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THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
The University Faculty Senate
AGENDA
Tuesday, December 2, 1997, at 1:30 PM in
112 Kern Graduate
[In the case of severe weather conditions or other emergencies, you may call the Senate Office at (814) 863-0221 to inquire if a Senate meeting has been postponed or canceled. This may be done after normal office hours by calling the same number and a voice mail announcement can be heard concerning the status of any meeting. You may also leave a message at that time.]
A. MINUTES OF THE PRECEDING MEETING -
Minutes of the October 21, 1997, Meeting in The Senate Record 31:2
B. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SENATE - Senate Curriculum Report (Blue Sheets)of November 21, 1997
C. REPORT OF SENATE COUNCIL - Meeting of November 11, 1997
D. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CHAIR -
E. COMMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY -
F. FORENSIC BUSINESS -
*J. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS -
Senate Committee on University Planning
Costing of the Special Committee on General Education Proposal
G.*UNFINISHED LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS -
Special Committee on General Education
Final Report and Recommendations of the Special Committee on General Education
*Please note that Senate Council has reordered the Agenda to place the costing report before the General Education Report. Also, it is requested that you bring Appendix "B" from the October 21 Senate Agenda to this meeting; this is the original General Education report.
H. LEGISLATIVE REPORTS -
Committees and Rules
Revision of Standing Rules, Article II: Senate Committee Structure
I. ADVISORY/CONSULTATIVE REPORTS -
J. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS -
Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid
Reserved Spaces Program
Report of High School Nondegree Students Enrolled in Credit Courses
Faculty Benefits
Faculty Retiree Rights and Privileges
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Annual Report for 1996-97, Leon J. Stout, Chair
Intercollegiate Athletics
Annual Report of Academic Eligibility and Athletic Scholarships for 1996-97, John J. Coyle, NCAA Representative
Student Life
Alcohol Abuse Issues Related to Organized Student Housing
Undergraduate Education
Grade Distribution Report
Mid-Semester Evaluation Process 1992-96
K. NEW LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS -
L. COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNIVERSITY -
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Note: The next regular meeting of the University Faculty Senate will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 1998, at 1:30 PM in Room 112 Kern Building.
DATE: November 17, 1997
FROM: Peter Deines, Chair, Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs
TO: Louis F. Geschwindner, Chair, University Faculty Senate
The Senate Curriculum Report, dated November 21, 1997, has been circulated throughout the University. Objections to any of the items in the report must be submitted to the Curriculum Coordinator at the Senate Office, Birch Cottage, on or before December 22, 1997.
An Equal Opportunity University
THE PENNSYLVAINA STATE UNIVERSTIY
The University Faculty Senate
Birch Cottage
Date: November 14, 1997
To: Members of the University Faculty Senate
From: Louis F. Geschwindner, Chair, University Faculty Senate
Re: The General Education Report
Attached please find a summary of the General Education report presenting the material upon which we will be voting. All of this material is taken directly from the "Final Report and Recommendations of the Special Committee on General Education of The University Faculty Senate." You will note that this summary includes the motion that has been presented on the floor of the Senate at our October 21 meeting and includes the Vision Statement, the Mission Statement, the Statement of Goals, the ten recommendations and the Framework for General Education. It will be these parts of the report that make up the motion that will be considered for the vote to be taken. Other supporting information presented in the report is not part of the motion and will not be voted on.
As Chair of the Senate, I will recognize appropriate amendments/motions from the floor but I would like to ensure that motions are clearly stated so that everyone can understand exactly what is being considered. To this end, I am requesting that, if at all possible, you submit your motion in writing to the Senate Office by November 24 so it can be printed and distributed as a door handout at the meeting. Please include your name and/or the unit that you represent so we can clearly identify the correct motion if several are submitted. The request for written amendments/motions is to help expedite the consideration of this report. I will still recognize appropriate amendments/motions from the floor other than those that are submitted in writing.
I have asked the Senate Office not to reprint the entire General Education report in this agenda. You may wish to have the entire report available as we go through the floor debate, thus, I ask that you bring your copy of the Senate Agenda of October 21 to the Senate meeting with you.
Remember, it is the intention of the Senate leadership to bring the consideration of this General Education report to closure by taking a vote at the December 2, 1997 Senate meeting. This has been both a long and sometimes arduous process for the Special Committee on General Education and I would personally like to thank Robert Pangborn and his special committee for bringing it forward for our consideration.
************************************************************
FINAL REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
of
The Special Committee on
General Education
for The University Faculty Senate
************************************************************
MOTION: To adopt the Vision, Mission and (amended statement of) Goals for General Education at Penn State as given in The Senate Agenda for
10-21-97, Appendix "B," pages 7 & 8, the ten recommendations as presented in Appendix "B," pages 9-27, and the framework for General Education at Penn State as given in Appendix "B," page 32.
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VISION [from Appendix "B" page 7]
To develop and deliver a general education program that emphasizes learning, that functions as an integral, provocative, and enlightening part of students' higher education and that represents a source of pride and identity for the entire Penn State community.
MISSION [from Appendix "B" page 7]
The General Education program at Penn State reflects a deep conviction by leaders in all professions that successful, satisfying lives require a wide range of skills and knowledge.
Scientists and artists, administrators and teachers, and public policy makers and private entrepreneurs in both their professional and private lives need the skills to reason logically and quantitatively and to communicate effectively. All need broad overviews of the world they live in--of the sciences that make sense of its natural and manufactured environments, of the cultural movements that have shaped its diverse values, and of the enduring art that best expresses, inspires, and continually challenges those values.
GOALS [from Appendix "B" pages 7-8]
General education ENCOMPASSES the breadth of knowledge involving the major intellectual and aesthetic SKILLS AND achievements of humanity. This must include understanding and appreciation of the pluralistic nature of knowledge epitomized by the natural sciences, quantitative skills, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts. TO ACHIEVE AND SHARE SUCH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION, SKILLS IN SELF-EXPRESSION, QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS, INFORMATION LITERACY, AND COLLABORATIVE INTERACTION ARE NECESSARY. General education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. General education, in essence, aims to cultivate a knowledgeable, informed, literate human being.
An effective general education program enables students to:
a. acquire knowledge through critical INFORMATION GATHERING--
INCLUDING reading, listening, COMPUTER-ASSISTED
SEARCHING, AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTATION AND
OBSERVATION;
b. analyze and evaluate, where appropriate in a quantitative manner, the
acquired knowledge;
c. integrate knowledge from a variety of sources and fields;
d. make critical judgments in a logical and rational manner;
e. recognize and comprehend the role of physical activity in meeting the
demands of daily living DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO MAINTAIN
HEALTH, AND UNDERSTAND THE FACTORS THAT IMPINGE
UPON IT;
f. learn to communicate effectively, BOTH IN WRITING AND ORALLY,
AND USING THE ACCEPTED METHODS FOR PRESENTATION,
ORGANIZATION AND DEBATE PARTICULAR TO THEIR
DISCIPLINES;
G. PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH
OTHERS IN SEEKING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE;
H. g. comprehend the reality of GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF
international interdependence and cultural diversity, AND DEVELOP
CONSIDERATION FOR VALUES, LIFESTYLES, AND
TRADITIONS THAT MAY DIFFER FROM THEIR OWN;
I. h. comprehend the role of aesthetic and creative activities in meeting the
demands of daily living EXPRESSING BOTH IMAGINATION AND
EXPERIENCE.
RECOMMENDATIONS [from Appendix "B" pages 9-27]
Recommendation #1: Establish a first-year seminar experience for incoming, first-year students, provided by each of the colleges and campuses as part of the general education program.
Recommendation #2: Improve the diagnostic instruments and measures used in the placement of entering students in skills courses and reduce the incidence of students taking courses with content that they have already mastered by encouraging placing out or exemption when proficiency has been attained and/or demonstrated.
Recommendation #3: Identify the specific competencies and levels of proficiencies expected for, and constituting college-level mastery in, each of the skill areas (writing, speaking and quantification); identify the subsets of these competencies that are relevant for students intending on entering majors within each of the broad disciplinary categories (natural or applied sciences, business, social sciences, humanities, arts, communications, etc.); where needed, revise or develop new courses that will emphasize and help achieve these learning outcomes.
Recommendation #4: Integrate key competencies for active learning (writing, speaking, quantitative reasoning, information retrieval and computer literacy, problem solving and critical thinking, collaboration and teamwork, intercultural and international competence), as appropriate, in all general education courses in the domain-knowledge areas (health sciences, sciences, arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences).
Recommendation #5: Develop policies, procedures and guidelines for the general education curriculum and its attendant requirements that will stimulate creative, collaborative approaches, both in terms of curriculum development and delivery and in the ways students may meet the spirit of the requirements.
Recommendation #6: Restructure the existing, 4-credit, Health Science and Physical Education requirement to create a new, 3-credit, Health Sciences requirement that emphasizes an academic approach and rationale to issues and research concerning health and which may include physical activities that focus on lifespan wellness and fitness.
Recommendation #7: Refine the guidelines used in approving courses intended to develop intercultural and international competence, to emphasize student engagement and active learning.
Recommendation #8: Institute a new option to substitute 3 credits of study in a second language (at the third semester level or above) towards satisfaction of the general education requirements.
Recommendation #9: Initiate a systematic, formative, assessment mechanism: namely, a faculty-oriented, administratively supported, general education assessment interest group. The goal of this initiative is to gain timely, practical insights into what students should be learning, what and how well they are learning, the opportunities provided by Penn State's curriculum, and how the University can continually improve general education.
Recommendation #10: The University Faculty Senate leadership shall develop an appropriate mechanism for oversight of the implementation of the recommended changes to the general education curriculum. This shall include making necessary revisions to the "Guide to Curricular Procedures;" examination and refinement, as warranted, of the faculty committee/subcommittee organization for course approvals; study of the process used for submission of, and action on, course proposals; and monitoring and coordination of the implementation process and schedule.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES AND RULES
Revision of Standing Rules, Article II: Senate Committee Structure
(Legislative)
Effective date: Upon passage by the Senate
INTRODUCTION
The Committee on Committees and Rules proposes the following legislation to bring the language of the Senate Constitution into alignment with actual practice in regard to the maintenance of liaison between standing committees. In some few cases, the Standing Rules mandates dual membership as a method of maintaining liaison between standing committees. In practice, such dual membership is onerous and unnecessary.
RECOMMENDATION
The legislative action is to amend the Standing Rules, Article II, Section 6, to remove all references to dual membership on standing committees.
Standing Rules
Article II
SENATE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
Section 6
Senate Committees:
(c) Committee on Computing and Information Systems
1.Membership:
(i) At least eight (8) elected faculty including one Senator with dual membership on the Committee on Libraries, one Senator with dual membership on the Committee on Research, and one Senator with dual membership on Committee on Undergraduate Education.
(i) Committee on Libraries
1.Membership:
(i) At least six (6) elected faculty Senators including one Senator with dual membership on the Committee on Computing and Information Systems.
(j) Committee on Outreach Activities
1.Membership
(i) At least seven (7) elected faculty Senators including one member with joint membership on the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education.
(k) Committee on Research
1.Membership
(i) At least ten (10) elected faculty Senators including on Senator with dual membership on the Committee on Computing and Information Systems.
(m) Committee of Undergraduate Education
1.Membership
(i) At least twelve (12) elected faculty Senators including on Senator with dual membership on the Committee on Computing and Information Systems and one Senator with dual membership on Committee on Outreach Activities.
RATIONALE
The Constitution of the University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University mandated dual membership between selected standing committees of the University Faculty Senate as a means for ensuring liaison between these committees. Dual membership requires that the person who is chosen as liaison between two standing committees attend the monthly meetings of both committees on Tuesday mornings of Senate meeting days. This duty is onerous and often impossible because the meeting times of the two committees overlap. The practice of dual membership is ineffective in achieving the desired effect of liaison between standing committees.
In each case in which the Constitution mandates dual membership on two standing committees, the Constitution also mandates liaison between the exact same standing committees. The reference to dual membership is redundant.
The Senate Office regularly sends minutes of all standing committees to Chairs of standing committees of the Senate. These shared minutes are effective in achieving the function of liaison between any and all standing committees mandated by the Constitution making dual membership on two committees unnecessary.
COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES AND RULES
Leonard BerkowitzSENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS, RECORDS, SCHEDULING AND STUDENT AID
Reserved Spaces Program
(Informational Report)
"Reserved Spaces" represent spaces at the University Park Campus reserved for eligible freshmen with special needs that cannot be met at CES campuses. These spaces are generally for students whose predicted GPAs are below the cutoffs for regular fall admissions for University Park.
In nearly all cases, students admitted at the University Park Campus through the Reserved Spaces Program meet the basic admission standards of the University (categories 1 through 6 on attached tables). In some instances, it is not possible to calculate a predicted GPA (there were 5 such cases in 1997) or there are special circumstances that warrant dropping below the 2.00 minimum (there were 4 such cases in 1997).
Most reserved spaces are for specially talented students in such areas as athletics and arts. Most of these students contribute uniquely both to educational and cultural life of the entire University Park community. Spaces are also reserved for veterans and those entering under the Educational Opportunity Program. These two categories, along with Arts and Architecture talent admits, are Senate approved. Two other general classifications account for the remaining students admitted through the Reserved Spaces Program. "Other Academic" admissions involve students granted entrance by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions’ Admissions Review Committee, and students on ROTC scholarships. Administrative admissions include athletes, members of the Blue Band, and a few additional administrative spaces.
The first table indicates the distribution of admissions through the Reserved Spaces Program by predicted GPA for each general classification. About 24 percent of the 222 admitted for the current academic year were near the University Park cutoffs.
The second table contains data giving a profile of admissions through the Reserved Spaces Program for six years since 1984. During this time, the approved maximum for the program has been reduced. It stood at 365 for 1995 and 335 for 1996 and 1997. The difference is due to the fact that we removed the category "international students" from the Reserved Spaces Program last year. Thus, the limits are actually the same since 1994 and will remain the same for 1998. During that same period, the number actually admitted has been far below the approved limit. Currently, about five percent of the entering fall semester freshman class at University Park is admitted through the Reserved Spaces Program, which is a substantial reduction from 1984, both in absolute number and percentage of new freshmen. These same data are displayed as histograms in the third table. The last chart displays the approved limits for fall 1998 by specific category.
Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid
Ingrid Blood
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS, RECORDS,
SCHEDULING AND STUDENT AID
Report of High School Nondegree Students Enrolled in Credit Courses
(Informational)
The Faculty Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid (ARSSA) requests the Undergraduate Admissions Office to prepare an annual report identifying the number of high school nondegree students enrolled in Penn State courses during the preceding year. The report has typically included enrollment numbers for the past summer, fall and spring semesters.
Introduction
Policies governing the enrollment of high school students in credit courses at Penn State are governed by the University Faculty Senate. Existing legislation (passed 4/16/91) permits students who have not yet graduated from high school to enroll in University credit courses as nondegree students equally and uniformly by taking credit course work from any Penn State location including independent learning through correspondence or television.
Purpose
Through high school student enrollment, the University encourages students to explore academic interests which may lead to career decisions and to learn the wealth of opportunities available through a large university system, including accessing library and computer resources.
Interest in high school student opportunities at Penn State has been growing as more students, parents and administrators look beyond the traditional high school curriculum to challenge students with collegiate level course work prior to college degree enrollment. A principal in a rural northern Pennsylvania school district enrolled seven seniors in German I through independent learning, and currently a US citizen being educated in Spain is completing English 15 through independent learning. Most students, however, are in their senior year of high school and applying to college while they are completing college level course work at Penn State.
Several Penn State campuses have taken initiatives to develop programs for high school students in their immediate service area. Penn State Altoona encourages seniors to get a head start on college in the Preparatory Academic Collegiate Experience or PACE program. Penn State Fayette continues to build strong links to Penn State through their partnership with the Albert Gallatin School District. Each semester ten students are selected by the guidance department to enroll in classes on campus.
Who is Eligible
Students who have completed the 11th grade and have not yet graduated from high school will be evaluated by the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Younger students (11th grade or less) will only be considered for enrollment as exceptions. Their applications will be subject to approval by the Senate Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid Committee.
Decisions for Enrollment
Students must complete a nondegree enrollment form and apply at the location the student plans to attend. The student’s high school guidance counselor must also submit an official high school transcript, SAT I, PSAT, ACT or other standardized test scores and a statement in support of the student’s enrollment at Penn State to recommend the student as capable of work beyond the high school level and able to benefit from the challenge. High school students may not enroll in courses which are equivalent to course content available in their high schools. In all cases a student must remain a student of record in his or her high school district, making progress towards completing all high school credits required for a high school diploma.
How Students Enroll
Approval for enrollment in nondegree course work is sent by letter to each student. Students are given appropriate academic advising, usually from the Division of Undergraduate Studies. High School students may enroll for a maximum of eight credits in either semester or the summer session. Requests to permit students to exceed these limits must be specially justified to the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid.
Detailed tables with a history of program enrollment from summer 1994 through spring 1997 are attached for your information.
Senate Committee on Admissions,Records, Scheduling and Student Aid
Ingrid Blood
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FACULTY BENEFITS
Faculty Retiree Rights and Privileges
(Informational Report)
This brochure has been prepared by the University Faculty Senate Committee on Faculty Benefits with the cooperation of the Office of Human Resources. The Committee and Office of Human Resources intends to publish this information as a printed brochure as well as make it available on the WEB. Our intent is to keep the brochure current. While we have attempted to be accurate, references to official University policies are given throughout the text. These references should be consulted for official policies. Each of the following areas are briefly discussed.
Identification Card/Faculty Directory/Intercom
Library and Computer Use and Purchase
Telephone
Parking
Sports and Use of Athletic Facilities
Tuition Reduction Benefits
Insurance Benefits
Faculty/Staff Club and Retired Faculty/Staff Club
Department Mail and Office Space
Identification Card/Faculty Directory/Intercom
All retired faculty and staff continue to be entitled to carry a University identification card for uses described later in this brochure.
Emeritus Faculty are authorized to receive the Penn State Intercom and be listed in the Faculty Directory. Listings must be renewed each year by submitting a Department of University Publications Telephone Directory Information Form by July 15 to Directories, Suite A, University Support Building I. Forms are available from Human Resources Representatives or by calling 863-1870. Any other retired employees who have completed at least 25 years of service may receive Intercom, at home, free of charge by obtaining and submitting a form available from Intercom,
312 Old Main, 814-865-7517.
Library and Computer Use and Purchase
All retired and faculty and staff have the same library privileges as their active counterparts. Their University identification cards provide all library services.
All retired faculty and staff that have computer access accounts upon retiring and keep University benefits when retired may continue to use their computer access accounts. Use of mainframe computer accounts after retirement is dependent on continuing responsibilities and individual departmental arrangements. Computer purchase through the microcomputer order center is limited to full-time faculty and staff.
Telephone Service
True PSU long-distance telephone service accounts at your home may be maintained after retirement if benefits eligible.
Parking
Emeritus faculty may buy a permit that allows parking in all lots with more than about 20 spaces for $23 per month. All retirees may buy one-day permits good in Orange lots for $2. Books of one-day permits may also be purchased at the Parking Office in Eisenhower Garage.
Sports/Use of Athletic Facilities
All athletic facilities at the University Park campus are open to retired faculty and staff; most have reduced rates equal to active employees. Current (1997) rates include annual golf courses membership of $490, tennis club annual membership of $158, natatorium semester pass of $35, annual locker rentals of $41, and ice rink admission of $3. Other facility charges may be at reduced rates such as limited rather than full use of some facilities.
Retirees holding season football tickets may continue these tickets at the same rates as active employees. Transfer of ownership of such tickets to others is not allowed.
Tuition Reduction Benefits
Any retired employee eligible to continue group insurance after retirement may claim grants-in-aid for tuition for their spouse or unmarried children [children are eligible until the bachelor's degree is received]. Policy HR-37, Grant-in-Aid for Dependents of Faculty, Staff, and Retirees details the regulations. Retirees are also eligible [see HR-36, Educational Privileges for Faculty, Staff, and Retirees for details].
Insurance Benefits
Insurance benefits after retirement are covered by Policy HR-54, Continuation of Group Insurance After Age 60, Age 65, and After Retirement or Death. This policy is paraphrased below.
If the faculty or staff member has passed his or her 60th birthday as a retirement (with or without a pension), he or she must have at least fifteen (15) years of continuous participation in the University's life insurance plan immediately preceding retirement in order to continue life insurance and H/S/MM into retirement. (Individuals hired prior to July 1, 1984 must have ten (10) years of service.) A break in coverage in excess of six months caused by the faculty or staff member's opting to discontinue coverage while on leave of absence without salary will not be counted as continuous participation.
If the faculty or staff member's 60th birthday has not occurred as of retirement (with or without a pension), he or she must have at least twenty-five years of regular University employment and ten years of continuous participation in the life insurance plan and/or a University sponsored medical plan immediately preceding retirement in order to continue the coverage into retirement. A break in coverage in excess of six months caused by the employee's opting to discontinue insurance coverage while on leave of absence without salary will not be counted as continuous participation.
A break in coverage due to absence for United States military or public health service will be counted as continuous participation.
Each faculty or staff member who began employment with the University on or before April 30, 1954, may continue $10,000 of life insurance into retirement. Each faculty or staff member who began employment with the University on or after May 1, 1954, may continue $5,000 of life insurance into retirement.
Each faculty or staff member eligible for Hospital/Surgical/Major Medical coverage after retirement (including eligible participating dependents) will continue the same benefits until the first of the month in which each reaches his or her 65th birthday, at which time he or she is expected to participate in MEDICARE (Part A, if eligible, and Part B). At age 65, the UNIVERSITY MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT or a MEDICARE RISK HMO plan covers such individuals.
Coverage under the University's dental, vision or VADD plans ceases upon retirement, or upon the death of the faculty or staff member.
Membership in UNIVERSITY SPONSORED MEDICAL or UNIVERSITY MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT, if applicable, is permitted for eligible participating dependents of a deceased faculty or staff member who qualified (or would have qualified based on age and length of service at death) to continue the coverage after retirement. Such coverage for a spouse continues for life, or until remarriage occurs. The coverage for a dependent child continues as long as the definition of a dependent child, as specified by the University's group contract, is met.
If the deceased faculty or staff member would not have qualified to continue the coverage after retirement, such coverage for a spouse may be continued for one year, or until remarriage occurs, if earlier. For a dependent child, the coverage may be continued for one year provided the definition of a dependent child, as specified by the University's group contract, is met. If coverage is desired for more than one year, the Employee Benefits Division should be contacted for details.
Faculty/Staff Club and Retired Faculty/Staff Club
All retired faculty/staff may join or maintain membership in the Faculty/Staff Club. The Club dues are $25 per year and include reduced price lunches at the Nittany Lion Inn, special monthly dinners, and other activities. Full information is available from the officers who change each year. The account office is located in the HUB and can be reached at 865-7590.
The Retired Faculty/Staff Club meets six time a years for lunch with the purpose of promoting friendship, affording recreation, furthering the general welfare of the membership, and promoting other interests that may arise. Officers change periodically but can be reached through Ms. Jean Crider, 135 Hickory Road, State College at this time.
Department Mail and Office Space
Essentially all departments will continue to provide retired faculty with a place to receive mail. Office space is fully a function of the department and college on a space available basis with no overall University policy.
All retirees should keep the offices noted below informed of the proper mailing address.
A. Employee Benefits Division, The Pennsylvania State University, 120 South Burrowes Street, University Park, PA 16801, telephone 865-1473.
B. Health Plan Carrier.
C. Local Social Security Office.
D. The appropriate retirement system from which you are receiving an annuity:
*State Employees' Retirement System, 30 N. Third Street, P. O. Box 1147, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1147
*Teacher's Insurance and Annuity Association & College Retirement Equities Fund, 730 Third
Avenue,New York, NY 10017
*Federal Retirement Office of Personnel Management, Employee Service Record Center, Boyers, PA 16017.
COMMITTEE ON FACULTY BENEFITS
Michael Akritas
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FACULTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Annual Report for 1996-97
(Informational)
I am pleased to present the report of the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities to you today.
As you will see in this report, the Committee dealt with eleven cases this past year. This was a significant decline in number from the previous year’s eighteen cases, but brought us back to the more typical committee load of the beginning of the decade.
Eight of the cases dealt with either tenure and/or promotion denial, while the other cases dealt with academic freedom and related issues. All were brought by faculty members and I mention that only to remind all that the process is open to administrators also who wish to file petitions against faculty members.
All of the promotion and tenure cases charged procedural irregularities, usually in connection with professional ethics violations. Of the eleven cases reviewed by the Committee, one remains open, one was abandoned by the petitioner, and one was resolved through the good offices of the Committee. Significant problems were found in two cases warranting action and one case had no irregularities but some action was recommended. In the remaining five cases, the Committee found no procedural irregularities and recommended no further action by the Provost. While there may have been troubling aspects to some of these five cases, we found no prejudicial errors that, in our judgment, would merit a re-review.
The Committee, of course, works closely with the Provost’s Office, in particular with Vice Provost Secor. The lack of serious differences of opinion this year suggests that we are continuing to be successful in protecting the integrity of the promotion and tenure process at Penn State.
The lessons we draw from these cases hold no surprises. Explicit communication between candidates and administrators concerning the outcomes of reviews remains essential to a fair and useful process. Mentoring by department heads likewise remains a key to success. We cannot urge too strongly that candidates take every opportunity to learn about the process and discuss expectations and their progress with senior colleagues and administrators.
The Committee saw last year an increasing tendency to link complaints of procedural irregularities to claims of discrimination. The Committee has chosen to look only at actual allegations of procedural irregularity and to refer claims of bias to the Affirmative Action Office. University legal counsel has concurred in this approach, but has also alerted the Committee that faculty members who receive a formal finding from the Affirmative Action Office with which they disagree can appeal that decision to theCommittee.
It is also common in the Committee’s work to find cases that reflect the changing environment of the University. Structural changes in the University likely affected at least one case in 1996-97. This year, we have already seen cases relating to the changing status of the commonwealth campuses and also the procedural change in which the University Promotion and Tenure Committee reviews a dossier when a dean votes "no" following unanimous "yes" votes in previous levels of review. These types of cases do provide all involved in promotion and tenure reviews an opportunity to refine our understanding of the process.
Finally, since our last report, Senate legislation has been implemented changing the mandated time period to sixty days for completing a case review. I believe that in almost all cases we are meeting that mandate. Where we do not, I will echo Phil Klein, my predecessor, in saying that we resolve cases as quickly as we possibly can.
TABLE 1
FACULTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES COMMITTEE
CASE LOAD IN RECENT YEARS
Years Number of Cases
1988-89---------- 6
1989-90---------- 9
1990-91---------- 12
1991-92---------- 8
1992-93---------- 24
1993-94---------- 23
1994-95---------- 21
1995-96---------- 18
1996-97---------- 11
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FACULTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
John J. Cahir
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Annual Report of Academic Eligibility and Athletic Scholarships for 1996-97
(Informational)
INTRODUCTION
Each year the Senate Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics is mandated to provide reports of NCAA activities to the Senate. One report usually addresses NCAA eligibility numbers and the other, later in the academic year, offers insights gained from recently passed NCAA legislation. This report focuses on the former and is reasonably self-explanatory. Please note that, as always, a number of athletes are counted twice if their sports overlap two seasons or if they compete in more than one sport.
1. Total Number of Athletes Screened for Eligibility (Fall 96 & Spring 97)
1996-97: 1788
2. Total Number of Athletes Not Approved for Participation (Fall 96 & Spring 97)
1996-97: 45
3. Total Number of Exceptions to Normal Progress Rules (Fall 96 & Spring 97)
1996-97: 38
4. Total Number of Scholarship Athletes (Academic year 1996-97)
1996-97: 470
5. Comparison of Data for Annual Report
-------------------------------1992-93-----1993-94-----1994-95-----1995-96-----1996-97SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
William W. Asbury
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STUDENT LIFE
Alcohol Abuse Issues Related To Organized Student Housing
(Informational Report)
This report is part of an information series on alcohol-related issues. The Senate Committee on Student Life has drawn on the expertise of units and individuals at various locations to provide information on the incidents of alcohol abuse in University residences and residences associated with Greek life. Information is also presented on the educational programs promoting alcohol use/abuse awareness.
I. RESIDENCE LIFE
A. University Park
The Office of Residence Life has, as one of its priorities over the past few years, addressed issues related to alcohol use and abuse by residence hall students. Responses to the issues have varied from the formalized creation of a special living option to the ongoing educational efforts by Residence Life staff. The following information identifies some of the activities the department has undertaken in response to alcohol use and abuse by the University Park residential population.
Special Living Options
In 1991, a substance-free living alternative for students at University Park was developed. Known as LIFE (Living In a Free Environment) House, this option provides students an opportunity to live with other students who choose not to use alcohol, drugs or tobacco within the residence hall environment. The program began as a two-floor option located in two separate buildings. Student preference led to placing the option in one coed facility. When the program began, approximately 60 students were served. This number has doubled over the years and LIFE House currently occupies four floors with approximately 130 students. In addition to the traditional resident assistants for the house, there is also a Health Educator who lives in the house with the students and has special training in issues of substance abuse and serves as a resource person and program planner.
In addition to LIFE House, there is also a Wellness Interest House. In this program, students explore a variety of issues related to making healthy, responsible choices. The effects of alcohol use and abuse are among the numerous issues that are explored by students who choose this living option. Located in Pollock Halls, this option is often selected by LIFE House residents who are interested in moving to a more central location. The Wellness House maintains a Faculty Associate from the College of Health and Human Development.
Programming
Residence Life staff participate in both sponsoring and presenting educational programs in the residence halls. Some examples that address alcohol-related issues are:
Participating in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week
Programs on alcohol use and abuse
Bulletin boards on resources for alcohol use and abuse
How to respond to peer pressure when you choose not to drink
Impact of alcohol on decision making
Alcohol's impact in dating and relationships
Helping a friend or family member with an alcohol problem
Programs for adult children of alcoholics
Sex at Seven: An Orientation Program on Decision-Making
In addition to structured programs, Residence Life has utilized newsletters posted in residence hall rest rooms as a means of providing information to students. "Stall Stories" is a monthly publication distributed by Residence Life. Each edition includes information related to alcohol use and its impact on students. Over the past few years, it appears that students are much more willing to read a newsletter or bulletin board display than attend structured programs.
Another important aspect of programming is providing non-alcoholic opportunities and alternatives for students. These programs include intramural and other sports-related activities, concerts, movies, dances, and coffeehouses. Some residence hall areas sponsor regular weekend activities that are scheduled into the early morning hours. In January of 1995, a Programming Specialist position was added in East Halls, the largest residence hall area with the highest percentage of first-year students. One reason for the creation of this position was to provide more evening and late night opportunities for students who may otherwise choose alcohol-related options. So far, participation in activities has exceeded expectations. Future plans may include adding program specialists in all of the residence hall areas.
In 1992, Residence Life assisted in the creation of the University Park Ensemble, a student theater group that presents programs on social issues specific to student concerns. The group has visited most of the residential Penn State campuses to give presentations that include common alcohol-related situations in which students may find themselves. The group makes clear connections between alcohol abuse and its impact on a person's ability to make healthy decisions. This creative activity to educate students has been positively received by students, faculty, and staff.
Discipline
Until recently, Residence Life's role with the judicial process has been as designees of the Office of Judicial Affairs. As a result, statistics for specific violations have been maintained only in the Office of Judicial Affairs. These records, however, are not divided by location of the violation. According to the Office of Judicial Affairs, approximately 65-70% of their cases involves residence hall students. It is estimated, therefore, that 65-70% of the alcohol related incidents reported below involve residence hall students:
1992-93: 1176
1993-94: 1019
1994-95: 1243
1995-96: 1350
As Judicial Affairs designees, Residence Life staff members meet with residence hall students whenever there is a violation of University Policy. Since February 1997, students involved for the first time in an alcohol violation received a sanction requiring their attendance in the Alcohol Intervention Program. Prior to February 1997, staff were, as a rule, issuing administrative sanctions to students involved in a first-offense violation involving alcohol.
Since August 1997, the Office of Residence Life has utilized its own system of community standards in responding to student behaviors in residence halls. This system is educational, with a focus on student and community development. Residence Life staff may assign interventions more directly related to the student's behavior. Administrative interventions are available, but are utilized more often in conjunction with an educational component.
B. Locations Other Than University Park
The Alcohol Intervention Program is available at each location. Of the locations (8) that have on-campus housing, the following have submitted the descriptions.
Altoona
Residence Life handles discipline for all alcohol violations that occur in the residence halls. In addition to Residence Life programming, an Alcohol Education Program is run by the Health and Wellness Center. Altoona is still a dry campus so there is no Life house on campus at this time.
Contact: David Shields
Beaver
Alcohol violations are reported to the Residence Life office. All students involved in alcohol-related violations were required to take a 6-hour alcohol education course, taught jointly by Campus Police and the Residence Life staff. Two-time offenders are sent off campus for an evaluation and further education.
The number of alcohol-related incidents are as follows:
1992-3: 61
1993-4: 45
1994-5: 40
1995-6: 23
Contact: Shane Murray
Behrend
During the 1995-96 academic year, Behrend College implemented a LIFE House option, which housed nearly 100 students. Two-thirds of them chose to return. There are plans to increase the option in the future. The Erie County Drug and Alcohol Coalition recognized this program.
Contact: Ken Miller
Berks
A student involved in an alcohol-related incident will meet with a staff member of Residence Life to set up an alcohol education program.
There is an alcohol awareness/education program during Orientation for all new students. In addition, on-going educational programming is provided in the residence halls to help create awareness.
Contact: Conal Carr
Hazleton
Great efforts have been made to change the culture surrounding alcohol and other drug abuse. If a student is caught in an alcohol-related violation, he or she is charged through the University disciplinary system and is referred to the Alcohol Intervention Program.
Comprehensive educational programs are being implemented at the campus. Such programs start with FTCAP, continue through Orientation and then throughout the year with special awareness events.
Contact: Dwayne Hilton
McKeesport
The Director of Student Affairs receives referrals from the Residence Life Coordinator in the hall for all violations of the Residence Hall Code of Conduct, including possession or use of alcohol.
For the past dozen years the campus has provided both mental health and drug/alcohol counseling through Mon Yough Community Services Inc. The contract with Mon Yough brings an Intake Counselor to campus each week. For those students who are in need of more intensive treatment than can be reasonably provided at the campus, and are willing to consent to treatment, Mon Yough will enroll the student in one of their comprehensive programs. This agency offers a comprehensive array of services in mental health, mental retardation, drug & alcohol, and vocational services.
Ever since this relationship was established, students with alcohol problems have been referred to the Intake Counselor as part of the disciplinary sanction. For many students this resulted in a one-hour session on campus, but there have been a number of situations where students have required intensive treatment. Presently, the campus staff is working with Mon Yough to prepare the Alcohol Intervention Program, as part of the educational program included in the new judicial system. McKeesport has always had educational programs included in judicial sanctions and students have been helped by these efforts.
Number of violations involving alcohol:
1996-97: 20
1995-96: 8
1994-95: 4
Contact: John Beatty
Mont Alto
The Assistant Director of Residence Life at Mont Alto, is responsible for the "new" Community Standards process. If a violation related to alcohol occurs in the residence hall, the student is referred to Community Standards and/or Judicial Affairs--depending on the severity of the incident or prior violations. Police Services and Residence Life work together to respond most effectively to the particular student(s) and situation. Citations may be issued, but often the University disciplinary system is utilized.
The Alcohol Intervention Program (AIP) is conducted for violators. This program is similar to that of University Park's and currently consists of two levels. Level I is for first offenders and consists of a 1.5 hour of alcohol education facilitated by the residence life staff. Content includes general information about alcohol, BAC levels, high risk drinking behavior, and an opportunity for self-evaluation. Each participant receives a book entitled "Beer, Booze, and Books" written by Jim Matthews. The fee for this AIP level I is $15. Level II (fee = $50) is for those who completed level I, had multiple alcohol violations, or demonstrated extreme behavior. Level II consists of four 1-1.5 sessions, beginning with an intake evaluation and interview by part-time counselors. The next two sessions will provide a psycho-educational intervention and the final session will be conducted by our Polices Services and Health Services.
1995-1996: AIP I participants = 71; AIP II participants = 24
1996-1997: AIP I participants = 73; AIP II participants = 27
General educational efforts about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs begin with a brief look at college life during a student affairs session during FTCAP. This very brief discussion, even before the students arrive in the fall, "opens the door" for future interactions. Then, during the Fall Orientation, new students attend a program facilitated by Jim Matthews, called Beer, Booze, and Books. Throughout the year, resident assistants often deal with alcohol issues in their educational programming. And finally, the campus participates in the NCAAW (National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week). However a variety of programs is offered during the entire month of November.
Contact: Rodd Welker
Contact at Harrisburg: George Young
II. GREEK LIFE
A. Interfraternity Council
Discipline
The Board of Control (BOC) of the Inerfraternity Council (IFC) acts as the judicial affairs office for cases stemming from infractions of rules by fraternities affiliated with the University Park campus. Over the past 3 years (1994-7), this group handled 50 cases that involved infractions related to alcohol consumption in the following categories:
Physical Assault: 4
Minors Served: 15
Minors Hospitalized: 5
Procedures: 7
Fighting: 9
Public Intoxication: 2
Disorderly Conduct: 8
Most of the cases investigated and/or handled by the BOC generally originate from a residence hall and/or a police report, Peer Monitor Party Form, or general Greek members. Once the information is received, an investigator is assigned to a specific case. That person will contact all the necessary parties and then the BOC Chairman, along with the advisor, will determine if there is enough information to bring charges against the chapter. Unfortunately, if witnesses do not cooperate or we receive limited information, the BOC cannot confront the chapter. Additionally, BOC only deals with cases involving the fraternity and not individual chapter members. As a result, this makes the number of cases artificially low and not representative of the issues facing the system.
When there is enough information, the chapter will go through a standard hearing. The hearing board consists of 5 randomly selected chapter presidents (who receive training by the BOC Chairman). All parties involved are permitted to call witnesses and present their side of the story. Once all the information is heard, the chapter presidents with Standards/Social Chairman will decide guilt or innocence. If a chapter is found guilty, the presidents will determine appropriate sanctions.
Sanctions for chapters violating policies are outlined in the IFC By-laws and Constitution. A list of past sanctions is also given to the presidents to use as a reference guide. Sanctions range from fines to social probation to educational programs.
Programming
The IFC has utilized HealthWorks and the Office of Health Promotion and Education to educate the chapters about binge drinking and its dangers. More than 10 chapters have gone through these programs. Additionally, as part of the New Member Education Day, new members of fraternities and sororities are required to attend "Sex Under the Influence" and "Friendship in the Age of Aids." Both programs deal with excessive consumption of alcohol and consequent behaviors.
Furthermore, chapters have a requirement from their Inter/Nationals to have at least one alcohol education program each semester. The Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils have also sponsored a speaker on risk management to discuss chapter liabilities surrounding alcohol. Finally, IFC developed the Greek Social Policy Task Force (GSPTF) to look at the issues that the system faces on the topic of alcohol use/abuse. This body has determined that education about these issues is critical. BOC has also begun to train new peer monitors and will develop a mandatory training program for all social chairmen (both resulting from the GSPTF). A final report with all the recommendations from the group will be made available by May 1998. Finally, implementation has begun of the Our Chapter, Our Choice (OCOC) program, developed by the National Interfraternity Conference. This year, 8 peer facilitators were trained for the program to guide chapter members through an interactive process and discussion. OCOC will assist chapters in re-defining their current norms about alcohol and assist them in making changes. Currently, three chapters are interested in this new program.
Future Plans
IFC has been collecting information from other institutions in preparation for restructuring the BOC. Plans are drawn to use an application/interview process for the hearing board. Only 20 men would be trained with assistance from University Judicial Affairs, rather than using 54 chapter presidents. These 20 men would receive additional training throughout their tenure to ensure greater consistency. Finally, there has been a national movement to make certain chapter houses substance-free. As recently announced by their headquarters, two fraternity chapters at Penn State will be completely substance-free by the year 2000. Other groups will undoubtedly follow as they develop their own plan or use ‘The Select 2000 plan’. This plan was developed and adopted by several Inter/National organizations and its main emphasis is on returning to fraternal values and substance-free housing.
B. Pan-Hellenic Council (PHC)
This group, made up of sororities on the University Park campus, traditionally has not had to deal with the same issues as the Interfraternity Council. All the PHC groups are housed on campus and are not permitted to serve alcohol, although they do host functions on campus. In the past few years, only two sorority chapters have been investigated on alcohol related issues.
COMMITTEE ON STUDENT LIFE
Phyllis F. AdamsSpecial thanks to Linda Friend, a member of the 1996-97 Committee on Student Life, for playing a major role in drafting this report.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Mid-Semester Evaluation Process 1992-96
(Informational)
The University-wide Mid-semester Evaluation process became operational fall semester 1992. Mid-semester evaluations are assigned to freshmen and provisional students enrolled in resident instruction courses, in compliance with Faculty Senate Policy 46-00. This process is based upon the rationale that "a formal mid-semester notification of unsatisfactory performances by freshmen will help to improve student academic performance, lead to more effective student advising, and enhance the retention of undergraduate students." (April 1989 Senate Legislation)
At its March 14, 1995 meeting, the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education voted to make the following editorial insertion to the Policies and Rules handbook in order to inform students of the process:
47-70 Mid-semester Evaluation
At the end of the sixth week of classes during both fall and spring semesters, each
instructor shall evaluate the performance of each first- and second-semester degree
candidate or provisional student. If any such student has a grade of less than "C,"
the instructor will notify the registrar who will then notify the student and his or
her advisor that the performance is unsatisfactory.
In practice, the Registrar sends instructors the evaluation forms prior to the sixth week of classes, with instructions to return them by the end of the eighth week. The following campuses independently process approved mid-semester evaluation systems and are not included in this report: Beaver, Delaware, DuBois, Hazleton and Schuylkill.
Tables 1-4 show the results of these evaluations (data provided by the Registrar) for fall semesters 1992-96, the spring semester data does not differ noticeably. In past reports, it was noted that a significant number of instructors did not return the forms, however, non-responses are now indicated as "satisfactory" evaluations in the data. This is a reflection of the way that many faculty complete the forms, which ask for the instructor to mark either "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory" for each student; many instructors mark only the unsatisfactory cases. Given this practice, it is not possible to determine the significance of an instructor failing to return the form. The Committee is aware that in some courses, no formal evaluation of students’ progress is made until after the eighth week of the semester. In other cases, instructors elect not to participate for various reasons. Consequently, the Committee has chosen not to attempt any analysis of the data.
The Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education thanks Gary Hile, Associate Registrar, Academic Records, for supervising this process and preparing the tables for this report.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Cheryl L. AchterbergTHE TABLES FOR THIS REPORT ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS WEB SITE. PLEASE REFER TO THE PRINTED AGENDA.
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
The University Faculty Senate
MINUTES OF SENATE COUNCIL
Tuesday, November 11, 1997 1:30 PM 101 Kern Graduate Building
MEMBERS PRESENT
J. Myers (for E. Askov)ACCOUNTED FOR
S. de HartGUESTS
S. AlexanderChair-Elect Berkowitz called the meeting to order at 1:35 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 1997, in Room 101 Kern Graduate Building. The minutes of the September 30, 1997, meeting were approved as distributed on a Jurs/Smith motion.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMARKS
Dr. Berkowitz announced that the Faculty Advisory Committee met this morning, and discussed the following items: General Education Update and Discussion; Intellectual Property Issues; Senior Administrative Searches Update; Pennsylvania College of Technology; CES Reorganization; Curricular Coherence and Disciplinary Connections. The next meeting of FAC is scheduled for January 20.
Professor Berkowitz also advised Council that the Senate Officers will be visiting the colleges at University Park and asked that the Councilors assist in getting as many faculty and students to those meetings as possible. The visits will take place mainly in January and February.
REPORT OF GRADUATE COUNCIL
Phil Klein reported that the Graduate Council met on October 16 and addressed some of the items noted in his report from that meeting which are attached to these minutes.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR DECEMBER 2, 1997
Chair-Elect Berkowitz asked for and received a Jago/Jurs motion to consider the proposed report for the December 2nd Senate meeting. Dr. Berkowitz asked Council for its permission to move the General Education report to the agenda category of Unfinished Legislative Business. He also announced that the entire General Education report will not appear in the December Agenda but rather a document with the motion which includes the Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Statement of Goals, the ten Recommendations and, the Framework for General Education. There will also be a cover memo from Chair Geschwindner.
UNFINISHED LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
Special Committee on General Education - "Final Report and Recommendations of the Special Committee on General Education." Robert Pangborn reported that his committee is planning to meet on November 24 to talk about the form of the motion and any proposed written amendments that may be submitted by that time. They are aware of the continuing debate on the motion itself. At this point, Dr. Berkowitz reminded Council that this report is already on the December 2nd Senate Agenda and asked for a general discussion of any issues that might be useful for the Special Committee.
The issue of how the motion will be voted on was discussed and Professor Berkowitz reminded Council that the intention is to handle this as a single proposal and not seriatim. There were reasons why this motion was proposed as one entity (instead of its parts) and it will be the prerogative of the corporate body to change that. The discussion turned to the costing of this report and Dr. Berkowitz announced that even though the costing report is informational, it will be considered at the same time as the General Education report on the Senate floor.
Dr. Pangborn reassured Council that his committee in no way wishes to force a vote that would have the entire report voted on in one motion. The committee is asking for that only because they feel the results of the statements and recommendations represent a plan in which there are many intersections between the recommendations and that they should be considered in their entirety as a cohesive plan.
At this point in the meeting, Chair-Elect Berkowitz moved the Informational Report on costing on the Council agenda and asked that Shelton Alexander introduce the University Planning report. Dr. Alexander indicated that his committee’s approach to get information was to send a memo to the Deans and DAAs of all the academic units soliciting their estimates (recommendation by recommendation) on what they thought the implementation of this proposal would require in terms of resources. They were also asked to estimate the start- up costs and the recurring costs. The responses were a mix of both qualitative and quantitative results. Therefore, his preliminary report is qualitative in nature and compares the recommendations in terms of minimal, moderate and substantial assessments. The report did not include quantitative data because it is not complete and of the data that was received, there are some outlieres that may have to be readdessed.
Provost Brighton added that he and the President are committed to support the Senate in every way to make sure the University gets something substantive in place regarding changes in General Education. In his conversations with the President, the question was asked regarding how much money would be available to implement the recommendations. They believe that up to one million dollars of new money might be available for General Education at University Park. They also believe that there might be as much as an additional one million dollars available for locations other than UP. He felt that it was important that the Senate know these numbers in order to be able to put this report in perspective. He and Dr. Alexander will be working, over the next couple of days, with the Deans to determine what will be reasonable in terms of monies needed. He and the President are determined to provide the resources to accomplish the task at hand. On a Gouran/Kretchmar motion, it was moved to include the costing report on the Agenda with the inclusion of aggregate costing figures. The motion was discussed and passed.
LEGISLATIVE REPORTS
Committee on Committees and Rules - "Revision of Standing Rules, Article II: Senate Committee Structure." Sabih Hayek noted that with the last revision of the Constitution, it was thought that if there were liaison between some of the standing committees, there would be better communication. In reality, this has not worked out. Those Senators with dual membership had a difficult time trying to make both meetings since all of the standing committees meet on the morning of Senate day. Without discussion, a Myers/Gouran motion placed this report on the Agenda.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
University Planning - "Costing of the Special Committee on General Education." As noted above, this costing report was put on the Agenda with a Gouran/Kretchmar motion.
Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid - "Reserved Spaces Program." Frank Kristine reminded Council that this report has come to the Senate since 1984 and that the numbers are slightly decreasing. This decrease was what the Senate had wanted, and the decline has been somewhat constant since 1984. Without further discussion, a Romberger/Gouran motion was passed.
"Report of High School Students Enrolled in Nondegree Credits Course." Professor Kristine indicated that this, too, was an annual report and that this year the data was put together in what is a more informative fashion. The title of the report was changed to 'Report of High School Nondegree Students Enrolled in Credit Courses.' This report was also passed on a Myers/Lukezic motion.
Faculty Benefits - "Faculty Retiree Rights and Privileges." Thomas Daubert noted that there had been questions concerning information on the rights of retirees only because it had never been published in one document. This report does that. Without any questions of Dr. Daubert, a Tormey/ Romberger motion was passed.
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities - "Annual Report for 1996-97." Lee Stout informed Council that the caseload is working its way down to what it was in the early 1990s. As a result of this year’s work by the committee, they learned that part of their responsibilities was to hear appeals from formal actions taken by the Affirmative Action Office. The Council passed this without discussion on a Jurs/Smith motion.
Intercollegiate Athletics - "Annual Report of Academic Eligibility and Athletic Scholarships of 1996-97." Dr. Berkowitz announced the Chair of this committee, Chuck Yesalis, was not able to attend the Council meeting and, thus, he offered to field any questions about this report. Council passed a Tormey/Romberger motion to include this report on the Agenda but did ask that the Chair of this committee confer with John Coyle, the presenter of this report, to limit the time spent in the presentation.
Student Life - "Alcohol Abuse Issues Related to Organized Student Housing." Jean Landa Pytel indicated that this was the next-to-the-last of the informational reports on alcohol abuse. The last report that is planned is a coalition of all the informational reports that have been presented and includes suggestions on programmatic changes. Without discussion, a Gouran/Smith motion was passed.
Undergraduate Education - "Grade Distribution Report." Arthur Miller noted that this is an annual report and that it describes the grade distribution since 1975. He elaborated on the data and what it meant for grade inflation. Council asked that the committee, in the future, give an interpretation of what the data means. This report was passed for the Agenda on a Gouran/Smith motion.
- "Mid-Semester Evaluation Process 1992-96."
Dr. Miller compared the figures and concluded that there is value in the concept of the mid-semester evaluations. Considering the cost in time and money that it takes to facilitate this program, Council asked that the committee consider carefully the value of the concept of mid-semester evaluations. There was a Gouran/Broyles motion that was passed.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR DECEMBER 2, 1997
A Jurs/Gouran motion was passed to put the above passed reports on the Senate Agenda for the December 2, 1997 meeting. As a part of that motion, the informational report from University Planning on the costing of the General Education report is to be moved on the Senate Agenda to a position between Forensic Business and Unfinished Legislative Business and that the General Education report appear under Unfinished Legislative Business.
ACTION ITEMS
Professor Berkowitz next asked Council to address the merger of the Departments of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Considering that the input from the standing committees that reviewed the proposal was all positive, Council passed the following Smith/Gouran motion:
In accordance with our duties as prescribed in Bylaws, Article II, Section 1(d), it is the advice of Senate Council that the merger of the Departments of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering be implemented as described in the documents we have received.
Veronica Burns Lucas first addressed the two new constitutions from Altoona College and Abington College. The Subcommittee on Voting Unit Constitutions has examined the documents and, after working with the units to correct any discrepancies, now deems that the constitutions comply with the Guidelines for Faculty Organizations. It was the advice of the subcommittee to Council that the new constitutions be ratified. Council did so on a unanimous vote.
Next, Dr. Lucas turned the attention of Council to the revised document entitled "Guidelines for Faculty Organizations." She indicated that as the new constitutions began to be submitted as a result of the reorganization, it became obvious that these guidelines should be revised to reflect that reorganization. Council accepted these revised guidelines without discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to be considered.
ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Berkowitz thanked the Council for their attention to a difficult agenda and adjourned them at 3:23 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
George J. Bugyi
Executive Secretary
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
The University Faculty Senate
Birch Cottage
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-0221 – phone (814) 863-6012 – fax
E-mail address: http://www.psu.edu/ufs/
Date: October 16, 1997
To: Senate Council
From: Philip A. Klein, Acting Senate Liaison to the Graduate Council
Re: Report on Graduate Council Meeting
The meeting was called to order in Room 101 Kern Graduate Building at 3:32 PM by the Chair, Rodney Erickson. The minutes of the September 17, 1997, meeting were approved.
of the Association of Graduate Schools. This is a group of some
62 AAUs that are very much like Penn State. About 40 deans usually attend and the discussions are useful.
A study reported on this year at the meeting focused on a cohort of Ph.D.s from about 30 universities and representing 30 universities.
The cohort began graduate work in 1984; they were interviewed about
what helped them most, etc. There were about 1000 interviews sent
out and approximately 60 percent responded. A major finding was
that non-academic jobs loomed large in the ultimate niche these
people found. Dean Erickson was sufficiently impressed that he plans
to try to get the authors of the study (from Berkeley) to give a talk and
lead a discussion on the subject here either in the spring or fall.
available soon and will be shared with the relevant administrators.
The Graduate School does well.
c. The Graduate School Fall Commencement will be December 21, 1997
at 4:00 PM. The speaker will be Professor Harry Allcock, Distinguished
Professor of Chemistry.
*Academic Standards; Professor Jogesh Babu, Co-Chair
A lengthy discussion was initiated on the University Microfilms
International's decision to move to an electronic environment, i.e.,
reporting research on the World Wide Web. Dissertations, articles,
and research may all be involved in different ways in being
reproduced electronically.
*Fellowships and Awards; Mary Jane Irwin
The first meeting of this committee will be held the week of November 10th.
Graduate Fellowship stipends next year will, as this year, be for $13,000.
*Graduate Research; Frederick Williams
This committee is investigating intellectual property issues and will
consider many related issues of concern to the University community.
The Graduate Student Exhibition will be held March 27-28, 1998. The
exhibition will again include a performance option for creative fields and
use student judges along with faculty judges. These two changes were
introduced last year and were very successful.
*Graduate Student and Faculty Affairs; Regina Vasilatos-Younken
A member of their committee, Douglas Anderson, has been identified
to be on the University Student Insurance Committee.
The committee is studying Graduate Student Parking in an effort to
develop explicit guidelines for when graduate students qualify for
special permits to park on central campus. They will attempt a survey
to determine the need for graduate student parking on campus. There
is a real need for additional parking on the west side of the University
as well.
*Committee on Programs and Courses; James Nolan
The Committee presented three programmatic changes for the approval
of the Graduate Council;
Health
Ph.D. in German
the Masters in Music in Conducting
Representatives of all three programs were present to answer questions.
There were none, and the Council approved them all by voice vote
without comment.
Dean Erickson announced that only preliminary enrollments were
available. He suggested that when the figures were available, they would
show that enrollments were generally down at Penn State as is true
nationally in graduate schools. Available data, all preliminary, by
location, show that two Penn State campuses had enrollments that were
up (Great Valley and Harrisburg). There is a substantial drop at
University Park.
There was no Unfinished Business or New Business, and no Comments for the Good of the Graduate Community.
The meeting adjourned at 4:43 PM.
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
Date: November 14, 1997
From: George J. Bugyi, Executive Secretary
To: All Senators and Committee Personnel
Please note the scheduled time and location of your committee. If you are unable to attend, notify the Senate Office prior to Senate Day -- if possible.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1997------------7:00 PM
Officers' and Chairs' Meeting----------Fireside Lounge, Nittany Lion Inn
---------------------------------------8:00 PM
Commonwealth College Caucus--------Board Room I, Nittany Lion Inn
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1997-----------7:30 AM
Intercollegiate Athletics----------227 HUB
---------------------------------------8:00 AM
Curricular Affairs-----------------101 Kern Building
Outreach Activities--------------------502 Keller Building
---------------------------------------8:30 AM
Admissions, Records,
Scheduling and Student Aid----------------203 Shields
Committees and Rules-------------------207 HUB
Intra-University Relations-------------305 HUB
Research-------------------------------114 Kern Building
Student Life---------------------------Paul Robeson Cultural Center
Undergraduate Education----------------307 HUB
University Planning--------------------Donovan Room, 204 HUB
---------------------------------------9:00 AM
Faculty Affairs--------------------325 HUB
Libraries------------------------------323 HUB
---------------------------------------9:30 AM
Computing and Information Systems------101-A Kern Building
Faculty Benefits-----------------------Birch Cottage
---------------------------------------1:30 PM
University Faculty Senate--------------112 Kern Building
There will be a Commonwealth College Caucus meeting at 11:00 AM on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1997, in FIRESIDE LOUNGE, NITTANY LION INN. At approximately 12:00 Noon, the caucus will meet for lunch at the Faculty/Staff Club in the Nittany Lion Inn.
The Pennsylvania State University
The University Faculty Senate
Birch Cottage (814) 863-0221
Fax: (814) 863-6012
Date: November 14, 1997
To: Commonwealth College Caucus Senators (This includes all elected Senators from
Campuses, Colleges, and Locations Other Than University Park
From: Deidre Jago and Andrew Romberger
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1997 -- 8:00 PM -- BOARD ROOM I, NLI
New Commonwealth College -- Dean Joseph Strasser
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1997 -- 11:00 AM -- CONFERENCE ROOM N, NLI
The Caucus will meet at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 2, 1997, in the Fireside Lounge of the Nittany Lion Inn followed by lunch at noon in the Faculty/Staff Club.
The tentative Agenda includes:
I. Announcements and reports from co-chairs
II. Agenda Items
III. New Items from Committee Meetings
IV. Other Items of Concern
V. Adjournment/Lunch
