Minutes of the Academic Senate Meeting
The Academic Senate was called to order by Chair Vaughn at 2:10 p.m.
Senate Members Present:
| Aaron, Eunice Alvarez, Alvin Bartscher, Patricia Bishop, Anna Boyle, Andrea Cherny, Robert Collier, James Colvin, Caran Concolino, Christopher |
Consoli, Andres Duke, Jerry Edwards, James Fung, Robert Ganji, Vijay Garcia, Velia Gillotte, Helen Gerson, Deborah Gregory, Jan Harnly, Caroline Henry, Margaret |
Higgins, Susan Hom, Marlon Houlberg, Rick Hubler, Barbara Kassiola, Joel La Belle, Thomas Langbort, Carol Levine, Josh Luft, Sandra McKeon, Midori Moallem, Minoo |
Oñate, Abdiel Pong, Wen Shen Raggio, Marcia Sayeed, Lutfus Smith, Miriam Su, Yuli Terrell, Dawn Turitz, Mitch Vaughn, Pamela Warren, Mary Anne Warren, Penelope Yip, Yewmun |
| Senate Members Absent: Corrigan, Robert A. (exc.), Steier, Saul (exc.), Nichols, Amy (exc.), Shrivastava, Vinay (exc.), Scoble, Don (exc.), Strong, Rob (exc.), AdisaThomas, Karimah (abs), Daniels, Robert (abs), Friedman, Marv (abs), Garcia, Oswaldo (abs), Gilotte, Helen (abs), Jerris, Scott (abs) Newt-Scott, Ronda (abs), Wolfe, Bruce (abs.) |
| Guests: Nancy McDermid, Ken Monteiro, Paul Barnes, Marilyn Verhey, Gail Whitaker, Genie Stowers |
Announcements and Reports
Ken Monteiro, University Dean/Professor – Human Relations/Psychology announced the showing of the film In The Light of Reverence, on Thursday, November 29th, in Jack Adams Hall, Cesar Chavez Student Center. It is a film about protecting the sacred lands of Native Americans. It also addresses cultural and political issues.
Senate Chair Pamela Vaughn announced that, since there are no pressing Senate agenda items, there would not be a Senate meeting on December 18th. The final Senate meeting for this semester is scheduled for December 4th and will feature a visit from Statewide Senate chair Jackie Kegley.
A Thanksgiving Message from Senate Chair Pamela Vaughn:
Thanksgiving is traditional a time for family and friends, and to think about family and friends near and far. So it was with great pleasure that I received an e-mail from our former Senate secretary Dane Johnson, now on sabbatical in Spain.
Amid updates on his family – especially the wonderful Max, born last April – Dane wrote that while the purpose of his sabbatical was research (and that he has all the approved “research badges” to prove it!), he was also hoping that the trim far away from the CSU might provide some relief from the “numbing yet still depressing repetition of fruitless contract negotiations, delayed salary increases, imposed contracts,” and so on. He has deleted without opening any emails that look like they are providing updates on such things.
But, he notes, his relief was short-lived, if at all. And here I turn again to Dane’s engaging prose: Just as I arrived – and in timing that will seem eerily reminiscent of too much, for it was a time when universities were out of session – the government of Spain announced a grand new “organic” Law of the University. Theoretically, it was supposed to be discussed far and wide, and, theoretically, it was already to have come out of a wholly democratic process. From the press reports and the almost unanimous outcry from the professorate and the student body, it’s clear that the latter was not true. After a few weeks of press conference grandstanding, but not negotiations or compromise, the former turned out to be a lie as well. In the end, holding a small majority in congress, the party in power imposed their law on people who almost universally opposed it (and, at this writing [18 November], oppose it more and more vociferously with strikes and the largest university demonstrations, well, ever, in Spain. [Chair Vaughn provide each senator with a newspaper photo sent by Dane, as well]
[returning to Dane…] But I kept my head out of it, not wanting to get into it, until I couldn’t avoid it. Given that one of my favorite columnists for the major Spanish paper (who, and here you’ll find no US parallel, happens to be a poet and professor of esthetics at a university) entitled his column of November 7 “Educacion.” He notes, for example, that this new University Law does not speak of teaching but only of bureaucracy: “It’s as if someone tried to remedy discredited Catholicism by developing new norms for electing Bishops.” He went on to explain that the real problem in the universities in Spain is that the students lack preparation. The buildings are in sorry shape, research is lacking, professors are pariahs, and the money from the government is ridiculously low. I think it may be time for me to take a trip to Germany!
Shall we entitle this, “We are not alone”? “The long arm of the CSU”? In any event, perhaps we can give some thought to our “family of the professorate” around the world and the common struggles and goals we share. And for you immediate family and friends at this time of year- health, happiness, safety, and blessing on you all.
Chair Vaughn reminded senators that the office of university assessment needs the survey on validity testing returned by December 4th. Marilyn Verhey, University office of assessment, provided senators with a copy of Strategies for Continued Development of University-Wide Core Items to Asses Teaching Effectiveness. Verhey reminded Senators that any new university assessment instrument that is the result of this process would be used as only one measure of teaching effectiveness.
Dawn Terrell proposed the replacement of the topic under item 3 with a report from statewide academic senator Robert Cherny.
Agenda Item #2: Approval of Minutes for Meeting of November 6, 2001
M/S/P (Duke, Mary Ann Warren) to approve the minutes as amended.
Agenda Item #3: Report from Robert Cherny Statewide Academic Senator on the Trustee’s Meeting
Robert Cherny discussed how CSU Campuses have been asked to trim 1% off their spending this year and to plan to cut 5% or 10% from their budget next year, with the reductions based on the 2000-2001 academic year. Universities are to continue hiring tenure and tenure track faculty. There is no intention in the State or the CSU to support a retirement “golden handshake.” A report on the evaluation of system-wide teacher education programs found that more than 90% of those who completed the teacher education programs did enter the teaching profession. The report also found that about 75% of the first year teachers felt that they were adequately or well prepared for first year teaching. Their principals, however, reported that about 80% of first year teachers were adequately or well prepared. Mitch Turitz reported that approximately 500 people, from CSU universities, attended a demonstration outside the board meeting, in support of a new contract. Rick Houlberg asked Provost La Belle that since the 1% cut is coming so late in the years that it would actually be a 5% cut. Provost La Belle indicated that we do not know at this time but we as a campus must plan to save as much as we can against the minimum and to make purchase early.
Agenda Item #4: Proposed Certificate in Conflict Resolution: A consent item from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee-time Certain No Later Than 2:50 p.m.
Anderea Boyle, speaking for CRAC Chair Amy Nichols who was unable to attend, introduced the proposed certificate. Students may use this certificate to enhance their understanding of the critical role that conflict and its resolutions play in the world today or to contribute to their preparation for employment in such fields as counseling, criminal justice, diplomacy, education, government, human resources, international relations, labor, law, management, mediation, public relations, and social work.
The certificate would complement degree programs in speech and communication, criminal justice, labor studies, ethnic studies, business, international relations, psychology, and political science.
Midori McKeon asked about including a foreign language requirement? Genie Stowers, Associate Dean, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, indicated that a foreign language component was not considered due to unit restrictions. Mitch Turitz asked how the decision was made that no additional library resources were required and was anyone from the library consulted? Stowers indicated that since the certificate used existing courses that they should have adequate library resources. She admitted that no one from the library was consulted but she asserted that was an oversight and that they would consult with the library.
Miriam Smith asked if a similar certificate in conflict resolution is available at any other institution. Stowers indicated that there are similar certificates at UC Berkeley and CSU Sonoma. Robert Cherny indicated that since Stowers has made a promise to consult with the library resource, and since we do not have the library information in front of us, should we not table this item or send it back to committee? Gail Whittaker indicated that she would like to see the senate take action on the item since this is a certificate program and not a minor or major program. Joel Kassiola, Dean, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, indicated that this certificate is not a new program but makes use of existing faculty, department, and curriculum. It is reasonable to assume that the library resources are there. This certificate has been in the making for a long period of time with many faculty, departments, and colleges working very hard to get it to this point. Turitz indicated the importance of following procedures that require consultation with the library. Jerry Duke spoke in favor of supporting the certificate proposal and not putting it off until a future senate meeting. Nancy McDermid, Dean, College of Humanities, indicated that faculty have worked on the certificate for 18 months and that chairs, faculty, and deans had collected and reviewed course syllabi and assured the Senate that they will go back and check library resources. Vijay Ganji, the certificate is a repackaging of existing courses. Susan Higgins indicated that the certificate is very timely and asked: with the high unit load, if they had surveyed students, and does the certificate require a practical component? Stowers indicated that students completing the certificate are required to complete an internship. They did not survey students but depended on faculty to give them feed back. Whittaker indicated that the unit load is well within the range of certificated programs. Ganji asked about the difference in unit totals and who would be advising the students in the program? Stowers indicated that some students would be required to take perquisites while others would not and that the two college associate deans, Genie Stowers and Susan Shimanoff would be the certificate advisors. Marlon Hom asked if the students taking the certificate in CEL would have the same admission requirements as other students? Stowers indicated that CEL would screen students to ensure that they meet the requirements. Caroline Harnly indicated that consultation with the library is an important part of the process. Higgins asked about the level of enrollment in existing certificate programs. Whittaker indicated that the data was not available. It is not uncommon to offer certificate in CEL and the university at the same time.
Discussion on the motion: Boyle, indicated that CRAC has a library representative and that the issue of library resources was not apparent when the certificate was in review and approved by CRAC. Eunice Aaron indicated that more time is needed to review the number of issues that have been brought before the Senate and that the proposed certificate should be sent back to committee.
Voting on the motion: failed – item stays in second reading.
Duke, requested more explanation regarding offering the certificate through the College of Extended Learning. Stowers, restated that the certificate is not primarily a CEL program. Sandra Luft stressed the importance of the certificate program and hoped that many students would take advantage of it and that we have good reason to support it.
The Senate approved the undergraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution.
Joel Kassiola, Dean, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences acknowledged the hard work of all faculty who were involved in the 18 month process that brought this new and important certificate to the students of our university.
The senate adjourned at 3:14 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
James Edwards
Secretary to the Faculty