Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Call to Order: At 1:14pm, R. Trumpbour called the Faculty Senate to order.
Roll Call (via sign-in sheet)
2016-17 Senators in Attendance: Y. Agawu-Kakraba, S. Anglin, D. DiLeo, M. Harris, N. Pyeatt, E. Seymour, D. Page, W. White, M. Agee, W. Engelbret, S. Dillen, H. Huang, K. Pearson, S. Corle, C. Bowman, L. Haefner, L. Lilienthal, K. Munly, K. Adu, P. Basak, I. Basak, T. Krainer, W. Dorabiala, J. Gil, L. Xiaosong, C. Oliver, M. Weiner, N. Xu, Y. Zhu, A. Zanin-Yost, E. Happeny, J. Carnicella, G. Baird, J. Carey
Senators Absent: S. Findley, M.L. Nemanic, K. Mussett, M. Comanescu, J. Vallejera, S. Anwar, A. Plucinski, M. Arter, K. Chick, L. Jacobson, A.M. Cramer, C. Freire, P. Das, L. Emili, J. Lockard, D. Brinkel, C. Jackson
Student Representatives: K. Thompson, G. Burton
Also in Attendance: University Faculty Senators:
V. Brundsen, N. Rowland, C. Mahan, E. Seymour, R. Singer
University Senators Absent
H. Hayford
Ex-Officio
B. Black, B. Wiens-Tuers, P. Hopsicker, E. Levri, J. Ryoo, D. Zimmerman
Approval of the Minutes of 10/25/16
There was a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded. The minutes were approved by voice vote.
Announcements from the Chair
R. Trumpbour requested a moment of silence in honor of D. Parry. After the Senate observed a moment of silence, R. Trumpbour informed the Senate that a sympathy card was being passed around for those present to sign. He stated that after the meeting, the card would be left in the office of M. Slep for signing by members of the Penn State Altoona community and then sent to D. Parry’s family.
R. Trumpbour announced items on the meeting’s agenda other than reports of the committee chairs, reports of the University Faculty senators and remarks by the Academic Dean (substituting for the Chancellor). These items were an update from the Ad-Hoc Committee on
Resource Issues, a report on our response to AD-92, the SGA proposal for a 5 day a week Common Hour and whatever other issues the SGA representatives would like to bring to the Senate’s attention, an Election update by Chair Elect T. Krainer, a report on Constitutional revisions by Chair Elect T. Krainer and other business that senators might wish to bring up.
Resource Issues
N. Rowland provided a brief history of the work of the Ad-hoc Committee on Resource Issues. He stated that he, V. Brunsden, and E. Seymour had volunteered to decide upon a framework for a report making the College’s concerns about resources clear to relevant persons at University Park. After some consideration, they decided that a summary in paragraph form would be ineffective and that a survey would not do justice to the unique concerns of particular offices and programs.
R. Trumpbour noted that the Student Governmet Association (SGA) is currently working on “resource related issues.” He suggested that we “open our doors to students as they do their work” on a report. He stated that although the Faculty Senate should not “back off,” “a student report would carry more clout.” He also observed that “enrollment has been declining over the past year or two, which puts our College “between a rock and a hard place.”
V. Brunsden stated that he agreed with N. Rowland’s summary of the Ad-hoc Committee’s efforts.
N. Rowland observed that once the Committee found out that students were putting together a student report, it decided that a student report with faculty contributions and support was “probably our best bet.”
SGA Representatives Kaylah Thompson and Grant Burton stated that they were willing to work with the faculty on the SGA report.
R. Trumpbour observed that “we need to make students the center of everything we do.”
M. Weiner asked whether it was possible to quantify the recent enrollment decline.
G. Baird stated that enrollment was about 350 below target in Fall, 2016.
B. Wiens-Tuers stated that the preliminary number for Spring, 2017 was around 3100, but with a few hundred “in limbo.” She concluded that “we are down substantially,” but that it that it was difficult to say precisely by how much at this time.
K. Adu stated that we need to present detailed data concerning our resource constraints to President Barron and Provost Jones. K. Adu summarized some information he had received from
R. Hippo, Director of Finance, regarding the funding that Penn State Altoona receives from University Park.
G. Burton stated that University Park returns 66% of the funds generated by Penn State Altoona, “the average for campuses across the University” is 88%.
R. Trumpbour expressed confidence in K. Adu’s ability to present the relevant data in a clear way and encouraged him and the SGA to work together to compose a clear account of our College’s fiscal relationship to the University.
Election Update
T. Krainer announced the election of N. Rowland to the University Senate for the 2017-2021 term and that the terms of the Altoona College Faculty Senators need to be rebalanced so that the numbers of Senators to be elected in odd-numbered years will match those to be elected in the even numbered years as closely as possible. He stated that he has devised a schedule of elections that will accomplish this.
Constitutional Revisions
T. Krainer announced that documents specifying changes to the Altoona College Faculty Senate will be sent to Senators via email with an opportunity for discussion by listserv. He noted that any changes approved by the Altoona College Faculty Senate must also be approved the University
He stated that there are three types of proposed changes (See Appendix A).
- a process to allow for elections to fill offices in which there is only one (1) candidate. The proposal is to require an approval threshold of 50%.
- the identification of administrative and staff positions to provide information to Faculty Senate committees. T. Krainer noted that it would be up to the discretion of the committee chairs to request administrative or staff personnel to provide information to the committees and attend meetings of senate committees.
- changes identified by T. Krainer as clerical: changing “ombudsman” to “ombudsperson,” shifting the term of the ombudsperson to allow the incoming ombudsperson to “shadow” the incumbent ombudsperson, and other minor changes.
T. Krainer informed the Senate that these changes required the approval of two thirds (2/3) of the entire membership of the Senate, so it was imperative that Senators consider the proposed changes and vote on them.
Before moving on to other business, R. Trumpbour reminded Senators of the condolence card circulating on the floor and noted that several of D. Parry’s students have spoken of the positive influence that he had on them. R. Trumpbour concluded that “we make a difference.”
Other Business
V. Brunsden proposed a resolution in support of international students who might feel threatened by President Trump’s executive order barring entry of all persons from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, suspending the Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and suspending refugee admissions from Syria indefinitely (See Appendix B).
V.Brunsden stated that “This [resolution] does not commit us to do anything except obey the law. But it is important to show students that we are concerned for their safety. I know there are students whose families have pulled them out [of Penn State] due to concerns for their safety.” He stated that the resolution was “cribbed” from one made by the University of Michigan. V. Brunsden moved that the Senate adopt the resolution.
M. Harris suggested that “national origin” be added to the second line, after “immigration status.”
V. Brunsden accepted this amendment to the resolution.
R. Singer asked what the resolution refers to by “immigration status.”
V. Brunsden responded that international students may be here in “multiple different ways.”
R. Singer asked whether it referred to illegal as well as legal immigration status.
V. Brunsden responded that it referred to immigration status “regardless” of legality.
J. Gil suggested that the Faculty Senate communicate its motion of support directly to students at the Altoona College.
V. Brunsden asked the SGA Representatives to “please communicate this back” to the students.
R. Trumpbour urged the SGA Representatives to “feel free to modify” the statement of support to international students.
V. Brunsden moved that the resolution be adopted. The motion was seconded. It passed by acclamation.
Reports of the Committee Chairs and Chair Elect
Academic Affairs
M. Harris stated that the SGA proposal on a five (5) day common hour is currently under consideration by the subcommittee on Admissions, Records, and Scheduling.
He stated that the subcommittee on Teaching is to consider advising and ways to offer support to the Teaching and Learning Consortium.
Curricular Affairs
H. Huang reported that the committee is considering a proposal for a new course entitled “Environmental Economics and Policy,” proposed by M. Agee. H. Huang stated that the proposal will be up for a vote at the next meeting
Faculty Affairs
J. Gil reported that the committee has one urgent charge, to propose a policy for promotion of fixed-term faculty. He stated that the committee would submit a proposal at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.
Campus Climate and Diversity
E. Seymour stated that the committee is considering the issue of excused absences for the athletic activities of various sports groups. She turned to floor over to J. Carey, Coordinator of Intramurals and Recreational Sports Athletics.
J. Carey informed that Penn State Altoona has both NCAA, Division 3 varsity athletic teams and club sports. He stated that the activities of the latter occur primarily on weekends. However, they may occasionally involve activities such as national competitions that conflict with scheduled classes. Club Sports activities are not listed by the University as legitimate excuses for missing scheduled classes and tests. However, instructors may excuse students if students provide a letter notifying the instructor of upcoming events in advance.
E. Seymour urged faculty to support club sports and to provide “reasonable flexibility” in situations when academic work scheduled at times conflicting with club sports events cannot be made up.
In a related matter, H. Huang asked about use of the athletic facilities by faculty, specifically for badminton.
J. Carey responded that the athletic facilities were available to faculty with faculty ID, and that time could be set aside for badminton.
Reports of the University Faculty Senators
Enrollments
N. Rowland reported that according to R. Pangborn, Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education, paid acceptances are up by 2% across the University, and, as planned, down by ½% at University Park.
N. Rowland urged faculty to take part in the Student Engagement Network Program.
Administrative Changes
N. Rowland stated that Human Resources in revising its policies to eliminate redundancy. That includes the shifting of policies involving faculty to other bodies.
Student Health
He stated that the demand for student health services, especially mental health services was outstripping what was available. He noted that this was true in institutions of post-secondary education generally.
N. Rowland reported that the University’s Committee on Faculty Affairs had conducted a forensic session on the standardization of titles for fixed-term faculty, which concluded that it makes sense to have three tiers and to differentiate between faculty with and without terminal degrees.
K. Thompson stated that a new $15 fee will be charged to students throughout the Penn State system, including Penn State Altoona. Eleven dollars of that fee will be for mental health videos and other services and resources already provided at Penn State Altoona. She expressed concern that moneys raised by this fee from Penn State Altoona students will used at other Penn State locations that are not already providing the resources and services provided here.
G. Burton expressed his concern that Penn State Altoona is being “pulled down to the standard of the other campuses.”
B. Wiens-Tuers stated that “We are ahead of the curve and will not let our standards drop.”
AD 92
W. White stated that the Faculty Affairs Committee of the University Senate has responded to AD 92.
W. White summarized his report to the Executive Committee of the Altoona College Faculty Senate on AD 92 (See Appendix C). He stated that it contains three parts. The first part is a history of the policy, emphasizing the absence of consultation with the faculty in its formulation. The second part is a discussion of the policy’s impact on academic freedom. The third part recommends that the development of any policy on political activity on the part of faculty consider the issues of engaged scholarship and shared governance.
R. Trumpbour stated that the Senate would vote on W. White’s proposal at its next meeting.
Remarks from the Chancellor and/ or Academic Dean
B. Wiens-Tuers communicated Chancellor Bechtel-Wherry’s regrets that she was unable to attend this meeting of the Altoona College Faculty Senate due to meetings at University Park.
She stated that the proposal for the Voluntary Retirement Program 2 (VRP2) incentive year (2017-18) was approved. For the 2017-18 academic year, searches are now underway for a Director of Enrollment Management (Rick Shaffer’s replacement) and for a permanent Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Additionally, a percentage of the savings from the retirement of Marc Harris and Jim Winsor will be returned to Altoona for the incentive year (2017-18) so that it will be possible to hire part-time faculty to cover their courses during the 2017-18 year. We are not able to fill all of our needed positions in the incentive year (2017-18) due to the fact that we needed to return funds in order to pay the incentives (one year salary and benefits) for the faculty and staff who accepted the VRP.
She reported that Penn State Altoona has also submitted a proposal for funding for the 2018-19 year to replace some of the positions from the VRP2 and to fund some new positions. The College is currently awaiting final approval from the OVPCC for our proposal for these positions, which include: Instructional Designer, Admissions Counselor, Grant Specialist, Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity, Athletic Trainer, and two faculty positions.
With regard to admissions, she announced that there would be increased collaboration with the academic divisions and programs going forward.
With regard to retention, B. Wiens-Tuers reported that there are ongoing efforts to improve “institutionalized ways to orient” incoming students.
She reported that the summer PASS program would be able to enroll 40 incoming students, up from 30 in the preceding year.
She stated that the advising council is working on pre-major advising and advising for incoming students. She stated that advising and other forms of preparation are especially needed by first generation college students who may be less prepared for college due to the absence of role models in their families.
B. Wiens-Tuers stated that we need to start some conversations on helping students get help with courses with which they are having difficulty.
Remarks for the Good of the University
M. Weiner urged the faculty to support the efforts of the SGA with regard to the use of money raised from fees charged to Penn State Altoona students. He said that “[w]e have to fight for the
$15 fee to stay here. We are not getting our fair share.”