A&S Faculty Meeting Thursday March 17, 2016 - minutes

1. Approval of A&S Faculty Meeting minutes from February 11, 2016

Dr. Bill Ross moved approval of the minutes of February 11, 2016. Dr. Kristine Nolin seconded. With no further discussion, the minutes were approved by voice vote.

2. Approval of Actions of Academic Council from March 1 and March 15, 2016

Dr. Bill Ross moved approval of the actions of Academic Council from March 1 and March 15, 2016. Dr. Michelle Hamm seconded. With no further discussion, the actions were approved by voice vote.

3. Report from A&S Senators

Dr. Jan French, President of the University Faculty Senate, gave a brief report on the work of the A&S Senate. Dr. French shared the committee policy. She also described the four components of President Crutcher’s Strategic Planning Process. Drawing from many rich sources of community input, the Strategic Planning Committee is preparing a Mission Statement, Value Statement, Vision and Themes. These will be shared with the campus community, and, after broad discussion and refinement, they will become the basis for working groups that will be appointed this summer.

4. A&S Student Symposium 2016—Cindy Bukach

Dr. Cindy Bukach was happy to announce that there is a phenomenal program for the 31st annual Arts and Sciences Student Symposium. She said this year we have 247 presentations with 364 student participants. This represents a 29% increase in student participation over last year. These students are mentored by 128 faculty from 30 different academic programs, representing a 19% increase in faculty participation.

Dr. Cindy Bukach also reminded faculty that the 31st annual Arts and Sciences Student Symposium will be held from 1 pm to 6 pm on Friday April 15th. Following the symposium, there will be a symposium dinner from 6:30-8:00 in the Alice Haynes Room of the Tyler Haynes Commons. This year President Crutcher is the keynote speaker.

Dr. Cindy Bukach also thanked faculty for their role in mentoring students and ensuring a smooth registration process. She explained that the registration deadline was a “hard” deadline this year, thus all late applications were rejected (8 in total).

5. New policy for promotion “bumps”

Dean Skerrett announced that, working with the Provost’s Office, the School of Arts & Sciences policy for salary “bumps” associated with faculty promotions will change, effective for the newly promoted faculty. Dean Skerrett explained that for the past four years, promotion to assistant provided a $3,000 bump and promotion to full provided a $5,000 bump. This year and in future, the salary bumps will be $5,000 for promotion to associate and $7,500 for promotion full. Therefore, newly promoted faculty members will see these salary “bumps” in pay for FY17.

6. T&P Digital Portfolios—Dr. Paul Achter

Dr. Paul Achter, who serves on the Tenure and Promotion Committee, reported to the faculty that in the upcoming academic year (16-17) and henceforth, tenure and promotion portfolios will be submitted electronically, through a Blackboard website. Dr. Achter demonstrated the template for a portfolio. Dr. Achter explained that this change in the policy follows last year’s successful trial, whereby digital portfolios were submitted in addition to binder copies of the portfolio. This year, there will be no paper copy of the portfolio. The portfolio will be submitted to the Tenure and Promotion Committee through digital means only.

7. IQS/SMART/URISE—Dr. April Hill

Dean Skerrett welcomed Dr. April Hill as new program coordinator for the Integrated and Inclusive Science programs. Dr. April Hill gave a summary of the Integrated Quantitative Science (IQS) course and the Science, Math, and Research Techniques (SMART) course. These courses have been developed over the past decade, with multi-million dollar grants from the HHMI. After three HHMI grants, we are now taking steps to institutionalize our interdisciplinary science and inclusive science initiatives.

8. Proposal to Amend the Requirements for the B.S. Degree

Dean Skerrett recollected the importance of mutually respectful deliberation in faculty governance. She reminded the faculty that the motion represents eighteen months of committee consultations, faculty meetings, revisions, further presentations, consultations, meetings, and further revisions. It is a document that reflects the Committee’s work in seeking reasonable compromise among divergent ideas, and is presented to secure overlapping consensus of the A&S faculty. The dean thanked the Ad Hoc Committee and its chair for their intensive work.

Dr. Kristin Nolin, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee Reviewing the B.S. Degree Requirements, presented the Motion to Amend the Requirements for a B.S. Degree. The full document is attached to the agenda.

Dr. Peter Smallwood moved to approve the Motion to Amend the Requirements for a B.S. Degree. Dr. Mike Kerckhove seconded.

Dr. Bill Ross explained that he finds the proposed language too vague. He indicated that he does not support the proposal. However, he generously acknowledged and thanked the Committee.

Dr. Mike Kerckhove and Dr. April Hill spoke in favor of the proposal. They praised the flexibility that the proposal permits to departments that want to require new advanced quantitative methods now used in their disciplines.

Dr. Ted Bunn asked if practical and staffing implications had been taken into consideration and Dr. Kristin Nolin answered that they had. The Math Department anticipates an eventual reduction of one calculus course each semester.

Dr. Eugene Wu proposed a different option that he argued would be more expansive.

Dr. Nolin observed that the revision defines the B.S and B.A degrees independently and substantively.

As it was getting late, Dean Skerrett offered that, in her view, typically only members who are present in a meeting to hear the deliberation of their colleagues should vote on a motion; however, because this is a historic revision to a degree requirement, she strongly supports an electronic vote.

Dr. Ted Bunn motioned for an electronic vote. Dr. Bill Ross seconded. The motion for an electronic vote on the Motion passed by voice vote. The dean said that she would arrange for an electronic vote by secret ballot for all eligible A&S faculty voters.

After further discussion and deliberation of the Motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.