Faculty and Staff

Senate revises deferred grade policy, changes representation model

University Park, Pa. — Penn State's University Faculty Senate on Tuesday (March 15) approved four legislative reports, received annual reports on faculty salaries and faculty tenure-flow rates and discussed the role of faculty in addressing excessive alcohol consumption among students.

President Graham Spanier briefed the Senate and responded to questions on the cuts to Penn State’s appropriations from the Commonwealth proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett on March 8. The cuts would reduce Penn State’s appropriations by 52.4 percent, a devastating loss of $182 million. For previous remarks by Spanier and Penn State leadership on the proposed cuts, see http://live.psu.edu/story/51840 and http://live.psu.edu/story/51866.

To eliminate inconsistency and confusion in the policy for deferred grades, the Senate amended its policy to set the deferred grade deadline at 10 weeks following the end date of a course as it appears in the schedule of courses. Additionally, when a grade is not submitted and the symbol NG (meaning "no grade") appears on the student's transcript, the NG is to be reconciled within five weeks of its posting. Deferred and missing grades that are automatically converted to an F can be corrected later under existing Senate policy. Read the full report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appd.pdf.

The Senate approved a new policy formalizing legislation passed in 1997 for minimum foreign language entrance requirements and recommending, but not requiring, a third year of foreign language study at the high school level. To maintain consistency with the practice of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the term "world language" replaces “foreign language” in the new policy. The policy formalizes the 1997 legislation requiring two units of a world language at the high school level. Failure to meet the requirement prior to admission can be addressed through the completion of a level I four-credit language course or expert affirmation of adequate knowledge of a non-English world language. The new policy may be viewed at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appe.pdf

The Senate Constitution was revised to change the Senate representation model. The Senate will be set at a fixed size of 200 elected faculty seats, with each unit allocated one seat and the remaining seats allocated proportionately based on the ratio of full-time faculty to the total of all full-time faculty. For more information, see the report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appf.pdf.

Because of the significant growth of international programs at Penn State and the growth of the University’s international stature, the Senate approved the establishment of a new standing committee, the Senate Committee on Global Programs. The committee was recommended as the University Strategic Plan calls for the Senate to have a leadership role for global initiatives. The committee will provide a link to the office of the vice provost for Global Programs and expertise about the unique features of Global Programs, as well as providing reports to inform the Penn State community about programs and related academic issuess. The committee also will facilitate the sharing of best practices and monitor the use of increasing resources directed toward international programs. For more information, go to http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appg.pdf.

Senators engaged in a discussion about the role of faculty in addressing excessive alcohol consumption among students. The discussion, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Student Life, encouraged senators to consider what they can do to revitalize a sense of responsibility, as well as what, if any, action by faculty could make a difference. Senators discussed the feasibility of providing informational material on excess alcohol consumption for classroom use, as well as how class scheduling, class attendance policies and new sanctions could contribute to increased academic engagement. The discussion was meant to provide a basis for subsequent recommendations that will inform new charges for the Committee on Student Life and other committees.

The annual report on faculty tenure-flow rates stated that for the last 14 entering cohorts -- 1990-2003 -- 58 percent achieved tenure by the end of their seventh year. Tenure rates have been slightly lower for female and minority faculty. For more detailed information and perspectives, see http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appk.pdf.

The Senate Committee on Faculty Benefits presented its analysis of faculty salaries for 2010-11. Salaries for professors and associate professors at Penn State rank third among the Big Ten public institutions, whereas assistant professors rank seventh. Detailed information is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appl.pdf. The report cautioned that readers recognize the limitations of the data because direct comparisons can be difficult as organizations differ in structure.

The Senate Council presented the nominees for chair-elect, secretary, and one seat on the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President. Larry C. Backer, professor of law, and Roger A. Egolf, associate professor of chemistry, were included in the nominating report for chair-elect, and Richard W. Robinett, professor of physics, was nominated from the Senate floor. For other nominations, see http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/appi.pdf. The Senate Committee on Committees and Rules presented its nominating report for nominees to stand for election to three committees – Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities, Standing Joint Committee on Tenure and University Promotion and Tenure Review Committee. Nominees can be viewed at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/mar2011/apph.pdf.

 

Last Updated March 17, 2011

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