Representative Faculty Senate
November 14, 2007
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Senate President Aiken at 1:50 PM
2. Provost Lisa Listens:
The provost reported that the search for a dean of the School of Dentistry is underway. Ron Brown will chair the search committee.
A search is beginning for a Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Dick Englert will be acting in this position in the interim.
The Academic Planning process is moving along. Currently they are developing work groups that will report their recommendations in round table meetings.
A representative from Tyler asked what kind of changes would be made in the job description for the incoming VP for Faculty Affairs.
Answer: There will be an increased emphasis on faculty development. This will include such things as helping prepare for Promotion and Tenure, Teaching & Learning, and Diversity & Inclusiveness. These activities will be for development, not punitive.
A representative from CST asked for clarification of the policies regarding collegial bylaws. In the previous administration, bylaws changes had to be acceptable to the dean of the college. This is unlike the case of the Faculty Senate, for we can change Senate bylaws and simply inform the board of the changes. (This applies to bylaws, not to the Faculty Handbook changes, which requires board approval.) Is the current administration willing to accept changes to collegial bylaws that may not have the dean’s imprimatur?
Answer:
The Provost will investigate this question further and get back to us.
3. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from the October 16th meeting of the Representative Senate were approved as distributed.
4. Senate President's Report:
Aiken reminded us that when he sends a message to the Senate LISTSERV, it only reaches tenure track faculty. He asks that we all try to make sure that such messages are passed along to our NTT colleagues until a way can be found to include them in receiving such messages.
The FSSC tries to have weekly guests so that we can keep abreast of what is happening across the university. We recently met with Bill Bergman and Theresa Powell. We hope to have them make a presentation to the University Senate at its Dec. 7th meeting.
Aiken also requests that we go back to our schools and colleges and encourage them not to schedule events during the time Senate meetings are scheduled.
If you are interested in volunteering to attend the December 11th meeting of the Board of Trustees, please send a note to Bob Aiken and cc it to Cheryl Mack.
Renovations are currently taking place in room 300C Conwell, the room next to the Faculty Senate office. During the week of November 26, expect the office to be in chaos.
The Provost asked the FSSC to provide a method to allow faculty who are denied study leaves to appeal this decision. We have created an appeals committee to be chaired by Diane Maleson, and are asking all schools and colleges to provide names of interested faculty to form a pool upon which she can draw to form committees as needed for this purpose.
5. Visit from Terry Halbert and David Watt from the GEEC:
A number of wonderful new courses have been approved. There are now 83 approved courses in GenEd. The GEEC is considering the creation of on-line courses.
Ongoing areas of concern include handling transfer waivers and the problems of students who are in the transition from core to GenEd.
The GEEC will be hosting a luncheon for advisors and providing a training session for them in February.
The GEEC budget task force is still working hard. Budgetary decisions must embody Temple's commitment to proper staffing, let students become active scholars, and help prepare students for success in their majors.
The task force expects a demand for 13,000-14,000 seats in fall 2008, along with 7,000-10,000 seats for incoming freshmen.
Chein (CST) asked how many of the GenEd courses would be 4-hour courses and how this would affect students' ability to take non-GenEd courses.
Answer: Most of the GenEd courses will be 3 credit hours.
There followed some discussion about the process for approving GenEd courses, especially with regard to whether proposed courses need prior approval of deans and department chairs. GenEd does not require prior approval from colleges before considering courses. On the other hand, GenEd does not want to waste anybody's time by approving courses that colleges ultimately will not run. Halbert has been talking to collegial assemblies about this.
Ann Barr (CHP) suggested that the GEEC consider whether some GenEd courses could fulfill prerequisites for professional schools.
6. Vice President's Report:
Vice President Turner discussed the Senate's evolving new web page and asked us to give her input and feedback about it. She also made a plea for continuing faculty volunteers for senate committees.
7. Old Business:
None
8. New Business:
None
9. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM
Paul S. LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
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