Plymouth State University
FACULTY MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
3:35 PM – Heritage Commons
The meeting opened at 3:35 pm with the sound of the gong. There were approximately 76 faculty in attendance.
I. Approval of the draft minutes of the December 5, 2012 meeting.
The minutes were accepted as submitted.
II. Reports
A. Sara Jayne Steen, President – no questions
B. Julie Bernier, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs – not in attendance
C. BOT Report (Pat Cantor) (See Appendix A): no questions.
III. Old Business (none)
IV. New Business
A. Resolutions of Standing Committees - PSU Curriculum Committee Course Syllabus Checklist (See Appendix B)
Wendy Palmquist spoke to this resolution, stating that the Curriculum Committee has seen many syllabi over the years. Now, they are also looking at compliance with
NEASC requirements. The Committee would put this checklist on their website for anyone who needs guidance to use. Faculty do not have to redo already existing syllabi.
A voice vote was taken. The resolution was approved.
B. DISCUSSION (Deans) The College Deans have asked the Faculty Steering Committee to form a CourseEval Committee to oversee the electronic course evaluation process. Volunteers from each college are sought. (See Appendix C)
Dean Gail Mears gave more detail on the mission of this committee. The intent is to form a task force with volunteer members to get the process going. Then they expect to form a committee to oversee this process in the future. A request was made for volunteers. Those interested should contact Speaker Williams. A discussion started to clarify the proper protocol for forming a task force. Speaker Williams will put out an official call for volunteers via the faculty email distribution list.
C. DISCUSSION (Angela Kilb, Terri Dautcher, Jim Hundrieser, VPEMSA)
At the last Parking Committee meeting, Jim Hundrieser, VPEMSA, proposed that PSU charge all faculty and staff $10/yr to park their car on campus (each additional car will require a fee of $50/yr). Students are already paying a parking fee to park on campus, and that fee will also rise. He argues that this fee is necessary to balance the budget, given that we have used surplus dollars to pay for lot maintenance for about the last 5 years (at a cost of about $50,000/yr), and the surplus will be completely gone by the end of this year. Parking fees for students will also be increased.
The parking committee will vote on whether or not to adopt the $10 annual parking fee for faculty and staff on Feb 13. Based on that vote, the parking committee will make a recommendation to the cabinet who will make the final decision on the matter.
Angela Kilb explained that the purpose of this discussion was to get feedback from the faculty to take back to the Parking Committee. A lengthy discussion ensued.
· While this would be 1 strategy to help with deficit, it won’t take care of the entire deficit.
· The Committee is exploring using a hanging permit (from the rearview mirror) which costs more than having a paper sticker.
· Would parking fees apply to Sodexo and PSU Bookstore employees?
· How about a scaled fee so lower income employees don’t pay as much as professors and other upper level income employees?
· Could this fee be automatically renewed each year rather than have to go through the whole process again?
· How about a veggie-shuttle van as a strategy to help with the deficit?
· Don’t raise fees for students, just create a faculty and staff fee.
· can we get more parking spaces since parking is so tight? People with non-traditional work hours can never find a place – problematic to pay fees when you have to park far away or pay a meter.
A motion was made that tried to summarize what the faculty would find acceptable, but it was decided that there were too many variables and suggestions that had been discussed to have any kind of consensus vote. The motion was withdrawn. There was a suggestion to have a straw poll at this meeting. It was decided that the Committee had heard the comments made today so they have the information to consider without having a straw poll. VP Hundrieser thanked the faculty for their feedback.
D. MOTION from Academic Affairs Committee (Samuel Miller) to adopt a change in the language for the drop/withdrawal policy:
Current Policy/Catalog language:
Early Evaluation
All students who have earned 47 or fewer credits (first year through second year sophomore classification) are evaluated at the end of the first six weeks of classes during the fall and spring semesters. Instructors of full-semester courses submit grades on students’ performance. Students are urged to discuss these grades with their advisors and instructors. All first-semester, first year students (those who have attempted fewer than 12 credits), after consultation with the advisor and instructor(s), may drop full-semester courses(s) within two weeks after notice of the early evaluation.
Proposed Policy/Catalog language revision (changes in bold):
Early Evaluation
All students who have earned 47 or fewer credits (first year through second year sophomore classification) are evaluated at the end of the first six weeks of classes during the fall and spring semesters. Instructors of full-semester courses submit grades on students’ performance. Students are urged to discuss these grades with their advisors and instructors. All first semester students (those who have attempted fewer than 12 credits). All students who receive 6-week grades, after consultation with the advisor and instructor(s), may drop full-semester courses(s) within two weeks after notice of the early evaluation.
Sam Miller made the motion. Seconded. Sam spoke to the motion and rationale. A discussion began.
· Is it right that a student can sit in a class for 8 weeks and then drop it and not have some reflection on their transcript?
· This sounds like an overload fee issue. AVP Zehr stated that he has the authority to do late drops to avoid the fee, but doesn’t like to do it.
· There are not a lot of students affected by this change. Should a motion be passed for just a handful of exceptions?
· Should 18 credits be set as the limit for overload fees?
· Is there another code (not W) that could designate a late drop on the transcript?
· It seems that this is merely making the same policy available to all students with less than 47 credits – not just first year students.
· What if someone drops 3 classes and picks up 3 new classes under this policy change?
· Most of the 2nd half classes are gen ed, so those wouldn’t help with major changes and needing classes in the major. It might be difficult to find people to teach 2nd half classes with such a late demand.
· Will advisors have to sign off on this? No. The Registrar can sign off on this.
· It may be problematic not discussing these late drops with advisors.
A voice vote was taken. The motion was defeated.
E. MOTION from Social Science (Kate Donahue and Pat May) to accept the proposed Certificate in Hospitality Management. (See Appendix D)
Kate Donahue made the motion. Seconded. Mark Okrant spoke to the motion and addressed questions.
A voice vote was taken. The motion was approved.
F. MOTION from Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (Jonathan Santore) to accept the BA Music Degree as a new option in Commercial Voice Performance. (See separate attachment pdf)
The motion made by Jonathan Santore. Seconded. No discussion.
A voice vote was taken. The motion was approved.
G. MOTION from COBA (Robert Nadeau) to approve Professional Sales Certificate for the Division of Online and Continuing Studies (See Appendix E).
The motion made by Bob Nadeau. Seconded. Bob spoke to the motion and addressed questions.
· question on why the Curriculum Committee vote was 5-4. AVP David Zehr explained that he voted against the motion because the proposed Certificate has the same requirements as the minor.
· Students can’t major and minor in the same discipline – this allows the students who major in Business to get the certificate.
· Wendy Palmquist explained that students coming into CoBA from DOCS can earn the certificate and then the degree.
· Are we setting a precedent that we’ll change other rules in the future for DOCS students?
· Certificates are a growing alternative and good marketing from DOCS.
A motion was made to call the question. Seconded. A voice vote was taken on the motion to call the question. The motion was approved.
A voice vote was taken on the original motion. The motion was approved.
H. MOTION from Faculty Welfare Committee (Grievance Resolution Committee - Anne Jung and Michael Fischler) to amend Section 2.10 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities (See Appendix F)
The motion was made by Anne Jung. Seconded. Mike Fischler and Anne Jung spoke to the motion. Actually, this motion was needed because of the motion below. Discussion. A voice vote was taken. The motion was approved.
I. MOTION from Faculty Welfare Committee (Grievance Resolution Committee - Anne Jung and Michael Fischler) to amend Section 2.18 Grievance Policy of the Faculty Handbook. (See Appendix G)
The motion was made by Anne Jung. Seconded. Ann spoke to the motion. Discussion.
· Concern was expressed that after the Grievance Committee makes its ruling, it goes to the Provost where it could change. It should go HR.
· Victims should not be forced to sit at table with perpetrators.
· Is this a counseling type event or setting down the rules.
· Concerns about how we treat victims.
· Bullying needs to be addressed but this may not be the right way.
· Seems like an adversarial process.
· Concern about mediation versus hearing.
· Concern about list of “qualified” mediators – Who’s on the list? Who decided they were qualified?
· It needs work.
A motion was made to table this motion by John Krueckeberg. Seconded.
A voice vote was taken. The motion to table was approved.
J. INFORMATION (Steve Barba, Executive Director of University Relations) would like to address the faculty for about 5 to 10 minutes concerning university advocacy.
V. Announcements
Nancy Puglisi won the raffle basket.
VI. The meeting adjourned at 5:12 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice O’Connor, Scribe
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APPENDIX A
Report on the USNH Board of Trustees Business Meeting
Granite State College, Concord, February 1, 2013, 8:30-10:30 AM
NOTE: The Board of Trustees have adopted a new meeting structure as of September 2012. They now meet quarterly for a full day Thursday and a half day on Friday, with committees meeting all day on the Thursday and the Board conducting its business meeting on Friday morning. Minutes from the committee meetings are prepared overnight and delivered to the Board on Friday morning. Additional motions, not already on the agenda, that arise in the Committee meetings are presented on Friday mornings.
The Board meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of recently deceased Trustee John Crosier.
Chancellor’s Report:
Chancellor McKay delivered his final report as Chancellor. His last day in that position will be March 1, 2013. He urged the Trustees to continue to advocate for higher education for NH and for the University System and thanked the Trustees, his colleagues, and all those involved in supporting USNH.
President Leach (GSC) Report:
President Leach noted that Granite State College has had its highest enrollments ever this past year and has received high rankings from two national groups for access and on-line education.
Board Actions:
· The BOT voted to appoint GSC President Todd Leach as Interim Chancellor to begin March 2, 2013. Leach will continue as GSC President while serving as Interim Chancellor.
· The BOT voted to approve full integration of UNH and the UNH School of Law. Full integration will be achieved by next January.
· The BOT voted to approve that $2M be utilized for institutional marketing and enrollment purposes and that the presidents will report on the use of those funds at a future Trustees meeting.
· The BOT voted to set maximum amounts for the FY 14 Mandatory Fees and Room and Board (academic year 2013-2014). (NOTE: Maximum amount for PSU fees and room and board is $11, 458.)
· The BOT voted to authorize maximum amounts for nonresident tuition rates for FY 14 (academic year 2013-2014). (NOTE: Maximum amount for PSU nonresident tuition is $17,830.)
· The BOT voted that “the setting of FY14 in-state tuition rates be deferred until clarification on the FY14 state operating appropriation is available, and that FY13 in-state tuition rates be used in financial aid packaging pending final determination of FY14 in-state tuition rates AND FURTHER, that if the FY14 state operating appropriation is not sufficiently increased to freeze FY14 in-state tuition rates at FY13 levels, any such appropriation shortfall will be offset by supplemental in-state tuition increases.”