Meeting of the Faculty Senate
Approved Minutes
March 7, 2023
The meeting was called to order at approximately 12:45 p.m., with CCAS Faculty Senate President Beth Rabinowitz presiding. There are 37 Senators, including 3 officers and 3 senators-at-large. Of the 37 voting members, 22 were present. A quorum was met.
- A motion to approve the minutes of January 31, 2023, was made. The motion to approve the minutes was approved.
Voting record: 22 ayes, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions.
- Courses and Programs presented by Alex Roche, Chair of the APC, for approval by the Faculty Senate:
|
Courses presented for approval by APC to Faculty Senate March 7, 2023 |
Voting Record |
||||||
|
Department |
Course # |
Course Title |
Credit Value |
New/ Revision |
Aye |
Nay |
Abstention |
|
SACJ |
50:202:400 |
Race and Policing |
3 |
New |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gender Studies |
50:443:324 |
Black Masculinity |
3 |
New |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
History |
50:512:219 |
The Civil War |
3 |
New |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
History |
50:512:319 |
The Civil War |
3 |
New |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
SACJ |
50:920:314 |
Masculinities |
3 |
New |
22 |
0 |
0 |
- Athenaeum, Honors Society in Arts and Sciences
Timothy Martin addressed the Senate to provide information on and seek advice regarding the native honors society, Athenaeum. Athenaeum recognizes students with high GPAs of 3.700 or higher. While the organization has remained a fixture on campus for over 60 years, there are currently no bylaws, mission statement, or advisory board (no governing structure). Dean Griffin approved raising the entrance criteria for Athenaeum, which now matches that of Phi Beta Kappa. The Dean also expressed interest in making Athenaeum a more purposeful organization. Three questions presented to the Senate:
- Does the Senate have suggestions on what a more active and engaged undergraduate honor society might look like? Examples of other undergraduate organizations are welcome.
- Would the Senate like to be involved in Athenaeum in some way, for example member of an advisory board, if the organization became more active?
- Should Athenaeum be governed by the Senate in some way, or is the Senate comfortable with whoever oversees the organization to continue seeking out the Dean directly for approval to make changes?
Any Senators interested in making the organization formally a matter of the Senate is welcomed to reach out to Tim and could then make a motion to the Senate at a future meeting.
- Bylaw Amendments
The Senate reviewed and discussed the most recent proposed amendments to the bylaws, that will be put up for a vote and then presented to the full faculty of Arts & Sciences for a final vote.
- Short Announcements
- Jim Brown will be doing a presentation on ChatGPT, on how it works and how we can work with it, during the free period on Thursday, 3/9/23.
- It was recognized that there are discrepancies in the way the Administration presents surveys to faculty without proper informed consent.
- The President has had discussions with RU campus police, and asked for a presentation at the next Senate meeting to explain what procedures are in place for active shooter situations.
- New Business
No new business was presented.
The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Present: Margery Amdur, James Boucher, I-Ming Chiu, Sean Duffy, Jinglin Fu, Anthony Geneva, Anthony Grasso, Julie Griepenburg, Rafey Habib, George Kumi, Randy Mershon, Kayla Preito-Hodge, Xingyun Qi, Beth Rabinowitz, Jovanna Rosen, James Rushing, Stass Shpanin, Lorrin Thomas, Sarah Tosh, John Wall, Zara Wilkinson
Absent (Senators): Ross Allen, Paul Bernstein, Jim Brown, Iman Dehzangi,
Excused Absent (Senators): Osama Hamed, Holly B Humes
Present Senators-at-Large: Bart Everts
Absent Senators-at-Large: Nathan Fried, Paul Jargowsky
Excused Senators-at-Large:
Present (Invited Guests): Dean Griffin, Regina Koury, Timothy Martin, Joan Mazelis, Susan Mokhberi, Laura Napolitano, Alex Roche, Tom Ryan, Jennifer Thiel
Drafted by Melinda Aviles, 3/7/23