George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
November 7, 2001
Senators Present: J. Bennett, A. Berry, E. Blaisten-Barojas,
D. Boileau, B. Brown, L. Brown, P. Buchanan, Y. D. Chung, S. Cobb, R. Coffinberger,
R. Conti. M. Deshmukh, E. Elstun, H. Gortner, R. C. Jones, H. W. Jeong, D. Kuebrich,
B. Manchester, J. Moore, H. Morgan, R. Nadeau, L. Pawloski, L. Rockwood, S.
Ruth, J. Sanford, S. Slayden, P. So, A. Sofer, P. Stearns, P. Story, B. Sturtevant,
C. Sutton, J. Zenelis, S. Zoltek
Senators Absent: K. Avruch, W. M. Black, L. Bowen, R. Carty,
S. Cheldelin, T. Chorvat, S. deMonsabert, M. DeNys, T. Friesz, J. Gorrell, M.
Grady, L. Griffiths, G. Hanweck, K. Haynes, J. High, R. Klimoski, A. Kolker,
M. Krauss, C. Mattusch, A. Merten, E. Price, W. Reeder, J. Kozlowski, J. Scimecca,
L. Seligmann, B. Smith, D. Struppa, C. Thomas. S. Trencher, P. Wilkie.
Guests Present: John Allen, Sheryl Beach, Susan Jones, Mary
Lee Vance, Judy Jobbitt
I. Call to Order
Chair, Don Boileau called the meeting to order at 3:08 pm.
II. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of October 3, 2001, were approved
.
III. Announcements
John Allen, Psychology, delivered a eulogy for Lev Vekker, a faculty member
at Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study and an Affiliate Professor of Psychology,
who died October 1. A moment of silence was observed by the Faculty Senate in
his memory. D. Boileau will write a letter of condolence from the Faculty Senate
to the family of Lev Vekker.
Don Lavoie, School of Public Policy died November 6. A moment of silence will
be observed for him at the next Faculty Senate meeting, December 5, 2001, with
Jack High presenting the eulogy.
Academic Policies Committee – Esther Elstun
The next two meetings of the Academic Policies Committee are scheduled for November
14 and 28. The principal agenda item for November 14 is multiple minors/concentrations.
The committee is expecting to reach closure on this matter and on how much double
counting will be permitted will be decided at this meeting. Please contact Pat
Wilkie if you wish to attend this meeting. The committee will also be discussing
meeting on the Senate-mandated C- grade and the way the university defines
satisfactory standing.
The meeting on November 28 will address residency requirements. CAS liaisons,
Doris Bitler and Walter Rankin, will help to clarify this question. Please contact
Esther Elstun with questions on this item.
Facilities, Support Services and Library Committee – Stanley Zoltek
October 24, 2001, 2:00 pm, Fenwick Library, C304
Committee members: Present: Hal Gortner, Jean Moore, John Zenelis,
Stan Zoltek Absent: Pat Wilkie, Jerry Hanweck
Guests: Susan Murphy, Print Services, Jack Smith, Bookstore,
John Spaldo, University Services.
This semester faculty reported dissatisfaction with the cost and availability
of “Course Packs” they assembled for their classes.
The Committee met with representatives from the Bookstore, Print Services, and
University Services to address these concerns. Specifically (1) the estimated
25% increase in the cost of course packs, (2) student reports of delays and
confusion as to location of materials, and (3) the lack of faculty input into
the “change” in pricing and distribution. (See the memo from Jim
Barry, NCC.) As a result of our discussion the following actions were recommended:
1) Better placement of signs in the Bookstore that use the term “course
packs” instead of “course materials”;
2) Quicker turn-around-time for producing additional course packs;
3) The University formalize an agreement with the Bookstore that the current
20% markup on course materials (packs) will not increase during the Bookstore’s
current contract.
The following library-related items were reported and discussed:
1. Dial-up access to Library digital resources: The initial problem related
to the University’s dial-up telecommunications change was corrected immediately
after it was brought to the library’s attention; library databases can
be accessed by dial-up users via
EZ access.
2. FY01/02 research materials expenditure guidelines: Expenditure guideline
memoranda were distributed to faculty library liaisons, department chairs and
deans during the week of October 8 th . An overview of digital resources added
last year by the
Libraries was also provided.
3. Fenwick Fellow lecture: The Fall 2001 Fenwick Fellow lecture will be delivered
by Daniel Rothbart, Philosophy and Religious studies, on November 29, 2001.
An announcement of the details is forthcoming.
4. University Libraries’ “big picture” and divisional goals
for 2001/2002: A document was distributed listing “big picture”
goals, as well as goals of the four major library divisions – Public Services,
Distributed Libraries, Resources and Collection Management Service, and
Library Systems Office. The three general, or big picture, goals for the current
year are:
a. Development: friend & fundraising;
b. Library/academic department liaison
program: assessment & future directions
c. Phase I of Fenwick Library Renovation
(project will focus on Wing A and 1st floors of B&C, and will involve service
point reconfigurations,
furniture upgrades, and installation of additional book-stacks).
5. “1-Millionth” volume milestone: The combined holdings of all
five George Mason University Libraries will reach the 1M volumes mark this year.
An appropriate commemoration of this major milestone is being explored.
Submitted November 7, 2001:
The New Century College faculty requests that the Faculty Senate initiate an
inquiry into the decision to transfer sale of course packets to the Barnes and
Noble Bookstore and the significant increase in the cost of course materials
that accompanied that decision. We also request that the Senate emphasize to
the administration the importance of full consultations regarding policies that
affect teaching and learning.
Background: During the summer, a decision was made to transfer the sale of course
packets from the course materials office to the bookstore, in order to deal
with a continuing loss of revenue by University Print Services. Students immediately
noted a significant increase on the order of 25 percent in the cost of course
packets. Faculty inquiries revealed that three factors contributed to this price
inflation: a slight increase in royalty costs, a similarly slight increase in
printing costs, and a 20 percent markup charged by the Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
This situation concerns us for two reasons: First, the increased costs are substantial
for many students, especially those in classes that rely heavily on compilations
of articles or case studies not otherwise available, or those who are studying
in the increasing number of fields where the state of knowledge changes far
more quickly that conventional publishing cycles can accommodate. Second, the
decision was apparently executed without announcement or prior consultation
with faculty or students. Faculty thus had no opportunity to modify their
selection of course materials to reduce the considerable financial impact on
students.
The impact of the decision on faculty teaching and student learning has been
exacerbated by other restrictions that have created confusion and difficulty
for faculty attempting to provide the most up-to-date course materials for effective
instruction. Faculty are discouraged from placing some materials (such as book
chapters) on electronic reserves. There are limits on the repeated use of materials
and the dissemination of materials simultaneously in electronic and printed
form; inadequate print runs for many course packets; and a restriction on the
use of less expensive resources outside the university for the creation and
reproduction of course materials.
While some of these limitations are beyond the university’s control, others
result from policy decisions and interpretations of the law that warrant further
discussion. The faculty’s concerns are deepened because this decision
was made in the context of other decisions, such as the requirement for mid-term
grades in 100- and 200-level courses and ending of Internet dial-in service,
that were executed with little consultation. The NCC faculty believes that this
context makes it particularly important that the Faculty Senate ascertain the
facts regarding the course materials decision, request remedial action from
the administration if appropriate, and insist that future decisions that impact
the faculty’s ability to provide effective instruction be undertaken only
after full consultation.
Faculty Matters Committee – Joe Scimecca
No report.
Organization and Operations Committee – Estela Blaisten-Barojas
This Committee is waiting to hear from the Student Government as to who the
student representative is to the General Education Committee.
Nominations Committee – Rick Coffinberger
R. Coffinberger asked for senators to volunteer for committees since he often
has requests during the year for senators to serve on various University committees.
Technology Policy Committee – Stanley Zoltek
This Committee will meet on Friday, November 9 at 2:00 pm and also next Friday,
November 16 to discuss better technical support for the University. D. Boileau
feels this is a Faculty Senate issue since it affects all faculty across the
University.
Committee on External Academic Relations – Ariela Sofer
The Committee on External Academic Relations will meet Monday, November 12,
2001, with legislators, Vincent J. Callahan, Charles J. Colgan and Harry J.
Parrish.
Faculty Liaison to the BOV – Ariela Sofer
No report.
General Education Committee – Sheryl Beach
The General Education Committee has met every two weeks during the fall semester.
The next meeting will be on November 28 at 1:30 pm. The Committee will participate
in the GMU Global Faculty Retreat on November 9. This will be facilitated by
Dr. Madeline Green, of the American Council of Education (ACE), along with GMU’s
Global and International Committee, and GMU Faculty members who are authors/instructors
of global understanding courses in Gen. Ed. The results of this workshop will
serve as discussion points for the Global Faculty Assembly on November 13, 2001.
The CAS Council has invited S. Beach and five members of the Gen. Ed. Committee
to visit the CAS Council meeting on November 12, 2001.
The Gen. Ed. Committee developed and approved a response form to convey Gen.
Ed. Committee comments about reviewed Synthesis Course proposals back to department.
In reference to the O & O Committee report, the student contact this summer
to the Gen. Ed. Committee is Bennett K. Smith, Student Government Vice President.
Ms. Shireen Rasheed was appointed as student representative and has been active
on the Gen. Ed. Committee. The Gen. Ed. Committee will await hearing from the
O & O Committee on how the students decide to ratify their representative
selection process.
The Gen. Ed. Committee has been a year and a half into the implementation phase
and would like the Senate’s opinion as to when it would be appropriate
to stop accepting course proposals, so that the Gen. Ed. Committee could begin
assessing the program.
Ad Hoc Committee on Challenges to Academic Freedom and the Right to
Privacy – Robert Nadeau
Robert Nadeau presented the following policy statement regarding internet use
by employees of George Mason University which will parallel the University of
Virginia’s policy.
The "No Expectation of Privacy" provisions in the "Use of Internet
and Electronic Communications Systems" by all employees in the Commonwealth
of Virginia issued by the Department of Human Resource Management state:
"No user should have any expectation of privacy in any message, file, image,
or data created, sent, retrieved or received by the use of the Commonwealth's
equipment or access. Agencies have a right to monitor any and all aspects of
their computer systems including, but not limited to, sites, instant message
systems, chat groups, or news groups visited by agency users, material downloaded
or uploaded by agency users, and e-mail sent or received by agency users. Such
monitoring may occur at any time, without notice, and without the user's permission."
Whereas said provisions do not recognize that electronic communications in public
colleges and universities between students and faculty and/or professional staff
in the Commonwealth are different in kind from those in state agencies;
Whereas said provisions could undermine reasonable expectations of privacy in
student communications with faculty and professional staff that are essential
to the teaching and learning process in public colleges and universities;
Whereas said provisions are inconsistent with the mission and purpose of higher
education and thereby compromise the vital interests of the Commonwealth;
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
That electronic communications involving the students, faculty and/or professional
staff of those public colleges and universities in the Commonwealth that have
previously adopted acceptable use of computing policies approved by the Attorney
General are an exception to the “No Privacy Expectations” provisions
in the use “Use of Internet and Electronic Communications Systems”
policy (Policy #1.75) issued by the Department of Human Resource Management.
IV. New Business
The following senators co-sponsor this motion: Jim Bennett, Kevin Avruch, Larry
Bowen, Lorraine Brown, Marty DeNys, Esther Elstun, Harold Gortner, Aliza Kolker,
David Kuebrich, and Pat Story.
Jim Bennett introduced the following motion to elect a senator
from the Faculty Senate to serve on the George Mason Foundation Board of Trustees.
Harriett Morgan and Chris Jones added friendly grammatical amendments to the
motion, and introduced the motion as amended below:
FACULTY REPRESENTATION ON GMU FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WHEREAS, the George Mason University Foundation is the tax-exempt, nonprofit
organization chartered to operate exclusively for the benefit of George Mason
University, an educational institution, and
WHEREAS, the faculty of George Mason University have primary responsibility
for the University’s educational mission through teaching and research,
and the interests and concerns of the faculty are addressed through the faculty’s
representatives in the Faculty Senate,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of George Mason University request that
one of its members, elected by the Faculty Senate, serve on the Board of Trustees
of the George Mason University Foundation to represent the faculty’s interests
in and to keep the faculty informed of the Foundation’s activities and
programs.
If adopted, the Secretary of the Faculty Senate is directed to send this Resolution
to the President of the GMU Foundation, each member of the Foundation’s
Board of Trustees, and to the Rector of the University. Judy Jobbitt, President,
GMU Foundation requested the Secretary of the Senate, Lorraine Brown send this
motion to the Chair of the GMU Foundation, the Vice Chair, GMU Foundation, Judy
Jobbitt, President, GMU Foundation and Alan Merten, President, GMU. She also
suggested that this would necessitate a by-laws change.
D. Boileau checked with Jim Bennett as to whether this request could be accepted
as a friendly amendment. On behalf of the other sponsors senator Bennett agreed,
and the change was so ordered for the “if adopted” clause.
The motion passed unanimously by a voice vote.
A motion to adjourn was requested, and it was so moved
and seconded.
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorraine Brown,
Secretary, Faculty Senate