TAMU Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
November 11, 2019
3:00pm
Rudder 601
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
CALL TO ORDER
Speaker Andrew Klein called the meeting to order at 3:00pm.GUEST SPEAKER
Speaker Klein introduced guest speaker Chancellor John Sharp, and welcomed him to the podium.Chancellor Sharp began by defining his role as Chancellor as “securing the resources that the campus needs to survive.” He spoke about:
- The success of recruiting National Academy Members – eight years ago we had 11 and we currently have 37, soon to be 38.
- The Texas A&M University Institute for Advanced Study (TIAS) program has brought in a couple of those faculty, and the Chancellor’s Research Initiative also brought 28 faculty to TAMU.
- 86% of the Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) grants were awarded to TAMU, and one National Academy Member came through GURI.
- Nine of the Faculty Fellows from the Hagler Institute joined the TAMU faculty resulting in $54 million in new grants.
- At the Provost’s request, the Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship (EDGES) fellowships were created for up-and-coming faculty members who are doing outstanding work in their fields.
- The Texas Legislature approved a record $211 million in funding for TAMU institutions, and Texas A&M University received an extra $55 million to address per student funding equity.
- The RELLIS campus has academic and research components; the research aspect is drawing a large group of industries to RELLIS.
- One of these, the Army Futures Command (AFC), has asked Texas A&M to look at hypersonics and directed energy, new technologies that will help the AFC modernize the nation’s armed forces. The University has received $65 million federal grant from Department of Defense in support of these initiatives, and we are likely to receive more.
- Our partnership with Los Alamos National Lab offers many opportunities for joint research and internships.
- The Intergenerational Childcare Development Center is another project underway, as well as the EnMed initiative, which is drawing attention from top universities across the country. TAMU is also a part of TMC3, a research consortium of medical schools and health science centers. We own the land in Houston, and are partnering to build a new residence facility for health science students in Houston for EnMed and Nursing students.
Chancellor Sharp then fielded questions from the following Senators:
Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering
Andrew Klein, College of Geosciences
Geoffrey Booth, College of Architecture
Jim Woosley, College of Education & Human Development
Speaker Klein thanked Chancellor Sharp for speaking to the Senate.
(The TTVN feed went out at 3:35pm, near the end of questions from Senators.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Karen Butler-Purry, Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies, briefly discussed the new Mandatory Fees that are required to be paid for graduate students. The details of the mandate and guidelines for Texas A&M University PHD students employed in GAT, GAL, and GAR positions will soon be finalized and communicated by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS). Dr. Butler-Purry responded to questions from a number of Senators.Cyn Olvera, University Youth Programs Office, briefly discussed System Regulation 24.01.08 – Minors in Labs, and how her office can support faculty who anticipate having minors in labs.
SPEAKER COMMENTS
Speaker Klein started by recognizing veterans in the room.- He will be convening a committee to examine minimum syllabus requirements, and asked for participants to volunteer and/or recommendations of faculty to serve.
- He thanked the members of the Bylaws and Election Committees who continue to work on amending election procedures and bylaws, and whose chairs would be reporting later in the meeting.
- He thanked Senators Jay Ramadoss and Bobby Reece for working with Kristin Harrell from Student Affairs on the revision to Student Rule 24.7, appearing on the agenda later in the meeting.
Speaker Klein stated that December’s guest speaker will be Dr. James Hallmark, the TAMU System vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and closed his remarks by soliciting suggestions for guest speakers for the spring.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion passed to approve the October 14, 2019 minutes as distributed. Attachment A – PassedCONSENT AGENDA Attachments B-Z – Passed (Full Consent Agenda with FS #’s can be found below Adjournment.)
The motion passed to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Speaker Klein highlighted two courses, SCEN 101 & 102: Contemporary Issues in Science: Cosmos, Earth and Humanity & the Environment. The courses attempt to create an informed citizenry on important scientific issues. They have also been approved as core curriculum courses.
He then encouraged other Senators to highlight curricular items from their own colleges to help make more visible this important work of the Senate.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Core Curriculum Council Course Report - Attachment AA – Passed – FS.37.087The motion passed to approve the Core Curriculum Course Report as presented. (CCC Report with FS # can be found below Adjournment.)
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
Bylaws and Election Committees Report - Attachment BB – For Informational Review Only – FS.37.088Bylaws Committee Chair Bruce Neville and Election Committee Chair Tommy McDonald presented the proposed revisions to the Bylaws and Constitution recommended by the two committees, and announced a survey would be emailed shortly asking Senators to weigh in on these proposed revisions to better inform the committees’ work. A variety of questions and concerns were fielded, which would be reflected in the survey.
(The TTVN feed resumed at 4:42pm, during the Committees’ Report.)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Student Rule 24.7 - Amnesty – Attachment CC – Passed – FS.37.089This rule was tabled at the May 13, 2019 Faculty Senate meeting and returned to the Senate for a vote after revisions by the Academic Affairs Committee in conjunction with the Division of Student Affairs. The motion passed to approve Student Rule 24.7 – Amnesty as presented.
OLD BUSINESS
No old business was conducted.NEW BUSINESS
Disability Resources Proposed Syllabus Statement – Attachment DD – Passed – FS.37.090This statement was presented for review at the October 14, 2019 Senate meeting, and appeared on the November agenda for a vote. Attachment W, Disability Resources Proposed Syllabus Statement, was approved.
Proposed Revisions to Aggie Honor System and Student Rules
Aggie Honor System Rule 20 – Attachment EE – Passed – FS.37.091
Aggie Honor System Rule 20.1.4.7 – Attachment FF – Passed – FS.37.092
Aggie Honor System Rules 20.1.4.3 and 20.1.4.4 – Attachment GG – Passed – FS.37.093
Student Rule 10.4.2 – Attachment HH – Passed – FS.37.094
Recommendation of December 2019 Degree Candidates
The motion to certify the following December 2019 Degree Candidates was approved.
TOTAL: 5,445
Agriculture – 712
Architecture - 313
Bush School – 36
Business – 589
Dentistry – 1
Education – 742
Engineering – 1,398
Geosciences – 142
Law – 29
Liberal Arts - 812
Medicine – 5
Nursing – 31
Public Health – 60
Science – 208
Vet Med – 197
TAMU-Galveston – 166
TAMU-Qatar – 4
Comments on Agenda Changes
There was a brief discussion on the new presentation of Consent Agenda items on the November Senate Agenda. There were no objections to using the curricular URL hyperlinks instead of the previous practice of creating large pdfs of all curricular items and their supporting documents.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Speaker-Elect John Stallone convened the Committee of the Whole.Len Bierman, Mays Business School
Senator Bierman shared concerns about students seeing a “B” grade as bad, and raised the possibility of adding “plus” and “minus” grades to help differentiate grades.
Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering
Senator Alvarado concurred, stating that it was time for Texas A&M to add these.
John Stallone, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences
Speaker-Elect Stallone shared his experience of the Academic Affairs Committee taking up this issue ten years ago, and the Student Senate unanimously voted against doing so. Some back and forth by these three Senators and Senator Angie Hill Price ensued about exactly what happened and the pros and cons of such a change.
Speaker-Elect John Stallone turned the meeting back over to Speaker Klein.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 5:19pm.ATTACHMENTS BELOW: Approved Consent Agenda, Core Curriculum Council Report
CONSENT AGENDA
GRADUATE COUNCIL
New Courses – Attachment B – Passed – FS.37.062
RPTS 614: Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality, Park and Event Management
WFSC 631: Ecological Applications in R
Change in Courses – Attachment C – Passed – FS.37.063
MSCI 601: Contemporary Topics in Advanced Cell Biology I
PHEB 621: Foundations of Maternal and Child Health
SCSC 628: Soil Mineralogy Lab
Change in Programs – Attachment D – Passed – FS.37.064
School of Public Health
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
CERT-MACH: Maternal and Child Health - Certificate
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
New Courses – Attachment E – Passed – FS.37.065
AFST 484: Internship
ENGL 220: Graphic Novel
ENGL 435: Advanced Studies in Creative Writing
FILM 469: Cult Cinema
INTS 300: International Experience
LMAS 484: Internship
PSYC 425: Psychology of Emotion
RELS 484: Internship
SCEN 101: Contemporary Issues in Science: Cosmos, Earth and Humanity
SCEN 102: Contemporary Issues in Science: The Environment
Change in Courses – Attachment F – Passed – FS.37.066
BIOL 206: Introductory Microbiology
BIOL 213: Molecular Cell Biology
COMM 324: Communication Leadership and Conflict Management
COMM 420: Gender and Communication
COMM 443: Communication and Conflict
ENGL 206: Twenty-first Century Literature and Culture
ENGL 390: Studies in British Literature
ENTO 305: Evolution of Insect Structure
GEOS 210: Climate Change
HHUM 107: Introduction to the Health Humanities
MATH 140: Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
MATH 170: Freshman Mathematics Laboratory
MATH 415: Modern Algebra I
RENR 205: Fundamentals of Ecology
RENR 215: Fundamentals of Ecology--Laboratory
RPTS 307: Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources
VTPP 427: Biomedical Physiology II
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Attachment G – Passed – FS.37.067
College of Science
Department of Mathematics
MATH 131: Mathematical Concepts—Calculus
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Attachment H – Passed – FS.37.068
College of Science
Department of Mathematics
MATH 166: Topics in Contemporary Mathematics II
Change in Programs – Attachment I – Passed – FS.37.069
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Horticultural Sciences
BA-HORT: Horticulture - BA
Change in Programs – Attachment J – Passed – FS.37.070
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Horticultural Sciences
BS-HORT: Horticulture - BS
Change in Programs – Attachment K – Passed – FS.37.071
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition & Food Science
BS-NUTR-GNO: Nutrition - BS, General Nutrition Track
Change in Programs – Attachment L – Passed – FS.37.072
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
BS-PSSC-CRP: Plant and Environmental Soil Science - BS, Crops Emphasis
Change in Programs – Attachment M – Passed – FS.37.073
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
BS-PSSC-SWR: Plant and Environmental Soil Science - BS, Soil and Water Emphasis
Change in Programs – Attachment N – Passed – FS.37.074
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Soil & Crop Sciences
BS-TGSC: Turfgrass Science - BS
Change in Programs – Attachment O – Passed – FS.37.075
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
BS-WFSC-FAS: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences - BS, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Track
Change in Programs – Attachment P – Passed – FS.37.076
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
BS-WFSC-VZY+: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences - BS, Vertebrate Zoology Option
Change in Programs – Attachment Q – Passed – FS.37.077
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
BS-WFSC-WEC+: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences - BS, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Option
Change in Programs – Attachment R – Passed – FS.37.078
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-ZOOL: Zoology - BS
Change in Programs – Galveston – Attachment S – Passed – FS.37.079
College of Galveston
Department of Liberal Studies
BA-MAST: Maritime Studies - BA
Change in Programs – Galveston – Attachment T – Passed – FS.37.080
College of Galveston
Department of Maritime Business Administration
BS-MBAL: Maritime Business Administration Lower-Level
Change in Programs – Galveston – Attachment U – Passed – FS.37.081
College of Galveston
Department of Liberal Studies
BS-USGA-MLP*: University Studies - BS, Marine Environmental Law and Policy Concentration
Change in Programs – Galveston – Attachment V – Passed – FS.37.082
College of Galveston
Department of Maritime Business Administration
MINOR-MBAU: Maritime Business Administration - Minor
Program Inactivation Proposal – Galveston – Attachment W – Passed – FS.37.083
College of Galveston
Department of Liberal Studies
BS-USGA-MPC*: University Studies - BS, Maritime Public Policy and Communication Concentration
W&C COURSES
Courses Submitted for C Certification – Attachment X – Passed – FS.37.084
ACCT 421-C: Critical Communication Skills for Accountants
ARCH 305-C: Architectural Design III
ISEN 460-C: Capstone Senior Design
MATH 442-C: Mathematical Modeling
NFSC 491-C: Research
Courses Submitted for W Certification – Attachment Y – Passed – FS.37.085
ALEC 450-W: Global Social Justice Issues in Agriculture
ANSC 481-W: Seminar
ANSC 491-W: Research
AREN 200-W: Architectural Engineering Foundations
BIOL 402-W: Communicating Biological Research to the Public
COMM 443-W: Communication and Conflict
COMM 450-W: Media Campaigns
COMM 453-W: Communication and Video Games
COMM 480-W: Religious Communication
COSC 222-W: Cultural Social Issues in the History of the Construction Environment: From Antiquity to Today
CVEN 424-W: Civil Engineering Professional Practice
ESSM 406-W: Natural Resources Policy
ESSM 415-W: Range Analysis and Management Planning
ESSM 430-W: Advanced Restoration Ecology
ESSM 464-W: Spatial Project Management
GEOL 210-W: Geological Communication
INTS 403-W: Nations and Nationalisms
ISEN 330-W: Human Systems Interaction
MATH 300-W: Foundations of Mathematics
MATH 491-W: Research
MGMT 373-W: Managing Human Resources
OCEN 410-W: Ocean Engineering Laboratory
PHIL 482-W: Ethics and Engineering
PHIL 485-W: Directed Studies
PHIL 491-W: Research
POLS 200-W: Foundations of Political Science
POLS 350-W: Modern Political Thought
RDNG 373-W: Teaching Reading Through Children's Literature
SCSC 311-W: Principles of Crop Production
SOCI 404-W: Sociology of the Community
Courses Submitted for W Certification—Galveston – Attachment Z – Passed – FS.37.086
MARB 435-W: Marine Invertebrate Zoology
MARE 452-W: Senior Design Project II
______________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CORE CURRICULUM COUNCIL COURSE REPORT – Attachment AA – Passed – FS.37.087New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Language, Philosophy & Culture
COSC 222-GE: Cultural Social Issues in the History of the Construction Environment: From Antiquity to Today
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Life & Physical Sciences
SCEN 101-GE: Contemporary Issues in Science: Cosmos, Earth, Humanity
SCEN 102-GE: SCEN102: Contemporary Issues in Science: The Environment
New Courses Submitted for Foundational Component Area: Social & Behavioral Sciences - Galveston
MARS 210-GE: Marine Geography
New Courses – Cultural Diversity
COSC 222-CD: Cultural Social Issues in the History of the Construction Environment: From Antiquity to Today
GEOL 160-CD: Natural Disasters
PERF 223-CD: Aesthetics of Activism
SOCI 240-CD: Tourism, Culture, and Place
URPN 240-CD: More Than Monuments: Preservation as Social Justice
VTPB 303-CD: Medical Communication in the International Community
New Courses – International and Cultural Diversity
DCED 202-ICD: Dance Appreciation
IBUS 456-ICD: European Integration and Business
RELS 200-ICD: Religions of the World
RELS 200-ICD: Religions of the World
RELS 222-ICD: History of Christianity, Reformation to Present