Meeting of the CCAS Faculty Senate
Approved Minutes
March 25, 2025
The meeting was called to order at approximately 12:45 p.m., with CCAS Faculty Senate Vice President Rafey Habib presiding. There are 33 Senators, including 3 officers and 0 senators-at-large. Of the 33 voting members, 24 were present. A quorum was met.
I. A motion to approve the minutes of February 25, 2025, was made. The motion to approve the minutes was approved.
Voting record: 24 ayes, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions.
II. Discussion of APC courses and programs – APC chair
a. APC Chair, Alex Roche, made several announcements:
i. A student-proposed major should be proposed at least 12 months prior to graduation. While this proposal did not meet the criteria, it is sufficiently deserving. Senator Stass Shpanin shared his support for the student-proposed major.
ii. Of the course proposals presented today, two courses are identical, which raised a large discussion in the APC about certain departments’ desires to offer two courses with the same title, same content, at different levels in the same classroom, at the same time. Essentially this is being cross-listed as two undergrad courses at the same time, at two different levels. While there are some disadvantages to this practice, the Registrar’s Office does allow this to be done.
iii. The next Faculty Senate meeting on 4/29/2025 will be the last opportunity for departments to have courses they wish to offer in the fall be reviewed and approved.
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Courses presented for discussion and recommendation by APC to Faculty Senate |
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|
Department |
Course # |
Course Title |
Credit Value |
New/ Revision |
|
English and Communication |
50:352:309 |
Diversity in the 19th Century |
3 |
REVISION |
|
History |
50:512:251 |
History of US Advertising |
3 |
NEW |
|
History |
50:512:276 |
20th Century Military History |
3 |
NEW |
|
History |
50:512:351 |
History of US Advertising |
3 |
NEW |
|
Philosophy and Religion |
50:840:272 |
Women in Islam |
3 |
NEW |
|
Political Science |
50:790:216 |
Global Urban Politics |
3 |
NEW |
|
Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice |
50:920:340 |
Health and Society |
3 |
NEW |
|
Programs presented for discussion and recommendation by APC Committee to Faculty Senate |
||||
|
Department |
Minor |
Date when program will begin |
||
|
Student: Lucille Rowe |
Student-Proposed Major: Natural Sciences in Narrative and Image |
|
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III. Senate Business
a. Update on FASC Handbook – Next Steps
Both the full-time and part-time faculty handbooks have been under revision. Most of the updates have been administrative changes (email/address updates, etc.) Chrissy Beswick has created a list of changes that were implemented at the Senate’s suggestion. The handbooks with their updates will be presented during the full FASC meeting on 4/29/2025. A vote is not required but will be taken if requested.
b. Reminder of upcoming CCAS Faculty Senate Election: VP/President Elect
An election is necessary to elect a new VP/President Elect for next year. Current President Robert Emmons will have concluded his two-year term, and current VP Rafey Habib will move into the President role for 2025-26. An official call for nominations will be issued by the Rules and Procedures Committee. However, anyone interested in the VP position or who would like to nominate someone else, can reach out to Robert, Rafey, and/or Kalya.
IV. New Business
a. Chairs have learned that department operational budgets have been suspended for the current time. Any items that were pre-approved prior to the suspension can proceed as planned. However, any new requests will need approval from the Dean. The current shortfall is due to the projection of 300 students enrolled and tuition dollars but only receiving 225 students. The Chancellor has advised that the ~$1million deficit will come out of next year’s operational budget. Departments that have discretionary funds are asked to utilize those funds for the time being. This will be discussed in more detail at the next Chairs and Directors’ meeting with the Dean.
Some ideas presented by the Senate:
-
-
- Build resources and structures for faculty to be able to assist with student recruitment.
- Create an ad hoc committee to liaise with Sherrie Madia.
- Utilize personalization. Send some form of communication to students (via text, email, mail, etc.) who are admitted, about your department/program; an invitation to Arts Day, for example.
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V. Announcements
The full Faculty of A&S meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, which is the same day as the next Faculty Senate meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Present: Craig Agule, Ross Allen, Sarah Allred, Paul Bernstein, James Boucher, Michelle Carlin, I-Ming Chiu, Brian Corbett, Iman Dehzangi, Travis DuBose, Jamie Dunaev, Robert Emmons, Naomi Fair, Chris Fitter, Anthony Grasso, Rafey Habib, Yoona Kang, Hunter King, Randy Mershon, Tamara Nelson, Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, Kayla Preito-Hodge, Alex Roche, Stass Shpanin
Absent (Senators): Margaret Betz, Kendra Boyd, Carly Goodman, Ann Heidelberg, Alejandro Loureiro Lorenzo, Clinton McNair, Xingyun Qi, Amy Savage, Longmei Shu
Excused Absent (Senators): Robert Emmons
Present Senators-at-Large: n/a
Absent Senators-at-Large: n/a
Excused Senators-at-Large: n/a
Present (Invited Guests): Jennifer Thiel
Drafted by Melinda Aviles, 4/14/25