2015-2016 Senators in Attendance: K. Adu, S. Anglin, M. Arter, G. Baird, S. Bonta, D. Brinkel, V. Brunsden, L. Campbell, J. Carnicella, M. Comanescu, S. Corle, A. Mong Cramer, P. Das, W. Dorabiala, L. Emili, C. Freie, J. Gil, L. Haefner, E. Happeny, M. Harris, I. Hurd, D. Hurtibise, T. Krainer, L. Jacobson, M. Johnson, L. Lillienthal, J. Lockard, A. Marvasti, M. McNicholas, S. Mohammed, K. Munly, K. Mussett, C. Oliver, D. Parry, K. Pearson, J. Peca, B. Pinter, N. Pyeatt, J. Rosson, E. Seymour, P. Shull, E. Siegfried, B. Trumpbour, J. Vallejera , M. Weiner, W. White, Y. Zhu
Senators Absent: M. Agee, S. Bonta, K. Chick, A. Cox, T. Elkin, W. Englebret, S. Findley (excused), J. Huffman, M. Nemanic, J. O’Harrow, D. Page, S. Rizvi, E. Siegfried, A. Sohail, F. Zafino, A. Zanin-Yost (excused)
Also in Attendance:
University Faculty Senators: V. Brunsden, C. Mahan, N. Rowland, B. Seymour, R. Singer
Ex-Officio: L. Bechtel-Wherry, B. Black, P. Hopsicker, E. Levri, J. Ryoo, B. Wiens-Tuers, D. Zimmerman
Visitors: B. Baird, J. Sinclair, P. Moran, B. Pinter, S. Tornello
Opening Business
Call to Order (12:15 pm)
Roll Call (via sign-in sheet)
Approval of the Minutes
Announcements from the Chair
Reports of the Committee Chairs
Lori requested a change to the wording of the Report from the Budget Subcommittee. The following sentence will be adjusted:
“The majority of funding for these improvements will come directly from various State and University funds, from student facilities fees and from outside donors.”
The new sentence will read:
“The majority of funding for these improvements will come directly from various central University Park budget sources, from student facilities fees and from outside donors.”
Academic Affairs (Marc Harris)
- Report on General-Purpose Classroom Issues—Scheduling the main rooms will be put on a priority list to put the best and most open schedule into the Optimizer as possible; committee recommends
- minimizing scheduling courses in odd time frames;
- minimizing the scheduling of odd class times;
- avoiding excessive bunching of activities during high traffic class times;
- recommending that specialty course structures—e.g., engineering groupings, be given priority
- Beth suggested vote to approve recommendations; report is accepted
Curricular Affairs (Dave Parry)—No Report
Faculty Affairs (Juan Gil)
- Reports on Workload Reduction (review and recommendations)—waiting for comment from Associate Dean
- Report on the 2015 Adjunct Faculty Survey (results and related recommendations) – requesting affirmation from senate, that recommendations are reasonable; Bill White requested more concrete numerical data; question about program coordinators having clear communication with adjunct faculty; senate voted to send report back to committee to address some basic concerns.
Committee on Campus Climate and Diversity (Beth Seymour)
Two reports submitted
- Report on Test Accommodations—committee examined challenges faced by students with extra needs; subcommittee recommends—LRC accommodations are inadequate for both students and faculty; need special space for accommodating these needs; space should be quiet and staffed often; recommend online scheduling system for accessing space; report and its recommendations offered by Marc Harris and N. Rowland; Amir called for vote: passed
- Report on the Budget—important report; two recommendations:
- Recommend ongoing budget summaries should be offered by CFO 1-2 times/year; should include information on regular budget, scheduled projects and things of interest to the college; should be easily accessible throughout year;
- Recommend that administrative resource people be added to senate committees to facilitate communication between senate and administrative offices within the college.
- Mark pointed out the requirements of the constitution that we must change the way the process is conducted in the constitution takes a year and we could do this informally right now, if we think it’s important. Beth recommended a 2-pronged approach of both formal and informal approach allowing us to move forward immediately.
- Amir recommended changing report based on Lori’s requested change about where the funds come from.
- Vote approved to accept report.
Reports of the University Faculty Senators
- Victor reported that changes to policy on committee on Undergraduate Education—Syllabi must be available electronically throughout semester—some question about requirement to provide paper policy
- Victor reported on a requirement that we provide at least some feedback before the late-drop deadline; must give them something before end of week Twelve; a question arose as to whether this was a recommendation or requirement? Will work on determining that….
- Victor reported that the Faculty salary report is available from any University senator; write to office of Planning and Research who can also provide report
- Carolyn Mahan reported that fixed term faculty paid reasonably well; all division faculty paid similarly—not great discrepancies across divisions; associates staying in rank for long-time.
Remarks from the Chancellor & the Associate Dean
Lori reported that a process is being put in place for having administration respond to and/or implement recommendations from senate reports; Barb’s office is looking to create a written “trail” of response
Lori responded specifically to report on student accommodations – a funding stream has been identified to provide ongoing financial support for a full-time DISABILITIES COORDINATOR, A PORTION OF WHOSE TIME WILL BE DEVOTED TO TEST ACCOMMODATION. This full-time employee will, in part, manage these spaces.
Lori appreciated report from Budget Subcommittee and is already working on opening communication and transparency about the budget from administration; Rob will be integral in being communicative about budget issues; Rob and Lori would like to bring back forensic sessions sometime in October to address the dynamic quality of the budget providing new venues for understanding the budget and avoiding misunderstandings and miscommunications. Most sources of funding for building projects come from sources outside the College budget, eg., no funds for Adler project are coming from the Altoona budget. She distributed budget structure/funding sources for Adler/Eiche projects.
Lori extended this discussion regarding communication by indicating that she has encouraged chancellor council members to reach out to faculty/other college offices to create greater sense of communication.
Lori discussed the importance of hiring great faculty, and assistant professor salaries need to be competitive; she reported that the salary committee will re-convene in May to address salary disparities; she is hopeful about raises for this year but is contingent on State budget; she will work with salary committee to determine best way to fix any disparities; Peter Moran is trying to identify specific ways to address issues in faculty salary; budget concerns going forward—still holding back 4-5% moving forward until we get word on State Budget; provost gave us funds to help out-of-state accepts to help offset tuition and increase likelihood that they’ll come here
Lori reported that the research fair was inspirational!
Barb thanked Marc Harris for quick work on rooming/scheduling rooms.
Legislative Transition
Passing the Gavel—Amir handed over gavel to Bob; approval of calendar for next year; one meeting must be downtown and last meeting must be on last Thursday on April. Calendar approved
Senate Officer Election Results—
Recognition of New and Acknowledgment of Departing Senators—New senators were welcomed for the coming year
Bob excited about year ahead; next year will be reports to lay foundation for getting budget model we want; important for shaping what we want to do.
Call for New Business
Mike asked about the University Salary report that indicated in a footnote that a possible “10% administrator salary adjustment” had been made across the University. Lori reported that this was not a “local phenomenon”….
Adjournment (1:05 pm)