Faculty Senate

October 21, 2020

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
October 21, 2020

Zoom Meeting

Present: Henri Akono, David Barrett, David Batuski, Donald Beith, Amy Booth, Debbie Bouchard, Alice Bruce, Sandra Butler, Kristina Cammen, Phil Dunn, Nuri Emanetoglu, Per Garder, Michael Grillo, Mark Haggerty, Heather Hamlin, Sam Hanes, Andre Khlil, Amanda Klemmer, Colt Knight, Sara Lello, Margo Lukens, Natalie Machamer, Ivan Manev, Dmitri Markovitch, Derek Michaud, William Nichols, Harlan Onsrud, Elizabeth Payne, Robert Rice, Deborah Rogers, Deborah Saber, Michael Scott, Mary “MJ” Sedlock, Asli Sezen-Barrie, Kathryn Slott, Sean Smith, Peter Van Walsum, Mark Wells, Todd Zoroya, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, John Volin Provost, Claire Strickland CBO, Robert Dana, Kimberly Whitehead Chief of Staff,  Jeff St. John, Jen Bonnet (PEAC), Peter Altmann (CEAC),

Absent: Erik Blomberg (sabbatical), Stephanie Burnett, Mauricio da Cunha, Emily Haigh, Renae Moran, Holly Schreiber, Howard Segal, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Andrew Thomas (Emmanuel Boss), David Townsend, VP Research Kody Varahramyan, Ken Ralph, Chris Lindstrom, (Grad Stud Gov), Kylie Trawick (Undergrad Rep)

I.  Welcome, Announcements and Comments
Dee Nichols pointed out that the agenda has moved around slightly to allow for the Administration to speak sooner. He also moved New Business up. Also mentioned, UMaine Machias has been considered a Regional Campus of UMaine but the Department of Education has referred to it as a merger. The challenge is brand, financial identity, financial aid, etc. Dee had a better understanding of the Unified Catalogue after a meeting today. The Faculty Governance Council, or Shared Governance, representatives of Senate Presidents had discussions on Unified Accreditation and about the NECHE review coming in spring; there were no details. He said it’s important to get information out to each senate as soon as possible, once it’s received. He would also like to discuss the Pass/Fail (P/F) issue that was discussed at the Executive Committee yesterday.

II.  Approval of Minutes
September 23, 2020
Approved

III.  Announcements and Updates from the Administration
President Ferrini-Mundy stated that UMaine Government Relations has organized bi-weekly sessions with the legislature, they are open meetings. It’s a reminder to the state that UMaine is here and serving the state. Colleagues have spoken at the meetings, sharing what they’re doing during the pandemic to address challenges of the state. The Economic Recovery Committee has one UMaine System member, Rebecca Wyke from UMaine Augusta, staff of the Governor and administrators of Maine Government. Kimberly Whitehead and Hannah Carter are also working with the committee putting together recommendations that will go to the Governor.

Athletics update: restarting Division 1 sports is not easy, there needs to be a testing regime for all athletes with NCAA guidance. Travel is also a factor, where teams travel, quarantine on return, numbers on a bus, etc.

The management structure of the Alfond Grant is being worked on. Faculty governance will be involved.

Provost Volin stated that a letter went out yesterday regarding class surveys that were distributed to students and faculty. Some people were concerned but others were satisfied. He’s happy to see a draft proposal has been done on P/F policy by Faculty Senate.

In August Black Bears Paws was proposed to reach out to deferred students keeping them engaged and how UMaine can help. Winter session courses were increased 20%; eight week courses will be opened to deferred students. Trying to connect students to a weekend UMaine Bound so they feel connected and part of the community. There is a draft webpage that he hopes to share in the next few weeks.

Update: committee members for the Dean searches are filled and waiting for approval.

Dr. Robert Dana discussed the current surge in Covid testing. UMaine is testing all residence hall and fraternity students; approximately 5,000 will be tested. Currently, Phase III testing is being conducted and moving into Phase IV. This means approximately 1,200 have been tested randomly. This week, testing in Waldo County will take place at the Hutchinson Center. The positive rate is about 0.02. Campus has quarantine for those that may have been in contact with a positive person and isolation spaces for those that have tested positive. There are case managers for those people to meet any needs. The prevention messages were redone and sent to students. Everyone seems to be following the rules, wearing masks etc. Students are also using services and programs on campus for support. It’s very difficult for students currently, so trying to get them to think about their value and responsibility to others is important.

Q.  Regarding random testing, are we supposed to be notified of results?
A.  There’s a website that was linked in an email for getting results.

Q.  What is the status of requesting a test for students and staff, is it possible?
A.  Yes, testing is made available for staff to be tested even if they just want to know their status. Send Dr. Dana a request if you want to be tested. Don’t hesitate getting the test, UMaine uses the PCR test, which doesn’t hurt.

Q.  Students have mentioned they came in contact with someone that tested positive. Can I tell them to go to Cutler to be tested?
A.  Yes.

President Ferrini-Mundy stated Dean Haddad has something that should be circulated on what to say to students.

IV.  Questions of the Administration

Q.  The data sent yesterday was helpful, is there a breakdown by year students are in and program of study?
A.  It can be broken down by year but not program. The data has been shared with deans and department heads to be forwarded to faculty. Week four data will be coming soon.

Q.  The 13% of students that thought their technology needs were inadequate, can we see who they are so they can be helped?
A.  Preliminary names and information were put in for students that were willing to share, 13% is high. We’re working with UMaine Augusta to open regional centers and Cooperative Extension to open centers so students aren’t in their cars connecting to Wi-Fi. Data was provided last week to the UMaine System for a state grant to increase broadband access for low income people.

Q.  After the Executive Committee meeting yesterday, there were discussions about cuts to the Library; R1 status, journals being discontinued, students trying to do research, etc. One question was if any of the Alfond money could be used to help offset cuts.
A.  Dean Joyce Rumery stated they looked at low use items and bundles for cuts. They’re looking at using interlibrary loan for journals that won’t be available. For some items, the Library staff will help people get access. She thinks things can be adjusted once budgets are better.

It was asked if the Alfond Grant could help offset cuts to the Library. President Ferrini-Mundy said the money goes to specific areas, student success and retention, statewide College of Engineering, Maine Center for Professional and Graduate Studies, and Athletics. She feels, indirectly, if increases happen due to the grant then there will be increases in budgets which could impact campus and E&G budgets. Same with Engineering, if enrollment grows E&G would grow.

Provost Volin discussed a P/F option, the reaction last spring was quick but there is now more time to prepare the option. There’s a lot going on, a lot of stresses and there’s concern for students. Like last spring, P/F provides an option for students not to worry about a grade. The administration is supportive of a P/F option but a policy is up to Faculty Senate to move forward. A draft was sent to senators today based of last spring’s option. It was stated that there needs to be a decision date and possibly extend the withdrawal date. This all needs to happen soon so faculty can explain the policy to students and announce a decision date for when to choose the P/F. It’s thought that students should be able to make a decision after grades come out. Also extending the withdrawal deadline may be an option.

Q.  How will incompletes be handled, can students switch to P/F after an incomplete?
A.  Provost Volin said they tried to be liberal if students had technology difficulty or others that couldn’t complete requirements.

Q.  Have program accreditations been checked regarding P/F? In some programs P/F isn’t viewed as appropriate grade.
A.  Jeff St. John said he’d check into that and report back.

Last spring some of those accreditations did allow for the P/F but it does need to be checked for fall.

Q.  It sounds like this policy is different. If it is, will last year’s policy be shared and was it effective?
A.  Jeff said there was a conversation about that this afternoon. The effect isn’t known but a higher number of students returned this fall because there was a lower number of suspensions and/or probations.

Comment: Senior Capstone students are concerned how P/F grades affect job prospects or entrance to graduate school.

Q.  Has anyone talked to students to see if P/F affected job opportunities?
A.  Provost Volin stated there have been discussions with other Provosts at other institutions, and feedback was positive. There was no impact, based on those discussions, with nine peer graduate schools.

Comments: Should Senate vote on this and address it as soon as possible? If this is an issue next semester maybe it can be discussed sooner. The Provost agreed and said maybe start discussions in early spring. Remember, some will want grades, others will want P/F, there’s no disadvantage to putting this forward. At what point does this policy become an issue, how long do we do it? It was stated that academic standards need to be upheld at some point. Ivan Manev stated he’s is in favor of students being able to postpone a decision until grades are out. He had some students that took P/F in the spring but would have had an A if they had taken a grade.

V.  New Business
Faculty Senate Motion, for October 21, 2020 Full Senate Meeting
BS degree in Sport Management at Maine  

BACKGROUND on the Sport Management BS degree proposal
In October 2019, the Maine Business School sent forward an Intent To Plan a 15-credit Sport Management major, which was approved at the UM System level in November 2019.  The BS in Sport Management would leverage existing and new courses to offer a flexible degree with a core foundation in Sport Management, with electives offered in Park Recreation and Tourism, and Kinesiology and Physical Education, and Communication. The proposed launch date is for fall semester of 2021.

The Maine Business School has identified the opportunity to prepare UMaine students for a growing field. They report that the U.S. professional sport industry is worth over $530 billion, and $1.3 trillion globally. This multifaceted industry offers a range of career opportunities, including but not limited to PR Specialists, Postsecondary Education Administrators, and Administrative Services Managers. The job growth in North America in Sport Management-related professions for 2016-2026 is estimated at 10 percent. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that coaches and scouts should enjoy employment growth of 13 percent during the decade of 2016-2026. Agent and business manager positions in the sport market are expected to grow 5 to 9 percent.

Sport Management programs in the USA are not meeting the current need for these professionals. A Burning Glass tech query by UMaine’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment suggests that Maine institutions conferred only 44 degrees in Sport Management this year, for 394 current sport-related job postings in Maine. The New England region conferred 773 Sport Management degrees, with 11,939 current sport-related job postings. Nationally, there were 10,217 degrees in Sport Management conferred, with 174,426 sport-related job postings. This analysis demonstrates a clear unmet need for Sports Management graduates locally, regionally, and nationally.

The Maine Business School has five full-time faculty (Muralee Das, Susan Myrden, Erin Carter, Tim Lu, and Martha Broderick) who have taught or could teach sport-related courses. Existing courses at UMaine suitable as electives within this major are taught in Recreation and Tourism, Kinesiology and Physical Education, and CLAS; Ken Ralph, Athletic Director at UMaine (who holds a MS degree in Sport Management), could teach courses in sports ethics.

The team submitted their full proposal to the Senate PCRRC in August, 2020. At that time, the full proposal was circulated to the Senate via email; the PCRRC subsequently met to discuss and identify questions arising.  The PCRRC scheduled a campus-wide meeting on the BS in Sport Management at 3:30pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 via Zoom: https://maine.zoom.us/j/83498818302?pwd=ZHpPQmxNaEpHYlpha3NlQ2JzcmNiQT09

Password: 367837.

RESERVATION:
The proposal states that adding a Sport Management major would have minimal impact on MBS resources and would be feasible without adding additional overloads.  Since the proposal was submitted, one of the proponents, Nic Erhardt, has left UMaine for another position.  Starting up the program in fall 2021 might be feasible without Prof Erhardt, but getting the major to capacity may depend on MBS hiring to replace expertise required for this program.

Acknowledging this reservation, based on the discussion in committee and at the October 13, 2020 campus-wide meeting, PCRRC recommends that the proposed program move to a vote in Faculty Senate on October 21, 2020.

MOTION:
The Program Creation and Reorganization Review Committee (PCRRC) has met with faculty of the Maine Business School associated with the creation of this new BS degree, thoroughly examined and reviewed the proposal, and moves, with the reservations outlined above, to accept the creation of the new Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, a degree at the University of Maine.

Discussion: It was stated that there was a good meeting with the MBS Dean with clarification on needed resources.

Q.  Is the Maine Business School faculty in favor of this and can they fund it?
A.  Dean Gilbert stated resources are being identified within the MBS but more will be needed and to advocate for those additional funds. Some faculty are already working and publishing in this area. Hopefully, as enrollment increases, funds will increase.

This seems to be a perfect time with the Alfond Grant for sports. As enrollment increases there can be additional faculty lines.

Q.  Is there a guarantee if the Alfond funds don’t happen that other programs won’t have money taken from them?
A.  The idea is that student numbers will rise and cover the cost. As there’s no model, decisions are left up to deans to manage budgets.

President Ferrini-Mundy commented that there’s a need to invest when there’s growth opportunity. The proposal is supported and once Faculty Senate approves it, it can be forwarded to the UMaine System. She and the Provost are in support.

Vote: Approved

VI.  Committee Reports
BOT – Harlan Onsrud
There were revisions to the Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Policy to align with Title IX. The name Clarence Little Hall was removed and a renaming process was discussed. The Emera Astronomy Center is now Versant Astronomy Center and the MS in Data Science and Engineering was approved. The Finance Committee and Academic Affairs Committee meet Wednesday.

Academic Affairs – Michael Grillo
The committee will meet with Provost Volin regarding Gen Ed and will meet next Wednesday to discuss incompletes. 

Gen Ed – Subcommittee of Academic Affairs – Sam Hanes
UMaine Presque Isle reached out and will meet in the next couple of weeks. They’re aligning their Gen Ed requirements with UMaine. UMaine Machias did the same thing last year.

Constitution & Bylaws – Debbie Saber & Kathryn Slott
The edits to the Constitution and Bylaws, done last year, will be distributed soon with a survey. The Executive Committee will approve changes before it is sent to Faculty Senate.

Research & Scholarship – Sean Smith & Nuri Emanetoglu
No report.

Finance & Institutional Planning – Mauricio da Cunha & Mike Scott
There will be a meeting with the Provost tomorrow and a committee meeting on October 28^th with the Provost and VPR. There is a Campus Budget meeting Friday, per President Ferrini-Mundy.

University Environment – Erik Blomberg & Amanda Klemmer
The committee met with the Provost this morning regarding Rising Tide services and the need for an Ombudsperson and discussed the Employee Assistance Program partner accommodations.

Comment: There is a need for a liaison from the committee to the Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Service & Outreach – Colt Knight
An idea of having a Maine Heritage Day to celebrate Outreach & Service at UMaine is being discussed. The idea is to facilitate through Cooperative Extension. The Dean is onboard. The thought is to combine with UMaine Machias.

Committee on Committees – Heather Hamlin
Filling committees is going well but need additional people for the Dean Dana Humphrey Review from Engineering. Specifically, the committee needs more women for gender balance. A volunteer is needed from the Honors College for the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. There is a call for the Unified Accreditation Writing Team and someone for the UMaine Machias Single Catalogue Working Group.

Q.  How scary is the NECHE Writing Committee?
A.  Jeff St. John stated it’s not scary at all. The committee will be made up of Faculty and Professional staff. Not all names forwarded will be chosen since each campus puts names forward. The committee chair makes sure the document takes shape. Team members provide perspective and some minor assistance in the first draft. 

Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Margo Lukens
No report.

Library Committee – Howard Segal & Robert Rice
Some follow-up from the Elected Members meeting; the detailed cuts are listed in a Google Drive document. In the last two years the Library has been cut approximately $500,000. There are seven vacant positions, three are Reference Librarians. Two hires have been moving through the system but seem to be stuck somewhere. To maintain research and service the Library needs to remain strong.

Faculty Information Technology Committee – Todd Zoroya & Michael Scott
No report.

Ad Hoc System Shared Governance – Renae Moran
No report.

Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Margo Lukens
The committee has met once. A member volunteered to take a list of current campus groups working on equity and help update it. The committee continues to look for a connection with other Faculty Senate committees; University Environment, Library and Committee on Committees would be helpful. First item of business will be a motion on how to continue with services, or increase services, that were part of Rising Tide.

Dr. Robert Dana would like to send along a source document of groups and have it be a shared document. He will send it to Margo.

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

Additional Motion from the Floor:
Background:
The COVID-19 related circumstances have put a large stress on both students and faculty. In order to alleviate the stress on the students and allow faculty to help students determine the best path to success, it would be beneficial to reconsider the P/F option for grading, and at the least move the Withdrawal from course without academic penalty deadline to the end of the semester, as was done in spring 2020.

Motion:
The Faculty Senate moves to change the “Withdrawal from a course without academic penalty” deadline from November 13^th to December 11^th, the last Friday of classes. No discussion.

Vote: Approved

VII.  Old Business
No old business.

 Adjourned 4:45 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Slott

Prepared by Kim Junkins