Tuesday, October 16, 2008
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1:50 PM by Senate President Karen M. Turner.
2. Provost Lisa Listens:
Among the issues that Provost Lisa discussed are the following:
- TAUP Talks: There is a mutual agreement of the TAUP negotiating team to a 30-day extension of the contract. The President has instructed negotiators to be available 24/7 to work on coming to a speedy conclusion.
- The Strategic Plan Update: The Plan has been accepted by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Plan will be presented to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees in December.
- Seed Grant Proposals: Applications are now available. Faculty are asked to apply for seed grants. There were over 80 grants awarded last round totaling $800,000. The Provost asked that Faculty include a title for their submissions.
- Enrollments: Enrollments have exceeded goals for this year. There were 4100 undergraduate freshmen (goal: 3900) and 2700 transfer students. The students love the Gen Ed courses. Even with the credit crunch, the Provost is aiming to make Temple student body the most talented and diverse of all universities.
- Arts Commission: The Provost is in the process of commissioning two works: Community of the Arts and the Provost’s Permanent Art Collection. It will include student art pieces, pieces in music, dance, and the competition winning Gen Ed photographs. She wants to include theater as well. The aim is to have Temple as the ‘Destination for Arts’ in Philadelphia. Provost Lisa also encouraged people to go see Temple’s theater production, “In Conflict.” which is playing Off Broadway with the original cast of Temple students.
Questions:
Mary Sinnott, CHP asked if the art will be shared with other schools/colleges. Answer: The Provost responded that it will.
Marina Angel, Law, pointed out that President Adamany, while in office, sold Temple’s art collection as well as the Law School’s valuable Pop Art collection.
Roberta Sloan, SCT asked if there are plans for a performing arts center on campus.
Answer: send an email to the Provost and she will discuss with Tony Wagner, Chair of the Master Planning Committee.
3. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of the September 15, 2008 meeting were approved with corrections.
4. President’s Report - Karen M. Turner:
President Turner announced that we now have video conferencing to Ambler campus and have added the Health Sciences Campus. This is an experiment and an effort to reach out to other campuses in the spirit of inclusion.
The Faculty Senate Steering Committee has met with Provost Lisa, Diane Maleson, Sr. Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Faculty Affairs, Terry Halbert and Julie Phillips of Gen Ed, and Sandy McDade, Director of the Office of Sustainability.
Turner has met with the President of Temple Student Government (TSG), Nadine Mompremier, who is in attendance at today’s meeting. Hopefully a TSG representative will be able to attend monthly meetings as we work to strengthen relations between Faculty Senate and Temple Student Government.
Our guest speaker at the November19 meeting will be Anthony Wagner, Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO to discuss Temple’s finances. Provost Lisa Staiano-Coico will also provide us with her monthly update.
5. Vice President’ Report - Paul S. LaFollette:
Plans are proceeding with the special election for two committees: the University Study Leave Committee and the Personnel Committee. As soon as a list of eligible voters is obtained from HR, the information with the eligible names of faculty will be sent via listserv. Please pass this information on to your constituents.
LaFollette expressed thanks to faculty members in attendance and requested that they encourage their school/college representatives to attend future meetings.
6. Guest: Julie Phillips, Assoc. Director, Gen Ed - Update on Gen Ed Rollout:
Phillips outlined the general scope of this official first year of Gen Ed:
There are now 764 Gen Ed sections and they have provided almost 21,000 seats to new, continuing and transfer students. There were 10,000 seats in the breadth areas and more participation in Gen Ed courses than the core courses. There is still a need for courses in the Human Behavior area. We have support for the budget and specifically in the foundation areas.
Three initiatives for Gen Ed include:
- Development of a peer teaching program. There are 15 awards set aside for the spring semester.
- Team Teaching Initiative: interdisciplinary team teaching across schools/colleges. Monies provided include $7500 for course buyouts and $5000 award to develop models during the summer. Some applications are available for the spring semester.
- Provost Awards for Innovations in Teaching: three awards of $4000 each. This will be included in the April awards ceremony.
Another initiative is five teaching circles to develop themes for Gen Ed. These include: the Philadelphia Experience, Sustainability, Globalization, Community Based Learning and University Libraries. One major challenge is the assessment of Gen Ed. i.e. how do we evaluate the program?
Jim Korsh (CST) asked about the number of Gen Ed classes taught by full time and NTT faculty. Response: Most are full time NTT faculty.
7. Guest: Sandra McDade, Director, Office of Sustainability
The objective of sustainability is to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.
The three basic aims are Environmental Protection, Economic development and Social and cultural progress.
McDade discussed some of the ways in which Temple will try to achieve sustainability as soon as possible.
Among these are encouraging research in the field, raising awareness to students and faculty, recycling, having better access to public transportation, minimizing waste, conservation of energy and water, and purchasing the most efficient appliances and equipment. Ambler is now going green.
In addition, McDade mentioned that graduate and undergraduate internships are available.
To contact Sandy McDade: smcdad01@temple.edu or sustainability@temple.edu
Turner suggested that Senators go to their schools and recommend that McDade speak at the collegiate assemblies.
8. Unfinished Business:
None
9. New Business:
The Faculty Senate Steering Committee (FSSC) presented the following motion to the Representative Senate:
‘The Steering Committee resolves that the ad hoc Committee on the Status of Faculty of Color becomes a standing committee’.
It was explained that because the motion is coming from the FSSC, a second reading is not required. The motion was moved and seconded.
Status of Faculty of Color Committee member Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon spoke to the motion. She explained that the goal of the committee is to engage in activities with an aim to promote diversity and inclusion university-wide.
The motion was passed: 30 ayes, 0 nays and 1 abstention
Art Hochner (FSBM) gave a report on the status of the contract negotiation. He also thanked everyone who attended the 10/14/08 rally.
Bruce Rader (FSBM) asked if there was a senate committee which deals with Non Tenure Track faculty concerns. Turner suggested that he send an email to the FSSC expressing his concerns.
10. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 PM
Bonnie Averbach, Secretary
