Faculty Assembly Minutes April 4, 2016
Chair: Joan M. Carroll Recorder: Aaron Wilson
Members Absent:
ANT – ______/ C&I – Carol Willard / ECE – Marianne HromalikHIS – Gwen Kay / M&M – Ken Shaw / MAT – Chris Baltus
PHY – Scott Roby / PSY – Qing Liu / SA – ______
SA – ______/ SA – ______
The meeting was called to order at 3:11 pm.
I. Approval of Agenda – The agenda was approved as published.
Prior to the approval of the minutes, a brief announcement was made about the Student Opportunity Center test drive.
II. Approval of Minutes – The specific new and revised course proposals which were approved at UCC’s February 24 meeting were added to the February 29 minutes. The minutes were then approved as amended.
The March 14 minutes were approved as published.
III. FA Chair’s Report – Joan Carroll
The chair introduced Walter Roettger, the acting provost who arrived today to begin his tenure with us. He was warmly welcomed by the Assembly.
The next meeting will have three reports. Josh McKeown will discuss international programs, Jean Ann will discuss nonnative English speakers in the classroom, and Mitch Fields will give the summer construction update. The final meeting will be abbreviated because it is followed by the General Faculty meeting.
The universal personnel dates handout has been updated for the coming year and will soon be distributed widely.
Candidates are still being sought out to fill the soon-to-be vacant Faculty Assembly Chair position.
Please say your name and constituency before speaking.
Please continue to send electronic copies of all handouts and reports to . We will convert handouts to PDF for posting on our website and sharing through Google Drive.
Please continue to support our green initiatives by bringing your own reusable beverage container to FA meetings.
IV. Update on Google Changes – Sean Moriarty, Chief Technology Officer
The primary change that occurred with Google was the activation of a service called My Maps. Upon the activation of this service, the agreement in Google contained language notifying people that system administrators may be able to access one’s Oswego.edu email.
The contract is standard and is mainly used to tailor advertisements, however, Oswego’s use of Google does not use ads.
There are three system administrators who could potentially have access to emails on campus. There is a difference between ability to access and authority. Authority is given under two conditions: personal permission or a request from legal counsel to extract information.
Questions were raised about whether one would be notified if one’s email was accessed and the circumstances surrounding the authority to access one’s email. Access would be determined by legal counsel.
Email is not a private form of communication – a point that was stressed several times.
A question was raised if access was available to on-campus computers. One would need to give permission to allow remote access to one’s computer, or a computer may be seized, as in instances of an investigation.
The three system administrators who have the ability to access one’s email are Carlo Bell, Michael Pisa, and Andy Goldzweig.
V. Extended Learning Update – Jill Pippin, Dean
The goal of Extended Learning is to provide access to higher education.
Online courses are undergoing enhancements. Oswego is currently searching for a videographer to add interactive elements to online courses, such as an instructor introduction. Hybrid courses (part online, part in person) are currently underway. They are paying attention to students, who do not live on campus or who live out of state, taking online courses. There are slightly more than 350 active online courses.
The evening accounting degree will be deactivated.
There are over 500 non-traditional students (25 years of age or older) in the undergraduate programs.
Oswego has three veteran-friendly awards, and Oswego is the highest rank SUNY school by the Military Times.
One major initiative for the Metro Center Branch Campus is to prepare for, recruit, and launch undergraduate completion degrees in Human Development, Public Justice, and Business.
The Summer Planning Workshop will be on April 15.
The number of courses an individual faculty member may teach during Summer and Winter sessions is determined by department chairs.
The Phoenix Center Ancillary Site will be closing at the end of the Spring semester. The staff from this site will be moving to the main campus. The testing center at the Phoenix Site will be moving to the main campus as well.
Oswego is partnered with 25 high schools, and there have been 2,201 course enrollments during the 2015-16 academic year.
There is an English proficiency exam for international students, and Ebru Altay works with international students for their academic issues.
Discussions ensued about providing academic support to international students, such as extended time for exams.
Questions were raised about adequate resources to provide the tutoring services that are assured in our catalogue, and about the allocation of resources to academically support international students.
VI. Reports of Councils, Committees and Task Forces
● Academic Policies Council – Eve Clark
The council met March 18 and approved proposed revisions to the Biology BA and BS; Zoology BS; and the Biology and Zoology minors pending revisions. Since the revisions were made, the proposals are on the table and will be considered by FA at the next meeting.
· Priorities and Planning Council – Linda Rae Markert
The council has not met in the last month; planning to meet April 8.
● Personnel Policies Council – Linda Rae Markert
The council met March 28.
Gwen Kay and Joan Carroll will be meeting with the Acting Provost to discuss dates for retention, tenure, and promotion; emergency hires (mid-semester); and other topics.
The council discussed a by-laws change regarding frequently absent members of councils. Sue Fettes brought to their attention that a provision already exists in the by-laws that discusses the consequences of frequent absences.
Nominations for the FA chair are due to Personnel Policies Council by noon April 15. The council is also looking for nominations for the Faculty Senate Alternatives.
The next meeting is April 18.
● Undergraduate Curriculum Council – Lenuta Giukin
The committee met March 30 and approved new and revised courses and prerequisite revisions as follows:
CHE 120 (new) Applied Math for General Chemistry
DNC 350 (new) Dance History
DNC 360 (new) Anatomy for Dancers
GST 315 (new) Transfer Success Seminar
GEO 396 (new) Geology Teaching Assistant
ISC 300 (update) Ethics and Social Policy in the Digital Age
MET 396 (new) Meteorology Teaching Assistant
MSC 110 (update) Introduction to Leadership and Critical Thinking
MSC 120 (new) Introduction to the Profession of Arms
MSC 210 (new) Leadership and Decision Making
MSC 220 (new) Army Doctrine and Team Development
PED 200 (new) Physical Education
PHL 300 (NEW) Ethics and Social Policy in the Digital Age
ZOO 389 (update) Animal Ecology
ART 250: Western Heritage I – Survey of Art I
Current Prerequisite(s): ENG 102 or HON 204 New Prerequisite(s): none
ART 251: Western Heritage II – Survey of Art II
Current Prerequisite(s): ENG102 or HON204 New Prerequisite(s): none
ART 304: Motion Graphics I
Current Prerequisite(s): Art 207, Art 323, or BRC 235, or permission of instructor
New Prerequisite(s): Art 207, Art 323, CSS 235, or BRC 235, or permission of instructor
ART 391: Special Topics in Art History
Current Prerequisite(s): Art 250 or Art 251 or Instructor Permission
New Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or Instructor Permission
The next meeting is April 20. The deadline for submissions is April 18.
● Graduate Council – Sandy Bargainnier
The council approved EDU 525 – Project Smart. It is similar to a topics course.
The council will look into the scholarship system, making sure that the system is inclusive, especially in terms of when graduate students are eligible to apply for them.
The master’s degree in strategic communication has been approved in Albany.
Brad Korbesmeyer met with EC when they were on campus.
The last meeting is April 15. Submissions need to be in by April 11.
· General Education Council – Michael Nehring
The Proposal for the Assessment of Advanced Expository Writing is being put forth by the council for consideration at the April 18 meeting.
VII. Elections
There were no nominations.
VIII. Unfinished Business
· Proposed revisions to the Forensic Science Minor – adds electives and adjusts prerequisites Passed Unanimously
· Proposed endorsement of Ad Hoc Committee for Prior Learning Assessment Passed Unanimously
IX. New Business
There was no new business.
Meeting adjourned 4:39 pm.
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