COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE SUMMARIES
Meeting of the University Senate, April 7th, 2014
As submitted to Yenisel Gulatee, Senate Secretary, University Senate
UNIVERSITY SENATE CHAIR’S REPORT –Christine Wagner, Chair
A proposal to establish a Graduate Certificate Program in International Health and Human Rights has been
approved by GAC and UPPC. The Bill will go to the Senate 4/7/14.
The Senate Chair has received a proposal for a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Major in Bio-
Instrumentation. The proposal was approved by UPPC and is currently under review in UAC. Should UAC
raise any concerns regarding resources, UPPC could revisit the proposal.
A Charter Amendment (1314-02A) regarding the composition of CPCA, introduced by GOV, was distributed to
the Senate on 3/3/14. The Amendment will come up for a vote at the 4/7/14 meeting in accordance with Faculty
Bylaws Article IV.3.
The Faculty Athletics Representative, Teresa Harrison, requested to make a report to the University Senate
about the intercollegiate athletics program at UAlbany. She will report to the Senate on 4/28/14.
Bill 1314-03 Proposal to Establish a Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) Degree Program was approved in
the Senate on 3/10/14 and approved by the President 3/24/14.
The Senate Chair has received a proposal from the Department of English to create a Certificate in Teaching
English Composition. The proposal has been forwarded to UPPC and GAC for review.
The Senate Chair has received a letter of intent from the Department of Geography and Planning to establish a
Master of Science Program in Environmental Geographic Information Science (MSEGIS). The letter of intent is
under review in UPPC and GAC.
A Charter Amendment (1314-03A) regarding the charge of CAFFECoR, introduced by GOV, was distributed to
the Senate on 3/31/14. The Amendment will come up for a vote at the 4/28/14 Senate meeting in accordance
with Faculty Bylaws Article IV.3.
UFS (University Faculty Senator’s Report) –Danielle Leonard, J. Philippe Abraham & John Schmidt,
SUNY Senators
The UFS Senators are looking forward to the Spring Plenary May 1st-3rd hosted by Empire State College.
Upcoming public events of note include:
April 1, 2014 Innovative Exploration Forum: Undergraduate Research in NYS Public Higher
Education System
Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY
April 23-24 SUNY’s First Annual Conference on Shared Governance
Holiday Inn Wolf Road, Albany, NY
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GSA (Graduate Student Association) – Caitlin Janiszewski, GSA President
The GSA is very busy with completing our new bylaws, running our elections and preparing for the President's
Forum.
SA (Student Association) – Marc Cohen, Student Association Representative
Elections are this Wednesday and Thursday, continuous meetings on the upcoming Presidential Forum, Purple
and Gold Awards are coming up.
CAA (Council on Academic Assessment) – Deborah Bernnard, Chair
The Council on Academic Assessment has met and approved a report from the Academic Program Review
Committee on the Mathematics and Statistics department and a report from the General Education Assessment
Committee reviewing the Arts General Assessment for both the University and the University in the High
School courses.
CAFFECoR (Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Community Responsibility)
– Susanna Fessler, Chair
Nothing to report
CERS (Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship) – Susanna Fessler, Chair
Nothing to report
COR (Council on Research) – John Monfasani, Chair
Nothing to report
CPCA (Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments) – Sanjay Putrevu, Chair
The next CPCA meeting is on March 26.
GAC (Graduate Academic Council) – Ronald Toseland, Chair
The GAC has been considering two petitions from students to be reinstated to graduate programs. Decisions
will be made about these petitions at the next meeting of the GAC.
GOV (Governance Council) – Joette Stefl-Mabry, Chair
GOV met on 03/24/2014
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Recommendations for the Provost of Academic Affairs Search Committee
On March 19th GOV Chair Stefl-Mabry received an email from Senate Chair Wagner explaining that the
President’s Chief-of-Staff, Leanne Wirkkula had requested, via email (March 18th), a request for 2-3 names as
recommendations for the Provost of Academic Affairs Search Committee. GOV discussed in depth possible
candidates, collectively created a list, and ranked the candidates through an anonymous vote. GOV Chair Stefl-
Mabry emailed the names of the top 5 candidates to Senate Chair Wagner to be forwarded to Chief-of-Staff
Wirkkula.
CAFFECoR Ad Hoc Committee
The committee shared the revised CAFFECoR amendment, which incorporated suggestions provided by the
Chair of CAFFECoR, Susanna Fessler. GOV voted unanimously to accept the amendment as written and send
the document on to the SEC.
Assessment of Governance and Consultation Ad Hoc Committee
The committee shared the revised Survey of Evaluation of Shared Governance and Consultation at the
University at Albany, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the President, to help the Senate
evaluate how its constituents perceive participatory governance at the University. The current survey had been
approved by the President’s office for wording and content (via email March 21st). GOV reviewed the
instrument and voted unanimously to accept the survey and forward it to Associate Vice Provost for Academic
and Resource Planning, Bruce Szelest to begin the implementation process.
LISC (Council on Libraries, Information Systems, and Computing) – Elizabeth Gaffney, Chair
The next LISC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 31. The committee will be taking a tour of the new
data center at that time.
UAC (Undergraduate Academic Council) – Anthony DeBlasi, Chair
Nothing to report
ULC (University Life Council) –Michael Jaromin, Chair
The University Life Council continues to support the UACCESS initiative with the Office of Diversity &
Inclusion and at its next meeting will discuss issues and concerns to be proposed for the next ULC committee as
well follow up any outstanding concerns such as the Tobacco Free TaskForce.
UPPC (University Planning and Policy Council) –Andi Lyons, Chair
UPPC met on March 10 to review proposals for a Graduate Certificate Program in International Health and
Human Rights, and a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Concentration in
Bio-Instrumentation. Both proposals were approved by UPPC. The International Health and Human Rights
proposal has already been approved by GAC and is now ready to go to the full Senate for approval, while the
Bio-Instrumentation proposal is awaiting UAC approval before being sent to the full Senate. At its next
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meeting, scheduled for April 9, UPPC will consider proposals for an English Certificate in Teaching
Composition, and an Environmental Geographic Information Science MS.
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