Excused: Altmann, Burkhart, Farwell, Kimball, Larson, Leahy, Lees, Wood, Young
Absent: Page
The November meeting of the University Senate was called to order by President Ann Tedards at 3:10 p.m. in 177 Lawrence.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Secretary of the Faculty Gwen Steigelman noted that Senator Dale Boush, business, was incorrectly identified in the October 8, 1997 minutes in the discussion under the heading of Senate Task Force Report on Committee Structure. Senator Terry O’Keefe, business, participated in that discussion, not Senator Boush. The secretary will make the change on the official minutes. Hearing no other corrections, the minutes were approved as corrected.
STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY
Reports from standing committees. Senator Peter Gilkey, mathematics and chair of the University Library Committee, provided a brief report that his committee voted in support of the recently implemented "pay for print" policy of the University Library to charge .10 per page printed on the laser printers. Noting that the charge corresponded with actual costs incurred, they agreed with University Librarian George Shipman’s memorandum that the system was a "responsible policy which is economically prudent and fair. The system drastically reduces waste, allows for better use of limited resources, and holds each library patron responsible for his/her personal use of consumable supplies." President Tedards thanked Senator Gilkey for his report and reminded all committee chairs that they are encouraged to make interim reports to the senate at its meetings on a regular basis as the committee work warrants. (Full text of the report is available on the University Senate Web Page located at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/senate.html.)
Announcements and communications from senators. The chair noted that a suggested time line was added to the meeting’s agenda in an effort to keep the meeting moving in a timely manner. The agenda is planned to dispatch items within the two-hour meeting time. However, three quarters of senators responding to a senate survey last spring indicated a willingness to meet until 5:30 p.m. if necessary, and, to attend a second meeting in the month if the work of the senate becomes backlogged and senators are given adequate notice. President Tedards indicated that every effort would be made to accomplish the agenda in the regular two-hour time period.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Process for Change. Senate Vice President Jeff Hurwit, art history, reported that the first phase of the Process for Change project is underway, with approximately eighty faculty and students meeting in the inaugural session and dividing into seven issue groups. Each group is due to report out its issues by November 24th. The second phase of approximately ten Solution Groups will meet after Thanksgiving.
Task Force on the Productivity Plan. Senator Margie Paris, law, reported the findings of a short-term task force convened to investigate the status of the Productivity Plan. Senator Paris noted that many of the specific productivity initiatives have been implemented and that generally, the infrastructure of the university has been improved. Two specific areas of concern raised by the senate were faculty rewards structure (need for changes in the way faculty teach) and budgetary implications of the Productivity Plan. Regarding faculty rewards, Vice Provost Lorraine Davis indicated that criteria regarding teaching used in promotion and tenure cases was revised three years ago, with increased flexibility to give appropriate weight for achievements in teaching. Also, a post tenure review policy has been drafted and is currently under review by the Faculty Advisory Council.
Budgetary implications of the Productivity Plan have taken a different turn. The anticipated increase in student enrollment did not materialize, thus the reimbursement to schools and colleges for credit hours produced beyond targeted numbers is no longer feasible. A more extensive progress report on the Productivity Plan provided by the Office of Academic Affairs is posted on the senate web page, as is the full text report of the Task Force on Productivity (http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/senate.html).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Motions from the Senate Executive Committee. Vice President Hurwit presented three motions from the Senate Executive Committee to amend the University Senate Bylaws in order to provide greater clarity of language and to reflect changes in the way Interinstitutional Faculty Senate (IFS) representatives are elected. Each motion passed unanimously (31 yes, 0 no) with no discussion. Text of each motion follows:
US97/98-5 Amend the University Senate Bylaws Article VI, Section 6.1
Since 1991-92, all non-elected committees established by faculty legislation are appointed by the Committee on Committees, a committee appointed by the University Senate. The Secretary of the Faculty shall coordinate the elections of faculty to elective committees.
US97/98-6 Amend the University Senate Bylaws Article VI, Section 6.1.5
The Committee on Committees is nominated by the Senate Nominating Committee and elected by and responsible to the University Senate. This committee shall constitute the membership of all appointed committees established by faculty legislation.
US97/98-7 Amend the University Senate Bylaws Article VI, Section 6.3
6.3.1 The Interinstitutional Faculty Senate was created by the State Board of Higher Education in 1970. The University of Oregon has three seats on the IFS, plus one alternate, and the senate is solely responsible for the election of the UO Interinstitutional Faculty Senators.
6.3.2 The three representatives and one alternate from the University of Oregon to the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate shall be elected by the University Senate from the university voting faculty as a whole. The three IFS senators serve staggered terms of three years with an expiration of December 31. The alternate shall serve a one-year term, which may be renewed. When electing an IFS representative, the senate shall ensure that at least one of the three IFS representatives is a current member of the senate or has previous senate experience.
Motions from the Undergraduate Education Policy and Coordinating Council. Ms. Nancy Deans, chair of the Undergraduate Education Policy and Coordinating Council (UEPCC), presented the first of two motions from the council. Motion US97-12 -- eliminating double counting of BA foreign language and BS mathematics and CIS courses for group satisfying credit -- had been referred back to the UEPCC for clarifying language and an effective date in the October 8, 1997 meeting. The motion now reads,
Motion US97-12 (revised) Bachelor's Degree Requirements: Group Requirements
Courses used to fulfill the foreign language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree may not also be used to fulfill the arts and letters group requirement. Courses used to demonstrate proficiency in mathematics or in computer and information science or in a combination of the two for the Bachelor of Science degree requirement may not also be used to fulfill the science group requirement. This rule shall go into effect the fall term of the 1999-2000 academic year.
Ms. Deans indicated the UEPCC's intent is to restore previously existing conditions that will reinstate breadth in the general education requirements. The council is concerned that with the elimination of cluster requirements, students earning a BA or a BS may not have sufficient breadth in their course work to merit either of those degrees.
Senator Michael Olson, ASUO, opened the debate by indicating that the student senate passed a resolution against the proposed motion. He stated that although some students may want to and do take a broad selection of courses, many other students prefer to take a concentration of course work in their specialized area. Consequently, these students feel they are more employable and competitive if going on to graduate school. Further, students who do not find their major of choice at an early point in their college career many have an extremely limited number of electives available to them, preventing their timely graduation. On the other side of the debate, Senator Gilkey read a letter from a colleague in the mathematics department, Mr. Richard Koch, expressing support for the motion. He points out that a student arriving with a weak mathematics background could take three terms of mathematics to meet the mathematics requirement, choose to take no foreign language, and take fewer than four courses in all the other science areas. In Mr. Koch's opinion, such a student does not have knowledge broad enough to warrant receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the university. Senator Gilkey concurred.
Senator Kriegel, ASUO, questioned whether their was sufficient student input in the creation of the motion. Ms. Deans replied that two students were on the UEPCC but only one student attended meetings. Senator Dietrich Belitz, physics, asked if this motion would make it more difficult to graduate in four years. Ms. Deans replied that the council had considered the impact on students' graduation and did not find sufficient cause for concern. Senator David Conley, education, asked if an analysis had been done across all schools and colleges. He stated that his college had looked at the impact this motion would have on students' ability to graduate in a timely manner and came to a different conclusion. He believes that the question of effect on graduation has not been examined thoroughly. Consequently, Senator Conley moved to refer motion US97-12 back to the appropriate council for a systematic examination of the impact on students as it effects time to graduation.
The debate on the motion to refer US97-12 back to committee initially centered on whether there had been sufficient council discussion concerning the impact of the main motion on graduation and whether teaching capacity was sufficient to meet the demands. Vice President Hurwit returned to the issue raised earlier by Mr. Koch, that this was in essence a philosophical issue; that is, do the current requirements provide enough breadth in the curriculum to receive the BA or BS degree? He believes the answer is no, and was against referring the motion back to council and, in favor of eliminating double counting courses to satisfy group requirements. With no further debate, the motion to refer was put to a vote and passed (18 yes, 14 no). Motion US97-12 is referred back to the appropriate council.
Ms. Deans went on to present motion US97-13 Bachelor's Degree Requirements: Concurrent Degrees.
The University of Oregon will award two baccalaureate degrees concurrently if a student meets the following conditions: 1. The majors are offered by different schools/colleges of the University of Oregon.
2. The student completes all institutional and departmental requirements for both majors.
3. The student completes all general education requirements for both degrees.
4. The student completes a minimum of 36 credits more than the requirements of the major/degree requiring the most number of credits
5. The student completes an additional 36 credits in residence at the University of Oregon after satisfying the residency requirement for the first degree.
Ms. Deans noted that current UO policy says the following: "Although the University of Oregon does not award concurrent degrees (e.g., BA and BS) a student may be awarded a bachelor's degree with more than one major by completing all general university degree requirements for the designated majors and degree and all requirements in each major as specified by the major departments, schools, or colleges." Under the new rule, the student would submit two separate Applications for Degree and would pay the $25.00 application fee for each degree.
After two brief questions clarifying that students could still have a dual major and that currently students cannot earn a second degree unless they return after receiving their first degree, the question was called and motion US97-13 passed unanimously.
Motions from the Committee on Committees. Senator Gene Luks, computer information science and chair of the Committee on Committees, introduced the first of four motions. (Full text of the first motion, including council and committee composition and charges can be found as an attachment to these minutes.) Motion US97/98-1 proposed that:
The Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council and the University Curriculum Committee shall be abolished. There shall be established a new council, to be known as the Undergraduate Council, charged with reviewing, evaluating and enhancing the quality of the university's undergraduate program. This council shall regularly report its actions and recommendations to the senate and other duly authorized governing bodies as necessary to uphold and enhance the quality of the undergraduate academic program. There shall be established a new committee, the Committee on Courses.
Speaking to the motion, Senator Luks noted that the council would undertake its reviews in consultation with respective department heads and program directors. It will work regularly in conjunction with standing committees that have responsibilities relating to undergraduate education. The proposed Undergraduate Council would be elective and have a broader representation than the current council.
Senator Belitz asked why the change was needed, to which Senator Luks replied that there are overlapping and unclear duties and charges between the UEPCC and the curriculum committee. The proposed restructuring is intended to clarify the charge and separate the duties of each body. An elected constituency based council with expanded membership from all areas that have responsibilities in undergraduate education fosters greater faculty involvement in the development of the undergraduate academic program. It also provides greater opportunity for cooperation and coordination in university policies, procedures, curricula, personnel, and teaching decisions affecting undergraduate education. Asked by Senator Terry O’Keefe, business, if the council’s authority was changed, Senator Luks replied that it was not, but responsibilities were made clearer.
Senator David Cohen asked for a comparison of membership between the UEPCC and the proposed Undergraduate Council. Senator Luks noted that the senate member was eliminated, chairs from four academic committees were added, three at large faculty members were replaced by two at large faculty members from the arts and sciences, and a member of the Library Committee was added. Membership of the proposed Committee on Courses is unchanged. Senator Hilary Gerdes, academic advising, moved to amend the membership of the Undergraduate Council in the main motion by adding one ex-officio person from Academic Advising. The amendment passed by voice vote. Senator Wayne Westling, law, then moved to amend the membership of the Undergraduate Council by removing the one ex-officio person from the Division of Student Academic Affairs. The amendment passed by voice vote. Senator Elliott Dale, ASUO, moved to amend the membership of the Undergraduate Council by increasing the number of students from two to four. After a brief discussion focusing on whether students would participate full numbers, the amendment passed by show of hands (24 yes, 6 no). In response to Senator Conley’s concern that the student members were representative, Vice President Hurwit moved to amend the last amendment and stipulate that of the four student members, no more than two could be from the same school or college. The amendment to the amendment passed by voice vote.
Discussion then reverted to the main motion. To queries posited, Senator Luks responded that the proposed structure is meant to expedite the course approval process by enabling the Committee on Courses to focus its attention on course screening and approval. Senator Dale moved to amend the main motion to increase the number of students on the Committee on Courses membership from one to two, with the stipulation that both undergraduate and graduate students are represented. The amendment passed by voice vote. With discussion on the main motion dwindling, the question was called. Motion US97/98-1 to create an Undergraduate Council and Committee on Courses passed by voice vote. The full motion, as amended, is attached to these minutes.
Senator Luks then presented the second motion, US97/98-2 revising the charge to the Committee on Committees. Moved that:
The following shall supersede faculty legislation of February 7, 1962, February 10, 1988, and April 10, 1991 concerning the Committee on Committees:
The University Senate, acting on the recommendation of its Nominating Committee, shall appoint a Committee on Committees and designate a chair. The senate shall, if possible, appoint members of the Committee for the following academic year no later than its last meeting of spring term.
The Committee on Committees shall report to the senate president its recommendations for the personnel of all appointed faculty committees established by faculty legislation. With senate approval, the senate president shall convey these recommendations to the university president, who shall notify faculty of their appointments before the conclusion of the academic year. In order to facilitate timely discussion of these nominations, the recommendations should be submitted to the university president by May 15.
The Committee on Committees shall, at the request of the university president, recommend the faculty personnel of any other committees the university president may designate.
The Committee on Committees shall conduct periodic reviews of the operations of all committees established by legislation on which faculty serve. As appropriate, it shall report its findings and recommendations to the senate.
Speaking to the motion, Senator Luks noted the last paragraph having the committee conduct periodic reviews of all legislated faculty committees and report its findings to the senate was an additional charge to the committee. Other minor changes were essentially clarifying procedures. There were no questions nor discussion and the motion US97/98-2 passed by voice vote.
Similarly, the next motion, US97/98-3 changing the terms of service on appointed faculty committees to be consistent across all appointed committees, met with no discussion and was passed by voice vote. The motion reads,
Except as otherwise noted in legislation, appointments to faculty committees shall be for two-year terms, staggered so that approximately one-half of the membership returns each year. If a vacancy occurs during the first year of service, and does not need to be filled immediately, the succeeding appointment shall be for the second year of the term. When a vacancy occurs during an academic year and a replacement is immediately needed, the Committee on Committees shall designate a replacement to serve the remainder of that academic year.
The final motion presented by Senator Luks, motion US97/98-4 established procedure for the election of committee chairs. Moved that,
Unless otherwise noted by legislation, chairs of all faculty committees shall be elected before the end of spring term by the current committee membership (outgoing and returning) from the roster of members who will be returning for a subsequent year of service.
Senator Luks explained that in order to get new committees operational as quickly as possible in the fall term, it would be helpful if the chairs of the committees were elected in the spring from among the continuing members of the committees. With no further discussion, the motion passed by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Senator Olson indicated he would present a motion at the next senate meeting extending the class drop/add deadlines. President Tedards called for any other new business. Hearing none, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Gwen Steigelman
Secretary of the Faculty
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ATTACHMENT
Full text of motion US97/98-1, as amended, establishing the Undergraduate
Council and Committee on Courses (passed by University Senate November 12,
1997)
Background Statement
The University of Oregon is a public comprehensive research university committed to excellence in undergraduate education. Our undergraduate education mission is to engage students in a coherent, focused, liberal arts-based program of study from which they will gain a life-long love of learning and the ability to "question critically, think logically, communicate clearly, act creatively, and live ethically." (UO Mission Statement, 1995)
A successful undergraduate program welcomes students into the intellectual life of the campus community; guides students through an integrated curriculum that progresses from introductory through capstone learning experiences; creates meaningful opportunities for students to actively engage in the modes of inquiry that define a research university; and prepares students to be active participants and effective leaders in a democratic society. (UO Statement of Philosophy, Undergraduate Education, 1996)
Motion
In order to ensure that all university policies and procedures, curricula, personnel, and teaching decisions that affect undergraduate education are consistent and defensible when compared to the University of Oregon's Mission Statement and Statement of Philosophy, Undergraduate Education, and to enhance faculty involvement in the development of the undergraduate academic program, UO Committee on Committees, moves that:
The Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council and the University Curriculum Committee shall be abolished.
There shall be established a new council, to be known as the Undergraduate Council, charged with reviewing, evaluating and enhancing the quality of the University's undergraduate program. This Council shall regularly report its actions and recommendations to the Senate and other duly authorized governing bodies as necessary to uphold and enhance the quality of the undergraduate academic program.
This council shall undertake its reviews in consultation with respective department heads and/or program directors and shall regularly work in conjunction with standing committees that have responsibilities relating to undergraduate education.
The membership of the Undergraduate Council shall be:
10 elected faculty
1 School of Architecture and Allied Arts
1 College of Business
1 College of Education
1 School of Journalism and Communication
1 School of Music 5 College of Arts and Sciences (1 each from Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences and 2 at-large) 1 Chair, Committee on Courses
1 Chair, Academic Requirements Committee
1 Chair, Scholastic Review Committee
1 Chair, CAS Curriculum Committee
4 Ex officio, nonvoting
1 Registrar
1 from Office of Academic Affairs
1 from Office of Academic Advising
1 from Library
4 Students (1-year terms) -- no more than 2 from the same school or college
All elected members (except students) shall serve staggered, 3-year terms.
The charges to this Undergraduate Council shall include:
1. Review and promote the objectives and purposes of undergraduate education and assure that all policies and procedures, curricula, personnel and teaching decisions that affect undergraduate education are consistent and defensible with the institution's undergraduate education mission, as defined in the University of Oregon's Mission Statement and Statement of Philosophy, Undergraduate Education.
2. Participate, on behalf of the university faculty, in planning the development and improvement of the undergraduate instructional program of the institution, in consultation with the president, other university officers of administration, and with relevant department heads and program directors.
• Identify opportunities to create new programs and screen all college and school proposals for new academic majors, minors, degrees, and certificates.
• Provide advice and assistance to academic units in planning new programs, with special attention to the relation of such programs to general curricular and academic policies of the University and to overall plans for the development of the institution's undergraduate instructional program.
• Study existing courses and curricula, reviewing the quality of undergraduate components of departments and schools/colleges, and present recommendations for revision to deans and department heads.
• Review, evaluate and propose revisions for general education requirements.
3. Monitor and respond to general academic policies, especially those which have an interactive impact on undergraduate programs across the University. Identify, develop and advocate new and revised baccalaureate degree policies as appropriate.
4. Establish criteria and outcomes to determine the success of the overall undergraduate program and review the program and its various components in light of these criteria and outcomes.
• Review and evaluate existing programs for advising, including student use of the curriculum (e.g., access to courses, sequencing of courses, course choices, and over- and under-subscription of courses), role of faculty in advising, preparation of faculty for advising, and rewards/recognition for advising.
• Review and evaluate student assessment and learning outcomes to assure that the undergraduate curriculum provides learning experiences that expose students to substantive discipline-based knowledge and builds students' abilities.
• Provide regular evaluation and monitoring of transfer-credit policies, grading standards, and practices.
5. Monitor the academic coherence, quality, and standards of the undergraduate academic program to assure that the quality and rigor of instruction and evaluation are consistent across the curriculum.
There shall be established a new committee, the Committee on Courses.
The membership of the Committee on Courses shall be: 5 (or more) appointed faculty--no two from the same department, nor more than two from the same school or college, with the exception of up to four from the College of Arts and Sciences (no more than 2 from any one of the three CAS divisions of Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities) 4 Ex officio, nonvoting
1 Bulletin Editor
1 Director of Academic Advising, or designee
1 Registrar, or designee
1 Dean of the Graduate School, or designee
2 Students (1-year term) -- 1 undergraduate student and 1 graduate student
All appointed members (except student) shall serve staggered 3-year terms.
The charges to the Committee on Courses shall include:
In consultation with relevant departments, screen all proposals for new courses and course changes.
Consult with the Undergraduate Council on curricular patterns of concern.
Report its recommendations to the university faculty through the University Senate (quarterly reports).
Direct the university editor on the content and structure of the University of Oregon Bulletin.