Highlights of the Feb 4, 2002, meeting of the College Park Senate


  • A proposal to establish centralized on-line undergraduate elections, whereby students would vote on-line by using SocSecNum and a PIN, was voted and passed.

  • Revisions to the policy on merit pay distribution was voted and passed. This was largely to add clarification rather than change policy, and addressed (i) the role of the unit chair, (ii) communication and explanation, (iii) annual evaluation of unit salary structure, and (iv) appeal processes.

  • Revisions to the procedures for awarding honorary degrees was voted and passed. These revisions were made in response to a request from Chancellor Langenberg that the university bring its policy for awarding degrees in compliance with the Board of Regents policy. In particular, a new subsection was added, defining who may *not* receive honorary degrees: (i) currently serving faculty, staff, or members of the Board of Regents, (ii) current holders of political office in Maryland. A section on confidentiality of the process was also added.

  • A proposal to establish an upper division certificate program in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) studies was voted and passed.

  • Dr Mote addressed the Senate, commenting on budget (some belt-tightening seems in order), on Sept 11 and the later tornado, and on campus-town relations, among other things.

    Bonnie Dorr & Don Perlis
    Senators, Department of Computer Science