University Faculty Senate

The Senate Newsletter
September 9 , 2003

Greetings and welcome back to the start of another academic year! Continuing an approach, started last year, for keeping the faculty informed on the activities of the University Faculty Senate, this is the first of six planned Newsletters that will be sent out one week prior to a full Senate meeting.

 

This Newsletter will also introduce a “For your information…” section on a topic of interest to faculty. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them to me at cxb7@psu.edu.

 

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 first meeting of the University Faculty Senate for this academic year will take place on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 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, September 12, 2003.  Please contact the Senate Chair through the Executive Secretary, Susan Youtz (scy1@psu.edu).  Presentations may not exceed five minutes.

 

The Senate Agenda will be posted on the Senate’s Web site one week prior to each Senate meeting.  The September 16, 2003 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 September 2, 2003 Senate Curriculum Report is available from the URL http://www.psu.edu/ufs/bluex.html.

 

Thank you, and best wishes for a productive academic year!

 

Christopher J. Bise

Chair, University Faculty Senate

cxb7@psu.edu


For your information…

 

As the new academic year begins, it is reassuring to know that the University has individuals to help settle conflicts and misunderstandings. They are the University’s Ombudsmen. Duff Gold (dpg1@psu.edu), Professor Emeritus of Geology, serves as the University Ombudsman, and each of the colleges and campuses have individuals serving in that capacity, as well.

 

The functions of the ombudsmen are to:

 

  • clarify misunderstandings;

 

  • advise faculty and administrators as to appropriate courses of action;

 

  • assist in the informal resolution of differences;

 

  • assure that appropriate department, college and/or campus procedures are exhausted before referring the case to higher levels;

 

  • inform the Office of the President and appropriate college or campus officials if a matter cannot be resolved at the lower level, and that the case is to be referred to the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.

 

The ombudsman shall not:

 

  • hold hearings;

 

  • exceed the role of conciliator and advisor;

 

  • substitute his or her judgment for that of appropriate administrative and/or faculty bodies;

 

  • serve as counsel for either party to a complaint before the Hearing Board.

 

Get to know the person who represents your unit in this important position for the faculty.  The names of campus and college Ombudsmen will soon be posted on the University Faculty Senate website.  www.psu.edu/ufs


Senate Meeting Agenda (September 16, 2003)

 

The agenda for the first Senate Meeting of the 2003-04 academic year consists of several reports of interest to the University faculty, particularly:

 

Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE) Procedures

(Advisory and Consultative)

 

Penn State has been using the SRTE to provide student input into the faculty evaluation process for about 15 years. The SRTE instrument needs to be continually scrutinized because it remains a significant part of the faculty evaluation process. This report summarizes a University-wide survey conducted during the Summer of 2002 and offers several recommendations.

 

Annual Report of the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee

(2001–2002 and 2002–2003)

(Informational)

 

Both reports summarize the cases handled by the Committee each year.

 

Annual Report of the Joint Committee of Insurance and Benefits

(Informational)

 

This report will summarize issues reviewed and discussed, with actions recommended by the Committee during 2002-03, in the following areas: 1) health care rates, 2) health plan issues and changes, 3) counseling and therapy coverage, 4) life insurance, and 5) long-term health care coverage.

 

Presentation by President Graham B. Spanier

(Informational)

 

In a special presentation to the Senate that he is delivering in lieu of his normal State of the University Address, President Spanier will speak about the changing demographics of the Commonwealth, the implications these changes will have on Penn State’s future, and the questions these changes will raise for the University.