Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Attendance: Jane Evan (Chair), Karen Turner (Vice-Chair), Paul LaFollette (CST), Maxine Chisholm (Coord), Ira Shapiro (STHM), Joan Shapiro (Educ), Robert Aiken (CST), Lois Millner (SSA), Pauline Hurley-Kurtz (Ambler), Judy Goode (CLA), Bonnie Averbach (FSBM), David Baron (Med), Zdenka Delalic (Eng), Sally Harrison (Tyler)
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1:10 pm.
2. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from Sept. 12 were approved.
3. President’s Report:
Evans reported on yesterday's Representative Senate meeting. President Hart gave a heartening presentation of her hopes and plans which was well received, after which she had an extended question and answer session. One of the things she emphasized was her desire to increase our interaction with the Philadelphia community. This provides even more reason for us to get going with Community Learning Services and to integrate such material into the GEEC.
The handbook committee is meeting, and has begun discussing the issues around emeritus status. In particular it is looking at the possibility of emeritus status for non-tenure track faculty. Evans asked for discussion of how proposed handbook changes should be brought to the Faculty Senate. She prefers bringing items one-by-one as the committee approves recommendations. There was some discussion that this might be difficult because such many issues are deeply intertwined, as for instance the issue of emeritus status and the more general changing status of non-tenure track faculty. It was agreed that it was important to keep the entire Senate closely informed and allow much time for open discussion. For this reason there was general consensus that when it is time for Senate approval, there should be two readings at full (not representative) Senate meetings followed by an on-line vote.
The International Program Committee has actions they want taken. They were referred to the GEEC.
Evans has gone to the policies page of the Temple website and discovered that a number of policies have silently disappeared, notably most of the policies on the content of syllabi.
President Hart has asked the FSSC to propose names to her for her upcoming meetings with faculty. These meetings will allow faculty to discuss various faculty concerns with her and perhaps with board members as well. Discussions will include the matter in the various position papers we created last year. We agreed to each provide some appropriate names.
Visit by Acting Provost Englert and Jodi Laufgraben:
Englert and Laufgraben discussed the Middle States Review which will be happening in 2009. We must begin planning now for this. A major theme of this review will be Assessment, and we must be prepared to address this issue. We will prepare a self study document in Fallof 2008, and the review will be in Spring 2009.
They propose the creation of two committees, a Coordinating Committee and an Assessment Planning Committee, the details of which were contained in a handout. The asked for our comments on this proposed structure.
There was general consensus that this was a reasonable way to begin. Aiken suggested that it was important to make good use of consultants as the process unfolds, and that it would be appropriate to also concentrate on community learning in our report.
Englert says that he would like to begin forming the Coordinating Committee in October.
Finally, he suggested that he and Laufgraben return to meet with us later this year for further discussion of the Periodic Review of Programs.
4. Vice-President’s Report:
Turner continues to review the documentation for our various committees. Some committees seem to have no terms for members and this needs to be addressed. Aiken thanked Turner for her work on this project.
The FSSC considered the materials submitted by Terry Dolan and approved her appointment to the Honors Oversight Committee.
5. Old Business:
Aiken asked about the status of the request for a course off for the President of the Faculty Senate. Evans and Turner reported that they had not felt their recent meeting with President Hart was a good time to discuss this with her. Millner made the motion:
That a letter be written to President Hart expressing our thanks for her vision presented at the Senate meeting and our appreciation of her desire to work more closely with the Senate leaders, and then pointing out that such increasing interaction will involve more work for the officers and that it might be appropriate for them to receive some reduction in workload to facilitate this increasing interaction.
The motion passed.
6. New Business:
There was no new business.
7. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
