January 14, 2013
Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
January 14, 2013
3:15 p.m., 601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
Present: Louise Abbott, Jorge Alvarado, Carisa Armstrong, Joe Arosh, Raymundo Arroyave, David Baca, Michael Benedik, Leonard Bierman, Doug Biggs, Andrea Bonito, Tiffany Boudreaux, Joseph Boutros, Leonard Bright, Edward Brothers, John Carhart, Richard Carlson, William B. Clark, Jonathan Coopersmith, Charles Criscione, Richard Curry, Joe Dannenbaum, Swaroop Darbha, Walter Daugherity, Darryl De Ruiter, Janice Epstein, Jose Fernandez-Solis, Edward Funkhouser, Holly Gaede, Melinda Grant, Ira Greenbaum, Michael Greenwald, Janet Hammer, Mike Hanik, James Hannah, Julie Harlin, Ed Harris, Greg Heim, Kevin Heinz, Kim Quaile Hill, Angie Hill Price, Shelley Holliday, Wendy Jepson, Andrew Klein, Karen Kubena, Reza Langari, Paulo Lima-Filho, Carol Loopstra, Martha Loudder, Igor Lyuksyutov, Clint Magill, Vanita Mahajan, Sam Mannan, June Martin, Peter McIntyre, Stephen Miller, Miguel Mora, Jeffrey Morris, Adam Myers, Mike Pilant, Michelle Pine, Harland Prechel, Deva Reddy, Leslie Reynolds, Dale Rice, Eric Rowell, Karen Russell, Luis San Andres, Jason Sawyer, Karen-Beth Scholthof, Jorge Seminario, Ergin Sezgin, Brian Shaw, Karen Snowden, Kathleen Speed, Richard Stadelmann, John Stallone, Bob Strawser, Elizabeth Tebeaux, Mike Thornton, Manuelita Ureta, Wyoma vanDuinkerken, Gary Varner, William West, Tryon Wickersham, B. Dan Wood, Richard Woodman, Jim Woosley, Beth McNeill
Absent: Ergun Akleman, Perla Balbuena, Judith Ball, Gwan Seong Choi, Robin Dabareiner, Stephen Guetersloh, Richard Hutchinson, Thomas Linton, Gene Nelson, Ramesh Talreja, Kim-Vy Tran, Matt Whiteacre, Keyan Zhu-Salzman,
Excused Absence: Clare Gill, Grace Townsend
Call to Order
Guest Speaker - Chancellor John Sharp
Guest Speaker Chancellor Sharp addressed several prepared questions as well as questions from Senators. A brief accounting follows:
To the question of outsourcing Information Technology: The Chancellor indicated that this is a system wide assessment, not a call for outsourcing. Professionals from Deloitte are investigating current operations to help us identify the best and most efficient practices for IT so that problems such as happened where Commerce and Texarkana were cut off from IT for some time.
To the question of an RFP for ‘online teaching’: Chancellor Sharp said the request came from Presidents of the other Universities in the system, who feel they have the most to lose from availability of courses and degrees at a distance. The responses to the RFP were so costly that it was determined it would be better to engage consultants with expertise in the area. It is important that the regional universities get ahead of the curve as to possible impacts and actions they should take.
The Chancellor’s research Initiative provides $100,000,000 in AUF funds for 3 years is for TAMU and Prairie View to identify and recruit ‘game changing’ faculty. The funds are one-time so can be used in start-up and laboratory development. TAMU has identified the income from outsourcing contracts for continuing salaries. It is felt the Interdisciplinary Life Science Building (ILSB) has 6-8 lab spaces available for new hires. Although at least one prospective recruit has been identified for TAMU, A&M has been slow in initiating requests.
Our Health Science Center educates graduates for less than $100,000. This is less than 1/3
rd the average cost. This is in part because Scott & White pays the professionals that teach our students. This fact highlights the need to establish appropriate titles for their service to Texas A&M. Last years class had the highest first-time pass rate on board exams for all medical students in the state of Texas. Which is a strong testimonial to the high quality teaching Scott & White is contributing to Texas A&M.
An update on outsourcing: The Chancellor indicated there have been a few ‘hiccups’ noted since the transition took place. All the cases that have come to the attention of the university have been resolved. The Chancellor specifically noted an example of someone who reported being quoted an unusually high cost for a task such as installing an electrical circuit. He encouraged all to report any charges that seem unreasonable. In addition, he announced that the outsourcing contract is being negotiated to handle all 11 Universities, and that the combined contract is much better than individual contracts by themselves. In response to the question from Senator Price, “Who do we report to when we feel cost are out of line?” the Chancellor introduced Phillip Ray, the primary contract negotiator who has now moved from TAMU to the System. (Mr. Ray was asked to provide a contact phone number: 832-725-6169 (cell). Mr. Ray said that Ralph Davila, formerly the facilities manager for Agriculture, has been appointed to head the service-contract oversight team for TAMU.
Optimism for the current legislative session: In response to Senator Hill’s question, Mr. Sharp feels that our ability to demonstrate good stewardship of the reduced funds provided and by demonstrating to legislators the value of our research to the state, has put us in the best position of any institute of higher education. In his terms, “They see the value of investing in us.” The optimism was tempered by the observation that Medicaid and other programs are also short of funding, so even though there are excess funds to dispense under the current budget estimates, predicting how much may be available is impossible.
In response to Senator Jepsen’s question to the Chancellor regarding his vision for the future: The Chancellor outlined his vision for TAMU is to do his best to ensure that all possible resources are being directed to the teaching and research undertakings of TAMU. He indicated that he is also looking into the national ‘problem’ of administrative costs rising at a greater rate than other costs of education. He suggested that a professional team may be hired in the future to study how increases of administrative costs within the TAMU System compare to those of other Universities.
Senator McIntyre asked that the Chancellor consider engaging our Universities with others in finding ways to supplant the cost of textbook that has risen and estimated 300% in the last decade. He suggested getting publishers to engage in today’s technology could greatly reduce these costs.
In response to Senator Magill’s question concerning the effects of the merger of Scott & White with the Baylor Health Care system: The Chancellor described the positive effects of changing the name of the Baylor College of Dentistry to include, first the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry and mentioning Texas A&M whenever the Forest Service is mentioned is helping to clearly reshape public awareness that these are parts of TAMUS rather than Texas or Baylor services. Regarding the merger of Scott & White and the Baylor Health Plan, he stated that both organizations together will comprise the largest health care system in the state and both are pleased to have us as their primary partner for research and students.
Senator Strawser asked about the dropping of Scott & White as an option for health care for TAMU employees. Mr. Sharp indicated the Scott & White bid would have favored younger individuals and thus would have affected our overall pool for self-insurance, substantially increasing costs to many employees. They will have the chance to bid at the next available opportunity.
Speaker Comments
The speaker asked for a moment of silence in memory of Dr. James Aune. Dr. Aune is a former Senator from the College of Liberal Arts. His death on January 8 is a great loss for Texas A&M University.
The joint meeting with the University of Texas Faculty Council is scheduled for February 25. Additional information will be forthcoming.
A joint committee with representative from the Senate and the Health Science Center Senate will be meeting to determine how clinical faculty titles will be addressed when the coming merger is finalized.
Approval of December 10, 2012 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes Motion Passed
Attachment A
Consent Agenda
Speaker-elect Daugherity requested that item BB be removed from the Consent Agenda. The remaining items were accepted as presented.
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT Motion Passed
New Course Requests – December 6, 2012 FS.30.086
ARCH673 Design for Active Living
Attachment B
ARCH 678 Foundations of Healthcare Design
ECEN 712 Power Electronics for Photovoltaic Energy Systems
ECEN 753 Theory and Applications of Network Coding
EDCI 639 Grant Writing for Professional Development
INFO 647 Information Systems Sourcing
INFO 648 Advanced Data Management
VIBS 627 Optical Microscopy and Live Cell Imaging
VIZA 684 Professional Internship
Course Change Requests – December 6, 2012 Motion Passed
ATMO 602 Principles of Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry FS.30.087
ATMO 612 Atmospheric Physics II
Attachment C ATMO 612 Atmospheric Physics II
COSC 601 Construction Practices
COSC 602 Construction Estimating
COSC 603 Construction Scheduling
COSC 606 Mechanical and Electrical Construction
COSC 608 Structural Principles and Practices
COSC 620 Construction Operations
COSC 621 Advanced Topics in Construction Project Scheduling and Project Management
COSC 622 Construction Resources
COSC 624 Project Acquisition and Control
COSC 627 Construction Dispute Resolution Alternatives
COSC 628 Applications of Construction Law
COSC 631 Supervision of the Construction Workforce
COSC 633 International Construction Contracting
COSC 641 Construction Management Communications
COSC 642 Web-Based Construction Data Management
COSC 644 Systems Approach to Construction Management
COSC 648 Design-Build Project Delivery
COSC 650 Introduction to Construction Visualization
COSC 662 Contemporary Housing Production: Theory and Practice
COSC 663 Sustainable Construction
COSC 664 Construction Safety Management
COSC 665 Earth Construction
COSC 670 Facilities Management
COSC 672 Introduction to Facility Management Data Systems
COSC 674 Facility Energy Management
COSC 681 Seminar
COSC 684 Professional Internship
COSC 690 Theory of Research in Construction Management
COSC 691 Research
COSC 693 Professional Study
EDCI 617 Early Childhood Mathematics
EPSY 604 Career Assessment and Placement Services
EPSY 637 Qualitative Methods and Analysis
INFO 631 Business Component Design and Development
INFO 633 Business Objects Analysis and Design
VIBS 613 Evolutionary Bioinformatics
Special Consideration Items Motion Passed
The College of Education and Human Development: FS.30.088
Revisions to the Master of Education in Educational Technology
Attachment D
The Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and
Human Development requests that the requirements for the Master of Education
in Educational Technology be changed to allow students A) to select a chair only
rather than a 3 person committee; and B) to exempt the final examination
requirement.
Special Consideration Items Motion Passed
College of Science: Master of Science in Analytics FS.30.089
The Department of Statistics in the College of Science proposes a new
Attachment E
Master of Science in Analytics.
Special Consideration Items Motion Passed
College of Engineering: Certificate of Quality Engineering for Regulated Medical FS.30.090
Technologies
Attachment F
The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Dwight
Look College of Engineering proposes a new certificate program in Quality
Engineering for Regulated Medical Technologies.
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – UCC REPORT Motion Passed
New Courses – December 13, 2012 FS.30.091
ARCH 213 Sustainable Architecture
Attachment G
ARCH 328 Architectural Envelopes
ARCH 438 History and Design of Sacred Architecture
BAEN 417 Fundamentals of Nanoscale Biological Engineering
BIOL 295 Research Fundamentals in the Life Sciences
BIOL 395 Directed Investigation in Bioinformatic
BIOL 493 Independent Bioinformatics Research
BIOL 495 Biology Capstone: Research Communication in the Life Sciences
BMEN 350 Statistics for Biomedical Engineering
ECEN 415 Physical and Economical Operations of Sustainable Energy Systems
ECEN 424 Fundamentals of Networking
ENGR 181 Engineering Honors Seminar I
ENTC 418 Medical Manufacturing
FILM 402 Intermedia Performance – cross listed with MUSC/PERF
FINC 210 Opportunities in Finance I
FINC 211 Opportunities in France II
FINC 443 Valuation
HIST 302 Women and War in the African Diaspora
JOUR 451 Arts & Entertainment Journalism
MUSC 202 Introduction to Tonal Harmony
NUEN 432 Nuclear Power Plant Fundamentals
NUEN 433 Nuclear Power Plant Systems – Pressurized Water Reactor
NUEN 434 Nuclear Power Plant Systems – Boiling Water Reactor
NUEN 435 Nuclear Power Plant Operations
NUEN 436 Human Performance for Nuclear Power Plant Engineers
PERF 202 Introduction to Performance Technology
PERF 318 Electronic Composition – cross listed with MUSC 318
PERF 402 Intermedia Performance – cross listed with MUSC/FILM 402
PERF 483 Performance Practicum
PSYC 210 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality
SCMT 300 Business Communications I– cross listed with ISYS 300
SCMT 400 Business Communication II – cross listed with ISYS 400
SCMT 484 Supply Chain Management Internship. Credit 1 to 4
SPAN 307 Spanish for the Sciences
URPN 200 Introduction to Landscape Architectural Practice
VMID 940 Houston SPCA: Alliance for Animal Welfare and Shelter Medicine
VTPP 452 Fetal and Embryo Physiology
Withdrawal of Courses – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
ARCH 248 Writing in Architectural History FS.30.092
Attachment G
Change in Courses – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed ARCH 206 Architecture Design II FS.30.093
ARCH 207 Architecture Design II
Attachment G
ARCH 216 Computational Methods in Architecture course description
ARCH 405 Architectural Design IV
ARCH 406 Architecture Design V
ECEN 351 Applied Electromagnetic Theory
ECEN 440 Introduction to Thin Film Science and Technology
ECEN 444 Digital Signal Processing
ENDS 105 Design Foundations I
ENDS 106 Design Foundations II
ENDS 481 Seminar
ENDS 494 Internship
ENGR 281 Engineering Scholars Program Seminar I
HIST 376 Biographical Approach to Science Literacy
INFO 484 Information and Operations Management Internship
INFO 485 Directed Studies
INFO 489 Special Topics in…
KINE 304 Psychology of Sport
KINE 319 Sociology of Sport
MATH 221 Several Variable Calculus
MATH 251 Engineering Mathematics III
MATH 253 Engineering Mathematics III
MATH 302 Discrete Mathematics
MATH 304 Linear Algebra
MATH 308 Differential Equations
MATH 407 Complex Variables
MATH 409 Advanced Calculus I
MATH 410 Advanced Calculus II
MATH 411 Mathematical Probability
MATH 414 Fourier Series and Wavelets
MATH 415 Modern Algebra I
MATH 427 Introduction to Number Theory
MATH 436 Introduction to Topology
MATH 439 Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
MATH 442 Mathematical Modeling
MATH 469 Introduction to Mathematical Biology
MATH 470 Communications and Cryptography
MUSC 316 Music and Technology
MUSC 318 Electronic Composition
MUSC 402 Music and Sound for Media
NUTR 404 Nutrition Assessment and Planning
NUTR 470 Nutrition and Physiological Chemistry
NUTR 481 Undergraduate Nutrition Seminar
PETE 301 Petroleum Engineering Numerical Methods
PETE 310 Reservoir Fluids
PETE 311 Reservoir Petrophysics
PETE 314 Transport Processes in Petroleum Production
PHYS 208 Electricity and Optics
PHYS 222 Modern Physics for Engineers
PHYS 331 Theoretical Methods for Physicists I
PHYS 332 Theoretical Methods for Physicists II
PHYS 401 Computational Physics
POLS 491 Research
RPTS 311 Recreation and Tourism Programs
RPTS 320 Festivals, Fairs and Events
RPTS 321 Festivals, Fairs and Event Management II
URPN 301 Urban and Regional Planning
VIST 484 Summer Internship
VIST 494 Internship
Mays Business School
Department of Information and Operations Management
Course prefix changes to ISYS (see memorandum from Dr. Richard Metters)
INFO 209, 210, 250, 300, 306, 322, 328, 330, 350, 374, 400, 420, 422, 439, 446, and 477
Course prefix changes to SCMT (see memorandum from Dr. Richard Metters)
INFO 303, 305, 309, 335, 336, 340, 345, 361, 364, 464, 465, and 468
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences FS.30.094
Department of Nutrition and Food Science
Attachment H
B.S. in Food Science and Technology
Food Science Option
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences FS.30.095
Department of Nutrition and Food Science
Attachment I
B.S. in Food Science and Technology
Industry Option
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Architecture FS.30.096
Department of Architecture
Attachment J
Department of Architecture
B.E.D. in Environmental Design
Architectural Studies Option
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Architecture FS.30.097
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
Attachment K
B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
Dwight Look College of Engineering FS.30.098 Certificate in Engineering Honors - requirement changes
Attachment L
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
Dwight Look College of Engineering FS.33.099 Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution
Attachment M
B.S. in Engineering Technology
Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology Option
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
Dwight Look College of Engineering FS.30.100 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Attachment N
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.101 Department of Communication
Attachment O
B.A. in Communication
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.102
Department of Communication
Attachment P
B.A. in Telecommunication Media Studies
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.103 Department of Communication
Attachment Q
B.S. in Telecommunication Media Studies
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.104
Department of Performance Studies
Attachment R
Minor in Music - requirement changes
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.105
Department of Political Science
Attachment S
B.A. in Political Science and Master of Public Service Administration (3+2 Program)
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.106 Department of Political Science
Attachment T
B.S. in Political Science and Master of Public Service Administration (3+2 Program)
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Science FS.30.107 Department of Biology
Attachment U
B.A. in Biology
B.S. in Biology
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Science FS.30.108
Department of Physics
Attachment V
B.A. in Physics
B.S. in Physics
Change in Curriculum – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences FS.30.109
D.V.M. Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine
Attachment W
Special Consideration – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences FS.30.110
Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
Attachment X
College of Liberal Arts
Minor in Leadership
Request for a new minor
Special Consideration – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Architecture FS.30.111
Department of Architecture
Attachment Y
Minor in Sustainable Architecture & Planning
Request for a new minor
Special Consideration – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
Dwight Look College of Engineering FS.30.112
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Attachment Z
Certificate in Quality Engineering for Regulated Medical Technologies
Request for a new certificate program
Special Consideration – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.113 Department of Performance Studies
Attachment AA
Minor in Performance Technology
Request for a new minor
New Courses – December 13, 2012 Removed from the Consent Agenda
Texas A&M University at Qatar FS.30.114
ECEN 210 Computer Programming and Algorithms
Attachment BB
ECEN 479 Wireless Communication Laboratory
W-COURSES Motion Passed
Courses submitted for W Certifications – December 2012 FS.30.115
Courses submitted for W Recertification – December 2012 Attachment CC
___________________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
Committee Reports
There were no Committee Reports submitted for business.
Old Business Motion Passed
College of Liberal Arts FS.30.116
Department of Political Science
Attachment DD
B.A. in Political Science
B.S. in Political Science
Item J. Discussion centered on why the degree called for exclusion of Math 167, an approved core curriculum course, to satisfy the 3 hours of math required by the degree. The Political Sciences Department prefers that student take Math 141 and 142 to prepare for advanced level work in the major, but did not indicate the need to take those courses in the degree plan. The corrected change will be re-presented in the January Senate meeting.
Secretary Magill moved that the item removed from the December consent agenda dealing with changes in math requirements for a degree in Political Sciences be approved. On learning that representatives of the two departments had met and resolved the question, the motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
Proposed Revisions to TAMU Student Rules, Sections 14, 15 Motion Passed
FS.30.117
Attachment EE
Secretary Magill moved approval of the recommended changes to Student Rules 14 and 15, dealing with joint and dual degrees and eliminating post-graduation changes to honors designation, respectively. Dr. Jim Kracht, Assistant Provost, reiterated the basis for the change and after assurance that the rule would not prevent changes for students for example, whose grade had been miss-recorded, the motion passed.
New Business
Proposed Rule Change for Retention of College Deans (Discussion Only) Tabled until the February Faculty Senate meeting
Attachment FF
New Business, Discussion only item. A suggested change that would permit Deans to serve more than 3 terms if receiving positive votes from at least 2/3 of voting members of the college was introduced. Senator Loudder, who has been heavily involved in drafting the rule, said she realized that some rephrasing that will not change the intent of the proposed rule was in order before a vote is actually taken. The changes will appear in the February agenda.
Emergency Motion Tabled until the February Faculty Senate meeting (no attachment)
Senator Varner, introduced an emergency motion as follows:
“To facilitate a smooth transition to the new core curriculum by the November 2013 deadline, the Faculty Senate respectfully requests that the President make a decision on the plan forwarded to him by the Senate last April as soon as possible.”
He was speaking on behalf of a number of Department Heads who feel they need to know whether or not upper division courses can be included. Since it was introduced as an emergency motion, a majority vote was required to determine if it could be considered, and the positive vote was unanimous, so discussion of the motions ensued. Provost Watson suggested that miss-communications were apparent, since the president had asked her office to further study potential effects of non-inclusion of upper division courses and that she had reported to the Core Curriculum Council (CCC), so the President was awaiting action from the Senate. Senator Rice, co-chair of the CCC, stated that the council had not had an opportunity to meet with the President since he offered to do so in an October meeting with the Senate Executive Committee, so the question has not been presented in the Senate. He did say that a meeting of the Co-Chairs and Assistant Provost Kennimer had resulted in a compromise that will include some upper division courses that will be presented to the CCC in its meeting on January 23. Results will be conveyed to the Senate as soon as possible following the meeting, so that the recommendation will be available for study by Senators well ahead of the February meeting.
Senator Stadelmann moved to table the motion, that motion was seconded and passed.
Unfinished Business
New Courses – December 13, 2012 Motion Passed
Texas A&M University at Qatar FS.30.114
ECEN 210 Computer Programming and Algorith
Attachment BB
ECEN 479 Wireless Communication Laboratory
Senator Daugherity stated that the basis for asking removal of item BB from the consent agenda was that it dealt with having courses that duplicate computer science courses taught by non-computer scientists. He wanted to emphasize that his Department had no problem so long as the courses were strictly for the Qatar campus. He moved the item be passed and it was.
Committee of the Whole
There were no items introduced in the committee of the whole.
Adjourn