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Attendance:
R. Bacha, R. Bartell, L. Berkowitz, M. Casteel, H. Darling, J. Downing, S. Dwivedi, R. Farrell, A. Fetterman, D. Folkers, C. Gaston, T. Getz, F. Haag, H. Hartman, A. Hasan, A. Henne, C. Heydl-Cortinez, A. Huber, M. Jarrett, A. Kara, A. Landis, D. Latzko, F. Lugemwa, K. Magni, M. Marcus, J. Nesbitt, L. Newcomer, D. Sarafian, N. Sloboda, S. Stelly, K. Swalgin, S. Van de Streek, E. Wenk, D. Winters, L. Matesevac, S. Ruch, C. Moyer, J. McCormick, and S. Christ

  1. Minutes
    1. Minutes from the April 2 meeting were approved without comment.
  2. Communications from administration, faculty, and committees
    1. Chancellor, Dr. Joel Rodney
      1. shared that the most recent Academic Leadership Council and campus chancellor meetings were both cancelled due to lack of topics.
      2. reported that Susquehanna Style had named Penn State York the best college or university in themagazine’s“Who’s Who in Business” in York county.
    2. DAA, Dr. Joe McCormick
      1. reminded everyone about commencement, to be held two weeks from tomorrow, May 15; thanked all those who had volunteered to serve as marshals; called for a volunteer to serve as marshal for the 2BACC degree.
      2. announced that decisions had been made by the grants subcommittee about both Pullo and Advisory Board grants; notifications will be forthcoming.
      3. thanked Dr. Abul Hasan for his extended service as a University Senator.
    3. Announcements from University Senators
      1. Dr. Abul Hasan thanked faculty for input into University Senate business.
      2. Dr. Leonard Berkowtiz shared a meeting of campus governance leaders is upcoming at the Penn State Abington on July 16.
      3. Dr. Mark Casteel remarked that an annual report on grade inflation, tracking a ten year period, indicated that there was grade inflation at University Park but not at the campuses.
    4. Faculty Council Representative, Dr. Abdul Siddiqu
      1. was not present to report on Faculty Council business; indicated, by proxy, that he had nothing to share.
    5. Announcements from Faculty
      1. Dr. Harriet Darling shared information about an all-day event for the Clothsline Project (Fighting Violence Against Women) in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center, to be held on April 27.
      2. Fred Haag announced that the spring student art show was currently on display at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.
      3. Dr. Bob Farrell reported that, starting tomorrow, May 1, the Biology Club will be selling flowers.
      4. Ann Fetterman announced an upcoming “all woman day” was being organized for Habitat from Humanity.
    6. Announcements from Staff
      1. Kerry Magni reported an upcoming “White-out” event in support of Penn State athletics.
      2. Chelsea Moyer shared two potential dates for the annual Penn State Day Fall Open House: October 24 or October 31; noted that, due to staffing concerns, admissions is leaning toward the former date (with a run time of 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.).
      3. Ken Swalgin suggested making Open House earlier in the fall but was told the choices were fixed by University Park; Dr. Leonard Berkowitz, as a member of the President’s Council, offered to raise the possibility of making Open House dates more flexible with the president and provost.
      4. Dr. Bob Farrell suggested October 31 to avoid conflicts at Penn State Harrisburg and Mon Alto who will hold Open Houses on October 24.
    7. Student Government representatives
      1. SGA president Matt Sutton indicated interest in pushing forward a campus-wide smoking ban in fall 2009, pending additions to SGA membership.
      2. SGA president Matt Sutton noted work was underway on a new budget proposal system.
    8. Senate Chair, Dr. Bob Farrell
      1. indicated he will be moving forward with the formation of an ad hoc committee to explore promotion and tenure related issues.
      2. thanked the Office of Student Affairs for helping to coordinate the Academic Awards banquet and the Athletics banquet; urged everyone to plan to avoid scheduling conflicts with these events in 2009 – 10.
    9. Chair-Elect, Dr. Jennifer Nesbitt
      1. thanked the outgoing chair, Dr. Bob Farrell, for all his work this past year.
    10. Senate Committee Chairs
      1. Outgoing TLTEC chair Harley Hartman announced that Bob Bartell will head the committee in 2009 – ’10.
      2. Outgoing ASIC chair Stuart Stelly announced that Noel Sloboda will head the committee in 2009 – 10.
      3. Outgoing Diversity chair Art Henne announced that Dr. Somnia Dwivedi will chair the committee in 2009 – 10.
      4. On behalf of absent Curricular Affairs chair Peter Catina, Dr. Jennifer Nesbitt announced that Deirde Folkers and Michael Marcus will chair the committee in 2009 – 10.
  3. Unfinished Business
    1. No unfinished business was addressed by the Senate.
  4. New Business
    1. Senate elections were held for 2009 – 10 positions, with David Latzko voted in as chair-elect; Joe Downing as secretary; Ali Kara as 0mbudsman; and Emily Wenk as Faculty Council representative.
    2. A motion was presented by the Academic and Student Issues Committee, regarding changes to the Advising Award and the James H. Burness Teaching Award, calling for the elimination of frakturs and a $100 increase to each of the annual prizes, with the following rationale: 1.) frakturs have increased in cost by almost 400 per cent in under a decade, and it is likely the campus will at some point be unable to fund them; 2.) cash prizes for the two awards have not been adjusted for almost a decade; elimination of the frakturs will allow for a modest increase to each award (while still saving the campus money).

      The motion passed unanimously.
    3. Senate Chair Dr. Bob Farrell opened the floor to discuss ways of implementing the Strategic Plan; no comments were made; Chancellor Dr. Joel Rodney then stated that Strategic Plan required a time table, said faculty needed to tell administration what the time table should be, and encouraged faculty to e-mail him; Senate Chair Dr. Bob Farrell requested a lunchtime meeting be set up to discuss implementation of the strategic plan.

      The motion passed unanimously.
  5. Forensic Business: Reports from Standing Committees
    1. No forensic business was addressed by the Senate
  6. Adjournment
    1. Motion to adjourn was approved at 1:05 p.m.