March 10, 2021

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
March 10, 2021
Zoom Meeting 

Present: Henri Akono, David Barrett, David Batuski, Donald Beith, Susan Bennett-Armistead, Erik Blomberg, Amy Booth, Debbie Bouchard, Alice Bruce, Stephanie Burnett, Sandra Butler, Kristina Cammen, Mauricio da Cunha, Phil Dunn, Per Garder, Allison Gardner, Jacquelyn Gill, Michael Grillo, Mark Haggerty, Emily Haigh, Heather Hamlin, Sam Hanes, Andre Khlil, Jessica Leahy for Anil Raj Kizha, Colt Knight, Margo Lukens, Natalie Machamer, Ivan Manev, Dmitri Markovitch, Jim McConnon, Derek Michaud, William Nichols, Harlan Onsrud, Elizabeth Payne, Deborah Rogers, Deborah Saber, Michael Scott, Mary “MJ” Sedlock, Asli Sezen-Barrie, Kathryn Slott, Andrew Thomas, David Townsend, Peter Van Walsum, Mark Wells, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, John Volin Provost, VP Research Kody Varahramyan, Robert Dana, Chris Lindstrom, Rebecca Bragg (UMM), Jen Bonnet (PEAC), Peter Altmann (CEAC), Kylie Trawick (Undergrad Rep)

Absent: Nuri Emanetoglu, Amanda Klemmer, Sara Lello, Sid Mitchell, Renae Moran, Robert Rice, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Sean Smith, Todd Zoroya, Ken Ralph, Karina Iskandaro (Grad Rep)

I.  Welcome, Announcements and Comments
William “Dee” Nichols mentioned the Faculty Senate election in April. Senators can nominate themselves or someone else. Send nominations to Heather Hamlin. 

II.  Approval of Minutes
February 10, 2021
Approved

III.  Announcements and Updates from the Administration

Plans for a normal return in the fall are underway. President Ferrini-Mundy said she hopes Faculty Senate will be part of the discussions so, by fall, things return to a pre-pandemic scenario.

Provost Volin said the goal is to have in-person instruction for fall. There is a group that looked at several fall scenarios, those have been edited down to two. They will be shared with Dee and others shortly. He is hoping to share everything with President Ferrini-Mundy by the end of the week or weekend, then Faculty Senate and then the rest of the University.

President Ferrini-Mundy gave an update regarding Commencement. The committee is trying to keep a celebration for students but in a way that will comply with state guidelines. Kimberly Whitehead said the committee is exploring many options but currently looking at a hybrid experience. May 7th and 8th will be a virtual commencement with an in-person piece that is a video integrated into the virtual piece. April 23-29, students will be recorded at the CCA walking the stage and there is also a plan for small college gatherings each of those days. The committee is also exploring a mall walk. Feedback and ideas presented to the committee would be appreciated as they plan commencement.

Work is underway on the Alfond Foundation Award to the UMaine System. The president said she would be happy to give an update to anyone involved with the program. The President said she is hoping to have a faculty symposium in the spring. A website is up and memos will be going out regularly, the second one has gone out. They are looking at how to use match and leveraging, finding external funds to connect to the grant. Dr. Whitehead is the director of the project.

Provost Volin said the Student Success and Retention piece has three areas, Research Learning Experiences, Gateway for Success and Pathway to Careers. Co-chairs have been appointed for each initiative. It is hoped that over a 10-year period all first-year students get the Research Learning Experience. As a start, they are trying to develop a bridge program for the last week of August. There is a hope that 500 first- and second-year students will be involved. Second-year students are included because their first-year experience was lacking.

It was mentioned that UMaine Hockey is playing today at 4:30 in the Alfond; it will be televised. Saturday there will also be a home football game. President Ferrini-Mundy said people have questioned why no commencement if athletics is okay. She said different scenarios are being looked at, but athletics can stay within the state guidelines and there will be no spectators.

President Ferrini-Mundy said she now has additional responsibilities as Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the UMaine System. She said it is an opportunity to make sure colleges across the UMaine System that are interested in research have the opportunity. She will have more details as things take shape.

Joanne Yestransky, CBO, said on March 26th the budget will be presented to the Board of Trustees (BOT) FFT meeting. She will be presenting a balanced budget for FY22 but there are challenges to get it balanced. There is currently an $11 million shortfall that includes “increases in fixed costs, increases in strategic initiatives, and base budgeting of structural deficits” that need to be resolved. The Board of Trustees has approved an increase of 2.5% in student fees which will help with half of the gap. There will be no across-the-board cuts but looking at areas that have not been looked at before. There will be more on that when the budget is presented to FIPC. The president said the budget is preliminary. It will be discussed with FFT and then the BOT, but they want to be transparent.

IV.  Questions of the Administration
Q.  Have there been discussions about policy changes to require vaccinations for students if campus is returning to normal in the fall?
A.  There is no requirement, but people are encouraged to get vaccinated. The policy could change over time.

Q.  Any projection for research over the summer, will it be back to normal or phased in?
A.  President Ferrin-Mundy thought phased in but hopes as summer progresses it can be a back to normal. Right now, things are changing with state guidelines and those are changing regularly.

VP Research Kody Varahramyan said they are following the state, UMaine, and UMaine System guidelines. They can relax as things allow.

Q.  Will there be new travel guidance coming, specifically out of state travel?
A.  The president said she had seen some drafts for travel guidance. VPR Varahramyan said because field work season is approaching, and other travel, there have been requests already. Those requests are sent to the Taskforce and EOC which will then go to Risk Management. If a proposal meets conditions, they can then move forward with travel. Submit requests to the Research Continuity Process on campus for review and they will respond. It has been quick on the academic side also after a request is run through the EOC.

Q.  Will the mask mandate and one person per table in the Memorial Union change?
A.  President Ferrini-Mundy said state guidance on distancing and masks has not changed but said she would defer to Dr. Robert Dana. He said it is unlikely the mandates will change before the end of the semester. They may change in the fall but that is not known at this time.

Q.  How is Covid testing changing over the summer?
A.  There may be more people on campus as things open and K-12 summer camps. Camps will need to create their own guidelines with testing and what to do if there are positive results, etc. At this point, it is a to be determined but want to make it possible for people to be on campus.

Q.  Will there be Presidential Awards this spring, and if yes, when will there be a call for nominations?
A.  There will be awards but there may be a slight delay.

President Ferrini-Mundy said they would also like to recognize people/teams so there may be another award. People will be able to nominate people/teams for an extraordinary performance over the last year. They are working on that and will have more information soon.

Q.  For fall semester, is there any information for classes that have fieldtrips or a date when a decision may be made for fall courses?
A.  Provost Volin said things continue to evolve. State guidelines keep changing so he is hopeful, that with those changes, fieldtrips will be possible.

Q.  Will there be commencement speakers and honorary degrees?
A.  That is still to be determined. Once the committee knows it will be posted on the website.

Q.  What phase, currently, is the multi-campus program in Engineering Computing and Information Science in?
A.  It is in a conceptual stage. It is part of the Alfond gift and there have been two large vision sessions; it is not at the Intent to Plan stage. There is quite a bit of work to do before it goes to Intent to Plan.

Comments: Dee asked, when it goes to Intent to Plan, it goes to the Provost and then President of Faculty Senate and chair of the PCRRC, just as a heads-up. It then follows the process, if approved and the program is developed, it heads back to Faculty Senate’s PCRRC. Around Step 7 it goes to the Faculty Governance Council; there is no vote but they look at the proposal for any questions. The Provost said the Program Review piece, Intent to Plan, include many steps that happen before it gets back to the UMaine System. Dee said he was glad to see everything is following guidelines and there was not an Intent to Plan at this point.

Q.  Mark Haggerty mentioned that the Honor’s College does a one-credit course on Hurricane Island. After listening, he wonders if they are being too optimistic negotiating terms of a contract for fall?
A.  Provost Volin said he is hopeful but they need to work with caveats so they can cancel if necessary.

Comment: “So, move forward but make sure the contract states options to pull out?” Yes, and work with General Counsel.

V.  New Business
Motion Requesting Requisite Clarity in UMSystem Academic Planning and Design
Academic Affairs Committee, 10 March, 2021

Introduction:
Over the past several years, the UMSystem has increasingly focused on various multicampus academic programming initiatives, including the establishment of a MaineMBA and the proposed Statewide College of Engineering, Computing, and Information Science, both of which involve faculties from the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine.  As these new academic programs take form, they can only work if the faculty making them possible have a clear sense of how they can design their curricula effectively.   As the UMSystem creates new administrative structures involving the various campuses with several new proposals evolving, the faculty needs clarity in terms of programmatic organization, so that it can successfully develop strong curricula, inter-campus faculty relationships, shared academic decision making, and lines of academic reporting.  The UMaine faculty welcome opportunities to continue to develop strong curricula that will best serve the evolving needs of our students and society at large, but to do so, we need far greater clarity about any new initiatives.  Faculty alone have the responsibility and professional knowledge to design curricula for academic programs, including degree programs, minors, certificates, and any other related forms.

The Faculty Senate Constitution (https://umaine.edu/facultysenate/constitution), Article II, Section 3 notes that “The responsibility for the determination of the requirements which students must meet to be eligible for a degree rests with the faculty of the University of Maine”, in accordance with the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 303, Academic Degrees: “The responsibility for the determination of the requirements which students must meet to be eligible for an academic degree rests with the faculties of each of the several units of the University of Maine System.” (https://www.maine.edu/board-of-trustees/policy-manual/section-303)  Shared Governance documents at both the university and UMSystem level clearly honor the responsibilities of the faculty in academic program design and all curricular decisions.  The UMaine Shared Governance Policy, C., Academic Policies, notes that “The university’s curriculum is the responsibility of the faculty.  The faculty, acting as a committee of the whole or through representatives elected by the faculty to the

Faculty Senate or designated via procedures established by faculty legislation, must give approval to academic policies affecting more than one college prior to the implementation of the policy.” (https://umaine.edu/facultysenate/wp-content/uploads/sites/218/2010/12/SharedGovernanceUMaine.pdf)  Speaking more broadly, the UMSystem Board of Trustees Statement on Shared Governance notes that “Faculty have a critical role in fundamental areas such as curriculum, instruction, research and student life”, which underscores a stated need for clarity in how initiatives will

develop in the UMSystem through the contractual guidelines on cooperating departments, as noted in Article 7.A.7 of the AFUM – UMSystem Contract.  (https://www.maine.edu/board-of-trustees/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/11/StatementofSharedGovernance.pdf and https://www.maine.edu/human-resources/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/08/2019-2021-AFUM-CONTRACT-signed-for-posting-08.13.2020.pdf)

To these ends, the Faculty Senate has developed the following motion.

Motion:
So that the faculty of the University of Maine can effectively meet their responsibilities in developing new curricula in cooperation with the faculty at the other six universities of the University of Maine System, the Faculty Senate at UMaine moves that the university’s administration provide clarification in an organizational chart and possible explanatory narrative showing the lines of reporting for all academic development and programming that involves the UMSystem and any of the other six campuses that make up the system, much on the model that we have on-campus with the UPCC and Graduate School’s Curriculum Committee.  Receiving this information by the end of this March would best serve the faculty’s active participation in the shared governance process.  Particularly with the UMSystem suggesting the creation of a system-wide college, the lines of academic responsibility and administrative reporting need be spelled out clearly so that the faculty can best serve in their professional capacities as educators, researchers, and collaborative partners with a broad diversity of communities statewide.

Vote: Approved

 

Motion Requesting the Extension of the Pass/Fail Option for the Spring of 2021
President of the Faculty Senate with the Support of the Environment Committee
10 March, 2021

Introduction:
This collaborative motion from the President of the Faculty Senate and the Environment Committee, with the support of the Provost office and Upper Administration of the University of Maine, acknowledges and supports the Student Government Association’s concerns regarding the current Pass/Fail policy and the growing mental health concerns of our student body for the spring 2021 semester. The motion is intended to affirm the support of the Faculty Senate of the University of Maine for extending Covid-19 pandemic Pass/Fail grading policies and procedures into the spring semester 2021.

In recognition of the extraordinary circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Maine instituted a temporary modification to University policy and procedures around Pass/Fail grading for courses during the spring 2020 and fall 2020 semesters.  These temporary modifications allowed students flexibility in electing to take any course for a pass/fail grade. Following the fall semester, based on the data the Senate had at that time, the decision was made to revert to standard University of Maine policies around pass/fail. This decision was not taken lightly and was the reached after considerable discussion, careful consideration, and coordination among the faculty senate and University of Maine Administration.

However, as we approach the heart of the spring semester, and after receiving compelling data and a well-articulated argument shared by the University of Maine’s Student Government Association, it is clear that the situation is not appreciably different and arguably worse than the previous two semesters and the students’ learning environment remains essentially unchanged relative to fall 2020

Motion
The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine moves that the University extend the temporary pass/fail grading policies and procedures based on the fall 2020 policies and procedures described above to the spring 2021 semester.  In doing so, we further request that the University Administration 1) communicate clearly to students the temporary nature of these policy changes, 2) encourage academic units to advise students on the potential consequences of pass/fail decisions for their future professional accreditations and licensures, and 3) work to provide support to students who select pass/fail so that they can continue their academic success once the standard policies are reinstated.

Q.  It should be noted that motions should be presented to the Faculty Senate Elected Members before being brought to Full Faculty Senate for a vote.
A.  Dee said, “Duly noted.”

Q.  Does this motion apply to all disciplines or can departments approve, or not, based on degree requirements.
A.  Dee said it is spelled out and states that some degrees may have licensing requirements and those students would not have the option of Pass/Fail.

Q.  So, this is the same motion that was voted on last semester and did not approve?
A.  Yes.
Comment: It seems inconsistent from semester to semester and creates confusion. Dee said new information was presented to the Executive Committee by Student Government.

Harrison Ransley, Student Government President, said changing things can be confusing but the Pass/Fail issue has created more student input than anything he has seen in four years of Student Government. Other members of Student Government also said they had received multiple inquiries from students across campus, not just students they knew. Students are very concerned, so Student Government did research and asked to present it to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

Dee called the questions. 

Vote: Approved

 

Motion Requesting the Extension of the Course Withdrawal Option for the Spring of 2021
President of the Faculty Senate
10 March, 2021

Introduction:
This collaborative motion from the President of the Faculty with the support of the Provost office and Upper Administration of the University of Maine, acknowledges and supports the Student Government Association’s concerns regarding the current Course Withdrawal policy and the growing mental health concerns of our student body for the spring 2021 semester. The motion is intended to affirm the support of the Faculty Senate of the University of Maine for extending Covid-19 pandemic Course Withdrawal policies and procedures into the spring semester 2021.

In recognition of the extraordinary circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Maine instituted a temporary modification to University policy and procedures around course withdrawal during the spring 2020 and fall 2020 semesters.  These temporary modifications allowed students flexibility in electing to extend the last day to withdrawal from a course until that last day of classes. Following the fall semester, based on the data the Senate had at that time, the decision was made to revert to standard University of Maine policies around course withdrawals. This decision was not taken lightly and was the reached after considerable discussion, careful consideration, and coordination among the faculty senate and University of Maine Administration.

However, as we approach the heart of the spring semester, and after receiving compelling data and a well-articulated argument shared by the University of Maine’s Student Government Association, it is clear that the situation is not appreciably different and arguably worse than the previous two semesters and the students’ learning environment remains essentially unchanged relative to fall 2020.

Motion
The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine moves that the University extend the course withdrawal policies and procedures based on the fall 2020 policies and procedures described above to the spring 2021 semester.  In doing so, we further request that the University Administration 1) communicate clearly to students the temporary nature of these policy changes, 2) encourage academic units to advise students on the potential consequences of course withdrawal decisions for their future professional accreditations and licensures, and 3) work to provide support to students who select to withdrawal from courses so that they can continue their academic success once the standard policies are reinstated. 

Vote: Approved

 

MOTION
To Identify Available Resources to Support the Use of Technology for Teaching and Student Learning  

PREAMBLE
The University of Maine (UM), the UM System’s flagship and public research institution, relies on System support for development and use of academic technologies to support student learning. Currently support for academic technologies come from a variety of sources generally related to bond issues. The  Classroom for the Future is an example of funding provided by a bond.

Prior to the adoption by the Board of Trustees of the Unified Fee in 2003, student bills included a list of fees in addition to standard tuition and room & board costs (like today’s student bills). At the time, then Director of Budget Claire Pratt said the “decision developed because of parent complaints upon receiving bills.” Interim CFO Mark Anderson said publicly that “ ‘a lot of parents felt we were nickel-and-diming them to death … we felt it would be a lot more honest to say ‘this is a fee we need to charge to cover the costs of education’‘”It might be noted that, at the time, “UMaine’s new fee also includes whatever lab fees students may have individually been assessed based on their course load. ‘The burden of fees is absorbed,’ said Pratt, ‘it’s the cost of doing business on campus’.“[1] However, lab fees are no longer included in the Unified Fee.

Included among the fees that were rolled into the Unified Fee was a Technology Fee, which was assessed per credit hour enrolled and was specifically earmarked for supporting student learning through the use of instructional technology to complement and extend how we teach. After the adoption of the Unified Fee, some campuses reserved a portion of the monies received from the System through the Fee for the purposes the Tech Fee represented. However, campuses were not required to do so. Indeed, over time, for UM, the Unified Fee has come to be used for general operational support without institutional memory of its origin or intent.

Today we rely on the System’s intermittent ability to secure technology bonds that are then levied to campuses. The design and designation of these bonds is not in the hands of UM faculty. We have no formal input to designing learning technologies for the classroom that actually engages and supports how we teach. Faculty have not been an integral part of the exploration and decision-making about instructional technologies, even though providing instruction is the sole responsibility of faculty and so should be our determination as a matter of respect for shared governance.

Today, “information is ubiquitous and readily available, and students can pick it up when and where they want….[Hence,] the classroom ought to focus on assimilation and application of knowledge to new contexts. The teacher becomes the guide on the side, instead of the sage on the stage, requiring wholly new learning spaces and teaching techniques.” (Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard University). Indeed, “Pedagogical innovation demands a space that enables exploration by both teacher and student” (Stern Neill, Associate Professor, and Rebecca Etheridge, Director of the Teaching and Learning Center, University of Washington). However, “Among the many methods employed to foster student development, the use of the physical environment is perhaps the least understood and the most neglected” [Banning and Canard (1986)]. Yet, “We know too much about how learning occurs to continue to ignore the ways in which learning spaces are planned, constructed, and maintained” (Nancy Van Note Chism, Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis). Indeed, “It is paramount that we not only acquire the latest technology, but also work to thoughtfully integrate it into all levels of our curriculum. How we use these resources is just as important as acquiring them” (Kenneth Ender, President, Harper College).

Instead of thoughtful integration, we repeatedly find ourselves attempting to adapt our teaching and presentations to the limits imposed by technologies bought on sale to scale system wide.

Furthermore, the System-based funding we receive is not predictable and so is not reliable. We cannot plan and build our future without a secure, sustainable funding source. Upgrades to current classroom technologies should be made on a scheduled refresh. Development of new classroom technologies, integration of distant teaching technologies and shifts in teaching pedagogies should be planned for in advance. We need to acknowledge the need for predictable funding sources for initiating and transforming our use of technology for how we teach.

To help reclaim this aspect of our academic destiny, we need to identify campus-level resources to support the use of technology for teaching and student learning. There currently exist technology fees but these are applied to student cohorts unevenly (e.g., may be applied only to students in asynchronous sections of courses also offered in blended/in-person formats), and that cannot be properly used to transform classroom technology for general instruction and student learning support.

The administration should review such current fee structures with an eye toward the consistent, sustainable use of funds to support all aspects of technology integration and transformation on campus, as well as online.

Identifying resources explicitly reserved as a kind of Technology Fee levied per student credit hour would provide a reliable, sustainable basis for instructional technology development on campus.

The identified resources would be used to support: (list is not in any order of importance)

  • Improvements in educational infrastructure and resources and to support, maintain, improve and transform classroom spaces.
  • Leadership and stewardship for supporting, maintaining, improving, and transforming classrooms and computer lab spaces as learning spaces.
  • Planning for future teaching and learning spaces with appropriate college departments.
  • Gathering from each department the concerns and interests of its instructional staff, especially how to help staff maintain and improve the education of our students.
  • A working group of faculty and staff charged with the ongoing enhancement of teaching and learning spaces and facilitate and implement recommendations from the group.
  • The management of classrooms and lab computers and the maintenance, improvement, and coordinated purchase of proper hardware, software, and equipment and supplies for public classrooms and lab spaces.
  • Adoption of best practices in learning space design and presentation technology enhanced teaching trends.
  • Research and evaluation of new hardware, software and courseware that enhance teaching and learning.
  • Training and educational opportunities for users of classroom spaces and instructional technologies.
  • Budgeting for proper inventory and for future needs.

MOTION
That the Faculty Senate requests the Administration to identify and designate campus-level resources that will sustain and enhance existing and future instructional technologies to support student learning. 

Vote: Approved

Dee recognized the students from Student Government for taking an issue important to students and bringing it to Faculty Senate. Harrison Ransley also thanked Faculty Senate for being receptive.

Provost Volin stated how impressed he is with the Student Government and Faculty Senate for listening to what they had to say and moving quickly on it. Dr. Robert Dana and President Ferrini-Mundy thanked everyone for a good outcome.

VI.  Committee Reports
BOT – Harlan Onsrud
The last full BOT meeting was in January and a committee meeting on February 24, to consider authorization of Portland Commons and the Career and Student Success Center in Portland. The next BOT meeting is March 22, 2021. One item discussed at the committee meetings was the Neville Hall renovation coming up. It is a $1.5 million dollar renovation with work taking place over two summers. The first floor will be worked on one summer, and the second floor the next. 

Academic Affairs – Michael Grillo
There have been questions regarding when students can declare majors. It is being looked at for retention and student experience. This will not take place until fall since the semester is almost over. Retention data in programs, when majors are declared and those that transfer majors will be looked at. Michael asked senators to let him know if they have any thoughts regarding the issue. There are many careers students know about, other careers they may not know exist until they come to the university. 

Gen Ed – Subcommittee of Academic Affairs – Sam Hanes
Regarding the Gen Ed assessments, Sam had suggested earlier that the assessment be postponed this semester and to look for alternative methods. He said Mandy Barrington wrote a report giving alternative methods that will be discussed at the next senate meeting. 

Constitution & Bylaws – Debbie Saber & Kathryn Slott
No report.

Research & Scholarship – Sean Smith & Nuri Emanetoglu
The committee will meet with the VPR to discuss Research Learning Experiences and collaboration on the pandemic survey that is out. Sean asked that people complete the survey by the end of the month. He also said he had heard there were more funds received by the state than expected and the survey highlights some costs associated with the pandemic so there could be a data source down the road.

Q.  What is UMaine’s standing for state resources from relief packages coming forward? Through the package recently approved, is the University seeing resources or opportunities to look at available surplus from the state?
A.  It is hard to track research but the VPR is doing a good job looking at National approaches. The UMaine System makes requests to the state but as dollars come available UMaine is right there with data.

Joanne Yestransky – the Cares Act 2, still waiting on how dollars can be applied, half can go to students. President Ferrini-Mundy said there is the Cares Act 2 is direct to the University then there are dollars to states that they can distribute.

Comment: Mike Scott said he thought Sean was referring to state funds, but he would like to know about projections directly from the Cares Act also?
A.  Still waiting on funds, half to student and half to lost revenue and covid expenses. There is a question on what lost revenue means: still waiting for clarification and a delay regarding the start date and can they go retro?

Comments: On the state part, “we’re always looking for money and asking.” President Ferrini-Mundy said the numbers are always ready to go.

Sean said as a subcategory of the survey, travel expenses are higher. If people once took one or two cars for field work and now need to take three cars, it drives the cost up. There are also personal expenses, moving to home offices etc.

The president asked when results may be ready. Asli said there will be one more reminder sent out but asked that senators remind people in their departments to complete the survey. She said she scanned some of the results and there was a lot of useful information and some strategies for increased productivity. She hopes everyone will remind faculty about the survey at meetings in their departments. The president asked if she could be in touch if questions arise before all data are finalized? Yes.

The Research & Scholarship subcommittee had discussions regarding research and teaching activity and the responsibility to external grants. It had two categories, Research Learning Experiences and relations with research assistantships and to have more consistency between departments on how assistantship criteria and requirements are evaluated as they move forward.

Finance & Institutional Planning – Mauricio da Cunha & Mike Scott
The committee is working on the survey for input to the budget. The survey is a little late this year so data will be used for the next budget cycle and completed by September. There is a meeting coming up on April 14th with the VPR and VP of Finance.

University Environment – Erik Blomberg & Amanda Klemmer
The committee was able to meet with Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to discuss objectives to form a standing committee and Bylaws of the University Environment committee. They will try to get comments to Debbie Saber prior to the Executive Committee meeting.

Service & Outreach – Colt Knight
No report. 

Committee on Committees – Heather Hamlin
No report.

Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Margo Lukens
It was brought to the committee’s attention that there is a disconnect with a creation of graduate certificates as part of grant processes. PCRRC was asked to look at these grant opportunities are creating workloads on faculty in interdisciplinary programs where there is not enough staff. The committee will be reaching out to the VPR for discussions. Dee also stated that the flow chart he showed earlier had minors and certificates mentioned.

Library Committee – Deborah Rogers & Robert Rice
No report. 

Faculty Information Technology Committee – Todd Zoroya & Michael Scott
Still looking at planning for classrooms and the committee is also discussing if a policy for Zoom should be a policy or guidelines, leaning towards guideline. 

Ad Hoc System Shared Governance – Renae Moran
Working to define the committee and remove Ad Hoc status.

Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Margo Lukens
As stated above, the committee met with University Environment to discuss ways to formulate a committee and if it should be a subcommittee or standing committee. It appears a standing committee is the way to go.

Reports of Faculty Members on Committees of the Administration – Heather Hamlin
 No report.

Dee said he is on the committee for the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development. They met, reviewed the data, and have forwarded their recommendation to the Provost.

Mike Scott is on the other Associate Provost Search Committee; they have not met. He is also on the Define Tomorrow committee; there should be a meeting coming up. The Writing of One Accreditation Committee has met and is working on developing the written part.

The Faculty Governance Council is working on the membership criteria and role. Dee hopes to bring something to the next Faculty Senate elected meeting.

Dean searches update: Provost Volin said two have closed and the committee is reviewing applications. The Graduate School of Business is due to close on the 12th and Education and Human Development is to close on the 22nd.

Mike Scott said there is a Climate Survey going to the campus from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and hopes everyone will participate. Kimberly Whitehead said the survey Mike is talking about is a Pilot Survey in spring 2020/2021 for NSFA faculty, staff, and students. The tentative date is April 9th, after the Great Colleges Survey closes. The full survey will be fall 2021.

VII.        Old Business
Dee asked if there could be an update in the future on the Student Success Initiatives and Navigate and asked how to proceed with that. Mike Scott said it should be discussed at an Elected Members meeting. Dee will contact Provost Volin to set something up for a future meeting.

 

Adjourned 4:38 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Slott

Prepared by Kim Junkins