EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Present: Bryant,
DiMagno, Fuller, Logan-Peters, Miller, Prochaska-Cue, Sawyer, Spann,
Whitt,
Wolf
Absent: King,
Scheideler, Siekman
Date:
Location: Academic Senate Office, 420 University
Terrace
1.0 Call to
Order
Bryant called the meeting to order at
2.0 Announcements
2.1 Interview with Candidate for Dean of the
Technology
Bryant reminded the committee that an
interview with the second candidate for the Dean of the
2.2 Meeting with Stan Campbell, Director of
Campus Recreation
Bryant announced that the committee would be
meeting with Stan Campbell, Director of Campus Recreation, next Wednesday to
discuss the future plans for campus recreation and their effects on campus
parking.
3.0 ASUN –
Nathan Fuerst and Jessica Lopez
3.1 Dead Week Policy
Lopez reported that ASUN has concerns with how instructors are informed
about the dead week policy. She stated
that each semester there are several complaints regarding violations of the
policy. Fuller and Wolf stated that a
letter goes out each semester to the instructors stating the policy and that it
is published in the schedule of classes as well as on the web. Wolf asked what the procedures are for
students to report a violation of the policy.
Fuerst stated that students call the ASUN
office. The office then contacts the
faculty member to verify if the information is accurate. He stated that instructors who are in
violation of the policy often correct the problem. He pointed out that instructors sometimes
move the final exam to dead week but also offer it at the scheduled time during
finals week. He stated that this is
usually acceptable to the students. Wolf
noted that the best time to receive information regarding the policy is before
the syllabus is written. DiMagno suggested that a reminder could be distributed with
the course rosters at the beginning of the semester. Fuerst stated that
it would be helpful to students if professors would indicate on their syllabus
the web site address for the policy.
Sawyer asked how many complaints are made in a given semester. Lopez stated that approximately 10 – 20
complaints are made. She pointed out
that only two students work on resolving complaints about dead week violations. She suggested that reminders of the policy
could be sent to instructors in the middle of the semester before they prepare
syllabi for the following semester.
Bryant suggested that the committee discuss the issue of communicating
the policy to instructors with SVCAA Edwards.
He stated that the policy would be placed on the Academic Senate web
site in addition to being on the Registration and Records web site.
3.2 Buy Back of Books
Lopez reported that students often have a difficult time selling books
back because they are told that the instructor has not placed a textbook order
for the upcoming semester. Wolf
explained that it is much more complicated than that. He stated that professors often learn very
late that books they’ve ordered months in advance are out of print, requiring
last minute substitutions. Whitt noted
that publishers often create some of the problems by not having texts ready
when promised and that many are now requiring passwords to access workbooks
that are on the web. Bryant pointed out
that textbook orders are requested months in advance, but many professors are
not aware of what courses they will be teaching the following semester. DiMagno suggested
that ASUN set up a textbook exchange. Fuerst stated that this is currently being worked on and
that they hope that it will be up and running next year. Wolf pointed out that instructors cannot
order the amount of textbooks they need in order to cover additional students
who may enter classes by getting overrides.
3.3 Other Issues
Lopez stated that a request was made to have a university-wide minimum
attendance absence policy which would allow students to miss a minimum number
of classes before their grades would be affected. DiMagno pointed out
that this issue was addressed last year by the Senate with the approval of the
student absence policy. He noted that
this policy specifically refers to university-sanctioned activities. Bryant pointed out that the policy gives
faculty members the discretion to determine whether absences would be
permitted. Fuller noted that students
should consult with the faculty member to determine whether missing some
classes would prevent the student from satisfactorily completing the
course. Spann noted that the nature of
some courses is such that absences would not be beneficial to the student or
the class.
Wolf asked what the officers’ overall experience has been this past
year. Fuerst
and Lopez both reported having very good experiences, particularly in working
with administrators and faculty. They
stated that they were glad to realize that faculty and administration really
care about the students. Fuerst noted that there was difficulty in getting
communications out to the student body.
Lopez stated that students seem to have a misconception about the
information that is available to them.
She stated that most students do not realize how hard faculty and staff
work to help the students. She pointed
out that the budget cuts emphasize the importance of students on campus.
Lopez stated that there have been some concerns with the new grading
system. She stated that ASUN probably
would have supported the new grading system had they been better informed about
it. She stated that she realizes that it
does help professors by providing them with more options on grading. She noted that the biggest issue is the standing
of a C- grade. Whitt pointed out that
the faculty members are also concerned with the C- grade. DiMagno pointed out
that the number of grades distributed in the A range was higher this semester
with the new grading system than under the old grading system. Lopez stated that the other concern is that
an A+ and an A have the same GPA value.
Bryant pointed out that there may be some additional adjustments to the
grading system to alleviate any problems.
Bryant pointed out that the Libraries’ budget is being cut and that it
will have detrimental effects for both faculty and students. He stated that faculty and students will need
to unite to oppose any further cuts.
Bryant asked if the students were pleased with the services of the
Student Unions. Fuerst
stated that the food service is not adequate.
He pointed out that most students seem to get food and then leave. He stated that there is little communication
and socializing occurring within the unions.
Wolf pointed out that there are no lounges where people of similar
interests can gather to socialize.
Lopez reported that some students are not pleased with having to take the
required library class. She stated that
some of them feel that it is a costly class that should not be offered as a
free-standing course. Fuerst suggested that the course could be joined with an
actual course in a college or that it be included as part of the freshmen
orientation class. Sawyer recommended
that the students discuss this with the faculty of the Libraries.
4.0 Approval
of
Sawyer moved and DiMagno
seconded approval of the minutes as amended.
Motion
approved.
5.0 Unfinished
Business
5.1 Follow Up
on Announcement of Budget Cuts
Bryant
stated that, although he believes that the process in determining the budget
cuts was rational, he has concerns regarding the kind of information that the
Chancellor received on the various units.
He noted that Michael Anderson of the Teaching and
The
Executive Committee discussed the use of faculty salary increases to offset the
budget cuts. Spann stated that the
committee needs to ask what alternative cuts would be made if the salary
increases are not used. Bryant stated
that he is concerned that a 4.8% increase is not the bottom line and that the
faculty will be asked to give up more of the increases. Fuller pointed out that money is usually held
back at the Vice Chancellor’s level and questioned how much that would be from
the 4.8% increase. Bryant stated that
faculty members need to be assured that there will be more money available for
a satisfactory performance this year than last.
Spann pointed out that Deans have been using open faculty lines to cover
other expenses but that now those lines will revert back to the Vice
Chancellors. He noted that this could
have a significant impact on the operating budgets of the colleges. The committee agreed to have further
discussions with Chancellor Perlman on this topic.
5.2 Pepsi
Quasi Endowment Fund
Wolf pointed
out that the non-discrimination clause in the Pepsi Quasi Endowment Fund
contract does not correspond with the university’s non-discrimination clause. He asked for Bryant to check with Vice
Chancellor Jackson as to why the contract was written this way and to report
back to the Executive Committee. Wolf
questioned whether other contracts were written without the non-discrimination
clause and whether the Foundation does not adhere to the same policy as the
university.
5.3 Grading
DiMagno distributed
information relating to departments and the overall GPA for the number of
grades awarded. He found that only 30
departments, out of 118 evaluated, had a GPA of less than 3. He noted that the range of GPA’s was 2.5 –
4.0 and that there was little correlation of the number of grades with the
GPA. He stated that this raises concerns
that students in more critically graded subjects are at a disadvantage for
university honors and awards based upon GPA, that faculty teaching critically
graded subjects may be at a disadvantage for university honors and awards based
on student evaluations, that students’ choice of majors may be influenced by
disparities in grading policies, and that there is student confusion because of
widely varying expectations for comparable grades. He proposed that the scores be
normalized. The committee discussed the
possibilities of this being done and how much teaching evaluations play a part
in grade inflation.
6.0 New Business
No new business was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at