skip to main content Indiana State University University Faculty Senate EC#18 Approved February 27, Minutes Indiana State University Faculty Senate 2006-07 Time: 3:15 p.m. Place: Hulman Memorial Student Union 227 Present: Chairperson S. Lamb, Vice Chair B. Evans, Secretary C. Hoffman, S. Davis, B. Frank, A. Halpern, J. Hughes, M. Miller, T. Mulkey Ex-Officio: Provost Maynard Guests: R. Guell (First-Year Experience Programs), H. Hudson (FAC), C. MacDonald (Grad. Council), R. Jefferson (IT), J. Foresto (Stratum Broadband), S. Wisler (IBM Global Services) I. Administration Report – Provost Maynard 1) A group of multicultural scholars / minority students is visiting campus today. 2) The recent Motorsports conference on campus was very successful. Major auto companies have become involved. ISU has applied for a $350K grant for the program. 3) ISU will send a delegation to Morocco for a two-day workshop (working with the Commission for Higher Education Assistance) to help establish a quality-assurance organization. II. Chair Report - S. Lamb 1) Noted that he is pleased with the effort and progress concerning the majors in physics and philosophy and that he hoped for agreeable conclusions to current negotiations. 2) Input concerning CAAC and Grad Council action items to be included on the April Senate agenda must be received in the Senate office by April 5. 3) Expressed appreciation for Provost Maynard's attempts at intervention and for his support of faculty input in the reorganization of Nursing + HHP. III. Fifteen Minute Open Discussion -- Points / questions raised: 1) "Digital Measures" – on-line faculty annual report: Problems and errors noted, especially that input and printouts do not match. 2) New Faculty Orientation for FA07: Concerns and suggestions discussed. Important consideration: FAC should have significant input. EC # 18, 2/27/07 Page 2 Fifteen Minute Open Discussion (con't) 3) Admissions: A telephone inquiry from a parent, and the Office of Admissions response, were discussed. Person answering the call was unable to provide requested information. -- Provost noted that five regular staff are taking calls and are getting training. New and improved responses to inquiries and applications are being implemented: -- A variety of letters, customized according to each prospect's interests and background, are now available. Responses are being personalized. -- Current students are following up on inquiries and prospects. -- What constitutes an enrollment "confirmation"? Currently, a verbal comment is enough, which is not statistically dependable. Suggestions have been made to require some commitment, such as a fee, to make the numbers more reliable. These are being discussed and something may be in place (for future enrollments) by FA07. 4) Departmental mergers: Chemistry and physics faculty have voted to consolidate the two departments into a new one — tentative name: "Department of Chemistry and Physics." Details are being worked out. The provost noted that this combination has the potential for beneficial synergies. Earlier negotiations with the Univ. of Evansville and others about potential articulation agreements in physics will be revisited. A dean is reported to have referred to physics and philosophy as "Potemkin villages." Faculty are offended. These are not "sham" majors. The comment was not helpful. Psychology and Sociology are negotiating. Philosophy is exploring options. The provost noted that a "forced marriage" was not desirable, but that at least one proposed combination looked like a good match. 5) Faculty Hires for FA07 – update requested 36 positions were authorized 12 offers are currently pending 3 searches (so far) have failed The provost noted that we have to pay more than before to fill positions. Several comments that higher offers will exacerbate the already-existing "compression." 6) Nursing + HHP A newspaper report indicated that an additional $400K will be provided for the reorganization. What is the source of that funding? Provost: Most will come from reallocation of other faculty lines. The remainder will be one-time money. EC # 18, 2/27/07 Page 3 Fifteen Minute Open Discussion (con't) 7) Budget Requests – update requested ISU has requested $1M for "Quality Improvement" (faculty salaries/recruitment, and health sciences), and a $900K base-budget increase based on certain assumptions which, if invalid, could change the request. No response yet from the State. 8) President's Annual Report -- Concerns expressed about the costs, message sent, and intended audience. IV. Minutes – Minutes #17(2/6/07): APPROVED (Frank, Mulkey 9-0-0) V. Old Business - none VI New Business 1) Grad. Council Statement re: Counselor Education Doctoral Program and Prioritization C. MacDonald was invited to the table. She explained that this program was originally in Category II (monitor and address issues) but was moved to Category IV (eliminate). The Grad. Council recommends that the program be returned to Category II. Points discussed: -- Careful deliberation went into the recommendation. -- Although currently low-enrolled, demand is increasing. -- Minimal cost saving will result from elimination. -- ISU is the only university in Indiana offering the degree. Provost Maynard noted that he is willing to consider changes in rankings, but is not convinced that this PhD program is viable. He wants only strong programs. APPROVED (Miller, Frank 5-3-1) 2) Elimination of Permanent Incompletes -- R. Guell and H. Hudson were invited to the table. Under current regulations a student can graduate with an "INC" grade, which causes several problems (or potential problems) related to record keeping, the course drop policy, and financial aid. This change would deny graduation to anyone with a remaining "INC" and would apply to any "INC" assigned after the SP07 term. APPROVED (Davis, Halpern 9-0-0) EC # 18, 2/27/07 Page 4 3) First Year Advising Proposal – FAC response Considerable discussion addressed the goals of advisement and the methods to accomplish those goals. ISU needs to improve the first-year experience, which should improve retention. Significant opposition to this proposal and to the proposal to create a University College exists. The TAFFY implementation group has recommended withdrawal of both proposals. The Committee voted to ACCEPT the FAC response (Halpern, Hoffman 9-0-0), noting that further attention will be given to improving first-year advising and retention. 4) Strategic Telecommunication and Network Plan – IBM – INFORMATION ITEM Guests were invited to the table and discussed implications of changes in technology, specifically changes necessary to the ISU network structure. -- Infrastructure must be planned 10 years ahead. Changes are not optional, but necessary. -- Industry fundamentals require a convergence of data and voice – broadband access. -- Municipality and university collaboration – builds town/gown relationships and encourages economic development -- ISU may not need to be "cutting edge," but must stay current. Wireless access is necessary. Chair Lamb thanked the guests for their attendance and presentation. The Committee went into executive session (Halpern, Davis 9-0-0). The Committee came out of executive session and adjourned at 5:52 p.m. (Halpern, Hoffman 9-0-0). Respectfully submitted, C. Hoffman, Secretary Last modified: September 09, 2008  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.