Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting March 17, 1999 The regular meeting of the 1998-99 Faculty Senate was called to order by Judy Allen at 3:30 p.m. The following Senators were present for all or part of the meeting: Allen, Berry, Brady, Buising, Gilbride, Heaston, Myszewski, Petersen, Phillips, Pomeroy, Reincke, Sisk, Spencer, Stratton, Strentz, Walker, Winebrenner, Wright Absent: Herman, Hunter, Symonds Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Upon proper motion and second, the minutes of the February 1999 meeting were approved as changed in the last paragraph of President Allen's remarks. The last sentence should read "These gifts were presented in recognition of the faculty's concern for his health with warm applause." Report from Interim Provost Hoag: The Provost acknowledged the second faculty meeting concerning the First Year Seminars. The upcoming Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Governors will include the following topics in its agenda; the new offerings in Arts & Sciences, a presentation of the summer web course offerings by Thom Swiss, the promotion and tenure recommendations, a discussion of expanded responsibilities for the committee. The new Academic Computing Fellows are Eunice Merideth and Rahul Parsa. Upcoming campus events include the Bucksbaum Lecture and Business Days. The current items before the Dean's Council include a discussion of the Community Block Time, Information Technology needs, organizing the evening programs and budget concerns. Senator Strentz asked if there was available an accounting of the time lost to the First Year Seminars? He asked if the tradeoffs of the Drake Curriculum are known. Provost Hoag indicated that is part of the discussion and partially why a First Year Seminar Director had been requested at the forum. Report from President Ray: President Ray indicated that many items are on the agenda for the April Board of Governors meeting with the big item being the budget. There continue to be meetings with the downtown partners and the regent university presidents. The competition is fierce and Dean Joe Alber has worked hard on these matters. The recent Admission Open House went well with an increase in number of students attending. There are new threats on the Federal level. Education is a current topic on several levels of government. Senator Gilbride asked what President Ray expected his role in the transition to the new president would be. He replied that he would offer his help and follow President Maxwell's lead and requests. Senator Strentz asked that President Ray convey to the new president the openness and candor with which he has dealt with the Faculty Senate and that it has worked well. President Ray indicated he would share what he had observed about being inclusive and indicated that President Maxwell will have an appreciation for the faculty, noting that for Drake to succeed, we all must be in the same basket. Report from President Allen: At the April Board meeting she will present an assessment of the "core academic priorities" as requested by the Board at the January meeting. She outlined the ad hoc group that had assisted in the preparation of the two step survey. She encouraged 100% participation. She indicated she had met with the Deans Council to discuss the Community Block Time motion. Generally the group was favorable although there were concerns about implementation. Hard copies of a "Recommended Health Policy Change" were sent to all senators. Please feel free to comment on this topic. It will be taken to the Board as a discussion item not an action item. This may come to the full senate in April or May. President Ray had mentioned in the previous senate meeting about the structure of the office of the President of the Faculty Senate. Several ideas have been offered including having a president-elect or a two-year presidential term but the executive committee would like to have some senate discussion before it proceeds with a motion. There were several speakers indicating their approval of the any idea, which provided continuity. Don Adams noted that President Maxwell would determine the composition of the President's Cabinet. Jim Rooming was introduced to give a Drake Curriculum Report. He distributed a topical outline and the handbook from the web site. There were comments about the fact that a course can be used in two outcome areas by one student but may have many flags and comments concerning the application flags. Senator Buising expressed concern that general education is going back to being menu driven. Unfinished Business: None presented New Business Senator Gilbride moved and Petersen seconded Motion 99-10: The faculty senate recommends that a Drake Community Time be established every Wednesday from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM beginning spring semester 2000 to provide time for University wide learning opportunities and events. No undergraduate classes and laboratories, or college, school, department, or committee meetings should be scheduled during this time. Senator Myszewski suggested and Gilbride accepted an amendment to add in the last sentence after 'committee meetings' or athletic events or practices Senator Strentz spoke against the amendment. He noted this reduces the time available to practice, which is already regulated and wondered how this would work on game days. Senator Berry asked how much publicity had been issued about the motion. President Allen reminded the body that the motion was on the February agenda and was brought up by the Student Senate a couple of years ago. Senator Berry moved and Wright seconded to refer the motion with the amendment to EPI and all appropriate committees with the stipulation that EPI publicize the discussion, even holding forums. Senator Heaston commented that there would always be something that will cause someone to not attend an event. He offered that Drake needed to decide if we are going to have community or not. He was opposed to referring to committee. Senator Pomeroy noted the loss of many labor hours in the School of Fine Arts. The afternoon time slot is widely used. President Allen noted that the motion's language says 'should'. The motion to refer passed. The senate moved into executive session to consider the nominees for Drake Medals and Honorary Degrees. On proper motion and second the meeting closed at 5:00 p.m. Submitted by, Nancy Geiger, Secretary