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.

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