Senate meets

Faculty Senate holds first meeting of 2016

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2:44 p.m., Feb. 10, 2016--The University of Delaware Faculty Senate held its first meeting of the spring semester on Monday, Feb. 8, in Gore Hall.

University Provost Domenico Grasso noted the recent appointments of Lynn Okagaki as deputy provost for academic affairs and Ann Ardis as senior vice provost for graduate and professional education. 

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“I would like to thank them very much for taking on these very important roles,” Grasso said. “The title of senior vice provost for graduate studies really underscores the importance of the graduate mission at this University.”

Grasso also noted the creation of a new initiative that will affirm and expand the institution's commitment to community engagement.

“This is consistent with our strategic plan, which we all own and agreed to, as well as UD’s most recent designation as a Carnegie Engaged University,” Grasso said. “The initiative is going to be directed by Dan Rich, former provost and University professor, and Lynnette Overby, who will serve as deputy director.” 

Grasso also noted that the search for the position of vice provost and director of libraries is going forward. 

“We have five candidates who will be all coming to campus and will be engaging with the faculty and staff and seeking your input,” Grasso said. 

Grasso also updated senators on the change of the reporting line of University Museums directly to the director of libraries. “Both are curatorial functions, so it just makes sense to organize it this way,” Grasso said. “The new vice provost and library director will be overseeing both operations.” 

In addition, Grasso noted that students will have the entire week off for Thanksgiving break during the 2016 fall semester as they did during the 2015 fall semester.

“We have received comments, some that are positive and some that are a little more critical,” Grasso said. “We have asked John Sawyer and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to give us a systematic assessment of that practice, and we will look at how this will play out over the coming years.” 

Grasso also discussed the resolution making the SAT/ACT optional as a criterion for admitting Delaware residents during a four-year pilot period. (The motion was later approved by a 47-3 vote.) 

“This is something that was thought through and given a lot of analysis before we put this proposal before you,” Grasso said. “It is something that I think is going to be in the best interest of the students and the University.”

It is the University's goal is to make sure that it graduates very well qualified students who have had the opportunity to take advantage of a UD education, he said. 

His remarks indicated that it is not the goal to bar or dissuade anyone from attending UD based on spurious or incomplete predictors of collegiate success. “Our data, as you will see, shows that there should not be a deleterious impact for going test optional, and in fact it may increase diversity and success rates for many of our students.”

He added, "There are many prestigious universities across the country that have already going down this path. We should be one of the universities that joins them in this short-term experiment that may have long-term consequences.”   

General Education Initiative

Fred Hofstetter, past president of the Faculty Senate and professor in the School of Education, introduced Eric Rise, associate professor of sociology and associate chair of criminal justice, who chairs the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on General Education. Rise updated senators on the progress of the University’s General Education Initiative. 

At the close of the spring semester last year, the senate approved in principle the creation of a core curriculum of a minimum of one course and directed the senate president to proceed in appointing an ad hoc committee on the topic. 

Rise noted that UD is accepting applications for courses to be taught as part of the pilot of CORE 1: Grand Challenges and Great Debates.

“The pilot is intended for students in their sophomore year, and will build on critical thinking and reflection skills introduced in the required English 110 course and First Year Experience courses from their freshman year,” Rise said. “We are seeking a set of innovative proposals that will promote student engagement and serve as models that could be implemented in fall 2017 or later, if a new requirement is adopted. We plan to pilot up to six proposals in fall 2016.”

Proposals, due by Feb. 22, will be reviewed by the Faculty Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Core. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by Feb. 29. 

Rise said the University welcomes inquiries about the core pilot and the requests for proposals. Interested faculty can send questions and completed applications to erise@udel.edu.

Senate announcements

Robert Opila, president of the Faculty Senate and professor of materials science and engineering, reported that discussion on the revision of Section 4.1.6 of the Faculty Handbook will take place at upcoming senate meetings. 

“There will be two versions. One is going to incorporate all of the changes coming from the resolution voted on last May, and the other one is going to contain a couple of improvements on what is in the Faculty Handbook,” Opila said. “We have a lot to think about before they come up.”

Opila encouraged senators and faculty members to sign up for various committees, saying, “This is a really important time. I know that we are very lucky to have some really excellent activities around the general education and teaching committees, and this can only be done with the help of you and your colleagues. I encourage you to sign up for this and take part in anything you might be interested in.” 

Opila also urged senators to support this year’s UDance student philanthropy initiative, which benefits childhood cancer programs. “You saw the table outside for UDance 2016. This is an excellent activity and I encourage everybody to consider it.”

Regular agenda

During the regular agenda portion of the meeting, senators approved the motion to make the SAT and ACT test scores optional as a criterion for admitting Delaware residents. Reports by Doug Zander, director of admissions, and Grasso expressed support for the approved initiative. 

Regular agenda items passed by the senate also included changing the name of the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management program (HRIM) in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics to Hospitality Business Management (HOSP). 

Senators also approved revising the Faculty Senate Library Committee charge and disestablishing the master of education in school leadership, as there are no students currently in the program. 

A recommendation to revise promotion and tenure dates and deadlines in Section 4.4.8 in the promotion process schedule was referred back to committee for further consideration. 

Consent agenda

During the consent agenda portion of the meeting, senators approved requests to create several 4+1 programs, including a bachelor of science in organizational and community leadership with a master of arts in urban affairs and public policy and the master of public administration. Also approved was the creation of a 4+1 program in particle technology. 

For additional consent agenda items approved at the meeting, visit the Faculty Senate's website, where they are listed on the Feb. 8 agenda.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate is 4 p.m., Monday, March 7, in 104 Gore Hall. 

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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