WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Monday, November 17, 2003
Minutes reviewed by University Faculty President Jack Dustin
and University Registrar, Dave Sauter.
Prepared by the Office of the Registrar.
I.
Call
to Order:
Senators:
(those present in bold)
Sayer, Jim (for Marjorie Baker); Chamberlain, Ava; Duke, Janice; Fichtenbaum, Rudy; Fossum, Eric; Foy, Brent; Goldstein, David; Houston, Maggie; Lauf, Peter; Lemkau, Jeanne; Leung, Jackson;
Lindsey, Jill; McNutt, Mindy; Menart, James; Meyer, Cheryl; Nagey, Allen; O’Brien, Mari; Reynolds, David; Rizki, Mateen; Sayer,
Cathy; Seitz, David; Self, Eileen; Traynor, Tom; Vermeersch, Patricia; Voss,
Dan; Walbroehl, Gordon; Wolner, Kathleen.
Faculty President - Dustin, Jack;
Faculty President Elect - Pringle, Drew; President (Ex-officio/non-voting)
Goldenberg, Kim; Provost (Ex-officio/non-voting) - Hopkins, David; Parliamentarian (Ex-officio/non-voting)
Sav, Tom; Secretary
(Ex-officio/non-voting) Sauter, Dave
II.
Approval
of the Minutes:
The
minutes of the October 20, 2003, meeting were approved as written.
Located at http://www.wright.edu/admin/senate/minutes/Oct03SenMin.html
III.
Report
of the President – Dr. Goldenberg
Not present due to attending the National
Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
o
Wright
Center of Innovation approved, award of Eminent Scholar awarded to College of
Engineering and Computer Science the only one in State of Ohio, CECS advanced
data management and analysis.
o
We had a wonderful
experience at Holiday in the Heartlands at the Schuster Center, showcase of
music faculty and students. Congratulations on an outstanding performance.
o
Strategic
Plan Website is available, to promote two way communication. Beginning to see implementation
of the Strategic Plan such as Wright Center of Innovation, Eminent Scholar, SCT
administrative system purchase etc.
o
Congratulations
to Professor Donna Schlaghek, awarded the International Education Award.
Question from the Senate regarding
classrooms renovations – VP Howard to head “Classrooms of the
Future Committee” to review Building and Grounds survey, science lab
renovation via consultant, and other information and insights coming together
to plan for the next 5-10 years to meet the needs of our faculty and students.
o
As above
o
Reviewed
Delaware Study, will compare with OBR data and WSU will continue to participate
in the study.
o Participation in Strategic Plan meeting before
end of calendar year, to develop Faculty Senate goals and objectives which fit
into mission of Faculty Senate and identify key indicators/outcomes
o
Constitutional
changes were discussed as well as Quadrennial Committee in 2004-05
o
Replacement
of Senator Abinash Agrawal with
Allen Nagey from COSM
o
The
Committee appointed faculty to ( UGEC) (University General Education Committee);
UGEC has started assessing GE and will prepare recommendations.
o
Guest: Dr.
Michael Cusack, Athletic Director
o
Dr. Carl Benner,
Professor Emeritus of Education, a longtime member of the WSU family, who served
as the men’s basketball official score keeper for athletics for 35 years,
passed away recently. (Jim Sayer raised this important piece of information.
o
Athletic certification
process completed last week and a report will follow. Overall the Committee was very pleased and the process went
well.
o
The “Athletic
Pavilion Project” supports WSU’s basketball programs by providing
needed facilities. External funders raised 2.5-3 million dollars to construct
the Pavilion. The facility will
also serve other athletic programs.
The location has not been decided although we believe the building will
be located across the road from the Nutter Center and close to the woods
o
Senate
questions: (1) Regarding design, Dr. Cusack responded that a basic footprint of
the Pavilion has been developed as a free-standing building. Given utility costs and other issues
related to connecting the Pavilion to the Nutter Center, the construction would
be as cost-effective. (2) Regarding operational costs, no calculations exist as
of yet but Dr. Cusack feels these costs will be covered by the current athletics
budget. (3) Basketball program enhancements will help other programs with
facility needs by adding space for practice and training.
o
Guests: Lucas
Beagle and David Green, Student Government President and Director of Student Affairs, respectively. Key points of
their presentation include:
o
President
Beagle asked that senators carefully review the document in order for it to be
useful and ensure it does not include anything that might harm the faculty
reputation.
o
David Green’s
PowerPoint presentation illustrated the changes. Course evaluation information is available at http://www.wright.edu/~green.45/
Many of the suggestions and concerns from the Senate were implemented into
Student Government’s revised course evaluation;
o
Results
will be quarterly for the moment, and cumulative results will be added by CaTS;
o
Current
class evaluation is more qualitative, free-flowing text and is for the
department whereas the online evaluation is available for the students to use
and other;
o
Verified
that students must complete all items or survey cannot be completed.
Questions
and/or comments from the Senate:
o A comment was made that the revision was
improved significantly and Student Government should be proud of their
progress. Additional recommendations/ comments include:
o Section 3, add information in parentheses
about all online materials;
o Section 4, add whether there was the
availability of a TA;
o Section 6, indicator “Fair”
might be replaced with “Satisfactory” or “Adequate”
o Section 2 - Mixed mode needs to be added
o Section 6 regarding availability of
instructor, include variety of ways that the instructor was available, e.g. by
email, office appointment etc.
o Student perception of the instructional
space would be a good addition
o Future enhancements could be to change
questions depending on how the course is offered (web-only, etc);
o Identifying class by type would also be
valuable;
o Question regarding Section 6 whether
student utilized (read) material initially will help evaluate the class
o How to contact professor and ease of
contact was mentioned later in the conversation.
Resolution
from Senate will enable CaTS to proceed forward with implementation.
Moved
to offer resolution of support to implement the online evaluation as quickly as
possible, with appropriate changes discussed at this meeting. Point of order
was raised that resolutions need first to be presented as New Business so that Senators
can consult with constituencies and vote at next meeting (in January) as Old
Business.
A
motion was made to suspend rules and consider resolution as Old Business, the motion
was seconded and approved. A resolution to support Student Government’s
Course Evaluation with the understanding that changes per discussion would be
made and approved by Senate Student Affairs Committee was made and seconded.
The resolution carried.
A. Faculty Budget Priority Committee: Jack Dustin. (see Attachment A)
o The Budget committee met with VP Howard
regarding the new classroom committee. Each college will have a designee, two
from Senate, chairs of Information Technology Committee and Buildings & Grounds
Committee. Results of classroom survey were presented.
o A recommendation was made to take up the
issue of operational costs of the Athletics Pavilion.
Also, the Committee should consider whether possible short-cuts in
design might mean increased costs for WSU. Provost Hopkins added that the costs
will be clarified, and although private dollars will complete the Pavilion, the
university will be actively engaged in the process.
B. Non-Bargaining Unit Faculty Affairs
Committee: Carol Endres. (no
report)
C. Undergraduate Curriculum & Academic
Policy Committee: Tom Sav (no
report)
D. Buildings & Grounds Committee: Shelley Jagow (see attachment A)
Highlights include two-thirds of the 136 surveys suggested crowded classrooms
and accessibility issues. Secondly, 20% shared that maintenance was poor
including CAC. Next steps include working with the new classroom committee to
review the issues in this survey, including immediate needs to communicate with
Physical Plant regarding supplies, and health and safety. Classrooms need
priority in upcoming budget considerations. Provost Hopkins thanked Professor
Jagow for the work of the committee; reported one million dollars in the
Capital Plan to renovate CAC; art studio ventilation is being reviewed; Science
lab renovations; Rike Hall renovations. Need to integrate the various plans of
academic, facilities, and technology including minimal standards for each
classroom. Senate question regarding air quality, ventilation issues, or mold
issues and a systematic approach elicited a response from the Provost to bring
the answer back to the Senate at the January 5, 2004 meeting. Environmental
Health and Safety Office is the responsible office. Concern was expressed about
the need for immediate attention to these safety issues and outsourcing of the maintenance
and custodial services of the campus.
E. Information Technology Committee: Vince Yen (see Attachment A)
F. Student Affairs Committee: Margaret Clark
Graham (see Attachment A)
G. Student Petitions Committee: KT Mechlin (no report)
VII.
Council
Reports
o
Athletics
Council – Tom Traynor (Attachment A)
VIII. Old Business
IX.
New
Business
X.
Announcements
A. Next Senate Meeting: Monday, January 5, 2004, 2:30 p.m., 156
Student Union
Executive Committee will meet on November
24th.
XI.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.