.  There was little time to discuss it before the Winter Plenary, but we, like most SUNY schools, found it unacceptable, and we so voted in our January College Senate meeting.  In Oneonta, at the Winter Plenary, there were numerous complaints about the lack of communication from the Executive Committee to the Senators, and the CGLs (Campus Governance Leaders) seemed to be left completely out of the loop.  The opposition of most, if not all, of the Senators to the plan from the Chancellor and the Executive Committee was clear, so the proposal was disappeared.  So, at the end of Act II, President Hildreth and the Committee received two charges: (1) Convey to the Chancellor our opposition to any form of state-wide testing of the General Education requirements and our concerns about any kind of value-added examinations, and (2) Communicate more fully to the Senators and CGLs the specifics of Committee deliberations, and negotiations with Chancellor King. 

Act III: Although there was some grumbling from a few Senators about secret backstage deliberations of the Executive Committee, we were generally kept informed about the new proposal that was being developed (see, e.g., pp.  179-83 of the “College Senate Bulletin”).  When President Hildreth sent out the revised proposal on “Strengthened Campus-based Assessment” and the “Proposed Revisions” of the GEAR process (pp.  184-91 of the CSB), Geneseo’s Senate Executive Committee, General Education Committee, and College Senate supported it unanimously.  The stage was set for the UFS debate on whether to support this resolution, or to reject it and prepare for Act IV. 

There was a very vigorous debate on this proposal, a debate that some of the old-timers on the Senate said was the best they had seen in their Senate careers.  Several important concerns were brought up: How can we avoid some rogue Trustee using the data comparatively to call for sanctions against, or even closing down of one or more SUNY campuses? ( Answer: we can’t avoid it, but all of the information will be in the public domain anyway, and anyone can get access to it.)  Who will fund the extra costs of the tests? ( Answer: System Administration will fund any state- or nationally-normed tests administered.)  Aren’t we adding another layer of testing? ( Answer: No, it will be added to the work of the GEAR Group.)  Won’t it require us to do more work in our assessment process, thus becoming another unfunded mandate from the BOT? ( Answer: Yes, it will, but (1) at least for Geneseo, it should be a fairly small increment to what we are already doing; and (2) it is far better than the original BOT resolution (and therefore is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick).  After seemingly interminable debate on these questions, the Senate finally voted on the following:

Resolution on Strengthened Campus-Based Assessment

Whereas, the University Senate has supported the assessment of general education outcomes since 1997, and

Whereas, the University Senate has engaged in continued discussions with System Administration on strengthening campus-based assessment, and

Whereas, the representatives of both the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and the SUNY Student Assembly have endorsed the ‘Strengthened Campus-Based Assessment,” (the FCCC with modifications),

Therefore, Be It Resolved

The University Senate endorses “Strengthened Campus-Based Assessment,” and the FCCC Resolution on “Strengthened Campus-Based Assessment” of April 3. 

The vote on the motion to accept the Resolution was 33 Aye, to 6 Nay.  The Resolution passed.  And so curtain closed on this episode of the continuing drama. 

Later that evening, in an Epilogue, Chancellor King sounded very enthusiastic about the Resolution and said that he would try to persuade the BOT that it meets the requirements of their June 17 action.  In other matters, he noted that enrollment in SUNY institutions reached 1.1 million students, when continuing education students were counted in; that our minority enrollment has reached 18%; that we are improving our graduation and retention rates, which are the highest of any public state system (despite what one might have heard recently from a member of the BOT, who shall remain nameless); that we all need to work harder to convince the Governor and State Legislators to restore and increase state funding of SUNY; and that the BAP is being redesigned.  In all, it was a very positive and encouraging speech. 

In the next day’s meeting of the Plenary Session, the Senate passed some less consequential resolutions: on hazing (we opposed it), a rational tuition policy, placing the President of the UFS on the BOT, and specific terms of service on GEAR and the Advisory Council on General Education (ACGE) (we favored them). 

Thus endeth my tale, and my career as University Senator, and

As you from crimes would pardon’d be,

Let your indulgence set me free. 

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Gohlman

Final Report: Student Affairs Committee 2003-2004

During the past year, SAC focused most of its attention on the following two issues:

1.  Student health and safety

Following up on its work in 2002-2003, SAC continued to address the issue of student health and safety.  In Spring 2003, SAC convened a meeting that included representatives of SAC, SHAC, SVAC, as well as personnel from the admissions office and orientation office.  Participants at this meeting established themselves as the Student Health and Safety Working Group, and continued to meet throughout the 2003-2004 academic year.  The focus of these meetings was to identify issues related to student health and safety and to devise strategies to address these issues.  Specifically, it was the position of the Working Group that by addressing issues of health and safety that are common and specific to college students, we can set them up to do well in class and maximize their education.  If students start thinking about their own health and safety and if we can promote student health and safety, then we can begin to diminish the negative impact that common health and safety concerns have on students' education.  The Working Group developed a number ideas about how to achieve these objectives, and considered a "three-pronged approach": (1) develop a first year seminar to reach some students in depth; (2) develop plug-in modules that could be presented in existing first year seminars offered by some departments in order to reach more students; and (3) get involved in the peer mentoring program that exists on campus to reach even more students.  The goal is to have maximum impact and to reach as many students as possible.  The immediate goal was to develop a proposal for a one-semester first year seminar.  This proposal was submitted in the Spring and approved by the INTD 101 review committee.  We will be offering the seminar for the first time next Fall.  Even as we prepare to do so, the Working Group is considering how such a seminar might grow and how we can make progress toward our “maximum impact” plan to promote student health and safety. 

2.  Needs of students with disabilities

Throughout the year, SAC discussed the needs of students with disabilities.  Issues that were addressed included the adequacy of services for identified students and of supports for faculty who work with them.  SAC discussed whether students who have disabilities are comfortable talking with their professors about any special accommodations that they may require.  Recognizing that some students may not feel comfortable approaching their professors about their needs, SAC submitted a proposal to the Policy Committee that would require faculty to include a statement in course syllabi that addressed the needs of students with disabilities and the accommodations to which they are entitled.  The Policy Committee did not approve this proposal, but offered helpful feedback that led SAC to propose a non-binding resolution encouraging faculty to include such a statement in their course syllabi.  The goal of this proposed resolution was to promote awareness of and support for students with disabilities in order to open the lines of communication between students and faculty.  This proposal was presented to the College Senate at its final meeting of the year, and the resolution was overwhelmingly approved (see Senate Bulletin No.  19 for a copy of the specific wording of the resolution). 

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Lynch, Ph.D.

Chair, SAC

Final Report: Committee on Undergraduate Policy, Core, and Review 2003-2004

The Committee considered three significant items over the course of the academic year. 

1.  Policy considered and approved a recommendation from Susan Bailey, Dean of the College, to assign midterm grades to first semester transfer students as well as freshman (see Bulletin 7, pages 56 and 67).  It passed the first reading (with friendly amendment – see Bulletin 8 page 99) at the Nov 7 College Senate meeting and the second reading at the Dec 2, 2003 meeting. 

2.  Policy also met to discuss a proposal forwarded by Dr. Tom Greenfield and others to change the attendance policy.  The proposal would have allowed faculty the option of using attendance as a factor in grading if the policy towards attendance was spelled out in the syllabus (subject to some restrictions - see Bulletin 13, pages 130-133).  Policy supported this change and recommended it to the full college senate at the senate meeting Feb 24, 2004, where, after considerable debate, it was voted down. 

3.  Policy also considered a resolution forwarded from Student Affairs Subcommittee to require a statement about meeting the needs of students with disabilities (see Bulletin 18, page 195).  We considered whether to mandate such a statement as part of the syllabus policy in the Undergraduate Bulletin.  While our committee felt that it was important to reach out to students with disabilities, we deemed it not appropriate to mandate the addition of such a statement on course syllabi.  We supported the Student Affairs Subcommittee’s non-binding resolution urging faculty to add such a statement to syllabi.  This resolution was presented and passed at the April 20 College Senate meeting (see this bulletin page 205). 

Sincere thanks to all of the members of the 2003-2004 Excellence Committee for their dedication and their hard work in the review process.  A special thanks goes to Ron Pretzer and Jonette Lancos for chairing two important subcommittees.  There were many highly qualified nominees for the Chancellor's Excellence Awards and the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor this year, and it was frustrating that the we were not allowed to extend awards to all of the deserving nominees.  The winners for this year were Carol Faulkner and Edward Pogozelski for Excellence in Teaching, Sue Ann Brainard for Excellence in Librarianship, Barbara Howard for Excellence in Professional Service, and Steve Derne for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities. 

Gregg Hartvigsen, Senate Vice Chair

Final Report: Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 2003-2004

The UCC handled approximately 150 course proposals and deletions this past year.  It was indeed one of the busiest years for the UCC, given that the new Undergraduate Bulletin is scheduled for 2005.  As Chair, I would like to thank the members of UCC this past year for their participation and invaluable assistance with all the work that was put before them.  It was handled with ease due to their positive attitudes and willingness to read the great number of proposals.  I would personally like to thank Ed Spicka and Denise Sullivan for their assistance and sense of humor when the work looked very daunting. 

All in all, UCC was a very positive experience and on behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank Charlie Freeman for his assistance to us and his upbeat style. 

Respectfully submitted,

Cynthia A. Klima

Dept.  of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Chair of Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

Final Report: Faculty Affairs Committee 2003-2004

The Faculty Affairs Committee discussed three issues during the academic year:

1.  Fire Drills held during in-class exam time.  A solution proposed by Captain Ossont is to try to meet NYS mandates for fire drills in academic buildings within the firsttwoweeks of the semester.  The scheduling cannot be guaranteed because of possible inclement weather, earnest attempts will be made to do so. ( See pgs.  56, 116, 146 of the Bulletin). 

2.  Academic Calendar Changes.  Members of the committee presented a written summary of faculty responses to the calendar changes to Provost Gordon and President Dahl.  In general, of the faculty who contacted R. Hartman, most were in favor of extending the semester break for another week.  After careful consideration, Provost Gordon announced calendar changes were made to add a week to the semester break between fall and spring semester. ( See pgs.  116, 146, 171 Of the Bulletin)

3.  Discussion of the President’s Task Force on Faculty Roles, Rewards, and Evaluation Progress Report.  Members of FAC provided the Task Force with feedback on the report.  This is an ongoing discussion. ( See pgs.  171, Of the Bulletin). 

R. Hartman would like to thank members of FAC for their time and effort during the academic year.