Corrected Minutes of April 13, 2004 Meeting

1. Call to Order

The meeting started at approximately 11:10 am. The Senate Chair, Dr. Ali Eydgahi, greeted senators and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. Minutes of the March 9^th Meeting

The minute of the March Senate meeting were approved as written.

3. Chairs Remarks

A. NCATE has approved out accreditation application. The Education Department is no longer on suspension. The Praxis results were returned with about 90% pass rate.

B. Dr. Eydgahi suggested forming a senate committee to look into the problems students have been having when they transfer credit from other school or when they switch majors. It has been taking up to a year for the credits to be reflected on the student’s academic record. Is the problem with SPSS or in the Registrar’s office?

4. Presentation by Mr. Levy, Chair of the Bylaw Committee

Mr. Levy addressed 8 areas of concern and gave the committee’s recommendations for the following areas of the Senate Constitution/Bylaws

A. Membership and Representation

1. Problems with membership - specifically union members. It limits the areas the Senate is able to address as union members can not be privy to the administrative and union sides of an issue.

2. Committee recommends removing union members from the senate.

B. Numbers of Senators

1. Current membership is not proportionately representative of constituency size

2. Committee recommends no change at this time as well as further study over a longer period of time.

C. Senators

1. Problems include length of existing terms and the senate recall process which is cumbersome and ill-defined.

2. The committee recommends that the various constituencies handle filling the chairs themselves. They also recommend letting the constituencies define their own recall process and rules.

D. Senate Officers

1. Problems include inadequate job descriptions, a cumbersome election process, and eligibility to hold a senate office hindering finding people to fill senate offices.

2. The Committee recommends clear job descriptions, streamlining the election process as well as better nomination/election procedures and clearly defined term lengths. The committee also recommends open eligibility for senate offices to all constituencies not just elected senators; however, non-senators would not be able to vote.

E. Committees

1. Establish annual review of standing committee membership, streamline the review process. Currently it requires nomination and a vote of the senate. The committee recommends allowing non-senators to be committee members and for each committee to elect their own chair. The senate chair would appoint an interim chair from approved committee members until the election of a new chair.

F. Amendment Procedures

1. Current procedures are poorly defined and badly written.

2. The Committee recommends adopting a three step process: 1) any senator can propose an amendment to the constitution, 2) the proposed amendment must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the senate, 3) the proposed amendment must be ratified by 4 out of 5 constituencies according to their own established rules.

G. Location of Senate Records

1. Currently no there is not a clearly defined location.

2. The committee recommends placing the physical records in the archives/special collection department of the Frederick Douglass Library

H. The proposed recommendations will be placed on the agenda for the May 11^th Senate meeting.

5. C0MMITTEE REPORTS

A. Academic Affairs Committee represented by Mrs. Dadson.

· 14 proposals have been received, however, 2 of the 5 committee members have not responded with input on the proposals.

· Mrs. Dadson recommended that the Criminal Justice proposal to change the prefix of the internship class from CRJS 359 to CRJS 498 be accepted as the class will begin Summer semester.

· A motion was made to approve the change; it was seconded and passed with no nays or abstentions.

B. Student Committee represented by David Ifill.

· The Student Committee met with Dr. Shields and Mrs. Dadson about library service. They would like to have the library implement a seminar on how to use the databases and the library. It was scheduled for the week before finals, but the Student Committee cancelled. They propose that it be scheduled for the week before finals. Mr. Ifill will call Dr. Shields.

C. Parking Committee represented by Chief Wright.

· The Parking Committee should be convening to establish rules soon.

D. Athletic Committee represented by Dr. Walther.

· The Athletic Department has had changes in coaches for several sports including volleyball and basketball.

· They also mentioned the opening of the new Fitness Center in Tawes Gym.

Dr. Eydgahi reminded every committee chair person that final reports for each Senate committee are due at the May 11^th meeting.

6. Senate Elections

Please forward nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Parliamentarian to Dr. Eydgahi.

7. Announcements

The library distributed a user survey to be returned to Ms. Driscoll or the library. The survey will be emailed to all faculty and staff as well.

The security light outside of Spalding has still not been repaired. The Chief will bring it to the attention of the Physical Plant. Dr. Eydgahi will notify Dr. Holden.

8. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 pm.

Submitted by:

Anne Driscoll, Fill-in Secretary