2012-2013 Motions
September 19, 2012 – Faculty Senate Meeting
-No motions
October 17, 2012 – Faculty Senate Meeting
Motion to Recommend Creation of the PhD in Communication
The Program Creation, Review, and Reorganization Committee
17 October, 2012
In accordance with the University of Maine’s Fifteen Stage Process of New Academic Program Creation, the PCRRC has held public hearings on Friday, 21 September, 2012, on the stage eight, Full Program Review of the proposed PhD in Communication. On the basis of these hearings, in which all attendees voiced unalloyed support for the program, the PCRRC recommends the Faculty Senate support this proposed program at this stage eight review through passage of this motion.
Vote: Motion Approved
Motion to Recommend Creation of the MS in Spatial Informatics
The Program Creation, Review, and Reorganization Committee
17 October, 2012
In accordance with the University of Maine’s Fifteen Stage Process of New Academic Program Creation, the PCRRC has held public hearings on Friday, 21 September, 2012, on the stage two, Intent to Plan Review of the proposed MS in Spatial Informatics. On the basis of these hearings, in which all attendees voiced unalloyed support for the program, the PCRRC recommends the Faculty Senate support this proposed program at this stage two review through passage of this motion.
Vote: Motion Approved
November 14, 2012 – Faculty Senate Meeting
Motion to Recommend Creation of the MS in Bioinformatics The Program Creation, Review, and Reorganization Committee
14 November, 2012
In accordance with the University of Maine’s Fifteen Stage Process of New Academic Program Creation, the PCRRC has held public hearings on Friday, 19 October, 2012, on the stage two, Intent to Plan Review of the proposed MS in Bioinformatics. On the basis of these hearings, in which all attendees voiced unalloyed support for the program, the PCRRC recommends the Faculty Senate support this proposed program at this stage two review through passage of this motion.
Vote: Motion Approved
Motion to Recommend Creation of the BA in Human Dimensions of Climate Change The Program Creation, Review, and Reorganization Committee
14 November, 2012
In accordance with the University of Maine’s Fifteen Stage Process of New Academic Program Creation, the PCRRC has discussed the proposed BA in Human Dimensions of Climate Change, which the Senate had approved on 19 October, 2011, to pass stage eight, as a Full Program Review, but under the original title of a proposed BS in Climate Change and Culture. Since then, the Faculty who originated the proposal have changed the name to a BA in Human Dimensions of Climate Change, altering also some program details principally in the particular balance of courses between Anthropology and the Physical Sciences. In reviewing their alterations, the PCRRC agreed that the proposal remained true in both substance and intent to its passed stages two and eight iterations, and so recommends the Senate support the continuation of this proposal at stage nine, in which the Provost’s Council considers approval of the program.
Vote: Motion Approved
December 12, 2012 – Faculty Senate Meeting
-No motions
January 30, 2013 – Faculty Senate Meeting
-No motions
February 27, 2013 – Faculty Senate Meeting
-No motions
April 3, 2013 – Faculty Senate Meeting
Motion to Recommend Approval of the Proposed Creation of the School of Food and Agriculture
The Program Creation and Reorganization Review Committee (PCRRC)
28 February, 2013
In accordance with the approved University of Maine’s Process, the PCRRC has discussed and held the required public meeting on February 20, 2013 for the proposed creation of the School of Food and Agriculture. Discussions and the public hearing clarified several justifications for merging the departments of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences; Animal and Veterinary Sciences; and Food Science and Human Nutrition. The new school will improve student support relative to the existing departmental structure. The creation of a school will also address some issues identified in external program reviews and will better align the program with funding agency structure. Finding no compelling arguments against this new structure, the PCRRC recommends that the Senate support the creation of the School of Food and Agriculture.
Vote: Motion Approved
May 1, 2013 – Faculty Senate Meeting
Motion to Cancel Classes on Veterans Day
Motion:
To observe the sacrifices that veterans and their families make for our country, the University of Maine will cancel all classes on Veterans Day (November 11) except classes that meet only one day a week, subject to:
If Veterans Day falls on a weekend the University will cancel classes on the weekday when Veterans Day is officially observed.
Because the University calendar for the next two academic years is already published, the University will not cancel classes on Veterans Day until November of 2015.
Notes:
This action supports a University of Maine student government resolution recommending that in observance of Veterans Day the University of Maine cancel classes. Resolution # 34S-50-02-19-13, passed 2-19-2013.
The idea of once-a-week classes meeting on that day follows the Maine Day policy, which says: “Classes will be canceled on that day with the exception of classes, including laboratories, which meet two or fewer times per week.” (http://umaine.edu/studentaffairs/maineday/.) Maine Day always falls on a Wednesday. The once-a-week policy makes more sense for Veterans Day, which can fall on any day of the week.
Veterans Day is not a national holiday. However, Federal government offices are closed on November 11. If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, they are closed on Friday November 10. If Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, they are closed on Monday November 12. Our policy echoes this policy.
Discussion: Several spoke in favor of the Motion stating UMaine is one of two campuses that don’t observe Veterans Day. Veteran students or faculty need to decide if they attend class or participate in local Veterans Day parades and events. It was stated that the holiday always falls on November 11.
Q. Why is the implementation, if the motion is passed, not until 2015?
A. Because the calendar is already in place.
Motion to move the implementation date to 2013.
Vote: Motion defeated
Motion to accept as written.
Vote: Motion Approved
Subject: Observance of Veterans Day
From: The Academic Affairs Committee
To: Faculty Senate
Date: May 1, 2013
Resolution in Support of Veteran’s Day Observances and Activities
The Faculty Senate supports the following resolution.
The University is cancelling classes to commemorate the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. It is not simply to give students a day off from class. We therefore expect that the University will expand and develop events on that day to include the campus community in this commemoration and encourage a campus conversation about veterans, veteran issues, promotion of peace and other appropriate topics.
Vote: Motion Approved
Motion to Approve Transfer of SPIA to CLAS
Whereas,
the PCRRC has reviewed the proposal to move the School of Policy and International Affairs from the Graduate School to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences;
reservations were presented about the benefits of the move by the John Murphy Chair of International Business Policy and Strategy in the Maine School of Business;
these were distributed and posted and a committee meeting was held with deans, directors and chairs of the units involved;
responses were made to the questions raised and although not to the satisfaction of the original respondent there was strong support by all of the participating units; and
the committee decided that positive affects of the move were presented and that these do not appear to negatively impact students or faculty.
Therefore, the PCRRC moves that the Faculty Senate approve the transfer of SPIA from the Graduate School to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
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Notes: Summary of PCRRC process to move SPIA to CLAS.
Posted by Brian Robinson (co-chair PCRRC) and Michael Petersen (chair PCRRC),
April 27, 2013.
Phase 2.
The presenters of the SPIA proposal were informed that the process needed to go through the PCRRC on Feb. 6, 2013 and pre-proposal was submitted on March 7, 2013. The pre-proposal was complete.
Phase 3.
Before the pre-proposal was moved to a final proposal, John Mahon communicated strong dissatisfaction with the plan. A meeting was scheduled for Apri12, with John and the deans, directors, and chairs of the SPIA proposal. The meeting was scheduled prior to submission of the final proposal to help resolve issues. It was well attended except that John could not make it and instead sent an email with his list of concerns on the day of the meeting. The full list was read and addressed point by point. John’s letter and a summary of responses with the pre-proposal were posted on the PCRRC web page. The pre-proposal went to a full proposal, essentially as resubmission of the pre-proposal with proper cover letter as agreed upon at the meeting of April 12.
After the lengthy meeting of August 12 we did not propose to repeat the meeting in 10 days (as required for a public hearing), but rather that with proper posting it could be presented at the Senate Meeting of May 1. This was intended as a means to allow the proposal to be considered this year. John’s comments were intended to stop the proposed move of SPIA altogether, with no suggestions for improving it, and given that during the meeting of April 12, the benefits of the plan were enumerated, we chose to move if forward. There has been a great deal of information exchange in the mean time with much of it posted on the PCRRC web page. At this point there has not been additional support to stop the SPIA proposal, beyond John’s continued effort, but the issue has been raised as to whether PCRRC procedures have been adequately followed. This accompanied letters of support for the SPIA proposal from administrators of SPIA and CLASS and additional polling of SPIA cooperating faculty from both sides of the argument.
We want to make it clear that we are seeking an expedited Phase 3, lacking a formal public hearing (which requires ten days notice) but with extensive communication at the committee meeting of April 12 and posting of pertinent materials for discussion before the May 1 Senate meeting. We consider that John’s comments have been fully presented, as part of the proper procedures of the PCRRC. We seek to expedite the process so that it will not be delayed until the next year, but with no intent to limit the already extensive communication.
We add that part of the problem stems from ambiguities in the PCRRC manual with regard to the decision to move a pre-proposal to a full proposal, resulting in uncertainty and delays on the part of administrators and the PCRRC. This is a problem we intend to address in the following year, but it is also one of the reasons that we do not want to unnecessarily delay current proposals.
A motion was made to table the SPIA motion.
Vote: Motion defeated
Motion will be discussed.A video from John Mahon was played since he could not attend the Senate meeting. He opposes the motion. Several questioned whether SPIA faculty were included in conversations regarding the move to CLAS. PCRRC policy states faculty needs to be involved. James Settele, Director of SPIA stated that faculty were involved and surveyed. Mario Teisl stated that the PAC did meet and were unanimously in favor of the move, changing the reporting line won’t change the mission. The move came up because of inconsistency of undergraduate IA and was mentioned in an external review; undergraduate being under the Graduate School doesn’t work. This move will not change the interdisciplinary or mission. Several stated that the move would strengthen the program.
Vote: Motion Approved
A motion was made to cancel the May 29, 2013 Faculty Senate meeting.
Vote: Motion Approved