University at Albany, 2005-06 University Senate
Minutes
Monday, April 24, 2006
Members
Present:
Abraham, J. P., Bartow, J., Bessette, T., Birge, S., Blum, M., Bunnell, Chaiken, S., Chinnam, S.,
Collier, Dai, D., Faerman, S., Friedman, S., Gibson, R., Hall, K., Hanifan, J., Hauser, F., Hong,
C., Horton, H., Hoyt, R., Idone, V., Israel, A., Jerison, M., Kranich, L., Lanford, Liang, Z.,
Lyons, A., MacDonald, C., Maxwell, T., Merbler, C., Messner, S., Miller, R., Moore, G., Murphy,
J., Pelosi, O., Pryse, M., Range, M., Redkey, E., Rodriguez, M., Savitt, J., Schell, L., Sherman,
M., Shub, D., Stromer-Galley, J., Truchan, D., Turner, S., Videka, L., Wagner, D., Weaver, B.,
Wessman, J., Wulfert, E., Zitomer, R., Zonder, A.
Guests:
Deborah Andersen, College of Computing and Information
Peter Bloniarz, Dean Information Science and Associate Provost
Dan Boyce, College of Computing and Information
Christine Haile, Chief Information Officer
Fanfeng Liu
Sheila Mahan, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Joan Wick-Pelletier, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Janet Wagner
Minutes:
The Minutes of March 20, 2006 were approved.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT, presented by President Kermit L. Hall:
Legislative Budget : The budget is not set in stone yet. More information will follow as it becomes available
and President Hall indicated he would be speaking with more detail to the full faculty at Wednesday’s Faculty
Meeting.
Enrollment: President Hall Reported that enrollment is positive:
Freshmen applications reached the highest level on record. There are more than 18,500 submissions for
Fall 2006, which is a13% increase in over last year. The admittance percentage for freshmen is 53%,
which is down from the 62% in 2005. President Hall noted that most public institutions are somewhere
in 40% range.
The transfer applications rate is up approximately 2.3%. President Hall noted that this number may be
up because the University made real improvements in course availability.
Graduate applications are up at approximately 13%.
Academics:
Dean Peter Levin of the School of Public Health has announced his retirement after five years of
excellence leadership.
Dr. Mary Applegate will take a leave of absence from her position as Medical Director for the State’s
Division of Family Health to serve as the School’s Interim Dean this summer. A national search for
Dean Levin’s successor will commence this fall. President Hall noted the importance of the position
being filled because of the school undergoing Accreditation next May.
Jeff Straussman, currently Associate Dean and Professor of Public Administration at the Maxwell
School at Syracuse has accepted and been appointed to the position of Dean of Rockefeller College
recently vacated by Frank Thompson. Dr. Straussman will begin working at Rockefeller College on July
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Student Success:
a) Fountain Day went on as scheduled. No spirits were dampened because of the rainfall. Approximately
4,000 of the 7,000 registered students attended. President Hall extended his thanks to faculty and staff
who volunteered.
b) This spring, Young Socialists and Young Republicans initiated a passionate but respectful debate over
the merits of socialism and capitalism.
c) This summer the Office of Judicial Affairs will become the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic
Responsibility.
d) The Office of Disabled Student Services will become the Disability Resource Center, offering enhanced
services to facility, staff and students.
Development:
a) The University has been notified that two planned gifts will be realized from the estates of Gertrude
Sherwin and Louise Hall, totaling more than 650,000.
b) The University’s Annual Fund is at 1.6 million overall, up by 5% over last year.
c) The first Presidential Lecture was held last week at the Princeton Club in New York City. Professor Hall
noted that he addressed more than 150 alumni on the subject of the Kennedy assassination. Successful
Alumni receptions have been held on Long Island and in New York City.
d) The Citizen Laureate Dinner is now scheduled for September 21 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. This
year’s honorees are Richard Liebich, Mark Sullivan and Frank Thompson.
President Hall then took a question from the floor: A student asked about the recent hike in tuition. He
noted that he saw on the MyUAlbany website that it went from $15,000 to $17,000. President Hall explained
that on MyUAlbany it does show that the tuition is $17,000, but that does include room, board and fees which
has gone up. Tuition alone has not gone up.
SUNY-WIDE SENATE REPORT, by Richard Collier: Please see report attached.
CHAIR’S REORT:
NYS College of Ceramics: Chair Messner reported that he received an email from the Faculty Council Chair
at NYS College of Ceramics expressing gratitude to UAlbany, and other SUNY campuses, that showed support
for them last fall.
Faculty Forum on The First Amendment on Trial: The March 27th Forum was held as scheduled. There was
a reasonably good turnout. The program went well, and the student presenters were very impressive.
Vice President for Research Candidates: Reminder meetings have been scheduled to meet the candidates.
Chair Messner noted that Members of the Senate Executive Committee will meet with the candidates, then will
host open session in the Life Sciences 1143 meeting room.
Senate Personnel: Chair Messner announced that Nancy Davis has completed her temporary assignment in the
Senate Office and has accepted the position of Secretary to the Dean at CAS. On behalf of the Senate, Chair
Messner commended Nancy for the excellent, organized and tremendous amount of work done. There were
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two seconds to the commendation, one from Professor Carolyn MacDonald and one from Professor Andi Lyons
and all were in agreement.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
Council on Academic Assessment (CAA), Malcolm Sherman, Chair: The Council members will review
Project Renniassance; details have not yet been worked out.
Council on Research (COR), Vincent Idone, Chair: COR voted unanimously to accept the following policies:
UAlbany Policy and Procedures on Misconduct in Research and Scholarship; Policy on Conflict of Interest
(voted unanimously to accept the policy with one recommended change: the Conflict Review Committee
composition should include at least five COR members); Revised Policy Regarding Distribution of Credit for
Sponsored Projects Involving More Than Organizational Unit; and the Inclusion of “Exempt” Category in IRB
Human Subjects Reviews. From the Committee on Centers, Institutes and Specialized Research Labs: A plan
is being put into effect to evaluate a few centers for the upcoming year. The plan will integrate center/institute
reviews with the on-going process of the academic departments. The Council Chair will continue to work with
governance on the issue related to the inconsistency of wording between responsibilities of COR and UPC in
the Senate Charter.
Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments (CPCA), David Shub, Chair: There is a serious
backlog of cases that the Council does not have yet, to review. The Council may have to work through the
summer.
Graduate Academic Council (GAC), Monica Rodriguez, Chair: The GAC met on March 24 and discussed
two proposals: 1) to establish a BA/MA program in Sociology/Public Affairs & Policy; and 2) to establish a
multi-institutional, dual-degree MS Bioethics/MPH program with Albany Medical College/Union University.
Both proposals were approved by the GAC. Both bills submitted will be discussed today. Other business
discussed included curricular changes to the MBA evening program from the School of Business.
Governance Council (GOV), Diane Dewar, Chair: The Governance Council met last week with Shai Brown
Butler, Head of the University Commission on Diversity and Affirmative Action, to discuss the role of the
Commission as well as selection of a Senator to serve on the commission. A solicitation to the Senators for a
person to serve will be sent out shortly from the Council. The Council also discussed the progress concerning
the creation of the handbooks related to service as a Senator as well as chairing a Senate Council. A rough first
draft of these handbooks should be completed within one month.
Council on Libraries, Information Systems, and Computing (LISC), David Wagner, Chair. LISC
continues its review of the composition, purpose, and functioning of its committees (i.e., Library Acquisitions
and IT Policy Review). LISC members are particularly concerned about the relation of these committees to the
internal decision-making processes in the Libraries and in IT. The LISC April meeting has been postponed a
couple of weeks to make sure that Dean of Libraries Frank D’Andraia and CIO Christine Haile will be able to
attend the meeting.
Undergraduate Academic Council (UAC), Philippe Abraham, Chair: The UAC is currently discussing:
Informatics minor proposal; minor change in the Anthropology major; minor change in the Italian major;
reengineering UAlbany general education requirements; and revising the minor requirement.
In addition,
the UAC approved a revision in the Women's Studies major, and will be proposing the following bills for
passage by the Senate today’s meeting: 1) Proposal to Establish a Faculty-initiated Interdisciplinary Major and
Minor in Documentary Studies; and 2) Proposal for a Faculty-initiated Interdisciplinary Major in Globalization
Studies.
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University Life Council (ULC), Joan N. Savitt, Chair: At ULC's most recent meeting, two pieces of
legislation were passed: a resolution in favor of a Family Leave policy, and a bill in favor of mandatory health
insurance for all matriculated students. These will be brought to the floor of the Senate at its May meeting.
ULC also heard a report that conversations with CDTA about service to the East Campus earlier this year
resulted in improved service for students. ULC is not currently working on any additional issues expected to
result in legislation for the 2005-06 academic year.
University Planning and Policy Council (UPC), Carolyn MacDonald, Chair: UPC met March 17, March
30, and April 17. A modification of the previously approved 2007-08 calendar, to extend the suspension to
accommodate Good Friday observances from one-half day to a full day, was approved. This is not expected to
have significant impact on science lab courses. A recommendation that the calendar include orientation dates
for new students so that they could plan ahead to be on campus was also approved. UPC reviewed the draft
MOU submitted by SUNY and made a series of recommendations, mostly noting sections that appeared
obsolete or incomplete. It will review the version sent back to SUNY from this campus at its next meeting. It
approved the proposals for the MS Bioethics/MPH (bill 0506-15), the proposal for the Documentary Studies
major/minor (bill 0506-17), the proposed creation of the Institute for Social Services Research (bill 0506-19),
and the proposed creation of the Department of Informatics (bill 0506-21). It approved, with regret, bills 0506-
20 and 0506-22, the suspension of the BS in Geological Studies, and the reduction of the Biology major/minor
lab requirement. UPC recommended that the suspension of admission to the Organizational Studies doctoral
program be reversed pending review of the program in the fall. At its next meeting, it will review the proposed
change in Research Center approval practices, a memo from CAS Council expressing concern that deliberation
on expansion of undergraduate programs include consideration of the impact on general education demand, the
proposal from ULC for regular staffing for recreational athletics, progress on general education revisions, and
action items from the student satisfaction survey.
Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Community Responsibility
(CAFFECoR), Lawrence Snyder, Chair: CAFFECoR met on March 30, with Bill Hedberg, Michael Jaromin,
and Scott Birge, to discuss the drafting of an Administrative Addendum for University Senate Bill # 0304-25,
"Campus Policy on Freedom of Expression." Michael Jaromin, Director of Student Activities, plans to draft
such an addendum and have it ready for comments by CAFFECoR members by the end of Spring Break.
Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship (CERS), Richard Zitomer, Chair: CERS is proposing
an Amendment to the Policy and Procedures on Misconduct in Research and Scholarship, which it intends to
bring forward for the May meeting of the full Senate.
NEW BUSINESS:
Bill No.
0506-15: (GAC, UPC
) Proposal for a Dual Degree Program, MS Bioethics/MPH with Albany
Medical College and The Graduate College of Union University. The bill was introduced and there was a
question about the credits not being in even numbers. It was explained that Union College is on quarter course
grading rather than semester credits like UAlbany. There was some discussion and bill passed unanimously.
Bill No. 0506-16: (
GAC, UAC) Proposal for BA/MA in Sociology/Public Affairs & Policy
. The bill passed
unanimously.
Bill No. 0506-17: (UAC) Proposal for Documentary Studies Minor/Major. There was some
discussion on resources. It was noted that UPC was informed that this change will not
require any additional resources, except a small amount that will be supplied by the
Dean. The bill passed with two oppositions.
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Bill No. 0506-18: (U
AC) Proposal for a Major in Globalization Studies.
The bill was discussed and passed
with one opposition and one abstention.
Bill No. 0506-19: (COR, UPC) Proposal for Institute for Social Services Research and Development.
There was a question about faculty structure and how many positions the State and Research Foundation will
have. There was discussion and the bill passed 23 to 5 with17 abstentions.
Bill No. 0506-20: (UPC) Suspension of BS in Geological Studies. The bill was discussed and passed with
one opposition and two abstentions.
Bill No. 0506-21: (UPC) Proposal for Informatics Department. There was discussion on the bill noting that
it creates the Informatics Department, and that at this point it does not transfer any resources. Dean Peter
Bloniarz spoke about the Informatics minor that exists, and that this Bill makes the unit eligible for Compact
Planning, etc., and that creating it as a department gives it appropriate oversight. The bill passed with six
oppositions and two abstentions.
Bill No. 0506-22: (UPC) Proposal to Reduce the Laboratory Requirements for the Biology Major and
Minor. There was discussion on the resources, i.e., people and d supplies. There was a lot of discussion on
what is actually being reduced and whether or not this change could be quantified. Someone explained that it
would actually be a number of eleven laboratories reduced to ten. Professor Merbler spoke not in favor, and
Professor Range questioned whether it could be quantified or not. It was noted that if the Senate does not
approve this, the requirement would be waived. It was also noted that UPC thoroughly discussed this bill. The
bill did NOT pass; 17 in favor, 20 opposed and 9 abstentions.
Respectfully submitted,
Jayne VanDenburgh, Recorder
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ATTACHMENT
SUNY-wide Senate Report
April 24, 2006
PLATTSBURGH PLENARY
The University Faculty Senate met at SUNY Plattsburgh April 6-8. In his welcoming remarks,
Plattsburgh's Provost Robert Golden talked of the disconnects between what high schools do and what
SUNY campuses expect as well as between what SUNY campuses do and the needs of employers.
Provost Golden also applauded shared governance, noting that, while administrators come and go, it is
faculty governance that provides "stability, identity and continuity" to each campus and to SUNY as a
whole.
VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY ELECTION:
Sociology Professor Norman Goodman of Stony Brook, long-time SUNY Senator and PACGE veteran,
was elected to this two-year position.
SENATE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Carl Wiezalis gave an account of activities since the last plenary meeting, noting the relations
continue to improve between the Senate and the Trustees. He also noted that UUP and the Senate continue
to work cooperatively, which has not always been the case.
He mentioned some of the progress being accomplished for the Senate's "SUNY and the Arts" campaign.
It is hoped that this will be a yearly tradition each spring.
Regarding the "K-16" panel discussion to occur later in the day, Carl said, "over 50% of New York State
high school graduates go to a SUNY campus."
While noting the need for "eternal vigilance" in the matter of the "Academic Bill of Rights," he briefly
described the panel presentation to the BOT's Academic Standards Committee, after which the committee
voted not to recommend ABOR to the Board.
Past President Joe Hildreth is on a task force looking at textbook costs. An increasing problem for
students is the practice of "bundling" texts with software, study guides, etc., items the instructor may not
even require and which, when opened, may limit students' later resale of the material.
Concerning the Energy Task Force, Wiezalis hoped that the combined talents of SUNY could find
increasing ways to deal with the problem, for both economic and environmental reasons, with a goal of
making SUNY, if not each campus, “energy neutral.”
BUDGET ALLOCATION PROCESS (BAP II)
Operations Committee Chair Maureen Dolan gave a brief overview of the progress of the BAP II
Advisory Committee that is working to "perfect" the process. It is expected that, at worst, campuses again
will be "held harmless."
She distributed an eight-page summary of the "BAP II Methodology" which will shortly be on the SUNY
Senate's web page.
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE'S "BIG DIG"
For years the Operations Committee has been trying to get a handle on how much of our budgets go
toward instruction and its support. Only now has the committee started to obtain details; besides guarding
the information, SUNY System itself has no accurate idea or firm grasp of this, either.
What the committee has found thus far came as no great surprise: while teaching faculty lines across the
state have been decreasing, the numbers of lines for "executive, administration and management" have
increased significantly, and a far more significant increase has occurred in professional lines. This is
particularly true for all the doctoral campuses.
Adding to the confusion, while MC lines are not defined as "Teaching Faculty", certainly some
individuals maintain an instructional load. The professional lines are often "Professional Faculty" and on
a campus may be a majority of the "Voting Faculty"; sometimes they too have an instructional load.
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While it is understood that some of the newer instructional technologies require additional support
personal, a disturbing phenomenon is that positions lost are more likely instructional lines than research
or tech support, especially if instructional technologies become more than a means to a goal.
The Operations Committee hopes to have hard data available and to issue a formal report next year (their
perennial hope). Meanwhile, they stressed that the percentages and data they mentioned were not yet for
public consumption.
While some of the imbalance may be caused by misplaced priorities (instructors vs. instructional
technology, etc.), it was noted that in some sense almost anything that supports a campus might be
considered to support its educational mission.
"FACULTY GOVERNANCE AND COMPUTER POLICY AND LAW: A POWERFUL
PARTNERSHIP"
Steve Worona, Director of Policy and Networking Programs for EDUCAUSE (formerly of Cornell) was
asked to address the Senate by the Undergraduate Committee.
He pointed out many examples where faculty and campuses have been tripped up or unintentionally
sabotaged by campus computing policies (even ones that might be considered good practice in a business
setting). He also explained several interesting conflicts, dilemmas and hard choices not readily amenable
to quick, intuitive or "common sense" solutions and not appropriate for a "standard" solution across
campuses.
His consistent message was that faculty must familiarize and involve themselves with these issues and
determine the policies they want and need. He noted that if campus policies do not derive from the faculty
they will be made by administrators, often with the results represented by his anecdotes, and the faculty
will have only themselves to blame for permitting this to occur.
PROVOST SALINS' REPORT; "K-16"
Much of the Provost's report served as introduction to the panel on "K-12 and College Readiness", a
theme he has been pushing all year as "K-16" [since some portion of U.S. undergraduates actually
graduate in four years]. He advocated a "new paradigm" with which SUNY would be concerned not just
with access but also achievement. He said the old "craft" paradigm was that teachers would learn a craft
and if it didn't work with some students, that must be the students’ fault. One alternative is a "shoot to
kill" paradigm but he favored a "medical" paradigm--something of a triage nature.
"BRIDGING THE GAP: FROM THE NEEDS OF K-12 AND COLLEGE READINESS TO
TEACHER EDUCATION"
A distinguished panel presented a list of problems and statistics, among the more depressing: while math
and science scores have gone up among 12th graders, their reading ability has declined. Particularly
disturbing are the proportionately low percentages of African-American and Latina/Latino students who
finish high school, and worse the comparative percentages for their admission to college, and
significantly worse the percentage who obtain a baccalaureate. It was noted that high vs. low income has
direct bearing on this.
EOP programs were cited as helping to close the gap significantly, though there is a problem with
students transferring from A.A. and A.S. programs to a four-year college. It was also noted that there is a
significant "debt gap" (hence the critical importance of maintaining TAP).
In the question and answer session, it was noted that Jonathan Kozlow [whose visit to our campus when
his Rachel and Her Children was the summer reading book some may recall was a moving and
memorable occasion] has a new book out on the class society being bolstered by these imbalances. Why
then does SUNY maintain as a priority a "selectivity" based on high school averages and SAT scores?
Provost Salins responded that this is a standard metric but not all campuses would have the same
missions.
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Evaluation of Administrators: The committee will be issuing a report of the data it has collected on
current practices on many SUNY campuses. Given the data on the proliferation of MC employees, their
evaluation by and accountability to the faculty is an increasingly high priority.
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"Dealing with Difficult Presidents": It was agreed that SUNY System should develop an orientation for
new campus presidents and possibly for CFOs and CAOs as well. The best advice for dealing with
difficult presidents is "Don't hire them in the first place." "Another important intervention point is during
the search process where it is critical that the search committee has complete information on both
substance and management style of the candidates."
GRADUATE AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE
In addition to support for more and better graduate stipends:
A Nursing Task Force has been created to study the needs of this state priority. Pharmacy represents
another serious shortage.
The committee has also begun a study of how SUNY campuses cooperate in graduate education, with
possible undergraduate parallels for transfer, articulation, leaves of absence, etc.
STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE: "POSITIVE TRADITIONS"
Both to attract and particularly to retain undergraduates, in addition to the quality of major programs and
the "connections" students are able to make with the faculty in those programs, "positive traditions" are a
demonstrable factor. The committee has therefore created a Positive Traditions Subcommittee to examine
"the idiosyncratic academic and non-academic events that have developed at each of our campuses and
how these events have influenced how students feel about their college experiences and its effect on
retention." They intend to survey both faculty and students on each campus concerning "events that have
become the 'glue' or 'spirit' of that campus." What gives the campus its unique identity, how does this
contribute to the cultural and social life of the campus, and how does this contribute positively to
academics?
UNDERGRADUATE COMMITTEE
The committee felt its Academic Integrity Conference was successful, but enough questions remain and
new questions were raised that it is planning a second conference.
FACULTY COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
The Faculty Council hoped that SUNY's promised reimbursement of expenses for Strengthened Campus-
Based Assessment would include development costs (meetings, etc.) They were informed this is not the
case.
On April 1st, the Faculty Council passed a resolution urging the Chancellor to create a Task Force to
examine "dual credit courses" (the technical term for a course taught in a high school by a high school
teacher for which college credit is given).
PROVOST SEARCH COMMITTEE
When the Senators were informed that the search committee had been constituted with one member of the
Teaching Faculty (apparently appointed by the chair of the committee), there was uniformly negative
reaction. It was noted that "shared governance" does not occur if an administration appoints a faculty
member as "representative" when that individual was not designated as a representative. Chancellor Ryan
has since agreed to add three Teaching Faculty, two designated by the SUNY Faculty Senate Executive
Committee, one by the Faculty Council of Community College's Executive Committee
REMINDER OF THE FACULTY SENATE PAGE
http://www.suny.edu/facultySenate/.
Respectfully submitted,
Dick Collier, SUNY Senator
rcollier@uamail.albany.edu
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