Faculty Senate Minutes April 7, 2005

SENATORS: Cindy Thomas, Ellie Baldwin, Bill McCracken, Barbara Borst, Steve Murray (for Jill Cordova), Gayla Jo Slauson, Larry Madsen, Tim Casey, Phil Kavanagh, Rich Cowden, Tom Acker

MINUTES SECRETARY: Jessica Cowden

GUESTS: Julie Barak, Carol Futhey, Heather Exby, Duane Hrncir, Myra Heinrich, Andrew Breckel, Ken Davis, Hasson Tavossi, Morgan Bridge

I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

VPAA interviews have been completed for the two candidates. Cathy Barkley is in the process of submitting strengths and weaknesses to President Foster.

Tim Casey will present a proposal for the amended Senate Bylaws at the next meeting.

The Handbook Revision Committee has posted their recommendations. They will remain open for comment until noon on April 8.

II. MEETING MINUTES

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive the Curriculum Committee minutes from February 24, 2005 and March 3, 2005. (Casey/Cowden)

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive the Graduate Council minutes from March 1, 2005. (Thomas/Baldwin)

III. CONCURRENT COURSE GUIDELINES (CAROL FUTHEY, ANDY BRECKEL, HEATHER EXBY, BEN KEEFER)

The committee drafted a list of student and instructor qualifications as well as other guidelines for administering concurrent courses. They were also given a $10,000 grant from CCHE to implement the guidelines. They will report back to CCHE as to what worked and what didn’t at the end of next year, at which point their guidelines may be used as a model for the rest of the state to follow.
The guidelines include a list of specific courses that may be taught. Courses can be added to or withdrawn from the list based on approval by the Department Head and two content faculty members. Kavanagh suggested that no additions or withdrawals be made over the summer when the entire faculty is not available for approval.
Casey stressed the importance of having assessment standards for the concurrent courses that are equal to those of on-campus courses and that can be measured in a quantitative manner. Andy Breckel assured the Senate that these courses have, in fact, always been evaluated as is the CCHE policy.
Casey also requested that the term “faculty” be changed to “instructor” as the concurrent courses are not technically taught by faculty members.
The Senate will review the guidelines further and submit any feedback to Vice President Futhey by the end of next week.

IV. ASSESSMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION (MYRA HEINRICH, MORGAN BRIDGE)

The Assessment Committee will be sending out a memo to the faculty soon outlining the gen. ed. assessment process, which they have been working on since last spring. The goal was to meet assessment requirements without significantly increasing workloads.
After a pilot assessment in the fall, the entire process should be up and running by spring 2006. They are still searching for the best way to sample students and motivate or require them to take the assessment tests. The possibility of making it a requirement for completion of certain selected courses is being considered as well making it a registration requirement. The CAP test is also being brought to campus for consideration as a means of testing.

The motion was made, seconded and passed to accept and approve the Assessment Committee’s recommendations. (Cowden/Thomas)

Meeting adjourned at 4:52 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jessica Cowden
Minutes Secretary