Chair’s Report for September 28, 2004

 

Senate update

1.        Important links to agendas, minutes, Chair's Reports and other sites of interest are available
on the Senate web site: http://www.uwec.edu/Usenate. Senate Chair’s Report will be available on this site usually by noon on the day of the Senate meeting.

2.        Senators – please remember to initial the roster when you enter the room and pick up your name tags.

3.        During debates, Senators may speak only twice to any motion or amendment. Each speaking term is limited to 10 minutes. The Chair will add names of those wishing to speak to a speaker's list upon recognition.

 

Senate Actions signed off by the Chancellor

1.        New Prefix for Latin American Studies (LAS)

2.        Courses with LAS prefix that meet GE criteria in GE III-G or GE IV-E

3.        Medical Excuses Guidelines

4.        Exemption from Physical Activity Portion of Wellness Requirement for Military Training

5.        Handbook Changes: Academic Staff Composition, Recruitment, Letter of Appointment, and Review of Performance – APAS

6.        Riffi Resolution

7.        Name and Prefix Change for Communication Disorders (CDIS) to Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

 

Open Forum Items from Senate Executive Committee Meeting minutes

·         Federal financial aid allocations for University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

·         Have heard UW-Eau Claire stands to lose substantial amount of Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Perkins Loans, and particularly Federal Work Study Program dollars

·         Work study money used extensively on campus for student help in running foreign language labs, chemical stockroom, library, etc.

·         Is that true? If that is the case, shouldn’t campus community be informed?

·         Andrew Soll, Vice Chancellor of Business and Student Services, indicated Congress considering reauthorization of these federal programs with debate to continue in January

·         Currently UW-Eau Claire receives more than fair share because entered into these programs early and established minimum baseline amount when funds split between fewer institutions

·         Formula used by Department of Education is based on relative need as determined by data from financial aid offices; need driven by cost of school and resources of student’s family

·         Push is to go from minimum baseline to fair share distribution

·         If change made, UW-Eau Claire would face serious reductions; current work study is $1,136,000, fair share would be $350,000; Perkins, revolving fund based partially on student payback of loans, would be reduced from $288,000 to $34,000; SEOG would be cut about in half, from $754,000 to $370,000

·         Biggest impact on campus would come from decreased work study funds

·         Reductions in other programs would be felt by individual students – would result in repackaging of student’s financial aid

·         Difficult to fight for three times fair share

·         Not a done deal yet – may be period to phase in new formula

·         Would expect base minimum language to be removed when Higher Education Act reauthorized

·         Conceivable change would occur in fiscal 2006, but probably in fiscal 2007

·         Over time could mitigate impact – would have some ability to plan and phase out

·         Could limit work study funding of auxiliary enterprises, such as housing

·         Significant amount used for community-based off-campus activities could be phased out

·         Perhaps should discuss issue with Budget Committee

·         Will be in report of Executive Committee to full senate

·         Will inform university community when funding reduction known

 

Faculty Reps Meeting – next meeting via teleconference October 1st

Board of Regents Meeting – next meeting in Superior October 7th & 8th

 

Change in Senator: from Betty Hanson to Sallie Kernan – Educational Access Programs

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Calendar 2004-2005 (corrected)

 

Executive Committee Meetings         University Senate Meetings             

 

2004

                            

September  7        President’s           September 14      Tamarack

                   21      President’s                               28      Tamarack

 

October       5        President’s           October       12      Tamarack

                   19      President’s                               26      Tamarack

 

November    2        President’s           November    9        Tamarack

                   16      President’s                               23      Tamarack

 

November    30      Tamarack (open discussion – General Education)

 

December   7        President’s

                                                         

                                                                                     

2005

 

February     1        President’s           February     8        Tamarack

                   15      President’s                               22      Tamarack

 

March         1        President’s           March         8        Oneida/Meno

                   15      President’s

 

March         29      Tamarack (open discussion - topic to be announced)

 

April            5        President’s           April            12      Council Fire

                             19      Wisconsin                                26      Tamarack

         

          May             3        President’s           May             10      Tamarack