Minutes of the UMES Senate meeting of November 9, 2004

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 11:05 am by the Chair, Dr. Williams.  In the absence of the Secretary, Capt. Levy was asked to take the minutes.
  2. Copies the minutes of the previous meeting having been provided, reading of those minutes was waived.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by Ms. Lois Peterson and seconded by Ms. Anne Driscoll.  Two minor corrections were noted and made (see attachment) and the revised minutes were accepted by a voice vote.  Prof. Onyeozili requested that the Secretary send future minutes by email to all UMES constituents.  Capt. Levy suggested that in order to reduce server loading, the reminder email contain only a link to the minutes on the Senate Web page.  The Chair said he would direct the Secretary to send the email with the link when minutes are posted.
  3. Committee Reports
    1. Campus Values (Ms. Mignon Anderson): There is some concern that the term “values” could lead to consideration of “morals” which could lead to this being construed as a religious-based issue.  For that reason, many efforts in this area are being called “Character Education” rather than “Values.”  The committee will attempt to find grants/seed money to support this effort.  The first meeting of the committee will be Thursday, November 18, at 1 pm in the SSC Room 2147.  While the presence of the President, Dr. Thompson, was desired, her schedule will not permit that.
    2. Information Technology (Capt. Levy): A list of the nine volunteers for this committee (attached) was presented.  Dr. Ndumu’s name was added.  A motion to confirm the list of ten names was approved unanimously.  Meetings will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at a place to be named later.
  4. Old Business:
    1. Incomplete Grade Policy: The Chair reported that this policy had been sent to the Faculty Assembly, which voted to continue the previously approved policy as stated in the 2000-2002 Undergraduate Catalog (after one year, the I  becomes a W).  Dr. Mollett moved to confirm the Faculty Assembly’s action, seconded by Dr. Bass.  Dr. Onyeozili asked if the Senate had an option to do something other than what the Faculty Assembly had voted to do, and the Chair said the Senate could approve, deny, or modify the policy sent up by the Faculty Assembly.  It was asked whether students could be given the option of whether to accept either an F or a W; the Chair said this was not possible.  The question was called, and the motion was carried on a voice vote for, with four Senators voting against, and none abstaining.
    2. Ms. Demanche briefed the Senate on the proposal to create a “School of Health Professions.”  Due to resource constraints, the Academic Affairs Committee has not yet met this semester, partly because the Committee Chair is teaching seven courses this semester.  It was requested that this proposal be sent to the committee in a proper format.  Ms. Demanche noted that this proposal was approved by the Senate two years ago, but that some changes since then required Senate confirmation of the previous approval.  The changes made are:

                                                               i.      Changing the school name from “Allied Health” to “Health Professions,” in keeping with changing standards for such institutions.

                                                             ii.      Eliminating the creation of a new deanship.  The position of dean of this school will be filled on a “dual-hat” basis by the chair of one of the included departments.

                                                            iii.      Removal of the Senate limitation on the approval that it was “pending new funding” since the elimination of the new deanship eliminates the need for new funds.

                                                           iv.      Addition of the recently-created Department of Exercise Science to the new school.

The reason for this proposal is to put the University in a better position to compete for funds.  The proposal was sculpted so as to fit a model acceptable to the Regents, primarily that there be no new administrative position created.  The proposal, changed as noted and approved by the Faculty Assembly, was confirmed on a voice vote.

    1. Dr. Gupta asked why Ms. Demanche was teaching the extreme overload of seven courses.  Ms. Demanche said that it was due to the sudden nonavailability of a part-time faculty member in her department who had been scheduled for three courses.  Ms. Demanche said that she had volunteered for this overload and was being paid extra for it in accordance with University regulations.  It was suggested that a question on this matter would better be addressed in the Faculty Assembly, and the Faculty Assembly Chair, Dr. Chapin, will take it to that body.  It was noted that this is an example of the difficulties surrounding the University’s forced reliance on part-time faculty due to the inadequate number of full-time faculty lines.
    2. The Chair reported that the Plagiarism Policy had been reported to the Senate as “approved in principle” by the Faculty Assembly, approval of the specifics being limited by the need to obtain legal review from the Attorney General’s Office for any changes made.  The policy was approved by the Senate on a voice vote, with one vote against.
  1. New Business: None.
  2. Announcements:
    1. Dr. Chapin: There will be a Faculty Assembly meeting on Tuesday, November 16, at 11:00 am in the Carver Hall Auditorium.  It is very important that all faculty members, not just Councilors.  See the agenda sent to all faculty for details.
    2. Ms. Anderson asked Senators to encourage students to apply for the Spring Semester in Ghana program.  Eight students (preferably in the Humanities or Social Sciences – other majors should check with Dr. Sarah Acquah in the International Students Office) with at least a 2.8, preferably above 3.0, GPA will be able to spend the Spring semester at University of Cape Coast.  Faculty points of contact include Mr. Ernie Satchell, Dr. David Alston, Dr. Leon Copeland, Dr. Bryant Mitchell, Dr. Anna Vaughn-Cooke, Dr. Robert & Mrs. Sheila Harleston, Dr. Sarah Acquah, Ms. Annette Noble, and Ms. Mignon Anderson.  Credit transfer is being arranged and every effort is being made to assure student safety despite the instability in some parts of Africa.  Students will be provided air fare, the $1500 for room & board as well as $600 to cover preparation costs (shots, passports, etc.) and the cost of tuition will be lower than UMES.
    3. The Chair asked that all agenda items for Senate meetings be submitted to him at least one week before the meeting.
    4. The Chair reminded all present of the Volleyball match at the Tawes Gym on Friday, November 12.
  3. The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 am.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Capt. R.B. Levy, Acting Secretary