Faculty Senate Meeting

Approved Minutes

December 1, 2003

 

Present: John Whitesitt, Wayne Schumacher, Cody Bustamante, Curt Whittaker, Sib Farrell, Dan Rubenson, Marny Rivera, Wilkins-O'Riley Zinn, Kemble Yates, Angela S. Galvan, Kevin Talbert, Peter Wu, Jean Maxwell, Jon Harbaugh, John Richards, Lee Ayers, Mark Siders, Etsuko Fujimoto, Diana Maltz, Mara Affre, Alena Ruggerio, Connie Anderson, Dale Vidmar, Laura O’Bryon.

 

Guests: Barbara Scott, Diane Brimmer, Carl Moody, Laura Jones, Sarah Ann Hones, Sue Burkholder, Cynthia Beckwith, Ron Bolstad, Linda Wilcox Young, John Fitton, Bruce Moats, Ed Battistella, Joseph Graf, John Sollinger.

 

I.          Approved Minutes of November 17, 2003

            Motion by Dale Vidmar, Second by Wayne Schumacher with no changes.

II.        Announcements

A.   Welcome was given to Mara Affre as she joined the Faculty Senate.

III.       Advisory Council Report from the Faculty Senate Vice Chair: Jon Harbaugh

            A. Areas discussed at the Advisory Council Meeting on November 24th included:

1.     Discussion of scholarship and how it relates to Faculty Senate goals #2 and #3.

2.     Discussion on the grade grievance process and the need for change in process. The Academic Policy Committee will work on refinement of process to bring a proposal forward to the Senate.

3.     Discussion on the course substitution policy. The Academic Policy Committee and the Curriculum Committee will review this policy during their December and/or January meetings.

IV.       Remarks from the Student Senate Representative: Angela Galvan

A. The Fee Committee process is currently undergoing refinement.

B. All campus-wide student committee positions have been assigned.

C. Angela Galvan will be sending Faculty Senate remarks via email during winter             term due to a class conflict.

V.        Discussion Items

A.   Academic Policies Committee Proposals regarding changes to grading: the proposal document was distributed and a decision was made to table discussion until the next Senate meeting, when a representative from the Committee could present the document. A vote by the Senate will then proceed at that meeting.

B.    Labyrinth Committee Update:

1.     Sib Farrell, Linda Wilcox Young, Ron Bolstad, Bruce Moats, John Sollinger, John Fitton, and Lee Ayers presented information on the plans for the labyrinth planned to be campus sited outside of the Music department building. The Faculty Senate voted support in the spring of 2003 and the University Planning Committee has approved the proposal this fall term. The Labyrinth Committee presentation included a statement that the Faculty will be asked to voluntarily support its construction through monetary donations. A grass and brick insert design is planned. A presentation is attached.

2.     Extensive discussion was held on the labyrinth presentation and the following two motions were made:

a.     Motion to support moving forward with a statement of support for the development of the labyrinth project. Motion made by Dale Vidmar, Second by Curt Whittaker. Motion approved: For-12, Against-1, Abstention-9.

b.     Motion to request that the Labyrinth Committee write an explanatory statement, to be presented to the Faculty Senate, as to the context of the labyrinth. This statement will be utilized in the fundraising efforts and will be posted at the labyrinth site. Motion made by John Richards, Second by John Whitesitt. Motion approved: For-11, Against-5, Abstention-5.

C.    International Student Update:

1. Jen Yockey and Sarah Stevens from the Office of International Programs introduced six students who are participants in the International Cultural Service Program (ICSP). These students offer cultural presentations to the community and to educational settings in school environments at all age levels, receiving compensation in the form of scholarships to SOU in exchange for 27 hours per term of educational service. The students included: Mirela Livadic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), May Hoe (Malaysia), Caroline Munywoki (Kenya), Vanessa Ainzuain (Peru), Shen “San-san” Zheng (P.R. China), and Luciano Cruz (Brazil). The students shared their enthusiasm and interest in sharing different cultural perspectives, and offered their services for classroom visitations or other opportunities both on and off campus.

VI. Adjourned approximately 5:30 pm.                                           Minutes submitted by Laura O’Bryon