APPROVED MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING 2nd
OF THE FACULTY SENATE
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES-CAMDEN
NOVEMBER 7, 2006
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 12:28 p.m. in room 121 Armitage Hall, Dr. Charles Jarrett, President, presiding.
1. Dr. Jarrett opened the meeting by drawing attention to several issues he had discovered in his review of the Faculty Senate By-Laws.
Dr. Jarrett noted that the Faculty Senate must have 17 votes plus 1 vote to pass motions presented before the Faculty Senate. The number 17 represents half the number of Senators plus one extra vote.
He noted, too, that there is supposed to be a Faculty Senate Steering Committee, which currently does not exist. The Steering Committee includes the Faculty Senate President, Vice President, and one elected member. Dr. Jarrett suggested that nominations be given and an election be held.
It was expressed that the Faculty Senate needs better communication with the Dean’s office. Unilateral decisions made by the Administration bring about ill will among the faculty. Better communication fosters more positive cooperation. What jurisdiction does the Faculty Senate have in the decision-making process? According to the Faculty Senate By-laws, academic matters are under the Faculty Senate’s jurisdiction. The lack of shared governance between the Administration and the Faculty Senate needs to be addressed. Who has final authority in decision-making policies: the Faculty Senate or the Dean?
Previously, the Faculty Senate passed a motion on the recommendation of the Scholastic Standing Committee to change the withdrawal period from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. Dean Marsh delayed the implementation of the motion for several months but eventually agreed to a 10-week withdrawal date for CCAS students. Reasons for the delay included the Business School pending approval of the motion, the possibility that grade-conscious students could drop a course even if they were satisfactorily passing with an average C grade, and financial aid issues. The Dean met with the Scholastic Standing Committee to discuss the issue and the committee subsequently agreed to endorse the 10-week withdrawal date. Joe Schiavo, a member of the Scholastic Standing Committee, reported the committee’s approval to the Senate. The 10-week withdrawal date was APPROVED, VOICE VOTE by the Faculty Senate.
Additional questions asked by Senators: 1. How many administrative committees overlap
the Faculty Senate committees? 2. Does the Dean’s Advisory Committee replace the Faculty Senate’s Budget Committee? Dr. Jarrett said that he would invite Dean Marsh to the December 5, 2006 meeting to address these and other questions Senators may have.
2. Minutes from the October 10, 2006 Faculty Senate Meeting minutes were APPROVED, VOICE VOTE.
The meeting adjourned at 1:24 p.m.
REPORT ON ATTENDANCE:
Members Present: C. Jarrett, R. Tarbell, J. Schiavo,W. Saidel, I-Ming Chiu, Christopher Fitter, J. Rushing, E. Vanderven, G. Verbrugghe, J. Still, H. Herrera, C. Brown, R. Cowley, K, S. Duffy for K. Thierry, J.C. Birget for G. Kortsarz, N. Marmorstein, S. Duffy, J. VanTil, B. Adelson, J-L Hippolyte Members Excused: K. Bezrukova (on leave Fall ‘06), K. Thierry (on leave Fall ‘06), S. Burrell; K. Shienbaum, A. Espiritu (on leave Fall ’06) Members Absent: P. Maslen, A. Shankman, C. Brown, S. Fiske, H. Li, G. Caputo, M. Meloy, L. Garcia
Submitted by,
Joseph C. Schiavo, Secretary
Faculty Senate (AY 2006-2007)