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Faculty Senate Minutes

Roll Call

Absent: Byington (Fac Wel Cmte), Benedetti (Lib), Cami-Vela (FLL), Clark (Dean, Bus), Counts (Soc), Denny (Soc Wrk), Dutka (Lib), Elikai (Acct.), Garris (Info Sys), Gill (Spec.S), Harper (Advancement), Howe (Mrk/Mgt), Hunt (Mrk/Mgt), Huntley (Eng), Jones (Cur. S), Lee (CreWr), Leutze (Chan), McCall (Research), Mintzes (Bio), Narayan (CompuSci), Roscher (Acct), Scheuring (Nurs), Seaton (Chm), Shay (IT Cmte), Sizemore (Evaluation), Tyndall (ITSD), Usilton (History), Weber (Com St.)

Approval of minutes

The November minutes were approved.

Special Orders of the Day:

• Election of Faculty Senate President: Re-election of Dan Noland by acclamation.
• Nomination of Candidates for Faculty Assembly Representatives: Nomination of Elizabeth Hines, Lynne Snowden, Mark Spaulding, Richard Veit.

Individual Reports

1. Provost Hosier

• Congratulated Robert Roer, who has been named to become Dean of the Graduate School, effective pending BOT/BOG approval
• The idea of a Research Office is on hold for the time being
• Reported on a variety of matters concerning the budget:
  • consensus is there will not be further budget cuts this year
  • BOG may freeze tuition; this adversely effects faculty raises, some budget matters
  • 4% over median number of students expected; should get new positions next year
  • OP lists a variety of items being proposed to the Legislature, including improving the university's flexibility to manage personnel, improving optional retirement programs, increasing the employer contribution rate to retirement; setting up a competitive tuition rate for UNC universities at military bases; improving health insurance options; reducing employees contribution to state retirement; and asking the legislature to fully fund enrollment increases
• Legislature expected to continue to criticize, and decrease funding for the University
• A laptop computer requirement seems timely, with the prospective opening of new buildings on campus. It will be necessary to increase support to CTE to prepare faculty to utilize laptops in the classroom.
• Responded to several questions:
  • he did not know if President Broad had recommended the tuition freeze, as reported in the paper, but assumed if she did, it was for political reasons.
  • acknowledged that a tuition freeze would mean UNCW could not address the deficiencies in the way in which the "equity adjustment" was handled this year
  • UNCW would propose a tuition increase, in order to continue the equity/adjustment process and provide needed funds to the university
  • acknowledged that student fees are high, and a laptop requirement would add to student expenses, but the University had to raise funds, and could address some of the hardships caused by changes in financial aid

2. President of the Faculty Assembly Veit

• Faculty Assembly voted to support a pay increase for SPA employees
• Faculty Assembly urged the legislature to restore the money that the state did not pay into the State Retirement Program this year, and to resume payments next year to insure the solvency of the program.

3. President of the Senate Noland

• Noted that the report in the Star-News today on the Chancellor Search was accurate, and that the four faculty members were pleased with the process so far. Several of the 48 in the first "cut" asked that their names be kept confidential, at least until the final stage; so we will not know until later if and how public interviews may be done on campus.

Committee Reports

1. The following items from the University Curriculum Committee were voted on (3-4-11, 12, 13, 20):

a. the Consent Agenda items passed (03-4-11)

 

1. For Computer Competency:

a.  Add CHM 101-102: General Chemistry, for Chemistry.

b.  Delete CHM 255: Introduction to Computer Applications  and Chemical Literature.

2. For Basic Studies:

a.   Add CHM 105: Basic Concepts of Chemistry, under E. Natural Sciences and Mathematics Sciences/ b. Physical Science courses. 

CHM 105: Basic Concepts of Chemistry (3):  A terminal, relatively non-mathematical one-semester course in chemistry for the nonscience major.  Topics include atomic and molecular structure as a basis for a general understanding of chemical reactions, reaction dynamics, environmental problems, energy resources, food additives, and nuclear power.  Three lecture hours each week.  May not be taken for credit after CHM 102 has been passed.

b. The supplementary mathematics credit proposal was approved. (3-4-12)

Supplementary Mathematics Credit Proposal

Students who complete MAT 161 with a grade of C (2.00) or better and who receive no AP credit, no transfer credit, and no prior credit at UNCW in mathematics will receive credit for MAT 115.  Students who complete MAT 162 with a grade of C (2.0) or better and who receive no AP credit, no transfer credit, and no prior credit at UNCW in mathematics will receive credit for MAT 161.   Students who complete MAT 261 with a grade of C (2.00) or better and who receive no AP credit, no transfer credit, and no prior credit at UNCW in mathematics will receive credit for MAT 161 and 162.

c. The Mathematics and Statistics Degree Program and catalogue change was approved (3-4-13)

The UCC recommends approval of the following Degree Program in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, which has been approved by the Graduate Council.

Bachelors/Masters Degree Program

This Bachelors/Masters degree program is designed to provide a student in Mathematics a means to complete the requirements for both degrees in a period of 5 years. The key feature of the program is that a student can count up to 12 hours of graduate level courses satisfying requirements for the B.A. or B.S. toward the M.A. or M.S. in Mathematics.

Guideline

            A.   Students in the B. A. or B.S. program in Mathematics who have:

1.        Completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) and a maximum of ninety-eight (98) credit hours in their undergraduate programs in mathematics, including credits earned from advanced placement if they started at UNCW or are Transfer students and have completed a minimum of two semesters as a full-time student at UNCW, a minimum of 24 hours

2.        Completed a minimum of nine (9) hours of 300-400 level mathematics or statistics courses.

3.        A minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 and minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 on all 300-400 level mathematics or statistics courses at UNCW

may apply to the Department Chair for permission to apply up to 12 credit hours of graduate level course work during their senior year toward their future masters degree.

B.    In his/her senior year, the student must submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School including: an application form, application fee, transcripts, and GRE scores.  In addition, a Graduate Degree Plan, signed by the prospective student, the Department Chair, and Graduate Coordinator must be submitted before the end of the senior year.  Departmental permission to apply to the Bachelor's/Master's degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School.  Admission is contingent on meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.

C.    The Graduate Degree Plan for the Master's degree must clearly indicate:

·         Courses (maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be double-counted for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees;

·         Additional Graduate courses that will be taken but not counted toward the Bachelor's degree;

·         Courses that will be taken after matriculation into the graduate program;

·         Intended graduation date for the Master's degree.

D.    Upon review of the submitted materials by the Graduate School, a letter of acceptance (or denial) to the Master's program, will be sent to the student and copied to the Department Chair and the Graduate Coordinator.  Acceptance will be provisional and contingent on meeting specified degree requirements, including completion of the Bachelor's degree.

E.  Any changes in the Graduate Degree Plan must be submitted in writing and approved by the Department Chair. A student who is ineligible to participate or continue in, or withdraws from the Bachelors/Masters program can not double count any courses for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

To implement the program UCC recommends the following change in the Undergraduate catalogue:

On page 93 of the 2002-2003, change the sentence

“Graduate courses taken under this provision may not be used to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.” to read

“Graduate courses taken under this provision may not be used to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements unless the student is enrolled in an approved Bachelors/Masters Degree Program.” 

d. The Senate voted to postpone discussion of the NCAA/Life Skills courses until the January meeting (motion 3-4-20).

There was considerable discussion of the Athletic Department proposal to institute three new courses similar to UNI 101, designed especially for athletes, CHAMPS/Life Skills 201: Second/Personal Development Issues (1); CHAMPS/Life Skills 301: Junior Seminar/Leadership and Community Service (1); and CHAMPS/Life Skills 401: Senior Seminar/Career and Life Readiness (1). These courses were not recommended for approval by the UCC. Director of Athletics Bradley-Doppes made a presentation in support of the courses, as part of UNCW's process of responding to NCAA mandates, and said that the Athletics Department would pay for the courses, even if non-athletes enrolled in them. Professor McLaurin of the UCC noted that the UCC had had some concern about the academic content of the courses, who would teach them, and whether they would isolate athletes. It was noted that the Senate could not vote approval of the courses, without course descriptions and further information, at which time the motion to postpone discussion was offered and approved.

2. The following motions from the Academic Standards Committee were voted on (3-4-15, 16, 17, 18, 19): 

a. Late Grades motion  (3-4-15) was approved as amended: 

The instructor must remove NR grades by filling out the Change of Grade form, which needs to be signed by the Department Chair. The Registrar's Office will report occurrences of NR grades to the faculty member's Chair and Dean such information will be made available by the Chair at the time of Annual, RPT, and Post Tenure reviews. The determination as to whether discipline is to be imposed is governed by existing policies.

There was considerable debate of this motion. Though it was generally agreed that failure to carry out this responsibility was a breach of contractual obligations and professional duty, it was also argued  that this was an issue which Deans and Chairs could publicize and handle more forcefully themselves, without involving this disciplinary issue in the RPT process.

b. Revised description of Z grade was approved (3-4-16).

Change the description of Z from Not Reported to grade Under Appeal.

c. Graduate courses taken to fulfill undergraduate requirements was approved (3-4-17). The following wording is to be placed in the Graduate Course section of the undergraduate catalog (2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog):

Graduate courses at UNCW or other accredited institutions may be used to fulfill undergraduate requirements if approved by the student's academic advisor, department chair and the undergraduate dean. All other transfer credit policies apply.

d. The motion concerning unappealed grades was approved (3-4-18). The following sentence is be added to Grade Appeal/Grades and Reports (pages 64-65, 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalogue) after "Grades awarded at the end of a term may be appealed only through the end of the next succeeding regular semester." add

Grades not appealed by that time become permanent.

      e. The motion to modify the Retention policy was approved (3-4-19). The Retention policy on page 70 of the 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalogue is to be modified as follows:

All freshmen, regardless of the semester enrolled, will be given one semester (fall or spring) past the warning period to remove any deficiencies.  have three semesters to meet the academic retention standard of the university. However, freshmen whose grades fall below the retention standard at the end of their second semester will be allowed to register for a third semester only with permission of the Director of the General College. If such deficiencies are not removed, the student will be suspended from the university for one semester. Suspended students must reapply for re-enrollment for fall or spring semesters and may register for classes only with permission of the Director of  the General College. Applications for re-enrollment are available in the Admissions Office and should be filed as early as possible to ensure enrollment consideration. Readmission is contingent upon availability of space. Suspended students may re-enroll in any summer session.

 

3. Committee of the Whole.  Discussion of retirement/emeritus policy will be addressed in the January meeting. Currently this is decided at the departmental or school level. At issue are such questions as whether emeritus status is to be awarded only to a few or a normal consequence of retirement; what privileges, if any, are to be offered to all retirees; and whether there should be a university wide policy, or recommendation from the Senate.

Old Business

There was no old business.

New Business

There was no new business.

Announcements

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.