TAMU Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
May 11, 2020
3:00pm
Via Zoom
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
CALL TO ORDER
Speaker Andrew Klein called the meeting to order at 3:00pm. Due to ongoing social distancing practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was fully conducted via Zoom. Speaker Klein began by reminding Senators of details of how to participate remotely via Zoom using the hand-raising, polling, and chat features.AWARD PRESENTATIONS
The annual Richard Stadelmann Faculty Senate Service Award, given to a Senator in their first term who has displayed uncommon devotion to the mission of the Senate, was presented to Dr. Bobby Reece, College of Geosciences, after hearing some words from his nominator. He expressed his surprise, and thanked the Senate.A new Faculty Senate Service Award, given to a Faculty Senator who has displayed uncommon devotion to the mission of the Senate, was presented next. Speaker Klein explained the genesis of this award. A long-term Senator, former Speaker, and Parliamentarian retired last year and the Executive Committee chose to honor his service by creating this new service award bearing his name: the Walter Daugherity Faculty Senate Service Award. In attendance, Dr. Daugherity thanked the Senate for this recognition.
After hearing words from two nominators, Speaker Klein announced the first recipient of this award, Dr. Janice Epstein, College of Science. Dr. Epstein expressed her surprise, her pleasure at serving, and her thanks.
These award recipients will receive the framed award certificates at a later date in person.
Traditionally, a guest speaker would be next, but the decision was made to forego a speaker to provide ample time for end of the year business.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jocelyn Widmer, Assistant Provost for Academic InnovationDr. Juan Garza, Assistant Vice President for Academic Services & Director of Provost Information Technology Office
Drs. Widmer and Garza provided their monthly update on the progress of implementing the new learning management system (LMS). This included technical items, integration of Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI’s) and non-LTI integrations, the release of the next iteration of the Keep Teaching website, and next steps. (See attachments for greater detail and slides.) Dr. Widmer closed with a thank you to Speaker Klein for his service on the LMS Advisory Committee, his contributions as a current Canvas user, and his support in ensuring faculty and students’ needs were met over the past few months.
Dr. Widmer and Dr. Garza took questions from the following Senators:
Catharina Laporte, College of Liberal Arts
Julie Harlin, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Clint Magill, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Deb Banerjee, College of Engineering
SPEAKER COMMENTS
Speaker Klein began by reflecting on the unusual semester just concluded. He recognized faculty concern surrounding planning for the 7.5% budget reduction, and what the University is doing to ensure the health and safety of the faculty, staff and students. He assured the Senators that the University leadership is well aware of these concerns and that they are a top priority. Speaker Klein encouraged patience as the details for the fall semester get worked out. He and Secretary Ferdinand are representing faculty on the task force that is making recommendations to the Provost, and encouraged suggestions be sent to Alva or him.Updates on Senate business included:
- The Faculty Senate elections were successfully concluded, after being conducted totally online.
- Next year’s Faculty Senate leadership team was officially announced: soon-to-be speaker John Stallone will be joined by Speaker-Elect Dale Rice, College of Liberal Arts, and Secretary Alva Ferdinand.
- Speaker Klein welcomed the Executive Committee members beginning their year-long term after this meeting:
- Deb Banerjee, College of Engineering
- Rebecca Burns, College of Nursing
- Julie Harlin, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- Catharina Laporte, College of Liberal Arts
- Bruce Neville, University Libraries
- Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
- Heather Ramsey, College of Science
- Grace Townsend, Galveston
- Jim Woosley, College of Education & Human Development
- Committee chairs were reminded to submit their written reports by Friday, May 15.
- Senators were reminded to complete the Request for Summer Inactive Status form by May 20; the link was included in today’s email.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion passed to approve the March 16, 2020 minutes as distributed. Attachment A1 – PassedThe motion passed to approve the April 13, 2020 minutes as distributed. Attachment A2 – Passed
CONSENT AGENDA
The motion passed to approve the May 11, 2020 Consent Agenda as presented. Passed(Full Consent Agenda with FS #’s can be found below Adjournment.)
COMMENTS ON CURRICULAR ITEMS
As curricular approval is core to the Senate’s mission, from this Consent Agenda Speaker Klein highlighted the graduate classes just approved for the MS Analytics program in the Mays Business School. They reminded him that Texas A&M has been teaching in less conventional ways for some time. This program is taught face-to-face at Houston CityCentre and also live streamed on Tuesday for working professionals. Speaker Klein found it interesting to see that many of the analytical skills taught in this program are the same skills he is hearing are of interest to students in other professional programs.He then asked if any Senators wished to highlight any other curricular items; there were no comments.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No unfinished business was conducted.COMMITTEE REPORTS
Core Curriculum Council Course Report – Attachment B – Passed – FS.37.351The motion passed to approve the Core Curriculum Course Report as presented. (Full CCC Report can be found below Adjournment.)
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
None.NEW BUSINESS
Proposed Revisions to Minimum Syllabus Requirements - Attachment C – For Informational Review and Discussion – FS.37.352Speaker Klein encouraged Senators to review prior to next month as the Senate will be voting on these at the next meeting. Provost Fierke asked to be recognized. She wondered if temporary language regarding COVID-19 would be included. No one was present to answer to this. Senator Angie Hill Price recommending approving this document as is, and then approving a special rider addressing COVID-19 issues separately. This would prevent the need for the Minimum Syllabus Requirements to be approved again.
Senator Clint Magill had a question regarding accommodations for students with impaired hearing. Speaker Klein stated he believed this section applied to written documents rather than videos.
Proposed Revisions to Student Rules
Student Rule 41 – Student Organizations – Attachment D – Passed – FS.37.353Student Rule 42 – Activities of University-Recognized Student Organizations – Attachment E – Passed – FS.37.354
Resolution affirming Faculty Senate support of the Student Course Evaluation Task Force Recommendation Report – Attachment F – Passed – FS.37.355
Report can be viewed at:
http://dof.tamu.edu/STUDENT-COURSE-EVALUATION-TASK-FORCE-RECOMMENDATIONS
State of the Senate Address – Attachment G
Speaker Andrew Klein
Appreciation of Out-going Executive Committee Members and Parliamentarian
Speaker Klein recognized the work of this year’s outgoing Executive Committee: Dan Collins, Secretary-Treasurer Alva Ferdinand, Julie Harlin, Catharina Laporte, Rajesh Miranda, Angie Hill Price, Heather Ramsey, Dale Rice, who also served as Parliamentarian, Mark Sicilio, Speaker-Elect John Stallone, Grace Townsend, and Jim Woosley. Traditional certificates will be presented in person when possible.Senator Laporte shared a message from Provost Fierke who had to leave the meeting:
“I’d like to thank the Speaker, Executive Committee, and all the Senators for their outstanding work this semester. I am particularly thankful for the collegiality and spirit of working together. Thank you, Carol.”
Appreciation of Out-going Speaker – Attachment H
Continuing the tradition of the incoming Speaker, Speaker-Elect Stallone presented a resolution to out-going Speaker Klein honoring him for his contributions. Speaker-Elect Stallone read the resolution. He then thanked Dr. Klein for his outstanding service, and welcomed him to The Order of the Broken Gavel, the group of former Speakers.
Passing of the Gavel
The gavel was passed virtually. Speaker Stallone then invited Speaker-Elect Dale Rice to convene the Committee of the Whole.COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Speaker-Elect Dale Rice convened the Committee of the Whole.Deb Banerjee, College of Engineering
Senator Banerjee wondered if the Faculty Development Leave program would be affected by budget cuts this year. Dean of Faculties Blanca Lupiani shared that there are no plans to reduce funding for leaves at this time.
Rajesh Miranda, College of Medicine
Senator Miranda thanked former Speaker Klein for his service this year.
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Senator Price expressed her thanks to former Speaker Klein, and asked for a round of applause for him.
Speaker-Elect Dale Rice turned the meeting back over to Speaker Stallone.
ADJOURNMENT
Speaker Stallone shared that a framed copy of the Resolution for Dr. Klein will be forthcoming, as will be well-earned gifts. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00pm.ATTACHMENTS BELOW: Approved Consent Agenda, Core Curriculum Council Report
CONSENT AGENDAS for March and April 2020
GRADUATE COUNCIL
New Courses – Passed – FS.37.333
ANLY 605: Visualizing and Understanding Data with Modern Tools
ANLY 608: Linear and Logistic Regression and Visualization
ANLY 615: Data Wrangling Tools and Techniques
ANLY 626: Time Series, Machine Learning and Visualization
ANLY 630: Analytics for Financial Reporting
ANLY 656: Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics Applications
EDCI 706: Narrative Inquiry in Curriculum and Instruction I
EDCI 707: Narrative Inquiry in Curriculum and Instruction II
PHSC 621: Biostatistics
Change in Courses – Passed – FS.37.334
CVEN 601: Environmental Engineering Processes III
CVEN 620: Environmental Engineering Processes II
PETE 628: Horizontal Drilling
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.335
College of Engineering
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
ECEN 603: Time-frequency Analysis and Multirate Signal Processing
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.336
College of Medicine
Department of Medicine
HCPI 557: Contemporary Healthcare Issues
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.337
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
SCSC 631: Prerequisite Programs for Feed Industry HACCP
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.338
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
SCSC 632: Feed Industry HACCP - Principles and Plan Development
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.339
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
SCSC 633: Feed Industry HACCP - Advanced Plan Development
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
New Courses – Passed – FS.37.340
NUEN 330: Monte Carlo Radiation Transport and MCNP Code
Change in Courses – Passed – FS.37.341
BIOL 401: Critical Writing in Biology
COMM 203: Public Speaking
MEEN 201: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
MGMT 209: Principles of Business Regulations and Law
PSYC 235: Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 305: Psychology of Adjustment
RPTS 472: Grant Writing and Program Evaluation for Youth Development Organizations
SOCI 207: Introduction to Gender and Society
SOCI 217: Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
SOCI 304: Criminology
VTPP 427: Biomedical Physiology II
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.342
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication
CERT-CG4: Agriculture eLearning Development - Certificate
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.343
College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
MCS-CPSC: Master of Computer Science in Computer Science
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.344
College of Engineering
Department of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution
MS-ENTC: Master of Science in Engineering Technology
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.345
College of Engineering
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
MS-INEN: Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.346
College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
PHD-CECN: Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.37.347
College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
PHD-CPSC: Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
Program Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.37.348
School of Law
School of Law
JM-HCLW: Juris Master in Health Care Law
W&C COURSES
Courses Submitted for C Certification – Passed – FS.37.349
HLTH 440-C: Contemporary Issues for Community Health Interns
Courses Submitted for W Certification – Passed – FS.37.350
ARCH 205-W: Architecture Design I
JOUR 490-W: Journalism as a Profession
______________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
CORE CURRICULUM COUNCIL COURSE REPORT - Attachment B – Passed – FS.37.351
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Language, Philosophy & Culture
PHIL 282-GE: Ethics in a Digital Age
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Life & Physical Sciences
AGSM 105-GE: The World has a Drinking Problem: Global Water Scarcity
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Social & Behavioral Sciences
SOCI 213-GE: Gender and Health
Recertification for Foundational Component Area: Creative Arts
PERF 328-GE: Japanese Traditional Performing Arts
Recertification for Foundational Component Area: Language, Philosophy & Culture
ENGL 362-GE: Latino/a Literature
Recertification for Foundational Component Area: Social & Behavioral Sciences
SOCI 217-GE: Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
New Courses – Cultural Discourse
AGSM 105-CD: The World has a Drinking Problem: Global Water Scarcity
ENGL 104-CD: Composition and Rhetoric
New Courses – International and Cultural Diversity
FINC 445-ICD: International Finance
New Courses – International and Cultural Diversity - Galveston
MARB 416-ICD: Marine and Coastal Biology of Patagonia, Argentina