University at Albany - State University of New York
2004-05 University Senate
Minutes of December 6, 2004
Present:
J.P. Abraham, J. Acker, J. Bartow, J. Berkowitz, D. Bernnard, S. Chaiken,
N. Chiuchiolo, R. Collier, D. Dai, D. Dewar, R. Dressler, S. Faerman, R. Geer,
R. Gibson, C. Hartman, F. Hauser, R. Hoyt, V. Idone, M. Jerison, N. Jones,
G. Kamberelis, S.B. Kim, W. Lanford, R. Lawson, A. Lyons, C. MacDonald,
S. Maloney, J. Marler, G. Marschke, L. McNutt, S. Messner, G. Moore,
J. Mumpower, J. Murphy, G. Paul, M. Pryse, R. M. Range, J. Rudolph,
H. Scheck, L. Schell, M. Sherman, L. Snyder, J. Stromer-Galley, L. Videka,
D. Wagner, J. Wessman, S. Wood, E. Wulfert, A. Zonder
Guests:
W. Hedberg, S. Mahan, J. Neely, B. Szelest
Minutes:
The minutes of November 15, 2004 were approved.
President’s Report – Presented by Interim Provost Jeryl Mumpower:
1) Mission Review II (MRII) – The Provost’s Office continues to compile the numerous
suggestions and comments. The Senate Executive Committee, the deans and vice presidents
will receive the revised document for review. The final document will be sent to the Senate
Council Chairs for comment. After the document is submitted to SUNY, there will be a site
visit and a subsequent Memorandum of Understanding negotiated between the Chancellor
and President Hall.
2) Enrollment – The enrollment shortfall has potentially cost UAlbany 3.5 million dollars, i.e.,
that figure might be lessened somewhat if there is some enrollment recovery in the 2005
spring semester. The University is taking aggressive steps to try to narrow that gap.
Council Reports:
Council on Academic Assessment (CAA), Professor Malcolm Sherman, Chair: The Council
expects to complete its review of the self-evaluation and assessment reports of the departments
of Economics and Political Science.
Council on Research (COR), Professor Vincent Idone, Chair: The last meeting of COR was
concerned primarily with the mechanics of formulating the various committees. There was
discussion of Mission Review II, dealing primarily with what could be described as the
fundamental questions relating to how the AAU goal originated and its appropriateness for
UAlbany, as well as where the resources are coming from for the 25-35 IT Commons hires, and
how, in fact, this substantial initiative came to be.
Graduate Academic Council (GAC), Professor Louise-Anne McNutt, Chair: The Council
discussed certificate programs in general and four specific proposals, three of which are
interconnected. The specific certificates were tabled until the next meeting due to lack of
information or lack of necessary curriculum. Council members plan to send a list of questions
the Council typically asks about certificate proposals and the SUNY criteria to the
Schools/Colleges to help faculty prepare proposals. Two student petitions were reviewed. One
pertained to university policy on transferring units. The student request was supported by GAC
and the Policy & Procedures Committee was asked to review the policy and make
recommendations to clarify it. A second student petition was not supported. The student was
admitted conditionally and did not meet the academic requirements. However, during the review
concerns about a racial harassment incident in student housing arose. The Council is sending
this information to the appropriate units in the university for follow-up.
Governance Council (GOV), Professor Steven Messner, Chair: The joint working group with
representatives from the College of Nanoscale Sciences and Engineering (CNSE) and the
Governance Council has developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pertaining to the
governance procedures for promotion and continuing appointment in CNSE. The Council will
propose an amendment under new business when the MOU is discussed.
Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments (CPCA), Professor Diane Dewar,
Chair: Professor Dewar, Chair of CPCA, was invited to attend the meeting of the Governance
Council on December 1, to review the MOU of the Governance Council joint working group
with CNSE. CPCA continues to review its many tenure cases.
Council on Libraries, Information Systems and Computing (LISC), Professor David
Wagner, Chair: The council is working on agenda setting for next semester.
Undergraduate Academic Council (UAC), Professor Seth Chaiken, Chair: UAC has been
discussing both the proposed revisions of General Education Assessment for next year (GEAR)
and the draft Provost's Advisory Committee Assessment Plan. UAC does expect to soon have a
report from the Task Force on Undergraduate Advisement.
University Life Council (ULC), Professor Gwen Moore, Chair: The Athletics Committee of
ULC has been discussing the Athletics Master Plan. The Director of Athletics will report to ULC
about this master plan at its December meeting. The Health, Safety and Well-being Committee
is extending work on the resolution on pedestrian safety that Senate approved last spring. It will
be considering issues related to safety, including the low levels of lighting in some parts of the
campus. The ad hoc Benefits Committee continues work on publicizing emeriti privileges on
campus and on the issue of parental leave, especially for untenured faculty. The ad hoc
Committee on Policy for Class Suspension for religious holidays continues to investigate this
issue. On Dec. 2 (3:30, Campus Center Terrace Lounge) members of the committee held a
forum to gather views on the current and other possible policies. Campus religious leaders,
Senators, members of ULC, and leaders of student organizations were invited to present their
views orally or in writing.
University Planning and Policy Council (UPC), Professor Marjorie Pryse, Chair: UPC has
been reviewing a series of reports forwarded to the Council, including the draft of the University
at Albany Institutional Assessment Plan, to which it will return at a subsequent meeting. UPC
has proposed to discuss two documents from the institution’s “attic”—“Retention Task Force
Recommendations” submitted in 1998 by the then-Undergraduate Dean, John Pipkin, to then-
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Provost Judy Genshaft, and a document proposing a “4 x 4” curriculum structure, submitted by
“4 x 4” Task Force Chair Ronald Bosco in the late-1990s, also to then-Provost Genshaft. The
Council is continuing discussion of institutional identity and is looking for a metaphor that will
adequately characterize the relationship between and among the College of Arts and Sciences
and the professional schools and colleges. The Council also heard a presentation from Dean
Peter Bloniarz of the School of Information Science and Policy and Professor Neil Murray, Chair
of the Department of Computer Science, concerning the desirability and feasibility of a plan to
expand IT Commons and to move the Department of Computer Science from the College of Arts
and Sciences to the School of Information Science and Policy. UPC plans to take up this
conversation with Dean Bloniarz and Professor Murray again early in the spring semester.
Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Community Responsibility
(CAFFECoR), Professor Lawrence Snyder, Chair: No report.
Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship (CERS), Professor R. Michael Range,
Chair: No report.
New Business:
Senate Resolution No. 0405-1R: Professor Messner, Chair of the Governance Council
introduced the Senate resolution endorsing the MOU with CNSE. Professor Messner explained
that the working group devoted a considerable amount of time and effort in the development of
the MOU during many meetings and had very candid and productive exchanges.
Discussion on the MOU language:
An amendment was made by Professor Messner, and seconded, to strike the words “the
Chair of CPCA” from page 3, II #4, in response to concerns which had been expressed in
the working group about the asymmetry of involving an additional governance
representative. Some discussion ensued including the proposal to insert “in consultation
with the CPCA.” Professor Geer stated that the original language would be acceptable to
the CNSE and Prof. Messner asked to withdraw the amendment to remove “the Chair of
CPCA.” That was seconded and agreed upon, and the amendment was withdrawn.
Professor Messner then yielded the floor to Prof. Range of the working group who
presented a summary.
Regarding Sections II.7. and II.8. It was asked to what extent this MOU will set
precedent with other units? Professor Range replied that there would be no problem
with modifying the language to limit this to specify CNSE only. It was moved for the
change to be made and the change was accepted as a friendly amendment.
In the interim period, promotion and/or continuing appointment cases involving faculty
from CNSE will go through the current CPCA review process and will be transmitted to
the President through the CNSE VP, in view of the Board of Trustees’ resolution.
Professor Jerison expressed concerns that the MOU did not address academic standards
for curriculum, nor tenure and promotion standards for faculty. He felt that it would be
premature to leave such decisions to CNSE given that there are no national accreditation
standards for nanosciences. It was explained that during the interim period CNSE cases
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would be handled according to standard UAlbany procedures, and that even thereafter
CPCA would have significant oversight over all CNSE cases. Professor Jerison then
moved to table the resolution. The motion was seconded. In response, Professor Range
moved to fix the time to which the Senate shall adjourn to 4 PM on Wednesday,
December 8, 2004. He explained that it was the intent of the working group to allow for
the Senate to take as much time as needed to have all questions answered, but that vote
on the resolution should not be delayed beyond a few days. The motion to set the
specific time in event of tabling was approved. The Chair then called for a vote on the
motion to table. The motion was defeated.
Professor Kim spoke in support of the resolution. He believed it to be a good
compromise. He went on to state that the University should move forward in accepting
the CNSE as an integral part of the campus. Professor Wulfert also spoke in favor of the
MOU and the resolution. She stated that the basic functions of CPCA have been left
intact, that the MOU represents as good an agreement as could be expected, and that it is
a positive step.
Professor Lanford raised a question as to the routing of CNSE cases from CPCA to the
CNSE Vice President. In response it was noted by Professors Range and Hoyt that this
procedure takes into account the unique structure of CNSE per the Board of Trustees'
resolution of April 20, 2004 which established the CNSE as headed by a vice president
who reports directly to the UAlbany President.
There was a question on Section II.6. If after the interim period, a case goes to CPCA,
does it mean CPCA will do a full review? Vice President Kaloyeros explained that CPCA
is entitled to audit every single case, or randomly review cases. It is at the discretion of
CPCA.
A motion was made to vote on the resolution, and the resolution passed with an overwhelming
majority.
Respectfully submitted,
Jayne VanDenburgh, Recorder
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