TAMU Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

November 12, 2018

3:15pm

Rudder 601

http://facultysenate.tamu.edu

 

CALL TO ORDER

Speaker Harlin called the meeting to order at 3:15pm
 

GUEST SPEAKERS

Guest speaker Carrie L. Byington, MD; Vice Chancellor for Health Services, The Texas A&M University System; Senior Vice President, Texas A&M University Health Science Center; The Jean and Thomas McMullin Professor and Dean, Texas A&M College of Medicine; was introduced by Speaker Harlin.
 
Dr. Carrie L. Byington
Dr. Carrie Byington thanked the Senate for the opportunity to speak, and gave a brief overview of the Health Science Center and shared her vision for the HSC:

• The HSC includes five branded campuses: the Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and the School of Public Health.  It includes 26 degree programs and 3200 students engaging in clinical care, education, and research across the state.
• Goals include an integrated practice plan delivering primary care and mental health services, interprofessional education (IPE) such as training students from different disciplines together, and an expanded research portfolio.
• Priorities in College of Medicine: rural population health, military medicine, and innovation through engineering.

(Find Dr. Byington’s presentation here.)
 
Dr. Byington then opened the floor for questions.
 
Catharina Laporte, College of Liberal Arts
Senator Laporte first sought clarification on the overlap of the Health Science Center and the Department of Health & Kinesiology, and secondly, asked if biomedical engineering would be subsumed by the EnMed program.
 
Dr. Byington shared that the Health Science Center is still in discussion with the Department of Health & Kinesiology about how to include everyone who is doing research on health.  For the second question, the answer was that one department would not be subsumed by the other.  The EnMed program allows for a wider range of engineering students, and is a multidisciplinary program.
 
Eric Rowell, College of Science
Senator Rowell shared his appreciation of the lower co-pays resulting from the CHI St. Joseph-A&M partnership.  He asked if there have been any effects on reproductive health services as a result of this partnership.
 
Dr. Byington discussed one service that may be impacted: an elective tubal ligation at the time of Caesarian Section.  This practice can be performed at other hospitals, and occurs very rarely. 
 
Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering
Senator Alvarado asked if there is a long-term plan for the College of Medicine, in order to be competitive and attract students.
 
Dr. Byington said that part of the plan is to focus on the priorities, first becoming excellent there.  The other is developing their integrated practice plan for growing their practice.  There is a 10-year plan in place.
 
Hank Walker, College of Engineering
Senator Walker raised the issue of lack of mental health services in the area, wondering if the HSC will be addressing this issue.
 
Dr. Byington stated that mental health is a priority, agreeing that mental health services are very limited and it is their goal to increase services in the region.  She introduced Dr. Steve Brown, Vice President for Clinical Strategy and Chief Clinical Office for the Health Sciences.
 
Dr. Brown shared the Behavioral Health plan that he identified as “integrative.” This plan seeks to make behavioral health available through partnered Primary Care offices, for example, through telemedicine, maintaining records at one source.
 
Rajesh Miranda, College of Medicine
Senator Miranda asked Dr. Byington to expand on mental health services for A&M students.
 
Dr. Byington expressed that they are working on a plan, not just for the A&M students, but across the whole A&M System.
 
Speaker Harlin thanked Dr. Byington who left the podium to applause by Senators.
 

ANNOUNCEMENT

Dr. Heather Wilkinson, Associate Dean, Center for Teaching Excellence was introduced by Speaker Harlin.  Dr. Wilkinson announced the 2019 Transformational Teaching & Learning Conference to be held on campus May 1-2, 2019, with the theme of Active & Inclusive Engagement.  Proposals are due January 11, 2019.  More information can be found at ttlc.tamu.edu.
 

SPEAKER COMMENTS

Speaker Harlin shared some highlights of recent work of the Senate:

• The Student Success Initiative open forum was held one week prior.  Dr. Harlin was one of the presenters, and has represented the Faculty Senate on that Task Force.  The Initiative will be implemented over the next two years.
• Earlier in the day on November 12, 2018, the Faculty Senate co-hosted a Core Curriculum Mini-conference with the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies to discuss the role and value of the Core Curriculum at Texas A&M University.  Thanks were given to Senators Dale Rice and Tamy Frank-Cannon who co-chair the CCC, conference co-chair and Associate Provost Ann Kenimer, and the faculty who participated in the conference.
• A few weeks prior, Former Speaker & Senator Jim Woosley and Speaker Harlin attended the Texas Council of Faculty Senates meeting in Austin.  Universities shared their successes and challenges and Congressman Bill Flores spoke and took questions from the group.  Senator Woosley, who is President of the TCFS organization, planned an engaging and productive meeting, and was congratulated for his contribution to the successful creation of a National Council of Faculty Senates. 
• Prior to the TCFS meeting, Speakers and Presidents of Faculty Senates within the Texas A&M System, came together to discuss the issues on their collective campuses.  Members of this group were excited to hear about the Joint Resolution related to the Field of Study Requirements, that our Senate passed with the University of Texas in October.
• At the System meeting, our Executive Committee was invited to meet with their counterparts at Prairie View A&M in November, working to improve shared governance at their universities.
• After the October Senate meeting, the Executive Committee met with the Provost to determine next steps on our Dean & Department Head rules.  As a result, a SAP Task Force has been convened for its first meeting on November 26, 2018 with the goal of resolving and improving our processes related to the appointment and review of deans and department heads.  Task Force members include: Deb Banerjee, Jose Fernandez-Solis, Angie Hill Price, Claire Katz, Adam Kolasinski, Clint Magill, Jay Ramadoss, Grace Townsend, and Julie Harlin.
• Many Senators have recently received emails from students regarding proposed changes to Student Rule 7, the Attendance rule.  The proposal was brought before the Student Rules & Regulations Committee the previous Friday; after discussion the proposal was tabled.  Dr. Kenimer is convening a task force with members of our Academic Affairs committee to further discuss the student attendance rule.  Thanks to members of our Academic Affairs Committee who have agreed to serve: Jay Ramadoss, Matt Taylor, and Vanita Mahajan.
• Speaker Harlin thanked Catharina Laporte, Angie Hill Price, and Andrew Klein for their service on the Entrepreneurship Minor Task Force led by Dr. Ann Kenimer.  The recommendations from the work of this task force will be on our agenda soon.
• The Executive Committee recently requested a report of all special topics courses taught more than three times from the Office of the Registrar.  Many thanks were given to Laura Heard and Nick Piwonka who were able to generate that report and provide some context and information.  In 1997, the Senate approved a policy that would require special topics courses (289, 489, and 689) only be taught twice.  When taught the third time, the course must be in the curricular approval process.  Based on the information received, there are a number of courses that have not followed this rule at the undergraduate level.  The Senate is working with the Registrar and others to ensure that we follow our policy in this area.  
• There are three excellent candidates for the Dean of Faculties position.  Faculty were encouraged to participate in the interview process occurring that week.
• The March Faculty Senate meeting date change due to Spring Break was announced.  The meeting will be moved from March 11 to March 18.
• Speaker Harlin thanked Senators for their engagement; there have been many requests this semester for Senators to serve on committees and have typically received more volunteers than needed.  Engagement by Senators is critical for the success of the Senate.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The motion passed to approve the October 8, 2018 minutes as distributed.

CONSENT AGENDA

The motion passed to approve the consent agenda as presented.  (Consent Agenda is found below Adjournment.)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 
No unfinished business was conducted.
 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 
Core Curriculum Council Course Report
The Core Curriculum Council courses (Attachment GG) were approved as presented.  (Approved Core Curriculum Council courses can be found below Consent Agenda.)
 
No further committees reported.
 

OLD BUSINESS

 
No old business was conducted.
 

NEW BUSINESS

Proposed Revisions to Student Rules – Attachment HH – Passed – FS.36.177 
Rule 39         Soliciting on Campus
 
The motion was passed to approve Attachment HH as presented.
 
Recommendation of December 2018 Degree Candidates 
TOTAL – 5,245
TAMU-Main – 4,789
TAMU-Galveston – 169
TAMU-HSC – 104 
TAMU-Law – 20 
TAMU-Qatar – 13 
TAMU-VMBS – 150
 
The motion passed to approve the December 2018 Degree Candidates as presented. 

 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Raymundo Arroyave, College of Engineering
Senator Arroyave posed a question related to the hiring and reappointment of Deans & Department Head rules previously tabled: under which rules are current searches operating?  Speaker Harlin shared that Provost Fierke is currently piloting new methodology and has moved forward with the new rules.
 
Adam Kolasinski, College of Business
Senator Kolasinski took issue with this and made a motion to keep the old rules in effect until a new revision is approved by the Faculty Senate.
 
Former Speaker and Parliamentarian Walter Daugherity clarified that the proper procedure is to report this item back to the Senate (from the Committee of the Whole), at which point someone may call for an Emergency Motion.  Senator Kolasinski moved to report this item to the Senate.
 
Speaker-Elect Klein continued Committee of the Whole with an announcement that he serves on the Dining Services Advisory Committee and solicited any concerns that he could then report back to Chartwells.
 
Tony Cahill, College of Engineering
Senator Cahill expressed concern regarding the logistics of the Student Success Initiative’s “Common Course.”  
 
Speaker Harlin, who serves on this Task Force, shared that it is a zero-credit, shared first-year experience course, meaning both faculty and staff can teach it.  Also, these courses can happen outside of the usual 8am-5pm course times and many won’t be a part of a college.  These courses will begin in the fall of 2019.
 
Mike Stephenson, Vice Provost, affirmed this information and shared that existing first year initiatives such as currently exists in Engineering can be certified as part of the Student Success Initiative.  Regarding the timeline, everything is expected to be ironed out by March.
 
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Senator Price asked if this course will be required for all freshmen and if it would come through the Senate as a curricular requirement.  Speaker Harlin affirmed it would be required.  There was some confusion on this issue of whether or not the course is a curricular item requiring Senate approval.  Dr. Stephenson said it is not been decided yet whether it would be a degree requirement and that there are many implementation details still to be worked out.  It was pointed out that the courses can be offered in many small and non-traditional spaces throughout the campus.
 
Greg Heim, Mays Business School
Senator Heim, shared feedback from faculty having parking issues while getting their exams graded.  He asked for any faculty having similar issues to contact him so that these problems can be reported back to the Transportation Advisory Committee.
 
Joan Wolf, College of Liberal Arts; Bruce Neville, Libraries; Bob Strawser, Mays Business School & College of Medicine
Senator Wolf expressed frustrations about the way the First Year Experience (FYEX) is being implemented, questioning the Senate’s role and responsibility in approving curricular items.  These concerns were also shared by Senator Neville.  Senator Strawser expressed the importance of taking time to discuss these issues thoroughly.
 
 

EMERGENCY MOTION

Raymundo Arroyave, College of Engineering
Senator Arroyave moved to have Senator Kolasinski’s draft resolution reported out of the Committee of the Whole and added to that day’s agenda as an emergency item; the motion passed by the required three-fourths vote.  The resolution to affirm the current Dean & Department Head rules until such time as the Faculty Senate revises them was then moved, seconded, and discussed, but failed to pass.
 

ADJOURN

 
The meeting was adjourned at 5:07pm.
 
ATTACHMENTS BELOW: Consent Agenda, Core Curriculum Council
GRADUATE COUNCIL 
            New Courses – Attachment B – Passed – FS.36.145
 BAEN 655     Principles of Modern Optical Spectroscopy
COMM 628   Political Communication
COMM 661   Media and Identity
DPHS 620     Dental Public Health Field Experience I
DPHS 625     Dental Public Health Field Experience II
DPHS 630     Dental Public Health Field Experience III
MEID 997      Critical Care – Student Initiated Elective
MEID 998      Acting Internship – Student Initiated Elective
SCSC 638     Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls for Animal Food
STAT 654     Statistical Computing with R and Python
VIBS 665      Science Editing
 
Change in Courses – Attachment C – Passed – FS.36.146 
AGEC 661            Applied Econometric Methods in Agriculture and Resources I 
BAEN 673            Modeling Small Watersheds
CSCE 639            Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
ECEN 609            Adaptive Control
INTA 609              International Law and its Application to Human Rights, Use of Force and U.S. Law
ISEN 654              Manufacturing Systems Planning and Analysis
ISEN 655              Control Issues in Computer Integrated Manufacturing
MEID 711             Evidence Based Medicine, Scholarship and Research
MEID 850             Practice of Medicine Capstone
MEMA 641           Plasticity Theory
MPHY 633            Advanced Techniques in Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Research
MSEN 640            Thermodynamics in Materials Science
MSEN 656            Mechanical and Physical Properties of Thin Films
MSEN 658            Fundamentals of Ceramics
NFSC 623            Nanotechnology in Food Processing
NFSC 632             Nutrition in Disease
NUEN 677            Aerosol Science
PHEB 606             Survival Analysis
PHEB 614             Analysis of Longitudinal and Multilevel Data
VIBS 641              Principles of Human Health Risk Assessment of Chemicals
VPAT 640             Mechanisms of Disease
 
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Attachment D – Passed – FS.36.147
     College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
           MEEN 606             Polymer Laboratories
 
Change in Courses - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment E – Passed – FS.36.148 
     College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
           MEEN 620             Kinetic Processes in Materials Science
 
Change in Courses - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment F – Passed – FS.36.149
     College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
      MEEN 686             Composite Materials Processing and Performance
 
Change in Courses - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment G – Passed – FS.36.150
     College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science
        Department of Veterinary Pathology
                  VPAT 642              Mechanisms of Metabolic Disease
 
Change in Programs – Attachment H – Passed – FS.36.151
     College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
        Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Science
                  MRYD-RYDV         Master of Recreation and Youth Development
 
 UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE 
            New Courses – Attachment I – Passed – FS.36.152 
CLAS 236           War and Violence in the Ancient World
DCED 222          Introduction to Dance Science
DCED 308          Safe Practices in Teaching Dance
DCED 405          Career Preparation in Dance
KINE 340            Essentials of Strength and Conditioning
KINE 407            Motor Control and Learning Lab
PHLT 436           Infectious Disease in the Developing World: Risks, Challenges, and Solutions
RELS 200           Religions of the World
RELS 202           Religion in America
WFSC 413          Problem Solving in Wildlife and Fisheries
WFSC 457          Wildlife Ecotoxicology
 
        Change in Courses – Attachment J – Passed – FS.36.153 
ACCT 322           Professional Development Seminar – BBA
ACCT 484           Accounting Internship
CHEM 222          Elements of Organic and Biological Chemistry
CHEM 227          Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 231          Techniques of Organic Chemistry
CHEM 234          Organic Synthesis and Analysis
CHEM 237          Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 315          Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 316          Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 318          Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
CHEM 322          Physical Chemistry for Engineers
CHEM 362          Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 468          Materials Chemistry of Inorganic Materials
COMM 350         Theories of Mediated Communication
COMM 480         Religious Communication
DCED 260          Ballet I
DCED 271          Modern Dance I
DCED 361          Ballet II
DCED 372          Modern Dance II
DCED 462          Ballet III
DCED 473          Modern Dance III
FINC 341            Business Finance
GEOL 203           Mineralogy
GEOL 210           Geological Communication
GEOL 250           Geological Field Methods
GEOL 310           Planetary Geology
GEOL 312           Structural Geology and Tectonics
GEOL 314           Paleontology and Geobiology
HIST 427            The Roman Republic
HIST 428            The Roman Empire: Principate
HIST 429            The Roman Empire: Transformations
MGMT 309          Survey of Management
MGMT 481          Seminar in Management
MKTG 321          Marketing
OCNG 443          Oceanographic Field and Laboratory Methods
PHIL 419             Current Continental Philosophy
PHYS 221           Optics and Thermal Physics
PHYS 222           Modern Physics for Engineers
PHYS 225           Electronic Circuits and Applications
RDNG 373          Teaching Reading Through Children's Literature
VIBS 311            Biomedical Explorations through Narrative
WFSC 303          Fish and Wildlife Laws and Administration
 
Change in Programs – Attachment K – Passed – FS.36.154
  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
     Department of Horticultural Sciences 
           BA-HORT    Horticulture - BA
 
Change in Programs – Attachment L – Passed – FS.36.155
  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
     Department of Ag Leadership, Education & Communication
           BS-ALED     Agricultural Leadership and Development
 
Change in Programs – Attachment M – Passed – FS.36.156 
  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
     Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology
           BS-BESC    Bioenvironmental Sciences - BS
 
Change in Programs – Attachment N – Passed – FS.36.157 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-CHLT     Community Health - BS
 
Change in Programs – Attachment O – Passed – FS.36.158 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
           BS-ECOR    Ecological Restoration - BS
 
Change in Programs – Attachment P – Passed – FS.36.159 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-HLTH-AHO                  Health - BS, Allied Health Track
 
Change in Programs – Attachment Q – Passed – FS.36.160
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-HLTH-SCH                   Health - BS, School Health Track
 
Change in Programs – Attachment R – Passed – FS.36.161
  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
     Department of Horticultural Sciences
           BS-HORT    Horticulture - BS
 
Change in Programs – Attachment S – Passed – FS.36.162 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-KINE-AEP   Kinesiology - BS, Exercise Science Track, Applied Exercise Physiology Concentration
 
Change in Programs – Attachment T – Passed – FS.36.163 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-KINE-BEP    Kinesiology - BS, Exercise Science Track, Basic Exercise Physiology Concentration
 
Change in Programs – Attachment U – Passed – FS.36.164
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-KINE-MTB        Kinesiology - BS, Exercise Science Track, Motor Behavior Concentration
 
Change in Programs – Attachment V – Passed – FS.36.165
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-KINE-PEK        Kinesiology - BS, All-Level Physical Education Teacher Certification Track
 
Change in Programs – Attachment W – Passed – FS.36.166
  College of Agriculture and Life Science
     Department of Poultry Science
           BS-POSC-TK1       Poultry Science - BS, Industry Emphasis
 
Change in Programs – Attachment X – Passed – FS.36.167
  College of Agriculture and Life Science
     Department of Poultry Science
           BS-POSC-TK2       Poultry Science - BS, Technical Emphasis
 
Change in Programs – Attachment Y – Passed – FS.36.168 
  College of Agriculture and Life Science
     Department of Ecosystem Science & Management
           BS-RLEM-RMO+   Rangeland Ecology and Management - BS, Ranch Management Option
 
Change in Programs – Attachment Z – Passed – FS.36.169 
  College of Agriculture and Life Science
     Department of Ecosystem Science & Management
           BS-RLEM-RMO+   Rangeland Ecology and Management - BS, Rangeland Resources Option
 
Change in Programs – Attachment AA – Passed – FS.36.170 
  College of Agriculture and Life Science
     Department of Ecosystem Science & Management
           BS-SPSA   Spatial Sciences - BS
 
Change in Programs – Attachment BB – Passed – FS.36.171 
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           BS-USEH-DAN                  University Studies - BS, Dance Concentration
 
Change in Programs – Attachment CC – Passed – FS.36.172
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
           MINOR-DANC                   Dance - Minor
Special Consideration Item – Attachment DD – Passed – FS.36.173
  College of Education & Human Development
     Department of Health & Kinesiology
BS-KINE-EST        Kinesiology - BS, Exercise and Sport Science
 
W&C COURSES  
New Core Component Proposal – Attachment EE – Passed – FS.36.174   
         Courses Submitted for C Certification:
AGSM 440-C      Management of Agricultural Systems II
PETE 435-C        Technical Presentations II
 
New Core Component Proposal – Attachment FF – Passed – FS.36.175
         Courses Submitted for W Certification:
AGSM 439-W       Management of Agricultural Systems I
KINE 403-W                     Dance Wellness
MARS 208-W       Coastal and Ocean Resources
RPTS 426-W        Tourism Impacts
RUSS 302-W                   Advanced Grammar and Composition II
WFSC 303-W       Fish and Wildlife Laws and Administration
 
______________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
 
 
CORE CURRICULUM COUNCIL COURSE REPORT – Attachment GG – Passed – FS.36.176
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Creative Arts
FILM 299              History of Film
 
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Lang, Phil, Culture
PHIL 255              C.S. Lewis: Faith and Philosophy
RELS 200             Religions of the World
 
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Life & Physical Sciences – Galveston 
MAST 250            Archaeological Field Methods
 
New Courses – Cultural Discourse 
RELS 202                    Religion in America
 
New Courses – Cultural Discourse – Galveston 
ENGL 104                    Composition and Rhetoric
ENGL 203                    Writing about Literature
 
New Courses – International and Cultural Diversity Designation 
BESC 311              International Perspectives on Environmental Issues
NURS 424             Professional Issues
VTPB 411              One Health and Tropical Ecology