Monday, September 15, 2008
1. Call to Order:
President Karen Turner called the meeting to order at 1:45 pm
2. Welcome Remarks: President Karen M. Turner:
President Turner announced that the senate meeting is being simulcast with the Ambler Campus through audio conferencing with Apreso. We hope to videoconference with other campuses soon. Professor Turner gave thanks to her predecessors, Jane Evans for her leadership during the Administrative transition and Bob Aiken, who worked to build strong relationships between administration and faculty. Both were instrumental in getting the senate vote for NTTs. She then introduced President Hart.
3. Guest: President Ann Hart:
President Hart expressed the importance of leadership of the faculty. She extended her thanks to Karen Turner, Bob Aiken and Jane Evans for their faculty leadership during her first few years at Temple. Jane and Terry worked diligently to roll out the GenEd program. The Board of Trustees still talk about Jane and Terry and the work they did.
Among the issues that President Hart discussed are the following
1. Academic Planning Process:
There is a draft of the Academic Plan now with the Board of Trustees for review. It is being finalized and refined and will stand as a template for other planning and actions over the next few years in order to advance Temple as a key center of the university environment.
2. Campus Master Planning.
Looking at physical plant as the setting. We have retained Olin and others for this project. Two projects have emerged: Facelift to the train station which connects to Gladfelter and to the campus entrance. We will address the utilitarian needs across from the new Tyler School of Art and Engineering and Architecture School (no dumpsters of trash cans). The Physical Plan still needs work. Temple rests in the neighborhood
Planning Updates: There will be a number of town hall meetings and discussion of political planning with leaders of the community as well as planning with the neighborhood. Included are projects at the Ambler Campus and Japan Campus. Hart wants Temple to be the gateway to the North Broad Street extension of the Avenue of the Arts.
3. Financial Planning Process. There is a Financial Plan in progress for future years. This includes private and state funding. At present the cost for a Temple student is 25% less than the cost of Penn State and 11% less than the University of Pittsburg. A plan is needed for diversified funding sources, a road map for future years. Academic aspirations are also to be considered and also academic process.
4) Gen Ed Rollout
President Hart expressed her excitement about the Gen Ed Program with thanks to Terry Halbert. Hart said that it is of the finest quality and also brings the city into the classroom—the location, sustainability, community based learning, and Philadelphia. There are 100 pilot courses and commitment to the Philadelphia Experience. There was an article in the Sunday Inquirer about our GenEd program. Philadelphia is a draw for Temple and we want GenEd to be successful. There are four parts:
Globalization
Sustainability
Community Based Learning
Philadelphia Experience
Dr. Hart then introduced the new members and others of her administration:
Kenneth Lawrence Jr. is the new Senior Vice President of Government Community and Public Affairs
Frank Campbell is Senior Advisor for Healthcare initiatives.
Melissa Coopersmith is the President’s Chief of Staff.
Another new member is Dr. Amid Ismeal is the new dean of the Kornberg School of Dentistry. He will join the university in October.
The other members of the cabinet are listed as set up according to the by laws, set by the Board of Trustees are the Vice Presidents.
Next is the org chart for the Executive Office of the President. These organizational charts will be available on the President’s website soon.
Questions and Comments by Faculty:
1) A faculty member expressed concern about the contract negotiations and mentioned that in past contract
negotiations with some previous administrations, the way in which the faculty members were
treated resulted in the faculty striking. Answer: the President could not discuss the contract, but said
the negotiators should be civil and not nasty.
2) Plans for parking: Answer: Parking and transportation are part of what is being considered.
3) Suggestion to consider environment and security. Answer: Yes, we are trying.
4) Question about management taking Chairs out of the bargaining unit. Answer: Not to be discussed
while negotiations are in progress.
4. Provost Lisa Listens:
Among the issues that Provost Lisa discussed are the following:
-- The Provost’s, excitement about the past academic year, about Gen Ed having over 100 courses and now working with Betsy Leebron – the new faculty liaison.
-- She also spoke about the progress in getting new designations for NTT’s. The guidelines have been sent out to the Deans. One Dean did not adhere to specified guidelines.
-- She is now in the process of preparing the Strategic Plan to be presented to the Board of Trustees in December.
-- The portfolio of the Provost involves the Deans of the 17 colleges and international programs.
-- Diane Maleson (Law School), now Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Faculty Affairs, will be involved in streamlining procedures, enrollment management, diversity, and work on new priorities. Her door will always be open to faculty.
5. President Karen Turner’s Report:
-- At the next Faculty Senate meeting, there will be audio conferencing to Ambler and Health Sciences.
-- The officers of FSSC will be visiting Collegiate Assemblies.
-- There is interest in obtaining a database to facilitate forming short term Committees.
-- Volunteers are needed to attend the October 14 meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Two volunteers are needed who have attended before and two are needed who have never attended.
-- On October 16, from 11 am to 2pm, the Students for Environmental Action are having a Farmers’ Market on campus.
6. Vice President Paul LaFollette’s Report:
With reference to Senate Committees:
-- We need faculty on the Research and Study Leaves Committee and on the Personnel Committee. Applicants must hand in a statement as to why he/she wants to be on the committee and a CV.
7. Guest – Art Hochner:
Spoke about the contract negotiations: The goal is a contract by October 15. The negotiators have been meeting for three months. In most cases, the University response to union requests has been no. A few of the University positions: remove chairs from the bargaining unit and merit should be the only salary increase.
Question by David Waldstreicher (Faculty Herald): Why the administration does not want Chairs to be in the bargaining unit. Answer: The administration feels that the Chairs are managers, and therefore should not be part of the bargaining unit.
8. Unfinished Business
None.
9. New Business
None
10. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM
Bonnie Averbach, Secretary
Tune in to the full Senate Meeting of September 15 2008 on the Faculty Senate website homepage:
www.temple.edu/senate and click on the Apreso link
