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THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

 

T H E   S E N A T E   R E C O R D

 

Volume 35-----SEPTEMBER 11, 2001-----Number 1

 

The Senate Record is the official publication of the University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University, as provided for in Article I, Section 9 of the Standing Rules of the Senate and contained in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the University Faculty Senate, The Pennsylvania State University 2001-02.

 

The publication is issued by the Senate Office, 101 Kern Graduate Building, University Park, PA  16802 (Telephone 814-863-0221).  The Record is distributed to all Libraries across the Penn State system, and is posted on the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ufs under publications.  Copies are made available to faculty and other University personnel on request.

 

Except for items specified in the applicable Standing Rules, decisions on the responsibility for inclusion of matters in the publication are those of the Chair of the University Faculty Senate.

 

When existing communication channels seem inappropriate, Senators are encouraged to submit brief letters relevant to the Senate's function as a legislative, advisory and forensic body to the Chair for possible inclusion in The Senate Record. 

 

Reports which have appeared in the Agenda of the meeting are not included in The Record unless they have been changed substantially during the meeting or are considered to be of major importance.  Remarks and discussion are abbreviated in most instances.  A complete transcript and tape of the meeting is on file.

 

                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

   I.  Final Agenda for September 11, 2001

       A.  Summary of Agenda Actions

       B.  Minutes and Summaries of Remarks

II.  Enumeration of Documents

A.    Documents Distributed Prior to September 11, 2001

III.  Tentative Agenda for October 23, 2001

 

FINAL AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

 

A.  MINUTES OF THE PRECEDING MEETING -

      Minutes of the April 24, 2001, Meeting in The Senate Record 34:7

 

B.  COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SENATE - Senate Curriculum Report

                                                                             (Blue Sheets) of August 28, 2001

 

C.  REPORT OF SENATE COUNCIL - Meeting of August 21, 2001

 

D.  ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CHAIR -

 

E.  COMMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY -

 

F.  FORENSIC BUSINESS -  

 

     Senate Council

 

            Joint Committee to Review the University Calendar – Initial Findings

 

G.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

 

H.  LEGISLATIVE REPORTS -

           

I.  ADVISORY/CONSULTATIVE REPORTS –         

                       

J.  INFORMATIONAL REPORTS –

 

    Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid

           

            Summary of Petitions for Waiver of the Twelve-Credit Limit for

            Non-Degree Conditional Students

                       

            Awards and Scholarships

 

    Senate Council  

 

            Free Speech

 

K.  NEW LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS -

 

L.  COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNIVERSITY -

 

M.  ADJOURNMENT -

 

 

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ACTIONS

 

The Senate meeting of September 11, 2001, was adjourned at 1:40 PM due to the terrorist attack on New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. 

 

The Forensic Session and three Informational Reports that were on the Agenda for September 11, but not presented, will be on the Agenda for the October 23, 2001, Senate Meeting.

 

The University Faculty Senate met on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 112 Kern Graduate Building with John S. Nichols, Chair, presiding. 

 

Chair Nichols:  It is time to begin.  May I have a motion to suspend the rules?

 

Senators:  So moved.

 

Senators:  Second.

 

Chair Nichols:  Thank you.  All those in favor of suspending the rules, please signify by saying, "aye."

 

Senators:  Aye.

 

Chair Nichols:  Any opposed, "nay"?  The motion carries.  We move immediately to Comments By The President Of The University. 

MINUTES OF THE PRECEDING MEETING

NOT ADDRESSED

COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SENATE

NOT ADDRESSED

REPORT OF SENATE COUNCIL

NOT ADDRESSED

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE CHAIR

NOT ADDRESSED

COMMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

Graham B. Spanier, President:  All of us in the Penn State community are horrified and terribly saddened by the unfolding events experienced by all Americans today.  We must collectively stand together and do our utmost to provide mutual support and comfort during this time of national emergency.

 

Penn State is a complex multi-campus university, we are therefore asking the executive officers of each of our campuses to determine what actions are most appropriate for their campuses.  The following steps will be taken at the University Park Campus.

 

We request that faculty members meet their classes as scheduled and use their classroom time as a principle source of comfort for our students, most of who will be in need of support and understanding.  We are asking our faculty to take the lead role in providing this needed support for our students.

 

University classes will meet at their regular times and places on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, but normal educational activities may be suspended at the discretion of the faculty member to allow students to reflect on today’s events and for instructors to provide their support to students and to help them deal with this challenge to our open and free society.  Instructors at all campuses are asked to use their best judgment as to how to achieve this objective.

 

All staff in the Office of Student Affairs have been mobilized to provide counseling and support services for our students.  For students in the residence halls, resident assistants will be available as a first line of support in their residential settings.  Staff from the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services and other student affairs units will be offering special therapy support in the Robeson Center Library and the Kern Building throughout the evening.  Clergy will be available in the Eisenhower Chapel. 

 

University Police Services are in touch with all relevant law enforcement agencies and will inform the University President if there is any reason to believe there are public safety issues that would affect Penn State.  Appropriate action and notification will take place immediately if there are any credible threats to Penn State students, staff or visitors.  Meanwhile, we request that all students, faculty and staff be vigilant and report all safety related concerns to University Police at 863-1111.

 

Penn State has faculty and students throughout the country and the world.  Relevant administrators responsible for international programs, internships and travel will be seeking to communicate with those who are at such off-campus locations.  Families will be informed of information we receive and appropriate actions will be taken to promote the safety and security of all Penn Staters.

 

Scheduled extra curricular campus events will be carried on or cancelled at the discretion of those sponsoring such events.

 

There will be a prayer vigil at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the HUB Ballroom, sponsored by campus clergy and the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs.

 

The University Park Airport is closed.

 

The Office of Public Information will endeavor to keep the university community updated through the University Newswire and through announcements linked to the Penn State home page at www.psu.edu.

 

An email is being sent to all Penn State faculty, staff and students today summarizing these and other late-breaking announcements.  Thank you.

 

Chair Nichols:  The chair recognizes Senator Rebane.

 

P. Peter Rebane, Penn State Abington:  Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer the following resolution for consideration by the University Faculty Senate.  Be it resolved that The Pennsylvania State University Faculty Senate condemns terrorism in all forms and extends its sympathy to the families of everyone directly affected by the terrorist acts committed this morning against the United States of America.  Thank you Mr. Chairman.

 

Chair Nichols:  The chair recognizes Immediate Past-Chair Schengrund.

 

Cara-Lynne Schengrund, College of Medicine:  I second the motion.

 

Chair Nichols:  The motion is to approve the resolution read.  All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying, "aye."

 

Senators:  Aye.

 

Chair Nichols:  Any opposed, "nay"?  The motion carries.  The chair will entertain a motion for adjournment.

 

Senators:  So moved.

 

Senators:  Second.

 

Chair Nichols:  All those in favor of adjourning, please signify by saying, "aye."

 

Senators:  Aye.

 

Chair Nichols:  Any opposed, "nay"?  We are in adjournment.

 

FORENSIC BUSINESS

 

SENATE COUNCIL

Joint Committee to Review the University Calendar—Initial Findings

NOT ADDRESSED

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

 

LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

 

None

 

ADVISORY/CONSULTATIVE REPORTS

 

None

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS, RECORDS, SCHEDULING AND STUDENT AID

 

Summary of Petitions for Waiver of the Twelve-Credit Limit for Non-Degree Conditional Students

 

JoAnn Chirico, Chair, Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid

 

NOT ADDRESSED

 

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS, RECORDS, SCHEDULING AND STUDENT AID

Awards and Scholarships

JoAnn Chirico, Chair, Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid

 

NOT ADDRESSED

 

 

SENATE COUNCIL

Free Speech

NOT ADDRESSED

 

 

BECAUSE OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ACTS OF TERRORISM, THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED EARLY.

 

 

NEW LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

 

None

 

COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNIVERSITY

 

None

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

May I have a motion to adjourn?  The September 11, 2001 meeting of the University Faculty Senate adjourned at 1:40 PM.

 

DOCUMENTS DISTRIBUTED PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

 

Senate Council - Joint Committee to Review the University Calendar – Initial Findings (Forensic)

 

Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid - Summary of Petitions for Waiver of the Twelve-Credit Limit for Non-degree Conditional Students (Informational)

           

Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid - Awards and Scholarships (Informational)

 

Senate Council - Free Speech (Informational)

 

TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 23, 2001

 

Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid - Summary of Petitions for Waiver of the Twelve-Credit Limit for Non-Degree Conditional Students (Informational)

Admissions, Records, Scheduling and Student Aid - Awards and Scholarships (Informational) 

 

Curricular Affairs - Curriculum Reports of August 28 and October 9, 2001

 

Joint Committee on Insurance and Benefits – Annual Report (Informational)

Senate Council - Joint Committee to Review the University Calendar – Initial Findings (Forensic)

Senate Council – Status Report on the College of Medicine and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Darrell G. Kirch, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, College of Medicine

 

Senate Council - Free Speech (Informational)

 

University Planning – Visual Construction Report of Academic Buildings, William J. Anderson, Jr., Assistant Vice President for Physical Plant (Informational)

 

University Planning – Budget; Strategic Planning (new approach); and Budget Planning, Rodney A. Erickson, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University (Informational)