August 10, 2015
Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
August 10, 2015
601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
In Attendance: Louise Abbott, Guy Battle, Blanca Lupiani, Leonard Bierman, John Buchanan, Christine Budke, William Clark, Greg Cobb, Charles Criscione, Walter Daugherity, Darryl De Ruiter, Janice Epstein, Margaret Ezell, Jose Fernandez-Solis, Tammy Frank-Cannon, Gerald Frye, Elsa Gonzalez, Melinda Grant, Ira Greenbaum, Kim Quaile Hill, Angie Hill Price, Brian Holland, Jon Jasperson, Mark Johnson, Trez Jones, Gary Kunkel, Thomas Linton, Clint Magill, Beth McNeill, Stephen Miller, Bimal Nepal, Bruce Neville, Calvin Parnell, Deva Reddy, James Rogers, Laura Sare, Mark Sicilio, Nancy Simpson, Bob Strawser, Evan Vestal, Coran Watanabe, Jim Woosley
Call to Order
Speaker Strawser called the meeting to order at 3:19 PM.
Guest Speaker
Speaker Comments
Speaker Strawser introduced the new Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Daniel J. Pugh, Sr., who joins TAMU from the University of Arkansas. Vice Provost Benedik was recognized in his new position in the Provost’s office. Speaker Strawser announced that Secretary Price will serve as the Senate representative on the Task Force regarding campus concealed carry.
Approval of June 8, 2015 and July 13, 2015 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
The minutes were approved with a minor edit to a Senators name.
Consent Agenda
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT
July 2015
New Course Request
ANTH 670 Anthropology Proseminar
ECEN 738 Power Electronics
ECEN 742 DSP Based Electromechanical Motion Control
ECEN 767 Harnessing Solar Energy: Optics, Photovoltaics and Thermal Systems
MSEN 617 Crystallography and Crystal Structure Determination
VPAT 610 Cell Mechanisms of Disease
Attachment B
FS.33.33
Motion Passed
Change Course Request
HPCH 695 Doctoral Capstone
PHEB 695 Doctoral Capstone
PHEO 695 Doctoral Capstone
PHPM 695 Doctoral Capstone
Attachment C
FS.33.34
Motion Passed
Curriculum Change Request
3+2 Program: BS in Environmental Geosciences + MS in Oceanography
Attachment D
FS.33.35
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Dual Degree in Statistics with Renmin University of China
Attachment E
FS.33.36
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Master of Science in Public Health
Closure of Low-Producing Degree Programs
Attachment F
FS.33.37
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Mays Business School
Executive and Professional MBA Programs
Reduce Semester Hours
Attachment G
FS.33.38
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Online Masters of Health Education & Sport Management
Committee Size
Attachment H
FS.33.39
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Request for New Programs – 3+2 Programs
BA in GEOL and MS in OCNG
BS in GEOL and MS in OCNG
BS in METR and MS in OCNG
Attachment I
FS.33.40
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
TAMU College of Dentistry
Remove Courses from Inventory
Attachment J
FS.33.41
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item (from May 2015)
Graduate Faculty Guideline Changes (new policy begins on page 8)
Attachment K
FS.33.42
Motion Passed
W-COURSES - Report July 13, 2015
Courses submitted for W certification
COMM 403 Media, Children, and Adolescents
Courses submitted for W recertification
COMM 408 Advanced Research Methods in Communication
COMM 446 Communication, Organizations, and Society
ECON 312 Poverty & Inequality
ENGR/PHIL 482 Engineering Ethics
ESSM 406 Natural Resources Policy
VIST 375 Foundations of Visualization
Attachment L
FS.33.43
Motion Passed
__________________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Informational Review Items
School of Law—Withdrawal of Courses
LAW 7571 Analytical Methods for Lawyers
LAW 7107 Art Crimes
LAW 7468 Constitutional Issues in Environmental Law Seminar
LAW 7618 Fair Use Seminar
LAW 7382 International Environmental Law
LAW 7376 Local Government Law
LAW 7637 Queer Law Seminar
LAW 7667 Refugee and Asylum Law Seminar
LAW 7651 Religion and Law Seminar
LAW 7500 Sports Law
Attachment M
FS.33.44
Motion Passed
Unfinished Business
Old Business
New Business
Certification of August Degree Candidates
TAMU-Main – 1755
TAMU-Galveston – 71
TAMU-Qatar – 19
TAMU-Health Science Center – 70
TAMU-LAW – 8
Attachment N (no attachment to link; information listed above)
FS.33.45
Motion Passed
Posthumous Degree Candidate- CONFIDENTIAL
Attachment O (link not included due to confidentiality)
FS.33.46
Motion Passed Unanimously
Committee of the Whole
Provost Watson provided information regarding campus concealed carry. She mentioned that the law does not go into effect until next year, and that open carry is always prohibited on campus. The Task Force is intended to be advisory to the president, and that the authority to restrict concealed carry anywhere on campus lies solely with the President. Anything he decides can be overruled by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Regents. Provost Watson reminded the Senators that other schools have implemented similar laws, and that we should see what they have done. It is anticipated that the recommendations will be made by the end of the fall semester.
Senator Solis raised a question about athletics. Provost Watson indicated that Kyle Field and athletics are included in the policy decision to be made
Senator Hill asked if areas are to be banned, will this be “Scout’s honor” or would there be metal detectors? Provost Watson pointed out that currently the only metal detectors on campus are at the Bush Library.
Speaker Strawser announced that a reception to recognize the new Senators will follow the September Faculty Senate meeting. Fall Jazz night at the University Club will be on September 25.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 3:48 PM.