ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES – DECEMBER 4, 2013 1

Minutes

of the Academic Senate Meeting

of December 4, 2013

PRESENT:Aaron(Proxy-Kopplin), Alex, Bhandari(Proxy-Salem),Brown, Chan, Duran, El Naga, Eskandari, Farhat, Garver, Ghazanfari, Guyse, Halati, Hall, Kilduff, Kopplin, La Munyon, Leon(Proxy-Hall), Lloyd, MacNevin(Proxy-Hall), Mao, Metlitzky, Monemi, Moustafa, Pearlman, Pernalete, Polet, Prichard-Schmitzberger, Salem, Sancho-Madriz, Shah Fairbank, Shen, Speak, Tang, Wachs, Winer, McDonald, Baustista

GUESTS:M. denBoer, L. Rotunni, C. Pinter-Lucke, S. Srinivas, P. Kelly, N. Hurlbut, B. Jersky, F. Ewers, H. Evans, M. Amouzegar, R. Lapidus, M. Godfrey, T. Hartney, B. Bahr, L. Neto, F. Perez

1.Minutes –October 30, 2013

M/s/p to approve the minutes as written.

2.Information Items

  1. Chair's Report

Chair Speak reported that there are a number of things happening on campus but they do not originate in the Senate. Chair Speak and Vice Chair Kilduff have been meeting regularly with President Ortiz and Provost denBoer.

  1. President’s Report

President Ortiz is not on campus today.

Provost denBoer reported.

Rankings

  • In the past few months, a number of rankings have come out that feature Cal Poly Pomona. While I am careful about putting too much emphasis on the meaning of rankings, seeing them in totality helps to emphasize the great work you all do.
  • U.S. News & World Report again highlighted Cal Poly Pomona. We were ranked sixth among public universities in the West. The College of Engineering was ranked 22nd in the nation among non-doctorate granting universities. If you look at the Western region, the college ranks second among public universities.
  • The Sierra Club recognized our climate commitment efforts. We placed 48th on the organization’s Cool Schools list, above every other CSU.
  • An online salary database, PayScale.com, has named us one of the best values in higher education. Our graduates are earning more than graduates from well-known universities like UMASS, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Rutgers. Our graduates’ salaries are also among the top three in the CSU.
  • Design Intelligence Magazine just ranked our landscape architecture program as the 10th best undergraduate program in the nation and the 15th best graduate program in the nation.
  • That we are able to accomplish so much while maintaining our commitment to affordability and accessibility is a testament to the incredible work of our faculty and staff. Your efforts shine, making us a premier learning institution in the nation. Thank you and congratulations!
  1. Vice Chair's Report

NEW REFERRALS: (2)

AA-001-134Academic Calendar by Quarters –2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17

FA-001-134Faculty Office Hours Policy

SENATE REPORTS FORWARDED TO PRESIDENT (4)

AS-2434-134/APGuidelines for Academic Credit Certificate Programs

President’s Response to – AS-2409-123/AP, Modification in Interdisciplinary Minor in GIS – Resubmitted to President

President’s Response to –AS-2422-123/AP, Policy that Allows for Minors and Double

Majors – Resubmitted to President

President’s Response to AS-2418-123/FA, Revision of University Manual to Incorporate Changes and Updates Triggered by the New Collective Bargaining Agreement – Resubmitted to President

PRESIDENT REPONSES TO SENATE REPORTS: (6)

AS-2395-123/APProposed Astronomy Minor - Resubmitted to President - APPROVED

AS-2409-123/APModification in Interdisciplinary Minor in GIS – Resubmitted to President – ACCEPTED

AS-2422-123/APPolicy that Allows for Minor and Double Majors – DELAY REQUESTED

AS-2432-134/APConsultation for Early College Program Pilot – ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESERVATIONS

AS-2433-1324/APGuideline for C/S Classifications-- APPROVED

AS-2434-134/APGuidelines for Academic Credit Certificate Programs - APPROVED

  1. CSU Academic Senate

Senator Monemi reported.

The detailed CSU Academic Senate report is on the Academic Senate website at:

Dr. Monemi and Dr. Kopplin highlighted some of the resolutions as well as the Q & A section of the report.

Dr. Kopplin commented on the community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees. He also questioned Dr. Ephraim Smith about the money for conversion

  1. Budget Report

Committee Chair Lloyd reported that the Budget Committee met three times in November.

•Met with executive committee for discussion of budget committee duties per bylaws.

  • Budget transparency.
  • Ways to “assist in the formulation of the policies, priorities, and guidelines by which University resources are requested and allocated.”
  • More proactive.
  • Using referral process.

•Bronco Interactive Dashboard Tutorial

•Winter: Conversion costs.

Chair Speak stated the conversation between the Budget Committee and the Executive Committee was candid and constructive. Not everyone agreed on all topics; but, everyone is convinced that the Budget Committee can take a more active role. The Provost committed his assistance.

  1. CFA Report

CFA President DD Wills reported.

Office – The CFA will move from Building 1 move to the Library 15-23-34.

Contract Issues – The Chancellor’s representatives have agreed to come to the bargaining table on the following dates (so far):

All Day – Thursday, December 12, and Friday December 13 in Sacramento (location TBD)

All Day – Thursday, January 9, and Friday January 10 in Long Beach, Chancellor’s Office

All Day – Thursday, January 30, and Friday January 31 in Long Beach, Chancellor’s Office

All Day – Thursday, February 13, and Friday February 14 in Sacramento (location TBD)

You can read the “Sunshine Proposals” from CFA and the CSU at Thus far, CFA’s bargaining team and leaders are having a better experience with the new chancellor than was formerly the case.

Political action– CFA opposed SB 520, calling for outsourcing of courses to external providers; it is now on hold. CFA supports AB 895, which would provide a framework for assuring quality of on-line education. CFA testified on behalf of Africana Studies at the Assembly. For other legislative news, go to

We will be going to see newly sworn-in Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez in Chino on the third Friday of January. All those interested in meeting him are welcome.

Meetings,activities and events – Winter Quarter Event Schedule (so far):

Feb. 11-12 – Lecturer Luncheons, 11:30-1:00, KW

Feb. 21 – RTP Open House, 11 – 2:00, location TBA

RTP Mentoring Workshop TBA

Representation - CFA represents faculty individually as well as in the collective bargaining process. Faculty encountering difficulty or questions about their treatment during RTP, lecturer evaluation or in other contexts are advised to contact CFA. The first point of contact for the Faculty Rights Committee is Dr. Gwen Urey ( or ). If she is off campus, contact D. D. Wills or Martin Nakashima.

Membership – We are continuing our membership drive throughout successor contract bargaining. It is important for all members of Bargaining Unit 3 to be members of the CFA. If you are an agency fee-payer, you are not a member of the union. Joining will not cost you anything extra, unless you also wish to support the political action program. Membership brings with it several discounts and benefits, such as a $1 million professional liability policy, but the most important is the power to negotiate and win contract proposals.

  1. ASI Report

ASI Senator Baustista reported.

Associated Students, Incorporated, has furthered the plans for Cal Poly Pomona's Homecoming which will take place on Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th. This year's Homecoming will be in honor of the campus' 75 anniversary. All are welcomed to attend the festivities planned for the special event.

ASI Student Government has put together a task force to complete research on the transition from a quarter to a semester system university. After, the task force will create useful material for students to refer to during this big transition. ASI is doing their part to serve the students during the projected time in 2017.

The ASI Secretary of Education has teamed up with the University Housing Service and Alumni Association divisions of Cal Poly Pomona to create a Bronco Mentorship Program that will be launched in the Winter 2014 quarter. Connect freshmen with upper division students and alumni.

  1. Staff Report

No report was presented.

3.New Business

4.Academic Senate Committee Reports – Time Certain 3:45 p.m.

  1. AP-011-123, Academic Program Review for KHP - SECOND READING

This item had a First Reading at the October 30, 2013 meeting. The Department has pointed out that the Academic Programs Committee did not have all the current documents. This report will be resubmittednextquarter.

  1. AP-018-123, Academic Program Review for the General Education Program – FIRST READING

M/s/p to receive and file the report.

Senator Garver presented the report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Academic Programs Committee recommends approval of AP-018-123 Academic Program Review for the General Education Program.

This item will be a Second Reading on a future Agenda.

  1. AP-001-134, Discontinuation of the Molecular Modeling and Simulation Option for BS in Chemistry – FIRST READING

M/s/p to receive and file the report.

Senator Garver presented the report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Academic Programs Committee recommends approval of the referral AP-001-134 for Discontinuation of the Molecular Modeling and Simulation Option for BS in Chemistry.

This item will be a Second Reading on a future Agenda.

  1. AP-004-134, Move of Construction Engineering Program from Engineering Technology Department to Civil Engineering Department – FIRST READING

M/s/p to receive and file the report.

M/s/p to waive the first reading.

M/s to adopt.

Senator Garver presented the report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Academic Programs Committee recommends that the Construction Engineering Technology Program be moved from the Engineering Technology Department to the Civil Engineering Department.

Discussion – CommitteeChair Garver stated that this seems to be non-controversial on behalf of the two departments. The majority of both departments voted in favor of the move.

The motion to adopt passedunanimously.

  1. AP-015-123, Revision of Double Counting Policy and Major GPA Calculation – FIRST READING

M/s/p to receive and file the report.

Senator Garver presented the report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Academic Programs Committee recommends that points #1 and #2 outlined in this referral be adopted (definitions for support and core courses and calculation of major GPA), but that point #3 (double counting core and/or support and GE courses) not be adopted.

Therefore, the Academic Programs Committee recommends;

  1. Courses for the major/option shall be divided into two categories, core courses and support courses, defined as follows:
  • Core Courses: Coursework necessary to ensure the mastery of fundamental and advanced knowledge, methodologies, and skills of the discipline, or to provide an understanding of the breadth of the field.
  • Support Courses: Coursework to provide background or skills necessary to be successful in the discipline, or to put the discipline in the context of a larger setting.
  1. The Major GPA shall be based on all attempts of courses in the Major/Option Core, with the exception of courses for which grade forgiveness or academic renewal has been approved.
  1. Students may double-count an unlimited number of major support courses for general education credit, but may not double-count major core courses for general education credit.

DISCUSSION – Committee Chair Garver summarized the committee discussion. The Academic Programs Committee tried to define core and support courses and the major GPA calculation. The big change being suggested is a change to the double counting policy. Up to this point a student candouble count support courses in general education with no limit. The suggestion is for a student to be permitted to double countcore courses up to 14 units.

Questions were raised about the Recommended Resources. Dr. Garver responded that the Committee contacted the individuals listed as resources but not all responded to the committee request.

This item will be a Second Reading on a future Agenda.

  1. AP-005-134, Reduction of Units to Degree in Engineering Programs – FIRST READING

M/s/p to receive and file the report.

Senator Garver presented the report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Academic Programs Committee does not recommend approval of AP-005-134.

  1. The Academic Programs Committee does not support this referral because it is incomplete and in need of more detail regarding EO 1065 and ABET compliance, as well as supporting documentation from other CSU campuses cited in the referral that have GE A3 and B2 exemptions.
  1. The Academic Programs Committee does support the part of this referral that reduces the number of major units within the 11 engineering programs (4 – 7 units depending on the program, see appendix 1).
  1. The Academic Programs Committee does not support the part of this referral that requests two exceptions to the GE requirements to further reduce the units to degree. This includes the request to double count the entirety of the Engineering programs with the critical thinking requirement (A3) and the request to waive the Biological Sciences requirement (B2) and allow the Engineering programs to substitute a second Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning or Physical Sciences course to satisfy the unit requirement.

4. The Academic Programs Committee suggests that the College of Engineering work with the Provost to request a temporary exemption to the 180 unit limit as CPP is converting from a quarter to a semester calendar over the next two years.

DISCUSSION – Committee Chair Garver summarized the discussion of the Academic Programs Committee. The recommendations in Appendix 1 reduced both major and GE units. Two exemptions to the GE A3 and B2 are requested. The Committee did not support the request for the two exceptions and ask that the College work with the Provost.

Chair Speak stated that the Chancellor’s Office is looking at an across board increase of units for Engineering Programs.

A senator pointed out that the College of Engineering has reduced its units by 22. It is very harsh and has a negative effect on the program. The point was made that engineering has a major impact on society. There is no engineering course in general education even though it impacts society in general. Also pointed out was that the Engineering accreditation is crucial.

Both A3 and B2 are important to all students,not just engineering students. It was pointed out that in Appendix 1 the unit count for GE units should be 7 not 8.

David Kopplin, Chair of the General Education Committee, commented that the GE Committee discussed this issue and would like to work out a course that might meet the needs of the College of Engineering.

The opinion was expressed that this should be considered when the campus converts to the semester system.

Other programs on campus had to reduce the units in programs that had 198 units. This was done across the campus.

The statement was made that critical thinking is not just philosophy and English. In Engineering more and more criticalthinking is being introduced across the disciplines. The students are asked to look beyond the numbers and use the numbers to determine the best serviceto society.

Engineering is all about problem solving Students need to make hard choices. The opinion was expressed that when the campus converts to semester the problem of excess units will still exist.

Committee Chair Garver stated that the referral is not complete. She cited the discussion portion of the committee report as well as the recommendations regarding the need of more detail regarding EO 1065 and ABET compliance, as well as supporting documentation from other CSU campuses cited in the referral that have GE A3 and B2 exemptions.

GE Committee Chair Kopplin pointed out that the critical thinking and life science requirements should go to the General Education and be vetted through the process. Committee Chair Garver agreed.

Several senators expressed the opinion that we need a strong engineering program; but, we also need a full component of General Education. The issues of critical thinking, social justice and other philosophies should be part of the general education not a major. What can the Senate do?

A resolution to the Chancellor was suggested.

The point was made that critical thinking, analytical ability and other general education skills are not taught in a single course. Make sure the GE skills are taught throughout the curriculum not just one course.

The opinion was expressed that there are three big problems:

  • GE Program discussion and how to work with the spirit of GE in different colleges
  • Accreditation
  • Semester conversion

Dr. Pinter-Lucke authored the referral and she would happy to provide any information that the Academic Programs Committee needs. Dr. Pinter-Lucke stated that she had provided a detailed spreadsheet and she thought it identified the issues.

Dr. Garver stated that the Academic Programs Committee’s job is not to sort through a complex spreadsheet. The AcademicPrograms Committee met with the associate dean and many faculty members from the College of Engineering. It should have been identified and clarified through our conversations withrepresentatives from the College, not on a spreadsheet.

M/s to table this item and have the GE Committee look at it before it comes back to the Senate floor.

The second was retracted.

The motion was withdrawn.

An engineering senator stated that GE requirements require all students to prove competency in area A3 and B2; but,all campus studentsare not required to prove competency in the understanding of engineering issues which impact everyone.