University Faculty Senate

The Senate Newsletter

March 9, 2004

Greetings! Well, we survived the record low temperatures and snowfalls, particularly the “Great Senate Snowfall of 2004!” The efforts of those of you who braved the storm to attend Committee meetings were greatly appreciated. Spring is in the air as we look forward to the fifth scheduled Senate meeting of the year!

The University Faculty Senate functions as the voice of the faculty in the formulation of policies concerning the academic mission of the University. In addition, it exists to serve the needs of all faculty. Please let us hear from you about problems that need a solution or concerns that require attention. Send your suggestions to me at cxb7@psu.edu.

The fifth meeting of the University Faculty Senate for this academic year will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at 1:30 p.m. in 112 Kern Building. The Senate welcomes visitors to this plenary session. Members of the University community who are not senators and who wish to address the Senate on an item of business on the day’s agenda must seek permission from the Senate before Friday noon, March 12, 2004. Please contact the Senate Chair through the Executive Secretary, Susan Youtz (scy1@psu.edu). Presentations may not exceed five minutes.

The Senate Agenda is posted on the Senate’s Web site one week prior to each Senate meeting. The March 16, 2004, Agenda is available on the Web at the URL http://www.psu.edu/ufs/agendax.html. Senate meeting minutes (The Senate Record) are also available on the Senate Web site at the URL http://www.psu.edu/ufs/recordx.html approximately three weeks following the Senate meeting.

For information on how to submit major, minor, option or course proposals, the Guide to Curricular Procedures is available on the Web from the URL http://www.psu.edu/ufs/docs.html. The March 2, 2004, Senate Curriculum Report is available from the URL http://www.psu.edu/ufs/bluex.html.

Thank you,

Christopher J. Bise

Chair, University Faculty Senate

cxb7@psu.edu

For your information…

As you may know, the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) is organizing an event called "The Rally in the Rotunda" on Monday, March 22, 2004, at 1:00 p.m. on the steps of the Capital Building Rotunda in Harrisburg. This rally, which is expected to involve students from Penn State, as well as other state-related and state schools, will draw attention to the funding of higher education in the Commonwealth.

I applaud the efforts of the CCSG students for their leadership in this important rally. If you are in the vicinity of Harrisburg on March 22nd, around 1:00 p.m., I encourage you to participate in this rally.

Because of the concern for the funding of the University, I have asked the Penn State Alumni Association to provide the following brief overview of Penn State’s "Grassroots Network" activities.

In the face of continuing cuts to the University's appropriation, the Penn State Alumni Association has called on alumni, faculty and friends across Pennsylvania to join the Penn State Grassroots Network. This is a statewide advocacy system of Penn Staters who want to help make the case proactively, year after year, for state funding that supports the University's mission as Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution and preeminent public research university.

Sharp cuts in the University's appropriations from the state over the last two years--which have amounted to nearly $50 million--are forcing the University to cut programs and services; reduce the number of faculty and staff; and raise tuition more than it would like, placing a heavy burden on students and their families. As a faculty member, you have experienced the impact of these cuts firsthand. It is a disturbing fact that many of our state legislators are unaware of the impact Penn State has on this state, not only regarding the teaching and research conducted on our campuses, but also the outreach and extension efforts that touch everyone in the Commonwealth. With your knowledge, you can provide valuable insight to our elected officials about the effects of their decisions.

To learn more about the Grassroots Network, or to join this growing system of dedicated Penn Staters, please visit http://www.alumni.psu.edu/grassroots.

SENATE MEETING AGENDA

MARCH 16, 2004

The agenda for the fifth Senate Meeting of the 2003-2004 academic year consists of several reports of interest to the University faculty, particularly:

Presentation by President Graham B. Spanier

(Informational)

Dr. Spanier will speak on the subject of “The Privatization of American Public Higher Education.” He will discuss how increasing competition and lagging funding from state appropriations will prompt a refocusing of public universities.

Intercollegiate Athletics
The Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics will present a resolution for vote endorsing the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics’ Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform. Also, Penn State’s Athletic Director, Tim Curley, will give a presentation on the Integration of Intercollegiate Athletics Within the University Community.

Report on Curricular Integration Across Locations

(Advisory/Consultative)

The Senate Committee on Intra-University Relations will present a report and results from a survey of faculty and administrators on the topic of “curricular drift”—the tendency for a course to stray from its original outline as different instructors at multiple locations teach the course. The committee will make five recommendations on which the Senate will vote.

Background Checking Procedures

(Informational)

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Robert Secor, will present this informational report and respond to questions.

Retired Faculty Benefits
(Advisory/Consultative)

This report provides two recommendations for improving policies on Voluntary Phased Retirement (HR29) and Reemployment of University Retirees (HR45).

Report on Fall 2003 Campus Visits

(Informational)

This report discusses findings from the Senate Officers’ visits to eight campus locations.

Summary of Petitions, Grade Distribution, and 2004-2005 Faculty Census

(Informational)

The Senate will receive these three informational reports.

Revisions to the Faculty Senator Representation Ratio and Changes to the Membership of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President

(Legislative)

Changes to the Senate Representation Ratio will be discussed at the March 16 Senate meeting and voted on at the April 27 meeting. The proposed changes to the Faculty Advisory Committee membership will be voted on at the March 16 meeting.

Proposed Revisions of Course Add and Course Drop Policies
(Legislative)

Recommendations will be made by the Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid.

Nominating Reports
(Informational)

2004-2005 nominations for extrasenatorial committees, the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President, and for Secretary and Chair-Elect of the Senate, will be presented. Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor.