May 3, 2017

DRAFT FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
May 3, 2017

Present: Bob Bayer, Erik Blomberg, Jason Bolton, Sudarshan Chawathe, Laura Cowan, Mauricio da Cunha, Farahad Dastoor, Paula Drewniany, Per Garder, Chris Grindrod for Nancy Hall, Sam Hanes, Leonard Kass, Peter Koons, David Kress, George Markowsky, Grant Miles, Patti Miles, Sidney Mitchell, William Nichols, Deborah Rogers, Michael Scott, Howard Segal, Kathryn Slott, David Townsend, Shihfen Tu, President Susan Hunter, Provost Jeff Hecker, Carol Kim, Jen Bonnet (PEAC), Brian Preziosi (Grad Stud Gov)

Absent: John Allen, Dean Astumian, Emmanuel Boss, Tony Brinkley, Scott Dunning, Thane Fremouw, Amy Fried (resigned), Michael Grillo, Jason Harkins, Zhihe Jin, Jordan LaBouff, David Marcinkowski, Brian McGill, Brian Olsen (sabbatical fall), Clint Relyea, Bob Rice, Deborah Saber, John Singer, Owen Smith, Mona Therrien, Andrew Thomas, Mark Wells, Gail Werrbach, Clayton Wheeler, Peter C. Altmann (CEAC), Hashim Allah (Stud. Gov.)

The meeting was called to order at 3:20 pm

I.  Welcome, Announcements and Comments:
Mike welcomed everyone to the last Faculty Senate meeting of the year. He reminded people to stay after the meeting for a reception.

II.  Approval of Minutes
April 5, 2017 Minutes
Approved

III. Committee Reports
Academic Affairs – Michael Grillo
The committee is working with Jeff St. John and Kim Page regarding Monday-Wednesday, Wednesday-Friday classes of 1:15 twice a week, lining up with Tuesday-Thursday classes. Michael thanked committee members Farahad Dastoor, Kathyryn Slott, Tony Brinkley, Jordan LaBouff, Thane Fremouw, Dee Nichols, Dean Astumian, and Jeff St. John.

Constitution & Bylaws – David Townsend
Campus faculty approved the Constitutional Amendment passed by Faculty Senate. There were 155 responses – 136 in favor and 18 against.

Research & Scholarship – Emmanuel Boss & Mauricio de Cunha
No report.

Finance & Institutional Planning – Grant Miles
There may be one final budget presentation and possible discussions with Claire Strickland and Provost Hecker regarding FIPPC being more involved with budget discussions.

University Environment – Kathryn Slott & Clint Relyea
No reports.

Service & Outreach – Jason Bolton
No report except the committee will continue work on the Strategic Plan Assessment.

Committee on Committees – Michael Grillo
No report.

Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Sid Mitchell
Math has been given approval to go ahead with the BS in Math and MA in Statistics. Peace Studies will be moving from Division of Lifelong Learning to Education and Human Development.

Q.  Have there been conversations regarding what’s going on with the Graduate School and Maine Business School and changes coming?
A.  Mike Scott said once the process is initiated it will go to the PCRRC.

General Education – Farahad Dastoor & David Townsend
The committee has almost completed rubrics to evaluate courses, thank you to the committee members. They will be working through summer and present in the fall.

Library Committee
The committee met last week, there will be summer food service in the Library due to closures in the Memorial Union. There will be a Resource Committee setup to explore how library resources can be made available to all campuses and an Office of Major Scholarships will be located in the Library. The wireless update is complete and Library hours will be extended during finals, starting May 2.

Q. Is this new committee looking to the One University?
A. Howard said yes, if One University moves forward there are many databases that aren’t available to all campuses, only UMaine.

Ad Hoc IT – Michael Scott & Patti Miles
No report but the ITSC will meet in June and August.

Ad Hoc Shared Governance – Jason Harkins
Grant said he hoped everyone received the survey on Shared Governance. There have been 60 responses so far; a reminder will go out next week.

Q.  Who will see the survey when it’s answered?
A. The committee, responses will be summarized. If people are concerned when it’s down to the unit level the committee will make sure there are enough responses before sharing.

BOT Rep – Patti Miles
The budget was approved by committee and now goes to the BOT. A couple things, people can now track capital expenditures and where money and depreciation dollars go, credit hours are up, and Vice Chancellor Neely shared the NEASC report with BOT Reps. NEASC stated, to Chancellor Page, that what is being done is not how NEASC does things; i.e., Budget Officer should report to the Provost not how it is currently, etc. The letter also discussed programs spanning campuses and the issues it can cause. Update on the MBA Program – MBS faculty have voted three times, same for USM, all votes were no on agreeing to the structure and other stipulations that Chancellor and Alfond foundation came up with. It was requested that faculty agree to the structure then they’d change the document but faculty weren’t willing to do that.

Q. Who’s “they”?
A. The Chancellor, he wants the program to move forward and receive the Alfond dollars but there is a stipulation that new MBA would be independent of MBS and that the new head of MBA would report directly to the Provost. The faculty wants the person in charge to report to the MBS Dean. UMaine faculty will continue to work with USM.

Reports of Faculty Members on Committees of the Administration
No report.

IV. Announcements and Updates from the Administration
Provost Hecker stated that a notice recently sent from Joel Wincowski showed UMaine has been successful in first year enrollment. The Top Scholar program was successful with more than 20 faculty mentors. The program may expand so more faculty mentors may be needed in the future.

Regarding a Major Scholarship Office, it’s being housed in the Library because it’s a central location on campus. The idea came from Honor’s College and administration came up with money to support the project. This will help make students aware of scholarships that are available all in one office. Workshops will be held for students and faculty.

There will be a budget presentation on May 25, 3 pm in Neville Hall.

Provost’s statement regarding research expenditures and Carnegie research ranking for the Faculty Senate minutes of May 3, 2017 meeting.

It has recently been stated that UMaine’s research expenditures have dramatically decreased and that UMaine has been demoted from a Carnegie Ranking of R1 to R2. This misinformation is not only erroneous, but also damaging to campus morale. UMaine’s ranking in research expenditures has consistently been between about 130 and 160 over the past 17 years, according to MUP and NSF HERD data. Among public universities UMaine’s ranking has varied between about 95 and 115. UMaine has been classified at the second highest level in the Carnegie ranking system since 2005, currently “Doctoral University: Higher Research Activity.”

 Jeff St. John gave an update on NEASC and the UMaine Machias changes. NEASC accepted a letter sent March 31, 2017, by accepting the letter no report is required over the summer. Work on a document regarding implementation will come early this summer. There will be a joint site visit, UMaine and UMaine Machias, in late summer or fall.

V. Questions of the Administration
Q. Is the Mandela Scholars program ongoing?
A. Yes, with another award granted.

Q. Are there programs recognizing outstanding students after their first year? Some colleges take sophomore students that excelled freshman year; does UMaine do anything like that?
A. We don’t because there are a variety of scholarships by colleges and departments. It would also be cost prohibitive being done by campus as a whole.

Q. Is the Community College System identifying courses for Block Transfer?
A. They have not met recently; we’re waiting for Faculty Senate to nominate someone for the committee.

Q. Is there a projected road map with UMaine Machias, projections for a year or two out? Will there be a review process if it’s a Branch Campus?
A. President Hunter said it will be called a Regional Campus, not Branch, they’ll have their own identity and name. Regional refers to less integration than Branch.

Q. There was work that took place, committees that looked at certain programs.
A. UMaine Machis Interim Executive Dean, Kay Kimball, was here this week discussing that topic. There were faculty teams last summer with good ideas. Once the BOT votes, the reports will be reviewed to identify projects to fund.

Q. What were the programs?
A. Business/entrepreneurship, Education, Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Phycology and Community Studies, Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, English and Book Arts.

Also exploring how to extend Nursing to Machias. President Hunter said the new Director of the School of Nursing sees a need for Downeast Maine.

Q. How did the Research and Activity day at the Cross Center go and is there any feedback?
A. Carol Kim stated that a survey was distributed, 380 responses most favorable. When asked about the venue only 17.6% said they’d like it back on campus.

Q. Vice Chancellor Nealey called for program innovation grants, are there any updates on that?
A. We meet May 10, to review and rate them.

Q. The survey regarding Research Day, did it go to only those attending or everyone?
A. Responses are still coming in, it was sent late last week. Carol Kim stated they welcome as much feedback as possible, the more feedback the better.

Q. Farahad asked where to find the survey to respond?
A. Carol Kim said any feedback can be sent to her, Graduate Office, Research Office, etc.

Q. Did Legislators attend or BOT, like last year?
A. There was one board meeting or Target group, community members and media coverage.

Q. Number of participants that didn’t present?
A. There are no final numbers at this time.

Carol Kim did add that there was confusion on whether it was a class free day. She said there needs to be a better way to communicate exactly what the day is, it’s being discussed. It was supposed to be an academic day not a class free day. There were rooms available for faculty to hold class and that will be offered next year also.

Comment: Len Kass stated that he attended and it was a positive experience. He said it would be nice to have a video for those that did not attend to experience it. He was impressed that it was all in one place, which couldn’t be done on campus, and students could experience each other’s work

VI. Old Business
None

VII. New Business
Motion to Designate an Office to support Faculty in Teaching and Learning
May 3, 2017

PREAMBLE
The University of Maine (UM), the UM System’s flagship and public research institution, has a number of campus- and system-based organizations overseeing classroom environments. However, there is currently no single contact whereby faculty can request, report, or seek assistance in advance of and/or during scheduled classroom instruction. For instance,

• Faculty with technology issues might be directed to AV Services or the US:IT Help Center;
• Faculty with issues perceived as not being technology issues but rather having to do with the physical room might leave a message in the classroom for the custodian or call Work Control;
• If furniture within a classroom is damaged or missing, there is no clear contact to raise this issue.

Such scenarios require faculty to initiate and remain responsible for determining whether issues are addressed. Often class time is lost. And while unexpected issues will occur, an effective way is needed to assure faculty that issues will be addressed by appropriate entities and/or taken into consideration for future redesign of classroom facilities and infrastructure.

Indeed, what is needed is a single point of contact, an organization charged with advocating for the faculty members and responsible for orchestrating a well-designed and supported learning environment maximizing delivery of education to our students.

While US:IT is the organization charged with day-to-day maintenance of classroom technology, it is not responsible for assessing how technology use in classrooms impacts pedagogy and the teaching-learning environment. While Facilities is the organization that maintains the physical plant of our classrooms, it is not responsible for assessing how the physical plant impacts the inherent use of the classroom space as a teaching-learning environment. And while committees such as Paint and Polish are charged with identifying classrooms due for physical and technological upgrades, the design of upgrades is not within the purview of such representative groups of individuals.

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).

The University of Maine needs to identify and empower an organization explicitly charged with facilitating and evolving campus classrooms to become and remain pedagogically effective teaching-learning environments, for both today and tomorrow. The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning is this campus organization best suited to support UMaine faculty.

The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) provides support for innovative pedagogical efforts and promote excellent teaching and learning at the University of Maine.

Together with our partner centers and departments on campus, we work to create and sustain a culture of innovation in teaching. To this end, we offer workshops and personalized consulting on curricular and instructional design, educational software, technologies for instruction, and related efforts to support 21st Century information and learning cultures.

MOTION
Motion to Designate the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning as the campus entity responsible to be the interface between Faculty and Campus organizations and committees, to assure that classroom spaces are well-designed and maintained.

The Faculty Senate Vision for Classroom Advocacy and Support is to direct the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning to:

• Advocate on behalf of faculty for improvements in educational infrastructure and resources. Advocate for, lead and oversee support, maintenance, and improvement of classroom spaces.
• Provide visioning, leadership and stewardship for maintaining, improving, and supporting classroom and computer lab spaces.  Organize and lead campus efforts concerning classroom A/V infrastructure.  Organize and lead efforts to support the use of teaching and learning spaces and technologies. Plan future teaching and learning spaces with appropriate college departments.
• Serve as bridge between teaching faculty and members of the administration. Collaborate with the Office of the Provost to ensure classrooms support the teaching needs of faculty and the learning needs of students.
• Gather and represent faculty, student, and staff perspectives in projects, to improve on-campus classrooms and labs. Convene periodic meetings during the academic year between departments and program representatives. Solicit from each department the concerns and interests of its instructional staff, especially concerning how to help staff maintain and improve the education of our students.
• Develop 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. Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with designated faculty and staff members.
• Work with appropriate units in directing the management of classrooms and lab computers.  Maintain, improve, and coordinate purchase of equipment and supplies for public classrooms and lab spaces. Coordinate efforts with appropriate agencies to ensure that A/V equipment used in classrooms and lab computers work properly. Work with faculty and liaisons for US:IT to ensure appropriate hardware and software is installed. Coordinate a system to inventory existing equipment and supplies, budget for future needs, and purchase necessary equipment. Work with Facilities department and governance groups to ensure furniture in learning spaces adheres to the college standard.
• Keep current on best practices in learning space design and presentation technology enhanced teaching trends.  Research and evaluate new hardware, software and courseware that enhance teaching and learning.
• Collaborate with US:IT to provide training and educational opportunities for users of classroom spaces and instructional technologies.
• Coordinate the collection of classroom data, usage and identified issues; facilitate access to this information and provide an annual report on the state of the classroom.
• Work with Faculty Senate in developing improved communication channels between faculty and appropriate organizations and committee responsible for maintaining classroom and lab spaces.

Discussion: Provost Hecker said this is improved from the last motion but he still has two concerns; one is that this would become a maintenance center and the other issue is resources. Having one place to contact is good but bullet point six would mean a lot of time for someone. Those are issue that should be under US:IT. After discussions with Dick Thompson, he will place another person on campus with the responsibility of items mentioned above.

It was commented that having a classroom with issues of bulbs burned out and not knowing whom to call is an issue.
Mike Scott pointed out that this doesn’t designate the unit to do this but to coordinate.

Vote: Approved, 6 abstentions

 

Resolution opposing Campus Carry Legislative Bill LD1370
WHEREAS, the current proposed legislation (LD 1370) in the Maine State Legislature would 1) exempt any college or university in the State of Maine from the law that allows a university or college to prohibit a person from carrying a firearm in any building on its grounds if the person holds a license to carry a concealed weapon; 2) Repeal the provision in the administrative policy in which the University of Maine (attached) generally prohibits persons from carrying, possessing, or using any dangerous weapon on university property or in university buildings or facilities, and

WHEREAS, allowing concealed carry permit holders to bring firearms on university grounds, buildings, or into classrooms threatens the progress of education and the expression of ideas and makes the university environment less safe, and

WHEREAS, law enforcement professionals have stated that an essential element of those schools’ safety plans requires prohibiting firearms on college campuses, except by campus police and trained security officers, and

WHEREAS, the Faculty Senate of the University of Maine is responsible for being a voice for students, faculty, and staff on issues relating to campus safety and general well-being, and

WHEREAS, all students, faculty, and staff at the University of Maine have the right to learn and work in a safe environment free from concealed firearms, and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that the University of Maine Faculty Senate strongly opposes any bill put forth by the State of Maine that could prohibit universities from banning the carrying of firearms by non-law enforcement officials in buildings and on campus grounds

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate at the University of Maine strongly urges legislators to stipulate that University rules and regulations relating to campus safety and general well-being follow the recommendations of campus public safety and emergency management.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Faculty Senate at the University of Maine strongly urges legislators to vote against LD1370 or any similar legislation.

Adapted from a similar statement by the faculty and staff at the UW Colleges.

Discussion: Dr. Dana stated it’s a bad idea to have guns on campus. There are situations where firearms being available, or accessible, wouldn’t be a good idea.

Vote: Approved

 

Motion of the Faculty Senate to Support Achievement of Net Zero Carbon Emissions for the University of Maine by 2040

Whereas the University of Maine is a charter signatory to the 2007 American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, now the Second Nature Carbon Commitment (Reference 1) and has developed a Climate Action Plan and goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 (References 2 and 3),

whereas a vast assemblage of multi-disciplinary evidence documented by scientists from across the globe, including nationally and internationally prominent researchers at the University of Maine, show that the planet’s climate system is warming at an unprecedented rate and that “It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.” (Reference 4)

whereas the University of Maine is currently assessing refurbishment to its central energy infrastructure (Reference 5),

whereas non-renewable power infrastructure options are not likely to allow UMaine to achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, while other options are far more likely to help achieve the goal,

whereas economic calculations typically do not adequately include the external costs of heat, particulate and other pollution that all of us must bear as a result of continuing use of fossil fuels,

whereas the costs of wind, solar and storage technologies have and continue to fall rapidly and promise to be a cost saving option for the University even without consideration of external costs,

whereas there has never been a better time in terms of technological advancements and low costs to invest in renewable energy,

whereas the University of Maine should lead the State in demonstrating energy independence,

whereas University of Maine scientists, engineers and scholars have been and should be leaders in research and development of alternative energy advancements, sustainability practices, and climate prediction tools and applications,

whereas the University of Maine is lagging behind in meeting its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2040,

whereas if the University of Maine invests in major infrastructure that continues to depend heavily on oil, natural gas, coal, or other fossil fuels, it will never achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040,

Be it hereby resolved that the Faculty of the University of Maine as represented by the Faculty Senate strongly object to support any campus power and heating infrastructure investments that will make it more difficult for assist the campus to in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

References:

1. Current Climate Leadership Statement, http://secondnature.org/climate-guidance/the-commitments/#Climate_Leadership_Statement

2. The University of Maine Climate Action Plan, 2010, http://reporting.secondnature.org/media/uploads/cap/427-cap_1.pdf
3. Published Progress and Commitment of UMaine, http://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/detail!1906##1906
4. IPCC, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis – Summary for Policymakers, Observed Changes in the Climate

System, p. 15, in IPCC AR5 WG1 2013.

5. Energy Solutions RFP 43-16, Issue Date: February 12, 2016, http://www.maine.edu/strategic/documentuploads/43-

16_Energy_Solutions.pdf and subsequent addenda, http://www2.maine.edu/strategic/upcoming_bids-detail.php?bid=519

Motion Submitted by:
Harlan Onsrud, Professor, Computing and Information Science James Wilson, Professor,
Marine Sciences and Economics
Paul Mayewski, Director, Climate Change Institute
Dan Sandweis, Director, School of Policy and International Affairs

Discussion: Provost Hecker said this is a good idea but would like a friendly amendment to say Faculty Senate “strongly support” in place of “…strongly object…”. Harlan Onsrud didn’t have a problem with the amendment. Andrew Thomas also made a couple additional amendments in wording, which Harlan also agreed with. The changes are italicized and crossed out.

Vote on Andrew Thomas’ amendments approved
Vote: Approved

Adjourned 4:45 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Grant Miles

Prepared by Kim Junkins