TAMU Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
June 15, 2020
3:00pm
Via Zoom
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
CALL TO ORDER
Speaker John Stallone called the first meeting of the 38th Session 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 Stallone began by reminding Senators of details of how to participate remotely via Zoom using the hand-raising, polling, and chat features.GUEST SPEAKER
Speaker Stallone welcomed guest speaker Dr. Karen Butler-Purry, Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies. Dr. Butler-Purry thanked Speaker Stallone for the opportunity to speak to the Senate about the Graduate School Task Force’s proposal for creating a Graduate School within the University. Dr. Butler-Purry’s slide presentation and the draft of the Graduate School Proposal are linked here. She presented on the:- Background leading to the creation of the Task Force
- The Task Force charge and membership
- The timeline and scope
- The proposal to create the Graduate School
- The rationale
- The benefits of re-branding as a Graduate School
- The guiding principles
- The administrative organization of Graduate Operations
- Proposed changes and continuation of current practices
Dr. Butler-Purry then took questions from the following Senators:
Hank Walker, College of Engineering
Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering
Dr. Butler-Purry encouraged faculty to provide comments through the link provided in the presentation. Speaker Stallone thanked her for speaking to the group.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jocelyn Widmer, Assistant Provost for Academic InnovationDr. Widmer provided her monthly update on the progress of implementing the new learning management system (LMS). This included a technical update, Canvas “by-the-numbers” live, the timeline for Summer 2, the online training course, academic liaisons for each college, next steps for faculty members, feedback from student workers, and next steps for implementation. For greater detail, see Dr. Widmer’s slide presentation and notes.
Dr. Widmer took questions from the following Senators:
Alva Ferdinand, School of Public Health
Julie Harlin, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
SPEAKER COMMENTS
Speaker Stallone reflected on the two challenges confronting everyone: the COVID-19 pandemic, and racism and the resulting violence. The full text of his comments can be found here.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion passed to approve the May 11, 2020 minutes as distributed. Attachment A – PassedCONSENT AGENDA
The motion passed to approve the June 8, 2020 Consent Agenda as presented. Passed(Full Consent Agenda with FS #’s can be found below Adjournment.)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
No Core Curriculum Course Report.OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
None.NEW BUSINESS
Proposed Revisions to Minimum Syllabus Requirements - Attachment B – Passed – FS.38.025Speaker Stallone asked if there was any discussion, and the following Senators had questions or concerns:
Stefanie Harris, College of Liberal Arts
Hank Walker, College of Engineering
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Faculty member ‘Jon Jasperson, who served on the committee drafting the Minimum Syllabus Requirements, clarified that the statement should appear exactly “as-is,” meaning that faculty can add to the statement, but cannot remove language.
The motion passed to approve the Minimum Syllabus Requirements found in Attachment B.
Emergency Item – Resolution to End Institutional Racism and Other Forms of Hate at Texas A&M University - Attachment E – Passed – FS.38.028
Speaker Stallone stated that the Executive Committee approved the resolution and asked him to place it on the agenda for consideration by the full Senate. The motion was made for approval, with comments or questions from the following Senators and the Dean of Faculties:
Stefanie Harris, College of Liberal Arts
Joan Wolf, College of Liberal Arts
Bobby Reece, College of Geosciences
Adam Kolasinski, Mays Business School
Dan Collins, College of Science
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Bruce Neville, University Libraries
James Erickson, College of Science
Alva Ferdinand, School of Public Health
Jim Woosley, College of Education & Human Development
David Earnest, College of Medicine
Raquel Sitcheran, College of Medicine
Blanca Lupiani, Dean of Faculties
The motion passed to approve the Resolution found in Attachment E.
Senator Beth McNeill expressed concern over the inability to abstain from voting via Zoom poll; Senator and former Parliamentarian Julie Harlin clarified that abstentions can only occur during a “call to vote,” not votes by hand-raising.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Speaker-Elect Dale Rice convened the Committee of the Whole.An unidentified Senator posed a question in the “Chat” section, wondering if there would be Senate meetings in July and August. Speaker-Elect Rice answered that tentatively there would be meetings, due to the large amount of changes due to COVID-19 accommodations. Also, meeting via Zoom makes it easier for Senators to attend when away from campus.
It was noted that Provost Fierke is scheduled to address the Senate at the July 13th meeting, and the importance of the information she can provide.
Another question from the “Chat” section inquired as to whether there would be face-to-face instruction in the fall regardless of COVID-19 resurgence. Associate Provost Mike Stephenson provided the information that currently the plans are to keep in-person instruction unless something changes drastically.
Speaker-Elect Dale Rice turned the meeting back over to Speaker Stallone.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:56pm.INCLUDED BELOW: Approved Consent Agenda
CONSENT AGENDA for June 2020
GRADUATE COUNCIL
New Courses – Passed – FS.38.001
ACCT 659: Introduction to Academic Research
ANTH 663: Analytical Methods in Archaeology and Conservation
ANLY 610: Deploying Enterprise Data Models and Building Optimization Models
ANLY 620: Strategic Analytics
GENE 659: Genome Assembly
SPED 604: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
SPED 605: Leadership in Applied Behavior Analysis
Change in Courses – Passed – FS.38.002
BIED 618: Early Language and Literacy
BIED 683: Field Practicum in...
BIED 684: Professional Internship
BIOL 606: Microbial Genetics
CPSY 662: Professional Issues and Ethics in Counseling Psychology
CPSY 666: Practicum in Counselor Supervision
EDCI 640: Language/Literacy for Multicultural Young Learners
EDCI 650: The Multicultural Young Child in Family and Culture
KINE 601: Reading Research Publications in Kinesiology
KINE 651: Introduction to Human Clinical Research
MATH 614: Dynamical Systems and Chaos
MATH 666: Seminar in Geometry
MATH 696: Mathematical Communication and Technology
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.003
College of Medicine
Department of Medicine
EDHP 521: Curriculum Management, Leadership and Evaluation
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.004
College of Medicine
Department of Medicine
EDHP 523: Educational Research Design Practicum
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.005
College of Medicine
Department of Medicine
EDHP 524: Manuscript Development Practicum
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.38.006
Mays Business School
College of Business
MS-ANLY: Master of Science in Analytics
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.38.007
College of Geosciences
Department of Geography
MS-WMHS: Master of Science in Water Management and Hydrological Science
Change in Programs – Passed – FS.38.008
College of Dentistry
Department of Dentistry
PHD-OCBS: Doctor of Philosophy in Oral and Craniofacial Biomedical Sciences
Miscellaneous: Bulk/Mass Prefix Change – Passed – FS.38.009
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and Department of Food Science
Graduate Courses (NFSC to NUTR/FSTC)
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
New Courses – Passed – FS.38.010
AGSM 105: The World Has a Drinking Problem - Global Water Scarcity
MKTG 437: Sales Analytics
Change in Courses – Passed – FS.38.011
CHEN 205: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I
IDIS 424: Purchasing Applications in Distribution
MGMT 311: Legal and Social Environment of Business
MGMT 312: Commercial Law for Accountants and Managers
OCEN 214: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
OCEN 344: Reinforced Concrete Structures
OCEN 311: Fluid Statics and Dynamics
SOCI 230: Classical Sociological Theory
SOCI 312: Population and Society
SOMS 181: Developing and Instructing Others
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.012
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
BICH 281: Seminar in Biochemical Research
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.013
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
BICH 289: Special Topics in...
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.014
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
BICH 291: Research
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.015
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
BICH 407: Horizons in Biological Chemistry II
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.016
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 289: Special Topics in...
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.017
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 291: Research
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.018
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 315: Genetics of Plants
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.019
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 450: Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.020
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 481: Genetics I Seminar
Change in Courses – Inactivation Proposal – Passed – FS.38.021
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
GENE 482: Genetics II Seminar
W&C COURSES
Courses Submitted for C Certification – Galveston – Passed – FS.38.022
MARS 460-C: Capstone Undergraduate Research Experience I
Courses Submitted for W Certification – Passed – FS.38.023
ANTH 489-W: Special Topics in...
MSEN 302-W: Unified Materials Lab II
PHIL 305-W: Philosophy of the Natural Sciences
PHIL 307-W: Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Courses Submitted for W Certification – Galveston – Passed – FS.38.024
MARS 461-W: Capstone Undergraduate Research Experience II