April 14, 2014
Printable Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
April 14, 2014
601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
Present: Louise Abbott, Ergun Akleman, Cynthia Alkon, Stephen Alton, Carisa Armstrong, Raymundo Arroyave, Judith Ball, Guy Battle, Michael Benedik, Bret Bessac, Leonard Bierman, Leonard Bright, Edward Brothers, Richard Carlson, Luis Filipe Castro, Jeff Cirillo, Greg Cobb, Jonathan Coopersmith, Joe Dannenbaum, Walter Daugherity, Janice Epstein, Margaret Ezell, Jose Fernandez-Solis, Gerald Frye, Holly Gaede, Clare Gill, Elsa Gonzalez, Melinda Grant, Ira Greenbaum, Michael Greenwald, Julie Harlin, Ed Harris, Greg Heim, Kevin Heinz, Kim Quaile Hill, Angie Hill Price, Shelley Holliday, Richard Hutchinson, Wendy Jepson, Bita Kash, Karen Kubena, Karen Landry, Reza Langari, Wenshe Liu, Clint Magill, Vanita Mahajan, June Martin, Beth McNeil, Stephen Miller, Rajesh Miranda, Miguel Mora-Zacarias, Christine Murray, Mohammad Nutan, Lynne Opperman, Ladan Panahi, Sorin Popescu, John Quarles, Heather Ramsey, Deva Reddy, Karen Russell, Laura Sare, Jason Sawyer, Robert Shaw, Nancy Simpson, Karen Snowden, Bob Strawser, Elizabeth Tebeaux, Gabriela Thornton, Grace Townsend, Gretchen Tyson, Manuelita Ureta, Gary Varner, Coran Watanabe, Tryon Wickersham, Richard Woodman, Jim Woosley, Pat Campbell, Allen Honeyman
Call to Order
The meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:19 p.m.
Guest Speaker
Speaker Comments
Speaker Walter Daugherity warned senators that the new microphones installed in Rudder 601 as part of a renovation are strong and can pick up side conversations among those in the room and broadcast them.
Daugherity announced the Senate is taking nominations for the Richard Stadelmann Award for first-term senators who have made an outstanding contribution to the Senate. The Senate also passed the hat for contributions to the Aggie Spirit Award.
The speaker also reported that joint meeting of the Texas A&M Senate and the University of Texas Faculty Council in March was a success, and he thanked Speaker-elect Jim Woosley and Senate staffer Diane Bertinetti for all their work on the meeting, which A&M hosted this year.
Approval of February 10, 2014 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes - Attachment A
The minutes of the February 10, 2014, meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved as submitted.
Consent Agenda
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT
New Course Requests - February 6, 2014
CPSY 601 Multicultural Counseling in Schools
CPSY 602 School Counseling Theories and Techniques
CPSY 603 School Counseling Group Interventions
MARB 618 Marine Science of the Pacific Rim
SYEN 640 Systems Thinking and Analysis
SYEN 642 Systems Performance Modeling
SYEN 643 Theory of Socio-Technical Systems
SYEN 644 Decision Making Under Uncertainty in Systems Engineering
SYEN 645 Management of Engineering Systems
Attachment B
FS.31.275
Motion Passed
Course Change Request
ESSM 601 Ecosystem Stewardship
Attachment C
FS.31.276
Motion Passed
Curriculum Change Request
Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
Attachment D
FS.31.277
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Item
Proposal for Ph.D. in Oral Biology
Attachment E
FS.31.278
Motion Passed
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT
New Course Requests - March 6, 2014
ANTH 656 Ancient Foodways and Cooking Technology
INTA 662 Nuclear Security Threat Assessment and Analysis
MARS 658 Fisheries Management Strategies
Attachment F
FS.31.279
Motion Passed
Course Change Request
INTA 627 Great Books
INTA 655 Evolution of the EU
INTA 677 Political Islam and Jihad
SPSY 641 Child Therapy
Attachment G
FS.31.280
Motion Passed
Curriculum Change Request
Master of Public Service Administration
Attachment H
FS.31.281
Motion Passed
Special Consideration Items
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Attachment I
FS.31.282
Motion Passed
Juris Master Degree in Health Care Law
Attachment J
FS.31.283
Motion Passed
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – UCC REPORT
Change in Courses - February 14, 2014
ATMO 461 Broadcast Meteorology
GEOL 410 Hydrogeology
Attachment K
FS.31.284
Motion Passed
Change in Curriculum
College of Science
Department of Statistics
Minor in Statistics
Attachment L
FS.31.285
Motion Passed
Informational Items – GV Course Inventory Additions
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Request to add ARTS 150 to Galveston’s course inventory
Request to add MUSC 226 to Galveston’s course inventory
Attachment M
FS.31.286
Motion Passed
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – UCC REPORT
New Courses - March 17, 2014
GEOL 108 Dinosaur Life and Times
Withdrawal of Courses
NVSC 285 Directed Studies
NVSC 489 Special Topics in …
Change in Courses
ATMO 352 Severe Weather and Mesoscale Forecasting
Attachment N
FS.31.287
Motion Passed
Change in Curriculum
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
Minor in Tourism Resource Management
Attachment O
FS.31.288
Motion Passed
Change in Curriculum
College of Geosciences
Department of Geography
Minor in Geoinformatics
Attachment P
FS.31.289
Motion Passed
Special Consideration
College of Geosciences
Department of Geography
University Studies degree
Area of Concentration – Geographic Information Science and Technology
Request for a new program
Attachment Q
FS.31.290
Motion Passed
Special Consideration
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Anthropology
Minor in Museum Studies
Request for a new minor
Attachment R
FS.31.291
Motion Passed
Informational Items – GV Course Inventory Additions
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Request to add CHEM 106 to Galveston’s course inventory
Request to add CHEM 116 to Galveston’s course inventory
Request to add COMM 449 to Galveston’s course inventory
Attachment S
FS.31.292
Motion Passed
W-COURSES - Report February 7, 2014
Courses submitted for W certification
ECON 491 Research
GEOL 420 Principles of Environmental Geology
Courses submitted for W recertification
ENGL 354 Modern Rhetorical Theory
MEEN 381 Seminar
RUSS 301 Advanced Grammar and Composition I
Courses submitted for C recertification
ALED 340 Survey of Leadership Theory
MASE 482 Seminar
Attachment T
FS.31.293
Motion Passed
W-COURSES - Report March 5, 2014
Courses submitted for C recertification
ENGL 303 Approaches to English Studies
RDNG 472 Teaching Writing in the Elementary and Middle Grads Classroom
Courses submitted for W recertification
AGCJ 313 Agricultural Media Writing
CSCE 481 Seminar
EPSY 428 Collaboration in School Settings
GEOG 435 Principles of Plant Geography
GERM 310 German Composition
HLTH 481 Seminar in Allied Health
Attachment U
FS.31.294
Motion Passed
Core Curriculum Council – Report
CCC REPORT – March 4, 2014
International and Cultural Diversity
AFST 379 Postcolonial Studies
AFST 425 Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement
ASIA 325 International Business Behavior
ASIA 329 Pacific Rim Business Behavior
ASIA 463 Gender in Asia
FILM 251 Introduction to Film Analysis
FREN 223 French Culture and Society In French Literary Masterpieces in Translation
MGMT 457 Global Entrepreneurship
SOCI 310 Motherhood in Society
SOCI 463 Gender in Asia
Attachment V
FS.31.295
Motion Passed
The consent agenda was approved as submitted.
__________________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
Committee Reports
In committee reports, Clint Magill of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said the Planning Committee had a request for former students to have permission to use library. He said they can use it, but they must do so from within the library by coming in and obtaining a guest card for the day. The Planning Committee, he said, met with Pierce Cantrell, vice provost for information technology, on email and said the move to Microsoft Exchange and Google should be smooth. The committee also discussed issues with health insurance changes, Magill said. Daugherity reminded senators that it is necessary for faculty and their dependents to have a physical or wellness exam in previous 18 months by July 1, 2014, or face a $30 monthly surcharge on health insurance.
Jonathan Coopersmith of Liberal Arts reported that the Legislative Affairs and Outreach Committee met with Texas Rep. John Raney. They agreed on many issues, Coopersmith said, but the one area of disagreement was concealed carry. The lawmaker is leaning toward supporting it while many faculty are opposed.
Daugherity provided a report from SEBAC, noting that those insured through A&M should expect additional fees for health and vision coverage. In addition, the speaker said, the maximum out-of-pocket amount is increasing from $5,000 to $6,350, which includes most deductible and copay amounts.
Unfinished Business
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 57 –
REVISED
Attachment W
FS.31.296
Motion Passed
Under old business, the
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 57, which was Attachment W to the agenda, was approved.
New Business
The Senate then moved to new business.
University Rule 12.01.99.M2 –
DISCUSSION ONLY
University Statement on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, Tenure, and Promotion
Dean of Faculties Michael Benedik introduced a proposed revision to CAFRT, which as been under revision for a number of years. The substantive changes from the previous version included the incorporation of new adjectival titles; clarification on administrative vs. faculty hires; and clarification on the annual review process.
The biggest change, Benedik said, was in the list of items or categories of items that define conditions for loss of tenure. There is nothing new that didn’t exist in previous version, he said, but he took the language in the system policy and put it in the university rule to make the items absolutely clear.
In addition, the tenure mediation committee was abolished. As far as anyone knows, Benedik said, the panel never met for a case. Mediation will be handled through the ombuds officer or a mediator.
Wendy Jepson of Geosciences suggested a change in the clause related to president’s final ruling. Perhaps the rules should add a requirement for explanation of a decision to overturn a CAFRT decision. Benedik said he thought it would not be approved by the system.
Angie Price of Engineering said the process for third-year approval was not clear and suggested that perhaps a modification should be made to make it clear that it is the department head who doesn’t renew a contract.
Jonathan Coopersmith of Liberal Arts, speaking for the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), said the faculty organization had no problem with most changes, but echoed Jepson and said AAUP would like to see an explanation for overturning a CAFRT ruling.
Clint Magill of Agriculture and Life Sciences, speaking as a CAFRT hearing participant, said he received a good explanation for the president’s action in case he was involved with.
Richard Carlson of Geosciences raised a question about who makes the decision on what remains confidential in the filing of complaints in a personnel file.
The rules changes will be voted on at the May meeting of the Faculty Senate.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 7
Attachment Y
FS.31.297
Motion Passed
Attachment Y,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 7, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 10.5
Attachment Z
FS.31.298
Motion Passed
Attachment Z,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 10.5, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 30
Attachment AA
FS.31.299
Motion Passed
Attachment AA,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 30, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 40
Attachment BB
FS.31.300
Motion Passed
Attachment BB,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 40, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 41.2.1.2
Attachment CC
FS.31.301
Motion Passed
Attachment CC,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 41.2.1.2, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 55
Attachment DD
FS.31.302
Motion Passed
Attachment DD,
proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 55, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 60
Attachment EE
FS.31.303
Motion Passed
Attachment EE
, proposed revisions to the Texas A&M Student Rule Change 60, was approved.
Executive Committee Resolution – Academic Affairs Committee (+/-) Grading
Attachment FF
FS.31.304
Motion Passed
Initially, Attachment FF, a resolution permitting plus-minus grading in first professional degree programs, was withdrawn for further clarification. But Provost Karan Watson requested that the Senate move forward with action. An amended version was then offered as a substitute.
In discussion on the grading policy, Leonard Bright of the Bush School raised question as to why it should be limited to those five programs. Angie Price of Engineering, speaking on behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee, which supported the grading policy, said the committee did not want to disadvantage those students. The motion, she said, was not intended to permanently exclude all others, but to clarify that it currently applies only to those programs.
Kim Hill of Liberal Arts called the question and it was approved.
The vote on the substitution was approved.
Then FF, as substituted, was approved.
Executive Committee Resolution - Spring Degree Candidates
College Station
Galveston
Qatar
Health Science Center
Attachment GG
FS.31.305
Motion Passed
Attachment GG, a resolution approving Spring degree candidates, was approved.
Executive Committee Resolution - Honorary Degrees
FS.31.306
Motion Passed
The Faculty Senate then moved into executive session to consider honorary degree candidates. In the closed session, dossiers were reviewed and voted on individually.
Executive Committee Resolution - Honorary Degrees
FS.31.307
Motion Passed
The Faculty Senate then moved into executive session to consider honorary degree candidates. In the closed session, dossiers were reviewed and voted on individually.
Committee of the Whole
Speaker Daugherity then turned the meeting over to Speaker-elect Woosley for the Committee of the Whole.
Michael Greenwald of Liberal Arts introduced Jerry Smith, ’82, who is serving as director of the Veteran Resource & Support Center. He noted there would be a special event in two weeks: “Telling Agglieland,” a play that tells the stories of a number of veterans or their family members. “The veteran student population is rapidly growing on campus and this is a great way to gain insight on what they are doing,” he said.
Kim Hill of Liberal Arts said he rose in vain to note in the university is in the eighth month of its search for a new president. “I’ve heard nothing lately,” he said. “Could anyone give an update on the status of the search?”
Provost Watson said the committee was still at work and she would “interpret that as a good sign.”
Gabriela Thornton of the Bush School, asked senators to think about committees that require tenure-track or tenured professors and whether there is a justification of that for all of them.
Richard Carlson of Geosciences complained there was a lack of clarity and consistency in wellness/physical exam submissions by physicians. Speaker Daugherity said he had attempted several times, but could not get the system or insurance companies to state which specific codes would count.
Ergun Akleman of Architecture, chair of the Research Committee, presented a PowerPoint on the history of what is commonly referred to as IDC/indirect funds (F&A funds), the amount provided to principle investigators at A&M, and the changes recently adopted by university leaders to build a research development fund. PIs in the future will receive 10 percent of the indirect funds, down from 15 percent currently, he said. He raised questions and concerns about the ways in which the funds will be distributed for new infrastructure requests.
Ira Greenbaum of Science said that with these new changes it appears the “big loser is the college.” Startup monies come primarily from the colleges, he noted, and said he was concerned the reduction to colleges will seriously hamper the recruitment of new faculty, particularly in lab-based departments.
Adjourn
Meeting was turned back over to Speaker Daugherity and adjourned at 4:45 p.m.