July 8, 2013

Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
July 8, 2013
3:15 p.m., 601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
 
Attending:
Louise Abbott, Jorge Alvarado, David Baca, Judith Ball, Leonard Bierman, Doug Biggs, Andrea Bonito, Tiffany Boudreaux, Joseph Boutros, Leonard Bright, Edward Brothers, John Carhart, William B. Clark, Charles Criscione, Richard Curry, Joe Dannenbaum, Swaroop Darbha, Janice Epstein, Holly Gaede, Clare Gill, Melinda Grant, Janet Hammer, Mike Hanik, Julie Harlin, Ed Harris, Kevin Heinz, Kim Quaile Hill, Angie Hill Price, Shelley Holliday, Karen Kubena, Thomas Linton, Carol Loopstra, Martha Loudder, Igor Lyuksyutov, Clint Magill, Sam Mannan, Stephen Miller, Jeffrey Morris, Adam Myers, Mike Pilant, Michelle Pine, Deva Reddy, Leslie Reynolds, Dale Rice, Eric Rowell, Karen Russell, Karen-Beth Scholthof, Jorge Seminario, Brian Shaw, Karen Snowden, Richard Stadelmann, John Stallone, Grace Townsend, Gary Varner, Jim Woosley
 
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:19 p.m.
Guest Speaker(s)
Mr. Reid Joseph, Student Body President
Dr. Karan Watson, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
 
Guest speaker Reid Joseph ‘14, the new student body president and an industrial distribution major, said he was excited about the upcoming year and the potential of working alongside the Faculty Senate.
The third-generation Aggie said he was particularly enthused about two student initiatives. One is BUILD, in which the on-campus student body will come together in the same spirit as Bonfire to build a house on campus on blocks under supervision of Habitat for Humanity. The home will then be moved and donated to a deserving family in the community. The second initiative is 12^th Can, an on-campus food pantry. “There is real need for this for students,” Joseph said, noting that Student Government will be working diligently to get the food pantry up and running.
Guest speaker and Provost Karan Watson discussed her committee’s recommendations on MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses. With an emphasis on caution and faculty engagement, she said, “we should continue to explore the world of MOOCs in a defined and confined fashion.”  MOOCs, Watson said, can deepen our students’ educational experience, but those on-line courses are only a very confined part of that experience. Involvement with a consortium of universities delivering MOOCs would enable Texas A&M to have access to materials to use in hybrid courses and to see and study how student learn when use online technology. ”We don’t see this form of teaching will replace what we do,” she said. Watson said she was seeking feedback from the Faculty Senate on the way to proceed.
MOOCS Exploratory Committee Report: Executive Summary - Attachment A
                                                                                   
Speaker Comments
Speaker Walter Daugherity in his regular comments announced that the Senate Executive Committee would be conducting a two-day retreat at the end of the month at A&M’s branch campus in Galveston to plan for the coming year. He also noted, from information gleaned in a meeting with the president that morning, that the Law School merger and accreditation process were on track and that the integration of the Health Sciences Center into A&M was proceeding on schedule.
Approval of June 10, 2013 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes - Attachment B
                                   
With no additions or corrections, the minutes of the June Faculty Senate meeting were declared approved as distributed.
Consent Agenda
FS.31.11
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT   
New Course Requests – June 6, 2013 - Attachment C
CSCE 657              High Performance Computing for Earth Science and Petroleum Engineering
NRSC 633             Neuropsychopharmacology
PETE 657              High Performance Computing for Earth Science and Petroleum Engineering
RDNG 630            Writing: Development, Assessment, and Instruction
WFSC 654            Amazon Field School
 
FS.31.12
Change Course Requests – June 6, 2013 - Attachment D
CVEN 765             Adv Civil Eng Systems
CVEN 766             Highway Design
SPSY 683              Field Practicum in…
 
FS.31.13
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – UCC REPORT  - Attachment E
New Courses Request – June 14, 2013
DCED 202             Dance Appreciation
SPAN 403             Advanced Writing in Spanish
VIBS 424               Biomedical Neuroendrocrinology and Endocrine Disorders
Withdrawal of Courses
ENGL 312             Shakespeare
ENGL 346             Writers' Studies: Poetry
Change in Courses
ALED 350              Global Agricultural Issues
ENGL 219             Literature and the Other Arts
ENGL 228             American Literature: Civil War to Present
ENGL 231             Survey of English Literature I
ENGL 235             Elements of Creative Writing
ENGL 241             Advanced Composition
ENGL 314             The English Renaissance
ENGL 315             Seventeenth-Century Literature
ENGL 316             Eighteenth-Century Literature
ENGL 317             English Renaissance Drama
ENGL 320             Technical Editing and Writing
ENGL 321             Nineteenth-Century Literature (Romantic)
ENGL 322             Nineteenth-Century Literature (Victorian)
ENGL 323             The American Renaissance
ENGL 330             Arthurian Literature
ENGL 331             Fantasy Literature
ENGL 333             Gay and Lesbian Literature
ENGL 334             Science Fiction Present and Past
ENGL 336             Life and Literature of the Southwest
ENGL 337             Life and Literature of the American South
ENGL 338             American Ethnic Literature
ENGL 345             Writers' Studies: Prose
ENGL 353             History of Rhetoric
ENGL 354             Modern Rhetorical Theory
ENGL 355             The Rhetoric of Style
ENGL 360             Literature for Children
ENGL 361             Young Adult Literature
ENGL 362             Hispanic Literature in the United States
ENGL 365             The Bible as Literature
ENGL 372             American Poetry
ENGL 373             American Realism and Naturalism
ENGL 374             Women Writers
ENGL 375             Nineteenth-Century American Novel
ENGL 376             The American Novel Since 1900
ENGL 378             The British Novel, 1870 to Present
ENGL 401             Critical Theory and Practice
ENGL 412             Studies in Shakespeare
ENGL 414             Milton
ENGL 415             Studies in a Major Author
ENGL 431             Chaucer
ENGL 460             Writing for the Web
ENGL 481             Senior Seminar
HISP 362               Hispanic Literature in the United States
RELS 360               The Bible as Literature
SEFB 311              Assessment of Students with Disabilities
SEFB 312              Effective Reading Instruction for Students with Disabilities
SEFB 471              Classroom Management and Behavioral Interventions
VTPP 424             Endocrine Physiology
WGST 333            Gay and Lesbian Literature
WGST 374            Women Writers
 
FS.31.14
Change in Curriculum - Attachment F
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
          B.S. in Ecological Restoration
FS.31.15
Change in Curriculum - Attachment G                                                                                                                                                   
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
          B.S. in Forestry
FS.31.16
Change in Curriculum - Attachment H                                                                                                                                                   
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
          B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
                  Ranch Management Option
                  Rangeland Resources Option
FS.31.17
Change in Curriculum - Attachment I
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
          B.S. in Renewable Natural Resources
FS.31.18
Change in Curriculum    - Attachment J                                                                                                                 
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
          B.S. in Spatial Sciences
FS.31.19
Special Consideration - Attachment K                                                                                                                                                   
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
          Minor in International Agricultural Development
                  Request for a new minor
FS.31.20
Special Consideration -  Attachment L
        College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
          B.S. in Agronomy
                  Soil and Crop Management Option
                          Request to discontinue degree program and option
FS.31.21
Special Consideration   - Attachment M               
        College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Faculty - TAMIN
          Certificate in Neuroscience
                  Request for a new certificate program
 
W-COURSES                                                                                                                                               
The June meeting did not take place. No report was submitted.
 
Core Curriculum Council – Report                                                                              
CCC REPORT – May 29, 2013
FS.31.22
Foundational Component Area:  American History - Attachment N
HIST 230               American Military History, 1609-Present
 
FS.31.23
Foundational Component Area:  Creative Arts -  Attachment O
THAR 101             Introduction to Western Theatre and Drama
ARTS 149              Art History Survey I
ARTS 150              Art History Survey II
ENGL 212             Shakespeare
ENGL 219             Literature and the Other Arts
ENGL 251             Introduction to Film Analysis
FILM 251              Introduction to Film Analysis
 
FS.31.24
Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy and Culture - Attachment P
ENGL 231             Survey of English Lit I
 
FS.31.25
Foundational Component Area:  Life and Physical Sciences - Attachment Q
GEOL 101             Principles of Geology
GEOL 106             Historical Geology
GEOS 210             Climate Change
RENR 205             Fundamentals of Ecology
ASTR 101              Basic Astronomy
ASTR 111              Overview of Modern Astronomy
PHYS 201              College Physics
PHYS 202              College Physics
PHYS 208              Electricity and Optics
PHYS 218              Mechanics
ANTH 225            Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ASTR 119              Big Bang and Black Holes Companion Course
PHYS 119              Big Bang and Black Holes Companion Course
BESC 204              Molds and Mushrooms
CHEM 101/111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I
CHEM 102/112 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
CHEM 106/116 Molecular Science for Citizens/Laboratory
CHEM 107/117 General Chemistry for Engineers
KINE 120              The Science of Basic Health and Fitness
KINE 223              Introduction to the Science of Health and Fitness
 
FS.31.26
Foundational Component Area:  Mathematics   - Attachment R
MATH 131           Mathematical Concepts – Calculus
MATH 141           Business Mathematics I
MATH 142           Business Mathematics II
MATH 147           Calculus I for Biological Sciences
MATH 148           Calculus II for Biological Sciences
MATH 150           Functions, Trigonometry and Linear System
MATH 151           Engineering Mathematics I
MATH 166           Topics in Contemporary Mathematics II
MATH 171           Analytic Geometry and Calculus
 
FS.31.27
Foundational Component Area:  Social and Behavioral Sciences - Attachment S
AGEC 105             Introduction to Agricultural Economics
ANTH 201            Introduction to Anthropology
 
FS.31.28
International and Cultural Diversity - Attachment T
THAR 101             Introduction to Western Theatre and Drama
ANTH 201            Introduction to Anthropology
 
FS.31.29
Core Curriculum Council – Report                                                                              
CCC REPORT – June 3, 2013
Foundational Component Area:  Communication - Attachment U
ENGL 210 – Technical Business Writing
 
FS.31.30
Foundational Component Area:  Creative Arts- Attachment V
MUSC 225           History of Jazz
MUSC 226           History of Rock
 
FS.31.31
Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy and Culture - Attachment W
ANTH 204            Peoples and Cultures of the Ancient World
CLAS 251              Classical Mythology
ENGL 206             21^st Century Literature and Culture
GEOG 301            Geography of the United States
HIST 103               World History to 1500
MUSC 227           Popular Music of India
RELS 251               Classical Mythology
THAR 155             History of Western Dress
THAR 280             History of Theater I
THAR 281             History of Theater II
WGST 200            Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
 
FS.31.32
Foundational Component Area:  Life and Physical Sciences - Attachment X
ENTO 322             Insects in Human Society
FIVS 123               Forensic Investigations
 
FS.31.33
Foundational Component Area:  Mathematics - Attachment Y
PHIL 240               Introduction to Logic
 
FS.31.34
Foundational Component Area:  Social and Behavioral Sciences - Attachment Z                                                                 
ANTH 202 – Introduction to Archeology
SOCI 212 – Sociology of Popular Culture
EPSY 321 – Adolescent Development for Educators
 
FS.31.35
International and Cultural Diversity  - Attachment AA
ENGL 206             21^st Century Literature and Culture
MUSC 226           History of Rock
MUSC 227           Popular Music of India
SOCI 212              Sociology of Popular Culture
 
The consent agenda was declared approved as presented.
__________________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
 
Committee Reports                                                                                                                          
       
Unfinished Business                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                   
New Business
                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Committee of the Whole
The meeting then moved into the Committee of the Whole section, chaired by Speaker-elect Jim Woosley.
Senator Angie Price, College of Engineering, raised the issue of season football tickets and the reseating that will be occurring. Noting that faculty and staff will be reseated a year ahead of others, she asked, “Why are faculty and staff being discriminated against?”


Woosley said he had a meeting scheduled with athletics officials and would bring that issue up with them.
Clint Magill, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, asked whether it was necessary to continue to bring all the course changes on the consent agenda to the full Senate.
Daugherity responded, “We are the last stop before the president’s desk and we should continue in that role in case there are concerns.” He also noted that it was important, as part of the process, for departments to gain approval from any other department where there was a significant overlap with a course or content.
Adjourn
With no further business at hand, the meeting was adjourned at 4:01 p.m.