UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE

UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING

VOL. 42, NO. 4

 

October 25, 2005

 

 

Members Present:

 

Judy Blackstone, Janice Bogstad, Marcia Bollinger, Don Bredle, Margaret Devine, Gary Don, Michael Dorsher, Dan Drumm, Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Jeff Erger, Gloria Fennell, Mitchell Freymiller, Warren Gallagher, Alan Gallaher, Andrea Gapko, Susan Harrison, Ann Hoffman, Robert Hollon, Todd Hostager, Bill Jacobsen, Rose Jadack, Debra Jansen, Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, Paula Kleintjes, Fred Kolb, Heather Kretz, Jennifer Lee, Bruce Lo, David Lonzarich, Barbara Lozar, Steven Majstorovic, Karl Markgraf, Susan Mc Intyre, Bobby Pitts, Jill Prushiek, Donna Raleigh, Scott Robertson, Connie Russell, Kristen Sandager, Nola Schmitt, Earl Shoemaker, Alex Smith, Larry Solberg, Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan, Daniel Stevenson, Jan Stirm, Kent Syverson, Lois Taft, Steve Tallant, Charles Vue, Sharon Westphal, Scott Whitfield, Marty Wood

 

Members Absent:

 

Robin Baker, Paul Butrymowicz, Leslie Foster, Jennifer Hinners, Larry Honl, Harry Jol, Sallie Kernan, Vicki Lord Larson, Rebecca Matter, Sean McAleer, Sue Moore, Tarique Niazi, Roger Selin, Carter Smith, Lorraine Smith, Todd Stephens, Troy Terhark, Max Von Klein, Michael Wick, Rebecca Wurzer

 

Guests:

 

Margaret Cassidy, Donald Christian, Kate Hale, Elise Hallock, Robert Hooper, Jan Morse, Andrew Phillips, Jon Radcliffe, Andrew Soll

 

 

The regular meeting of University Senate was called to order by Chair Harrison at 3:04 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center.

 

I.         Minutes of October 11, 2005 approved as distributed

 

II.       Chancellor’s Remarks – Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor Steven Tallant

·         Karen Havholm, Department of Geology, will be Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs to replace retiring Chris Lind

·         To start one day per week in November and December for overlap training, then full-time spring semester

·         Was suggested in past that announcements go out for positions like this because don’t know all who might be interested

·         Absolutely right, received numerous applications of qualified people would not have thought interested – all very good candidates

·         Search and Screen Committee for permanent replacement for Chris Lind being formed

·         Members elected from colleges:

·         Bernard Duyfhuizen, College of Arts and Sciences

·         Timothy Vaughan, College of Business

·         Don Bredle, College of Education and Human Sciences

·         Lee Anna Rasar, College of Nursing and Health Sciences

·         Elections for at-large members of University Faculty and University Academic Staff in progress

·         Two students yet to be chosen

·         Also option of appointing one or two additional unclassified staff at chancellor’s discretion

·         Associate Dean of College of Education and Human Sciences Patricia Christopherson retired earlier than planned due to illness in family

·         College in process of searching for replacement – beginning review of candidates

·         Position should be filled by December 15, 2005

·         Several weeks ago, President Reilly asked governance groups around state to respond to regent resolution on employment policies and practices

·         Chancellor Larson put together report to system, with input from shared governance, on how this university looked at those issues

·         Board of Regents at last meeting heard opinions from only two universities; chancellor did not believe those views represented entire system and believed other input from around state was negated because not heard by regents

·         All information from each campus has now been compiled and sent directly to President Reilly to forward to regents

 

III.    Chair’s/Vice Chair’s Report – Chair Harrison and Vice Chair Gapko

·         Two senate actions signed off by chancellor

·         New Comprehensive Major in Mathematics, Liberal Arts, Actuarial Science Emphasis approved and current Actuarial Emphasis deleted

·         Emphases of Corporate Finance and Financial Services eliminated from Finance Major

 

IV.    Faculty Representative’s Report – Senator Wick

·         No report

 

V.      Academic Staff Representative’s Report – Senator Blackstone

·         Met in Madison on October 20, 2005

·         Talked about regent resolution on employment policies and practices

·         New sick leave policy included on back of printed report

·         Regents putting together committee to look into issue of employee criminal activity

·         Appears will be looking at felony convictions

·         More information coming

·         Academic staff representatives have asked to see a copy of draft policy for limited appointments before it goes to regents – have yet to see

·         Discussed proposed audit by Legislative Audit Bureau of UW-System personnel policies and practices

·         Scope of that audit available on web

·         Will be done by same folks who determined all program assistants were administrators

·         Next meeting on November 7, 2005 will be conference call

 

VI.    Announcements

·         Next meeting of University Senate on November 8, 2005

 

VII.     Unfinished Business

·         None

 

VIII.   Reports of Committees

¨       Executive Committee – Chair Harrison

  • At last meeting passed proposed academic calendar guidelines coming forward to senate today
  • Next meeting November 1, 2005 to discuss process of making governance more nimble

¨       Faculty Personnel Committee – Senator Smith

  • Next meeting October 27, 2005
  • Response to question from floor

·         At this point, committee not looking at new sick leave policy; don’t know if issue on future agendas as chair unable to attend this meeting

¨       Academic Staff Personnel Committee – Senator Blackstone

  • Next meeting October 27, 2005
  • Looking at personnel rules regarding promotion

¨       Academic Policies Committee – Senator Mc Intyre

·         Met October 18, 2005 – approved minor coming forward to senate today

·         Discussed assessment report last two meetings

·         Next meeting November 8, 2005        

¨       Physical Plant Planning Committee – Senator Russell

·         Met October 24, 2005 – talked about various issues to address this year

·         Will consult with Parking & Transportation Services regarding ending time of parking permit use in McPhee and Murray lots

·         Will discuss concern about smoking area in breezeway between Davies and Schofield

·         Will discuss signage on various buildings and determine what changes would be appropriate to reflect changes in names of colleges and departments housed in those buildings

·         Both this committee and Putnam Park Commission looking for solution to controlling invasive vegetation in Putnam Park – serious and rapidly growing problem with garlic mustard and buckthorn

·         To get updates on building projects, long-term planning process, and parking lot and bus usage

·         Next meeting on November 14, 2005

·         Responses to questions and comments from floor

·         Committee received comments about people smoking in breezeway, which is much used entrance to buildings

·         Are state statutes and some campus policies that ban smoking 20 to 25 feet away from buildings due to concern about people walking through

·         Committee to seek further input on how others feel about issue

·         Smoking at doorways does create problems for pregnant women and people with asthma

·         Number of people who come to campus comment on walking through smoking area; many employees go to basement to avoid breezeway

¨       Budget Committee – Senator Gallaher

·         Met October 17, 2005 – discussed role of Budget Committee

·         General consensus that what is in Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook does not have lot to do with what committee does

·         One future agenda item is to continue discussion of role of Budget Committee

·         Meeting within next few weeks to review funding for chancellor’s reserve fund

¨       Compensation Committee – Vice Chair Gapko

·         Next meeting November 11, 2005

·         To discuss three subcommittee reports: survey of academic staff which should go out this week; faculty subcommittee looking at faculty part of pay plan; and an analysis of last pay plan

¨       Nominating Committee – Senator Lo

·         No report

¨       Technology Committee – Senator Ducksworth-Lawton

·         Next meeting November 3, 2005

·         Will have demos and an update on issues from Director of Learning and Technology Services Craig Mey

·         Will discuss Technology Committee mission in handbook

·         Likely to change to make it clearer that faculty with concerns should be coming to Technology Committee

·         Committee can bring issues to administration and report back to senate

·         Beginning to hear discussion about how to deploy technology more effectively in classroom and what technology is leading edge and what technology is absolutely necessary

 

IX.       Special Reports

Report from the Chancellor Search and Screen Committee – Chair Hooper

·         November 1, 2005 priority screening date fast approaching – after that time committee will be working in strict confidence to bring in best person

 

X.      Miscellaneous Business

A.    First Reading – Motion from Executive Committee

Report on Academic Calendar Guidelines – Vice Chair Gapko

·         Considering guidelines because only have finite number of possible calendars

·         Calendars could be developed using approved guidelines; Executive Committee could ensure those guidelines met, and calendars could be presented to senate for information

·         Would streamline process

 

Motion 42-SE-01

Moved and seconded by Executive Committee (15 for, 0 against) that the revised UW-Eau Claire Guidelines to facilitate the development of Academic Calendars and the following wording, that describes the calendar development and approval process, for inclusion in the beginning of Chapter 7 of the Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook in the section titled Scheduling Policies be approved.

 

GUIDELINES:

Regent/System Policy or State Statutes

1.        There must be at least 170 days of faculty/student interaction (34 weeks) within an academic year. Faculty and student interactions are defined as organized services and include classroom, registration, advising, and exam periods.

2.        The faculty contractual period must be 39 weeks in length.

3.        Classes cannot begin before September 2.

 

UWEC Guidelines

1.       Academic Year contracts should begin the Monday of the week before the week when classes start except when this causes the May commencement to fall on Memorial Day weekend. In those years, Academic Year contracts should begin on the Monday two weeks before the week when classes start.

2.        If there is only 1 day are only 2 days of classes prior to Labor Day, wait until after Labor Day to start classes.

3.       If classes begin prior to Labor Day, be sure students can use the previous weekend to move into the dorms.

4.        There should be approximately 43 MWF and 29 TTH class days each semester.

5.        Semester lengths should be kept as equal as possible.

6.       At least 13 full five-day weeks should be included to facilitate lab courses.

7.        Finals should be scheduled over 5 days.

8.       When finals must stretch over a weekend, a study day should be included prior to the first day of finals.

9.       Commencement should fall on Saturday and occur after finals if possible. If the Saturday after finals falls on December 23 or later, the previous Saturday should be used for commencement.

10.     Fall semester should end no later than December 22.

11.     Winterim should consist of no less than 14 days including Saturdays. Classes cannot meet on Sundays.

12.    When Easter Sunday falls within one week of spring break, Spring and April breaks should be combined.

13.    A full day of classes should be held on Monday after the Spring and April breaks to maximize the number of full five-day weeks.

14.    When all other guidelines have been met, consider including a Fall Break day around the sixth week.

 

To be inserted at the beginning of Chapter 7 of the Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook:

SCHEDULING POLICIES

        ACADEMIC CALENDAR GUIDELINES

Guidelines for creating Academic Year Calendars are established by the Regents and the University Senate. The Provost’s Office has the primary responsibility for developing calendars meeting the guidelines. Once developed, the University Senate Executive committee will review the proposed calendar(s). Upon approval, the calendar(s) will be presented to the University Senate for information.

 

Debate

·         Without objection, all members participate in debate and vote on motion

 

Amendment 42-SE-01-a1

        Motion by Senator Gallaher that the senate review the policy in the fall of 2010 seconded.

 

Discussion

·         Process seems like reasonable thing to try, but at same time approving calendar has been function of senate, so think it should be reviewed in five years

·         If going well, no reason to get rid of it; if not going well, will have opportunity to voice problems

·         If review seven year cycle in five years, would not see all of them

·         Seconder not willing to change to seven years; will know within five years whether or not process working

·         Actually seven different calendars; not all seven will occur in seven years, some repeated due to leap year

·         Generally favor sunset clauses, not sure about this one; is there any chance this new procedure would not work and we somehow wouldn’t notice?

·         Academic calendars will come to full senate annually for information; would have opportunity to change guidelines each time

·         Falls to Executive Committee to decide if calendar proposed by administration appropriate

·         Under current system guidelines, cannot start before September 2nd

·         Labor Day will always be first Monday in September, so only seven possible calendars that can be constructed based upon when we start and when Labor Day falls

·         Memorial Day is also set by federal policy

·         So not going to see much variation taking place based upon calendar

 

Vote on Amendment 42-SE-01-a1: Amendment DEFEATED by vote of 16 for, 35 against

 

Continued Debate on Main Motion – None

 

As per approved procedures, vote on motion postponed until next meeting.

 

B.       First Reading – Motion from Academic Policies Committee

Report on Authorization to Implement New Multidisciplinary Academic Minor: Environment, Society, and Culture, Liberal Arts – Senator Mc Intyre

·         New minor rooted in social sciences and humanities, reducing science requirements compared to such programs as Environmental and Public Health major and Environmental Science minor

·         Committee discussed

·         Adequate seating – were plenty of seats

·         Advising issues

·         Minor draws on existing resources and will establish and strengthen connections among faculty and students across home disciplines

·         One con discussed was perhaps needed course in history

·         Since meeting, have contacted History Department Chair Miller

·         At this time are no courses in history that would pertain; could be considered at a later time

 

Motion 42-AP-04

Moved and seconded by the Academic Policies Committee (7 for, 0 against) that the authorization to implement a new multidisciplinary academic minor, Environment, Society, and Culture, Liberal Arts, be approved.

 

Debate

·         Since motion is curricular matter, only University Faculty will vote; all may participate in debate

·         After approval here, new minors go for information to University Faculty and Board of Regents

·         Passing motion either this meeting or next sufficient to meet catalogue deadline

·         Suggestions for other courses that may fit within scope of new minor should be forwarded to faculty initially administering program: Kate Hale (English), Jim Phillips (Chemistry), Crispin Pierce (Public Health Professions), or Lisa Theo (Geography and Anthropology)

 

MOTION by Senator Wood to suspend the rules to allow a vote on motion today seconded and PASSED by two-thirds voice vote.

 

Further Discussion

·         Speak in favor of motion – minor supported by Crispin Pierce of Environmental and Public Health program; he has been involved in all discussions and sees as helpful to that major

·         Voting on minor now does not mean course list frozen

·         Speak in favor of motion – involved in Environmental Science minor for many years; this is wonderful complement to that minor

 

Vote on Motion 42-AP-04: Motion PASSED without dissention by University Faculty senators.

 

C.       Thanks of the University Senate to Provost and Vice Chancellor Ronald Satz

 

MOTION by Vice Chair Gapko to present the Thanks of the University Senate to Ronald Satz extending the sincere appreciation of the faculty and academic staff members of the University Senate for his important contributions to our university during his 22 years of service as the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, the Dean of the School of Human Sciences and Services, the Dean of the College of Professional Studies, and the Provost and Vice Chancellor approved by acclamation.

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

 

Submitted by,

 

 

Wanda Schulner

Secretary to the University Senate