GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Minutes of the Faculty Senate
November 9, 1994
Present Albanese Alligood Boileau Censer Conti Crockett Dinan Elstun Fuchs Gantz Hamburger Hammond Hurt Jensen Long Metcalf Oates Potter Rosenblum Rosenzweig Rossini Ruth Sanford Sofer Tabak Taylor Thomas Todd Tongren Torzilli Travis Wood Wright
Absent Blainsten-Barojas Buckley Carty Chang Fulmer Johnson Krauss Manne Mellander Sage Spikell Zoltek
I. Call to Order
The Chair, Anita Taylor, called the meeting to order at 3:02 P.M.
II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the October 19, 1994 meeting were approved as distributed.
III. Announcements
Ms. Taylor distributed nameplates to Senators. She announced that the nameplates should be returned after each meeting.
Ms. Taylor has appointed Mr. Tongren to serve as Chair Pro Tempore and Mr. Boileau to serve as Parliamentarian for 1994-1995. Ms. Taylor, Ms. Elstun and Mr. Metcalf will serve as Senate observers at Board of Visitors meetings.
IV. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
V. New Business
A. Senate Committee Reports
1. Executive Committee
Ms. Taylor reported that the Committee was continuing its review of the Faculty
Handbook with the Provost to provide interpretations of sections which are not
clear. The Committee and the Provost have agreed that Section 2.8.4.b does not
preclude associate professors from serving on promotion committees and voting
on candidates for full professor. It does require that the vote of full professors
be recorded separately. It also permits Local Academic Units the option to determine
whether associate professors should be granted these privileges and responsibilities.
The Committee and the Provost also agreed that all Summer School teaching assignments
will be governed by Section 3.3 of the Handbook. After a period of review, the
Committee may propose that the Handbook be amended to formally legalize these
and other clarifications.
2. Academic Policies Committee
Ms. Travis MOVED to approve the proposal to initiate a BA/BS
in integrative studies. The proposed degree features the following:
a minimum of 12 hours of experiential learning 30 hours of general education that fulfill the university and state accreditation requirements portfolio assessment senior exposition
Discussion centered around the importance of careful program assessment involving multiple assessment methods, the extent to which require-ments are "equivalent to" existing program re- quirements, anticipated enrollment, differences between BA and BS degree requirements, and impact on resources for other programs. Mr. Rossini said that the University had received an allocation from the state for development of the program in addition in funding for other programs. Mr. Potter indicated that the new program will be integrated with existing programs; thus, resources should be saved. Funds for the proposed program will not be taken from those of existing programs. Mr. Boileau MOVED a friendly amendment to add "and a maximum of 24 hours" between "12 hours" and "of experiential learning," and to add "45 hours of upper level credit and 30 hours of specialization course work" at the end of the motion. The motion, incorpo- rating the friendly amendment, PASSED by voice vote without dissension.
After voting to approve the motion, Ms. Elstun strongly urged the proposers to change sub- stantially much of the description of the proposed program. The "Mission Statement" does not propose a mission, and the "Pedagogical Premises" unjustly criticize existing programs. In addition, SACS accreditation requirements preclude granting of credit for travel; a study component is required for credit. The Senate was assured that the document would be revised before being sent to SCHEV.
3. Faculty Matters Committee
There was no report.
4. Organization and Operations Committee
Mr. Boileau MOVED a procedure to elect faculty members to serve
on second-level promotion and tenure review committees (see Attachment A). The
motion was approved by voice vote without dissension.
Ms. Elstun reported that Senate bylaws require periodic review. The Committee has instructed the Ad Hoc Committee on Formational and Operational Documents to undertake this review and to modernize bylaws language. She also reported that the Committee had instructed the Faculty Matters Committee to monitor the Governor's Blue Ribbon Strike Force and to report important developments to the Senate, as appropriate.
5. Nominations Committee
Mr. Rosenzweig reported that the Committee is still seeking nominees for the
Student Union Advisory Board and the Student Funding Board.
B. Other Committees
1. Ad Hoc Committee on Formational and Operational Documents
Mr. Censer reported that, with changes in Senate membership, the Committee has
only four remaining members. The Senate determined that this was sufficient
for the Committee to continue its work.
VI. Other New Business
There was no other new business.
VII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:17 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
James F. Sanford
Secretary
ATTACHMENT A
Section 2.8.4.a.iii of the Faculty Handbook gives the Senate the responsibility
of electing faculty members to serve on second-review promotion and tenure committees
in certain circumstances. The O & O Committee moves that the Senate carry
out this responsibility as follows:
After the Provost receives information about units affected by Section 2.8.4.a.iii of the Faculty Handbook, the Provost will notify the Chair of the Faculty Senate by September 15 of the affected units that have one or more candidates for promotion and tenure. If the number of units is "insufficient to provide a committee of at least ten members," the Chair of the Senate will request its Nominations Committee to provide a slate of faculty members in the rank of full professor, to complete the composition of the committee. Half of those nominated and elected shall be current members of the Faculty Senate and half shall be from any appropriate local academic unit. The slate shall be presented no later than the November meeting, for election by the Faculty Senate.