Monthly Archives: March 2016

Penn State Mont Alto Faculty Senate minutes, March 23, 2016

Penn State Mont Alto Faculty Senate minutes, March 23, 2016

Meeting began at 2:02 pm. Chairman Somjit Barat opened with an update on campus theme vote. All faculty were encouraged to submit their opinion before the voting deadline.

Linda Monn then discussed an update on several aspects of LionPath. First of all, wait lists are no more. The new term is “watch lists”. Students can put a class on a watch list and the system will schedule the class when a seat opens up in the desired class. A question was asked about the sequence of events: when a class is on a list, will it be added automatically? Can students take a class off the list if they change their mind? Can a class be dropped that was automatically added? The answer may be found in the variety of options available when setting up the watch list. One word of advice is that students be sure that web sections have not been selected.

Next, class lists are now called “class rosters”. The fall lists will not be available to faculty until June. Since Linda and Deana have access now, you can request a list from them if you need it before June.

Faculty should look for a future message from Linda about course controls. The site Pulic.lionpath.psu.edu was shown on the screen and the steps involved in conducting a search. One key piece of advice is for multiple searches, use modify search instead of selecting new search each time in order to save time in repeatedly selecting the options. Also, you should uncheck the box to show open classes only. A few other simple searches were shows, such as how to look for available general education classes.

One of the next areas that Linda will work on are room assignments. Watch for a message from Linda on when to check on these. There is a chance that some glitches could pop up; such as over-enrolled classes and double-booked rooms.

For advisors, if you have a student with hold issues in LionPath; make sure they have taken care of the “To Dos” in ordere to get rid of the hold message. Access showed be allowed once these are completed.

Finally, Spring 2017 classes will go live July 18. Directors will have to provide all information before summer break. Everyone can check the recent helpful e-mail from Lauraine for assistance.

 

Mike Doncheski then spoke about volunteers for Faculty Scholar Award. Peter Dendle will call for self-nominations and faculty can submit the scholarly part of FAR.

A second topic addressed was the ENTI minor, which has one course online with a limited number of seats. Students interested in the class should let Mike know ASAP.

 

Dr. Francis Achampong then delivered a bit of good news regarding the ongoing issues with the state budget. In the spending plan presented last week, the appropriation proposal was not vetoed by Governor Wolf. That does not mean that everything is fine and will go back to normal, but it is an encouraging development.

The deadline to submit 4% of funds back to University Park was the day of the meeting. Mont Alto sent $294,000, which included $155,000 earmarked for a campus beautification project. A question was asked about the nature of the project put on hold, which involved the PT lab in the Sci-Tech building.

Plans are still in place for a 5% cut in permanent budget for 2016-17. There will be a wait-and-see approach for now before going forward with any plans on dealing with Mont Alto’s operating deficit for 2016-17.

Robin Yaure then addressed travel grant. Reimbursements are still on indefinite hold despite the recent budget development. Funding for anything other than licensing and tenure track (something for your job) will not be available. Also, the teaching support fund is completely spent for the current budget year.

Committee chairs were then given an opportunity to speak, but there were no updates.

Kate Chronister then gave an update on Starfish. EPRs are now called “Raising Flags”. Faculty can mark flags for positive performance as well as warning flags.

Advising notes were discussed, which is not something that can be done in LionPath. Hence, the need for Starfish. Do not add advising notes into eLion after May 9. NSO advisors will be the first to learn this feature in Starfish due to their work over the summer. Other faculty members who use the feature should get training from the DUS office before the first official training in the fall.

A question was asked about older notes getting transferred to the new system. At this point, it’s assumed this will happen. But no one is sure how it’s going to look.

Starfish trainees were promised that the system will have more functionality. What that means is not known since no details have made available at this time. There is a question about some of the new functionality being compatible with the current email usage. It appears that in order to use the new functions, faculty will have to be able to uses the calendar in the Starfish system. IT will need to be consulted about the issue.

One of the basic guiding forces of Starfish is the roles and relationships of the user. Users will be granted roles in the system. Roles dictate access and what information can be seen. Instructors will be asked to set up a profile that includes contact information. Student ID photos eventually will be viewable. Additional roles will be added in the future. Lastly, The Phase 2 roll out is planned for 2017, which will connect to Canvas. It is not yet known how access to Starfish will be handled.

The meeting concluded at 2:53 p.m.

Penn State Mont Alto Faculty Senate Executive Board minutes, March 16, 2016

Penn State Mont Alto Faculty Senate Executive Board minutes, March 16, 2016

In attendance: Chair Somjit Barat, Dr. Francis Achampong, Hanifiah Harvey, Kendra Sites, Ermek Nurkhaidarov, Mike Doncheski, Robin Yaure

Dr. Achampong opened the meeting with an update about the ongoing budget dilemma. The possibility looms of layoffs in the Agricultural Extension/Ag Research areas. According to the latest information, the budget crisis may last through the election in November. Four percent of the of the current budget needs to be returned to University Park by April 1; and 5% is planned for the 2016-17 budget.

In addition, travel restrictions are in place for an indefinite period. No travel reimbursements will be processed unless necessary for required certifications or tenure track. An example would be the TLT/Canvas Day that was not cancelled this past weekend.

Admissions was mentioned next. Transfer offers are not going out due to issues with LionPath. The problem is complicated by the fact that the offers cannot be manually delivered.

A fall PAWS session was discussed to provide some training for students on LionPath. Several open lab have been set up in March staffed by faculty volunteers. Advisers can suggest these sessions to students.

The discussion wrapped up with a rundown of proposed agenda items for the MAFS meeting. Committee reports are expected from IT and Curricular Affairs. An update on the ASC will be provided by Kendra and Linda Monn will give an update on LionPath.

Penn State Mont Alto Faculty Senate minutes, February 24, 2016

Mont Alto Faculty Senate minutes, February 24, 2016

Meeting began at 2 p.m. Chair Somjit Barat announced the UFS representative election vote was for Peter Linehan.

An announcement was made about the early progress reports. In the future, faculty should get all reports in before the deadline.

Faculty webpages updates were addressed. Anyone wanting to make changes on their own must complete a training session. There is a procedure in place for updates to be submitted through an approval process before any changes are made, which should be completed as quickly as possible. It was suggested that minor changes wait for the implementation of a new system, which seems to be imminent but is currently on hold. The new system, Polaris, does not have an announced start date.

Faculty are reminded to attend one of several remaining LionPATH open labs on campus. In addition, tutorials can be accessed online. Additional information is available at tutorials.lionpath.psu.edu.

It was pointed out that there will be some confusion during the transition period about what is available and where it can be found. Please have patience!

 

Next, Chief Wagner gave an update about the key distribution process, which has been streamlined to a simple key request form signed by a supervisor and their supervisor. Chief Wagner adjusted the exchange to allow one sheet with all the keys; not one sheet per key as technically required.

The department cannot issue key without the sheet, even though the Chief has given out keys without the sheet in an attempt to be as accommodating as possible. Other members of the department have been trained in the process. Issues with keys seem to arise more in the spring semester than in the fall. Faculty should be aware that if the department office is unattended, simply call the police service number and an officer will return to assist you. The call may call through county dispatch, but it is not a 911 emergency call.

Chief Wagner is open to suggestions from the faculty on any ways the process can be made more accessible and accommodating. One suggestion from the Executive Board is to provide a checklist of items to be addressed prior to the start of the semester to incoming faculty attached to their contract. Full-time faculty simply can call ahead and plan a visit in advance, or call the service number and wait at the office for an officer to assist you.

A question was asked about where to obtain the key request form; which can be picked up at the DAA office from Charlene. (Conklin). All keys not needed for the next semester should be returned to Police Services at the end of the semester or the end of the contract.

A reminder was made that card access is coming for outside access to the classroom building (entry into building only). This will not affect access to classrooms or the need to obtain the correct room keys once inside the building.

Dr. Achampong then addressed the latest message from University Park about the effects of the state budget impasse. A mass e-mail was sent to everyone from the Provost about contingency plans if a budget is not approved. The campuses were asked to transfer 4% of reserve funds to UP by April 1. However, this is nowhere near balancing the deficit of $300 million of appropriation from the state.

In addition, campuses have been asked to cut 5% from the operating budget for 2016-17. Travel is the area immediately affected as money should not be spent that has not already been committed. All travel has not been suspended: for those on tenure track and must be able to make presentations at conferences, travel commitment money will not be revoked. Those who have certifications to maintain and must attend workshops will still be supported. If you need to attend an Accredited Program meeting, you should still plan to go.

Other non-essential university travel in the future will most likely not be available for reimbursement. It is advised to submit summer travel plans as soon as possible in order for a chance to receive reimbursement.

A question was raised about the effect on insurance if faculty travel on their own to university functions. That should not be affected since you are on University business. You’re just not getting reimbursed for the travel expenses.

Until appropriations are approved, this is the reality of the current unprecedented budget situation. If a budget gets through, this issue will most likely disappear. In the meantime, check to see that scheduled conferences, workshops and meetings have been cancelled or postponed.

At this point in time, there has been no discussion about the effect of curtailing spending on the workforce.

Robin Yaure reported that no more money is available in the teaching support fund. A limited amount is still in the professional development fund, but the committee is not looking at any additional proposals.

Committee Reports

Academic Affairs, represented by Alicia White, held a meeting on Nov. 16 about the campus theme of Peace. Perhaps the theme was not promoted as widely as it could be. Some questions to consider:

Could there be more e-mails to community?

More us of digital signage?

Who should choose next year’s theme?

What is the validity of having a campus theme? Is it required?

How to engage faculty?

Was the term “Peace” – too broad?

Faculty should look for a doodle poll on the subject in the near future.

 

Curricular Affairs, represented by Jackie Schwab, reported on the committee looking over a proposal to bring a psychology major to the campus. A recommendation on submitting a prospectus will be made in the near future. If approved, two additional faculty members will be needed.

Secondly, a meeting for the team on linked and inter-domain will be arranged after spring break.

Third, anyone with books to donate to Friends of Legal Services can contact Schwab.

Finally, the campus reads meeting will be March 2. The author of the selected material will be on campus later this semester. Please note it on your calendar.

 

IT committee, represented by Paul Bart, asked for any issues for the agenda to be submitted. As for the TLTA Advisory Committee, the IT will take charge of ad hoc requests to take up work as needed. Two immediate concerns are campus server support and UCS.

 

Diversity Committee, represented by Dan Dandy, reported that the Zuzu Acrobats performance was well attended. They are now working with Student Affairs on the presentation of Hairspray and on the campus theme.

Kendra Sites closed out the meeting by announcing Brain Games are coming. There was also a flyer distributed about the event. Faculty are needed in a variety of roles to assist in the activity scheduled for 6-8 pm on April 15.

Meeting dispersed at 2:52 pm.