Faculty Senate Steering Committee
January 22, 2008
Attendance: Robert Aiken (Pres.), Karen Turner (Vice Pres.), Paul LaFollette (Sec’y), Bonnie Averbach (FSBM), Joan Delalic (ENGR), Margaret Devinney (CLA) Luke Kahlich (BCMD), Diane Maleson (Law), Bernie Newman (SSA), Ira Shapiro (STHM), Joan Shapiro (EDUC), Joel Sheffield (CST), Roy Stevens (Dent), Cheryl Mack (Coord.)
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 1:10 PM
2. Announcements:
Judith Goode will be away until later in the semester. Until then, CLA will be represented by Marge Devinney.
CHP is looking for a replacement for Ann Barr.
Terry Dolan is now acting dean of Tyler. We are looking for a replacement for her.
3. Guests Richard Englert and Jodi Laufgraben:
Englert began by conveying a message from Provost Lisa. She sends her regards. In a recent periodic review, the reviewers recommended that the Department of Economics in the FSBM look at where it resides, and whether it might be better served by being in the CLA instead of the FSBM.
There has been continuing discussion about this with all interested parties, and it has been decided to recommend to the board that the department indeed be moved to CLA. This will be proposed to the appropriate board committee on Feb 26. If they approve, the proposal will go to the full board in March, and will be implemented July 1.
Grandfathered students will have the option of getting their degrees in FSBM or CLA.
Similar discussions have just begun with respect to the Statistics Department in FSBM. In this case, no decisions have yet been made.
Englert then discussed the ongoing process of periodic program review. So far 53 reviews have been completed and 12 are scheduled. Provost Lisa wants to de-centralize the process.
Aiken suggested that at our next meeting with Englert, we would like to hear about what they have learned from the reviews, what they will do with what they have learned, and what future plans for the review process are.
Englert reported that the Ambler task force continues to look at the future of Ambler.
Next, Laufgraben discussed the upcoming Middle States visit.
The process is currently on track. There is a self study design document due this spring. This document must display a deep understanding of ourselves. We need to identify areas in which we need to improve.
Three important areas this time are fiscal wellness, strategic planning, and assessment of student learning. At present, 50% of Middle States clients are on monitoring because of assessment.
4. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as submitted.
5. President's report (Aiken):
Aiken has been working with Laufgraben to arrange committee membership for the upcoming middle states review.
He has also been in touch with President Hart via phone about the issues surrounding the endowed chair for Islamic Studies.
6. Special guest (Joyce Lindorff, vice-president of TAUP):
Lindorff brought to us the concerns of TAUP with respect to the loss of funding for the proposed endowed chair for Islamic Studies.
She requested that the FSSC join with the TAUP in creating a statement about the lack of faculty consultation which appears to be in conflict with a policy on the Temple website.
A motion was made by Newman and seconded that we join the TAUP in such a statement. After considerable discussion, we voted to table the motion until after hearing President Hart's presentation
7. President's Report Continued (Aiken):
We need nominations for the Resource Planning Committee and the Facilities Planning committee. These committees are a part of the planning process which also includes the Academic Planning Committee.
Report on Academic Planning (J. Shapiro):
The Academic Plan Steering Committee met on Jan. 10. There is great variation among the various working groups in the way in which they are working, but all are indeed making progress. There will be an open house in February in which all faculty will be encouraged to meet with various workgroups to provide insight and input.
Turner suggested that it would be useful if there could be a blackboard where faculty could observe the progress of the discussions of the working groups.
Aiken reported that we will have the following guests at upcoming meetings:
Next week: Provost Lisa and Sherri Stahler.
Feb 5: Representatives of the Athletics department
Feb 12: Laura Gruen from "Temple on the Road"
Feb 19: Provost Lisa
Feb 26: Anthony Wagner
March 4: Joyce Lindorff (Committee on the Status of Women)
March 11: Break
March 18: Senate meeting
March 25: President Hart
8. Vice President's Report (Turner):
We are still looking for suggestions for the Study Leave committee.
Maleson added that she still needs names of potential members for the Study Leave Appeal committee.
Timeline for Elections:
The nominating committee was named today. Chaired by Turner, we voted to include
Joan Shapiro and Bernie Newman.
This committee will solicit nominations from colleges, which will be due by Valentine's Day. They will then meet to form a slate which will be reported to the FSSC on Feb 26. After this, the slate will be given to the Senate with the opportunity to add nominations by petition according to the Senate rules.
9. Old Business:
The office renovations are done. We are waiting for curtains.
10. New Business:
None
11. Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 3:10 PM
Paul S. LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
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