November 11, 2012
Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
November 12, 2012
3:15 p.m., 601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
Present: Speaker John Stallone, Speaker-Elect Walter Daugherity, Secretary-Treasurer Clint Magill, Former Speaker Michael Benedik, Senators Janice Epstein, Dale Rice, Andrew Klein, Jonathan Coopersmith, Jorge Alvarado, Jim Woosley, Ergun Akleman, Raymundo Arroyave, Leonard Bierman, Doug Biggs, Leonard Bright, Richard Carlson, Charles Criscione, Richard Curry, Joe Dannenbaum, Darryl DeRuiter, Jose Fernandez-Solis, Edward Funkhouser, Holly Gaede, Ira Greenbaum, Michael Greenwald, Janet Hammer, Mike Hanik, Julie Harlin, Greg Heim, Kim Quaile Hill, Shelley Holliday, Richard Hutchinson, Karen Kubena, Carol Loopstra, Martha Loudder, Igor Lyuksyutov, Vanita Mahajan, June Martin, Peter McIntyre, Stephen Miller, Jeffrey Morris, Gene Nelson, Mike Pilant, Deva E. Reddy, Eric Rowell, Karen-Beth Scholthof, Ergin Sezgin, Brian Shaw, Kathleen Speed, Richard Stadelmann, Bob Strawser, Elizabeth Tebeaux, Gary Varner, Richard Woodman, Keyan Zhu-Salzman, Joseph Boutros, Edward Brothers, David Baca, John Carhart, Grace Townsend
Absent: Louise Abbott, Carisa Armstrong, Joe Arosh, Perla Balbuena, Judith Ball, Andrea Bonito, Gwan Seong Choi, William B. Clark, Robin Dabareiner, Swaroop Darbha, Clare Gill, Stephen Guetersloh, James Hannah, Ed Harris, Kevin Heinz, Wendy Jepson (E), Reza Langari, Paulo Lima-Filho, Sam Mannan, Adam Myers, Michelle Pine, Harland Prechel, Jorge Seminario, Karen Snowden (E ), Ramesh Talreja, Angie Hill Price (E), Leslie Reynolds, Karen Russell (E), Luis San Andres, Jason Sawyer, Mike Thornton (E), Kim-Vy Tran, Manuelita Ureta, Wyoma vanDuinkerken, William West, Matt Whiteacre, Tryon Wickersham (E), B. Dan Wood
Call to Order
Guest Speaker
Speaker Comments
The Dean of Faculties search has been narrowed to two candidates who will be interviewed and make public presentations next week. They are Michael Benedik, College of Science, and John August, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
A new assistant to the Senate has been hired and will begin December 10.
A search for the vacant Vice-President for Research position has been initiated, but committee members have not been identified.
“IDEA”, a prospective replacement for the current online teaching evaluation system, selected by the Senate Academic Affairs Committee, will be evaluated by approximately 22 professors and 2,200 students this semester. The results will be used to develop protocols for use by a larger group in the spring, if satisfactory.
Information can be accessed at
ideasri.tamu.edu.
Speaker-Elect Daugherity asked about the ‘online availability’ of evaluations as now required by state law. He was assured the results are available within 3 clicks from the A&M home page.
The October 8, 2012 Faculty Senate meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
Motion Passed
Attachment A
Consent Agenda – The Consent Agenda was approved as submitted. Motion Passed
GRADUATE COUNCIL – GC REPORT FS.30.048
New Course Requests – October 4, 2012 Attachment B
BAEN 617 Fundamentals of Nanoscale Biological Engineering
BMEN 672 Introduction to Diagnostic Radiology Physics
ECEN 751 Computational Methods for Integrated System Design
ECEN 752 Advances in VLSI Circuit Design
LAND 635 Concepts in Ecological Planning and Design
NUEN 672 Introduction to Diagnostic Radiology Physics
PLAN 635 Concepts in Ecological Planning and Design
RPTS 655 Applied Biodiversity Science I
WFSC 655 Applied Biodiversity Science
Course Change Requests – October 4, 2012 Motion Passed
ESSM 651 Geographic Information Systems FS.30.049
RTPS 666 Tourism and the Natural Environment
Attachment C
SCSC 654 Genome Analysis
Special Consideration – October 4, 2012 Motion Passed
The Department of Marine Sciences at Texas A&M University Galveston FS.30.050
would like to offer a degree program that allows Ocean and Coastal Resources
Attachment D
(OCRE) undergraduate majors to enter the graduate program for a Master of
Marine Resources Management at the beginning of their fourth year, thus
enabling them to receive their OCRE undergraduate degree (B.S.) and their
Master of Marine Resources Management graduate degree in five years.
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – UCC REPORT Motion Passed
New Courses – October 12, 2012 FS.30.051
ARAB 222 Field Studies I: Language, Culture, and Society
Attachment E
ARAB 322 Field Studies II: Language, Culture, and Society
ECON 315 Sports Economics
ECON 328 Economics of Education
INTS 407 Diversity in a Globalized World
OCNG 425 Microbial Oceanography
Change in Courses – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
AGEC 314 Marketing Agricultural and Food Products FS.30.052
AGEC 330 Financial Management in Agriculture
Attachment E
AGEC 340 Agribusiness Management
AGEC 344 Food and Agricultural Law
AGEC 430 Macroeconomics of Agriculture
AGEC 434 Rural Financial Markets and Financial Planning
AGEC 440 Agribusiness Strategic Analysis
AGEC 460 Cross-Cutting Issues in Agricultural Economics
AGEC 481 Ethics in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics
CHEN 282 Engineering Biology
ENGL 203 Introduction to Literature
POLS 309 Polimetrics
POLS 352 Empirical Democratic Theory
POLS 357 National Judicial Politics
POLS 412 International Political Economy
POLS 418 Theories of International Relations
POLS 439 Foreign Policy Decision Making
Change in Curriculum – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
FS.30.053
College of Education and Human Development
Attachment F
Department of Health and Kinesiology
B.S. in Health
School Health Track
Change in Curriculum – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
FS.30.054
College of Liberal Arts
Attachment G
Department of History
B.A. in History
and
Minor in History – requirement changes
Change in Curriculum – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
FS.30.055
College of Liberal Arts
Attachment H
Department of Political Science
B.S. in Political Science
Texas A&M University at Galveston – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
New Course FS.30.056
HIST 242 United States Maritime History
Attachment I
Change in Course
MARS 412 Remote Field Investigations in Marine Sciences
Special Consideration – October 12, 2012 Motion Passed
FS.30.057
College of Liberal Arts
Attachment J
Department of English
Minor in English – requirement changes
Other Items – from September 14, 2012 meeting Motion Passed
FS.30.058
Texas A&M University at Galveston Attachment K
Special Consideration
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Department of Marine Sciences
B.S. in Ocean and Coastal Resources and Master of Marine Resources Management
Request for a 3+2 degree program
W-COURSES Motion Passed
Courses submitted for W Certification – October 15, 2012 FS.30.059
BIOL 493 Biology Capstone: Research Communication in the Life Sciences
Attachment L
COMM 408 Advanced Research Methods in Communication
COMM 437 Visual Communication
ECON 410 Macroeconomic Theory
INTS 405 War and Memory
OCNG 425 Microbial Oceanography
OCNG 440 Introduction to Chemical Oceanography
SOCI 484 Field Experiences (Sociology Internship)
VIBS 489 Writing for Scientific Research
Courses submitted for W Recertification – October 15, 2012
AGCJ 314 Agricultural Media Writing II
AGEC 217 Fundamentals of Agricultural Economics
AGEC 429 Agricultural and Food Policy
AGSC 402 Designing Instruction for Secondary Agriculture Science Programs
BESC 484 Field Experience
ECON 449 Economics of Decision-Making and Strategy
FIVS 481 Seminar in Forensic and Investigative Sciences
FREN 202 Intermediate French II
GEOG 309 Geography of Energy
GEOG 360 Natural Hazards
GEOL 312 Structural Geology and Tectonics
KINE 439 Exercise Evaluation and Prescription
MARB 430 Coastal Plant Ecology
MATH 467 Modern Geometry
MUSC 206 Music Theory II
NUTR 430 Community Nutrition
PHIL 334 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 412 Seventeenth Century Philosophy
PHIL 414 Nineteenth Century Philosophy
THAR 381 Theatre History I
THAR 382 Theatre History II
VIBS 310 Biomedical Writing
VIBS 311 Biomedical Explorations through Narrative
Courses submitted for C Course Certification – October 15, 2012
BIOL 493 Biology Capstone: Research Communication in the Life Sciences
CHEM 481 Seminar
Courses submitted for C Course Recertification – October 15, 2012
MATH 396 Communications in Mathematics
___________________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
Committee Reports
(No Committee Reports)
Old Business Motion Passed
FS.30.060
“Student Conduct Code Revisions”
Attachment M
A version of the student rules concerning the student conduct code that was modified following discussion of concerns raised in the October meeting was approved following a positive recommendation by Senator Stadelmann, who reported that changes critical to protecting rights of free speech had been incorporated.
New Business
Proposed Changes to Student Rules, Section 12.2
Attachment N
Assistant Provost Jim Kracht introduced a proposed rule change that would provide guidelines and a mechanism for “University Suspension” of undergraduates who have fallen too far below the 2.0 required GPR for graduation. Colleges could remove individuals from the ‘drop list’ if they wish. The suspension for at least one year would allow the student to apply for readmission with evidence of improved prospects for graduation. Senator Kim Hill suggested that the rule be re-written to make it clearer that student have the rights to appeal each decision. Dr. Kracht agreed to meet with Dr. Hill to make sure the wording mentioning appeals is appropriate.
Committee of the Whole
Former Speaker Carlson expressed concern about the flow of bicycles and skateboards going the wrong way on Ireland Street and suggested that making it two-way traffic would actually improve traffic flow and safety. Senator Magill, who serves on the Transportation Services Advisory Committee (TSAC), reported that in its last meeting, TSAC had discussed plans for changes to address the problems, but would have to seek CBE approval before action can be taken.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.