FACULTY SENATE MINUTES #11

�� March 25, 2008

1. CALL TO ORDER: The 11th meeting of the Faculty Senate for 2007-2008 was called to order at 1:10 PM on March 25, 2008 in the Hall of Fame Room, Park Center, by Chair Karla Alwes.

SENATORS AND MEMBERS PRESENT: K. Alwes, B. Buxton, E. McCabe, D. Berger, I. Jubran, K. Lawrence, N. Helsper, H. Botwinick, J. Shedd, D. Miller, J. Reese, J. Walkuski, J. Governali, J. Hendrick, O. White, J. Rayle, J. Duncan, B. Langhans, A. Dahlman, D. Harrington, T. Vigers, D. Ritchie, S. Snell, J. Clark, C. Hahl, J. Riddoch, R. Peagler, S. Anderson

SENATORS AND MEMBERS ABSENT: D. West, T. Slack, D. Videto, M. Ware, B. Schecter, E. Bitterbaum, E. Davis-Russell, R. Franco, W. Shaut, D. West, J. Ford, M. Connell

GUESTS PRESENT: G. Levine, G. Clarke, D. Margine, M. Prus, C. Christian, M. Rainsford, A. Maxa, D. Tillman, M. K. Boyland, K. Pristash, M. Gerty, H. Meyers, M. Dwyer, A. Murphy, T. Abilock, J. Wilson, B. Spitzer, R. Kendrick, B. Lawrence, L. Bailman, K. Beyer, C. Henry, C. Schacht, N. Duncan

II. SENATE ACTIONS:

There was a vote to extend the deadline for the Ad Hoc Committee on External Review to April 22, 2008 (Passed)

There was a vote to approve the amendment to the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1 (simple departmental system) from D. Miller to include two students with voting rights (Passed)

There was a vote to approve the amendment to the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1 (simple departmental system), from D. Ritchie that the chairs of �Faculty Senate committees be non-voting members of the Senate (Failed)

There was a vote to approve the amendment to the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1 (simple departmental system) from W. Buxton that the total number from Professional Studies be increased by 3 at large seats and that these 3 at large seats be in addition to the seats from each department. (Passed)

There was a vote to approve the amendment to the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1 (simple departmental system) from K. Lawrence to add two at large members from the School of Education (Passed)

There was a roll call vote to approve the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1, (simple departmental system) as amended: 16 Approved:� W. Buxton, E. McCabe, D. Berger, I. Jubran, K. Lawrence, N. Helsper, H. Botwinick, J. Shedd, D. Miller, O. White, J. Rayle, J. Duncan, B. Langhans, A. Dahlman, D. Harrington, D. Ritchie.9 Not Approved:� J. Reese, J. Walkuski, J. Governali, J. Hendrick, T. Vigers, S. Snell, J. Clark, C. Hahl, J. Riddoch. (Passed)

There was a vote that the Review of Governance Committee Report, Part II, Option 1 (simple departmental system) as amended be put to a campus referendum.� (Passed)

III. CHAIR�S REPORT:

Chairwoman Alwes opened her report by a motion from the Steering Committee calling for an extension from the Ad Hoc Committee on External Review to April 22, 2008 {SEE Senate Actions}

IV. VICE CHAIR'S REPORT

B. Buxton � No report.

V. SECRETARY�S REPORT:

E. McCabe - No report

VI. TREASURER�S REPORT:

D. Berger � No report.

VII. PRESIDENT�S REPORT:

G. Levine gave a brief report for President Bitterbaum who was not in attendance.

VIII. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Long Range Planning Committee � Janet Ford, co-chair (absent) - D. Ritchie reported that co-chair of the LRPC Committee, Cynthia Sarver, has resigned and that J. Ford will serve as chair.

D. Ritchie read a resolution from the LRPC Committee: "The Long Range Planning Committee urges the Faculty Senate not to decide on representation and voting representation on the Senate body until after it has considered and determined whether the purpose of the Senate body will be as a College Senate or a Faculty Senate."

Educational Policy Committee � R. Kendrick, Chair - D. West - No report (absent)

Student Affairs Committee � M. Connell, Chair � No report (absent)

Faculty Affairs Committee � J. Walkuski, Chair -� No report.

College Research Committee � No report.

General Education Committee � M. McGuire, Chair -� No report� (absent)

IX. OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Committee on Committees -� J. Barry, Chair - K. Alwes read the report from the Committee

on Committees {SEE Appendix 1)

X. AREA SENATOR�S REPORTS:

O. White gave a brief report regarding an initiative involving collaboration with a university in Thailand. He announced that two MOU's have been signed.� Further outcomes consist of� a research collective, activities and the possibility for more diversity.� White stated that five visiting scholars will be here on campus starting in July, and a delegate from Thailand will be here the first week in April.

XI. SUNY SENATOR�S REPORT � M. Ware � No report (absent)

XII. STUDENT SENATOR�S REPORTS:

C. Hahl read and distributed a signed petition which stated "We, the undersigned faculty, staff, and students of SUNY Cortland strongly oppose the vote before this body regarding the proposed changes to Faculty Governance. Let this document show the body before it our strong opposition to these amendments."

XIII. OLD BUSINESS

There was a discussion and debate regarding the Review of Governance Report, Part II, Option 1, simple departmental system {SEE Senate actions}

XIV. NEW BUSINESS �

The proposed changes to the EPC Policy were distributed and introduced by R. Kendrick, Chair. {SEE Appendix 3)

Respectfully Submitted:

Barbara Kissel

Recording Secretary

The following reports are appended to the minutes in the order they are submitted:

(1) Committee on Committees Report submitted by J. Barry, Chair.

(2)� Proposed Changes to the Incomplete Policy, submitted by R. Kendrick, Chair, EPC Committee.

�� APPENDIX 1

Committee on Committees � Report to the Faculty Senate

March 25, 2008

Item # 1

The ballots were tallied for the ad hoc Committee on External Review.� The results are attached (Attachment I).

Item #2

Ballots are being distributed to elect members of the search committee for the Director of Multicultural Life.� The following five individuals have been nominated; there are four seats available:

�� Jean Brown

�� Mark DePaull

�� Keith Smith

�� Dawn VanHall

�� Steve Wilson

Ballots are due back by April 3, 2008.

�

Item #3

A call for nominations has been issued for the upcoming Faculty Senate Officers and Committee vacancies.� See attached list (Attachment II).

Nominations are due by 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2008.� The slate will be presented at the Faculty Senate meeting on April 8, 2008, at which time additional nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Faculty and professional staff are encouraged to serve.

�� APPENDIX 2

�

Proposed changes to the Academic Policies

section of 07-08 Undergraduate Catalog Re: Grade of Incomplete

Current Policy�� Proposed Policy (Feb 7, 2008):

�

Reporting of grades

�

At both the mid-semester point and again at the end of the semester, students may access and review their estimates and/or final� grades on the Web. Students are also notified when they are placed on academic probation or when, because of academic deficiencies, they will be required to attend summer session at Cortland in an� effort to remove those deficiencies and thus qualify to continue� their enrollment at the College.�

�

�Reporting of grades��

At both the mid-semester point and again at the end of the semester, students may access and review their estimates and/or final� grades on the Web. Students are also notified when they are placed� on academic probation. or when, because of academic deficiencies,� they will be required to attend summer session at Cortland in an� effort to remove those deficiencies and thus qualify to continue� their enrollment at the College.�

Incomplete Grades

�Incomplete� is a temporary grade, issued solely at the discretion of the instructor, in two circumstances: a) when a student is unable to complete the course, or b)when an academic dishonesty charge has been brought against a student and the resolution of that charge is still pending.

In determining whether or not a student will be granted an Incomplete, the instructor may consider: extenuating circumstances that support the request, the coursework the student has completed at the time of the request, and the availability of labs, studios, or other specialized resources relevant to the course.

Instructors may limit the granting of an Incomplete to students who have completed a majority of the assigned coursework to date. Instructors may also require students to provide documentation to justify the granting of an Incomplete, and instructors may require students to have earned a passing grade in the course at the time the Incomplete is requested.

If an instructor chooses to issue an Incomplete, the maximum allowable period for resolving the Incomplete grade will be the end of the last day of classes of the following semester.� Instructors are free to set a deadline within that period. If no grade is issued by the end of the last day of classes of the following semester, the Incomplete will revert to a failing grade.

Exceptions may be granted only upon written petition to the instructor and the associate dean of the school in which the course is offered. Factors to be considered include deadlines for making up other incompletes and the student�s schedule in the semester the incomplete is to be made up. The associate dean consults with the instructor involved before granting an extension of time in which to make up the incomplete.

Students do not re-register for the same class to make up an incomplete.

Students should consult with the Office of Financial Advisement regarding the impact of Incomplete grades on their aid status.

�

Grading System

Incomplete, which automatically becomes an E if work is not made up by end of the following semester.�

�Exceptions may be granted only upon petition to the instructor and the associate dean of the school in which the course is offered. In setting time periods for finishing incompleted courses, the instructor must give the student adequate time in which to complete the course. Factors to be considered include deadlines for making up other incompletes and the student�s schedule in the semester the incomplete is to be made up. The associate dean consults with the instructor involved before granting an extension of time in which to make up the incomplete. Student does not re-register for the same class to make up an incomplete.�

�Incomplete, which automatically becomes an E if work is not made up by the end of the last day of classes of the following semester

�Exceptions may be granted only upon written petition to the instructor and the associate dean of the school in which the course is offered. Factors to be considered include deadlines for making up other incompletes and the student�s schedule in the semester the incomplete is to be made up. The associate dean consults with the instructor involved before granting an extension of time in which to make up the incomplete. Student does not re-register for the same class to make up an incomplete.�

Proposed changes to the 2006-2008

College Handbook, Chapter 415: General Academic Policies and Regulations, Section 415.01 (Grading System), B.2. (Incomplete)

Current Policy

Proposed Policy

INC indicates that the student has not completed the course and that a grade is being withheld until the work is performed and approved. The INC automatically will change to an E for undergraduate students unless the incomplete is converted to regular letter grade by the end of the final examination period of the following semester. Graduate students have one calendar year to convert an INC to a regular letter grade. It is the student�s responsibility to complete the required work. Exceptions may be granted only upon petition to the instructor and the dean of the school in which the course is offered or, for graduate students, to the assistant director of graduate studies. On setting time periods for finishing the incomplete, the instructor must give the student adequate time for finishing the course. Factors to be considered should include deadlines for making up other incompletes and the student�s schedule in the semester the incomplete is to be made up. The dean or assistant director of graduate studies should consult with the instructor involved before granting an extension of an incomplete.

INC indicates that the student has not completed the course and that a grade is being withheld until the work is performed and approved. The INC automatically will change to an E for undergraduate students unless the incomplete is converted to a regular letter grade by the end of the last day of classes of the following semester. Graduate students have one calendar year to convert an INC to a regular letter grade. It is the student�s responsibility to complete the required work. Exceptions may be granted only upon written petition to the instructor and the dean of the school in which the course is offered or, for graduate students, to the assistant director of graduate studies. On setting time periods for finishing the incomplete, the instructor must give the student adequate time for finishing the course. Factors to be considered should include deadlines for making up other incompletes and the student�s schedule in the semester the incomplete is to be made up. The dean or assistant director of graduate studies should consult with the instructor involved before granting an extension of an incomplete. (Please see the Academic Policies sections of the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs for more information.)

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