The third meeting of the University Faculty Senate for this academic year will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. in 112 Kern Building. The Senate welcomes visitors to this plenary session.

The agenda for this meeting will consist of two parts.

1. The Senate will honor George Mauner, Professor Emeritus of Art History, for the recent honor conferred on him by the French government.

2. The Senate will then discuss four issues:

a) The university offers courses for academic credit in various categories, such as Resident Instruction, Independent Learning, and World Campus. The Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid will ask the Senate to decide if a nondegree conditional student who has been dropped from the university for academic reasons may still be allowed to enroll in Independent Learning (correspondence) courses. The committee believes that there should be no differentiation in the modes of course delivery.

b) The number of academic minors and students participating in them has recently increased. Those increases have revealed the need for sharper definitions of the requirements for an academic minor program. To meet that need, two Senate committees-Curricular Affairs and Undergraduate Education-are proposing a clarification of what a minor is and a revision of the requirements for a minor program: a limit of 18-21 credits, at least six credits at the 400-course level, and a grade of "C" or above in all courses.

c) Every tenured and tenure-track faculty member who leaves the university has the opportunity to participate in an exit survey. The Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs will discuss the changes it has made in the Faculty Exit Interview process, and it will present a summary of what it has learned from exit interviews conducted over the past five years.

d) Each December, the Senate Committee on University Planning presents a report on the status of University Park construction projects. In April, it reports on construction projects at other Penn State locations. William Anderson, Associate Vice-President for Physical Plant, will provide a progress report on the many buildings going up across the University Park campus.

3. The Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs reports that 80% of the General Education courses to be submitted for recertification have now been turned in. Faculty who teach the courses not yet submitted need to understand that the committee faces a March deadline to complete its review.

4. The time draws near to begin the process for electing Senators to next year's Senate and for nominating people to be Chair-Elect and Secretary. If you have any suggestions, please send them to John Nichols, Chair of the Senate Council Nominating Committee jsn2@psu.edu (John Nichols). The committee meets on the morning of January 14, 2003.

The University Faculty Senate functions as the voice of the faculty in the formulation of policy 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 need attention. Send your suggestions to me at jwm2@psu.edu (John Moore).

John Moore, Chair
University Faculty Senate

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The following message was sent to all Senate Agenda recipients:

In an effort to reach a larger University population, standardize procedures, and reduce costs, the University Faculty Senate Office is moving to a Web-based distribution of the Senate Agenda. Beginning January 2003, the Senate Office will limit the distribution of printed agendas to elected Senators including faculty, student, appointed, and ex officio Senators. The University Libraries will continue to receive paper copies of the Agenda for the University Archives.

All others who receive the Senate Agenda may use the University Faculty Senate Web site www.psu.edu/ufs/ to access the Agenda. The Senate Agenda will be posted one week prior to each Senate meeting. Senate meeting minutes (The Senate Record) are also available on the Senate Web site approximately three weeks following the Senate meeting.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Susan Youtz at 814-863-0221 or by email: scy1@psu.edu.