Academics

University Faculty Senate sets agenda for April 29 meeting

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The University Faculty Senate will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in 112 Kern Graduate Building, University Park. The items below will be considered at the meeting.

The Senate will receive the results of the 2014-2015 Senate elections for chair-elect, secretary, faculty advisory committee to the president, and two Senate committees. The meeting also includes the seating of the new officers and comments by outgoing Chair Brent Yarnal and incoming Chair Jonna Kulikowich.

The Senate will announce the four recipients of the John W. White Graduate Fellowship. The fellowships are awarded annually by the Senate to students who are graduating with highest distinction and who plan to enroll in graduate study.

The Senate also will recognize senators who are not returning and have made significant contributions to the Senate during their time as senators.

Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas Jones will present the Strategic Planning Report. Keith Crocker, task force chair, will present and respond to questions on a special informational report from the Healthcare Task Force.

Votes will be taken on revisions to Policy 10-00 and related Senate policies; revisions to the Standing Rules with regard to implementing the Recommendations on Structure and Organization of the University Faculty Senate from the Senate Self-Study Committee; and on Revisions to the Standing Rules, Article III, Section 6 (Faculty Advisory Committee to the President).

Revisions to the Bylaws with regard to implementing the Recommendations on Structure and Organization of the University Faculty Senate will be presented at the April 29 Senate meeting and voted on at the September 9 Senate meeting.

Votes will also be taken on three Advisory/Consultative reports: a joint report from nine standing committees, Engaged Scholarship; a report from the Committee on Educational Equity and Campus Environment, Report on the Procedures Used to Hire Faculty; and a report from the Committee on Faculty Benefits, Implementation of the Affordable Care Act: Health Benefits for Part-Time Faculty.

Informational reports will be given on 2-Factor Authentication at Penn State, the Activities of the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED), Grade Distribution, and the Sustainability Institute.  Reports appearing in the agenda only and posted on the University Faculty Senate website include the Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid’s Annual Report on the High School Students Enrolled Nondegree in Credit Courses; the Committee on Faculty Affairs’ Faculty Tenure Rates: 2013-14 Annual Report; the Committee on Faculty Benefits’ Report on Changes in Loan Policy; Senate Council’s Summary of Spring 2014 Officers’ Visits to University Park Units; and the Committee on University Planning’s Report on Plans for Expansion of Residential Housing at the Commonwealth Campuses.  Senators with questions about these reports may send their questions to senate@psu.edu and they will receive a response from the appropriate committee chair.

Faculty Senate meetings are aired live via Mediasite. Instructions for the use of Mediasite are available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agendas-records.html. Instructions for using the Poll Everywhere voting system are posted at http://senate.psu.edu/agenda/voting-instructions.html.

Members of the University community are invited to attend this meeting. Any member of the University community not a member of the Senate may request the privilege of the floor on any item of business already before the Senate. Such a request must be made to the chair, through the executive director, at least five calendar days before the meeting at which the individual wishes to speak.

The Senate Agenda will be posted on the Senate website one week prior to each meeting and the Senate Record (minutes) will be posted approximately three weeks following each meeting at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agendas-records.html.

For information on submitting major, minor, option, or course proposals, the Guide to Curricular Procedures is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/curriculum_resources/guide/contents.html. The Senate Curriculum Report is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/curriculum_resources/bluesheet/bluex.html.

 

Last Updated April 23, 2014