UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 10, Page 2
November 7, 1991
Faculty Senate approves new doctorate in economics
By Cornelia Weil

     The University Faculty Senate approved a new Ph.D. program in
economics Monday, but senators and administrators spent much of
meeting discussing the plus/minus grading policy, an upcoming
accreditation review, the 1992-93 budget and a task force to
evaluate Greek life.
     Given provisional approval for four years, the new doctoral
program will emphasize applied economics and public policy.
According to William Latham, department chairperson, the program
expects to attract approximately 16 students, who will support
themselves by teaching, or outside jobs, or through external
funding. The existing faculty will support the new graduate
program, while continuing to teach undergraduate students, their
own master's students and students in the MBA program.
     Latham said the new program will not result in the
cancellation of any undergraduate courses, although fewer sections
may be offered and the class size may increase by as many as four
students.
     Addressing the senate earlier, Associate Provost Margaret
Andersen told the senators that the Middle States Accreditation
review team would visit the University Feb. 23-26. She said the
team would receive self-study reports from five task forces that
are currently studying how to implement the five Focused Vision
goals. The task force reports, which should be completed by
January, will cover such areas as undergraduate education, graduate
studies, diversity/equity, public service and resources/governance.
     Andersen then reviewed proposed budget cuts for 1992-93. In
the previous two years, she said, the University has cut $15.9
million from its budget base and eliminated 195 administrative and
support positions. Because of next year's projected $9 million
deficit, she said, some 100 additional staff positions may have to
be eliminated, though some of them are already vacant.
     To date, Andersen said, the administration has proposed an
additional $1.8 million be cut from administrative and support
services and $1 million from the provost's office. Consequently,
the budgets of the library and the Instructional Technology Center
will be cut and special projects and instructional improvement
grants reduced. She said that the 10 colleges have been asked to
cut $2.2 million, and proposals from the deans are now under
review.
     In addition, $400,000 has been cut from the Professional
Theatre Training Program, resulting in the loss of one faculty
member and the reduction of fellowships from 55 to 25.
     Andersen said that the administration also has proposed that
the state remove $1 million in special "line item" programs, such
as the Delaware Research Partnership and certain funds granted to
the colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Urban Affairs and Public
Policy and Marine Studies.
     Support monies also may be removed from three additional
programs in the College of Arts and Science. The American Studies,
Cognitive Science and Neuroscience programs are slated to lose
clerical support and money for promotional literature and visiting
scholars.
     Creative reorganization can sometimes help the budget
reduction process, Andersen said. As an example, she said the
Academic Studies Assistance Program and the Academic Advancement
Office will be combined under one director and be named Student
Academic Support Services. The program will handle learning
disabilities, tutoring and summer and pre-college programs.
     In conclusion, Andersen said that the faculty are expected to
use the plus/minus grading system because it is now University
policy. Faculty are the sole authority over what a grade means, she
said, but that does not mean the plus/minus policy is optional.
     David Smith, chairperson of the Committee on Committees and
Nominations, said when the plus/minus grading system was originally
proposed to the senate, it was said to be optional. Later in the
meeting, Sen. Nancy Signorielli said faculty in her deparment were
concerned about the interpretation of the plus/minus system as
mandatory University policy and the possibility of opening faculty
members to student grievance procedures if plus/minus grades were
not used.
     She proposed that the issue be reintroduced at the December
senate meeting. During the announcements, the composition of the
Greek Life Task Force was outlined for the senators by Smith.
Created by the senate last April, the task force was asked to
examine all aspects of Greek life, including academic performance
and disciplinary problems, and compare them with the student body
at large.
     Along with four faculty, two administrators and two community
members, the task force will include six student representatives
with two votes. The task force will present its report by the end
of the 1991-92 academic year, Smith said.