Highlights of the October 18, 2001, meeting of the College Park Senate

The Short Version:

  • Wiengaertner announced state cuts of $203M and new senate committee apointments.
  • Linda Clement gave a brief overview of size/scope of Division of Student affairs.
  • Proposal to revise the Policy on the Review of Academic Units was approved.
  • Proposal to rename the "Logistics and Transportation" B.S. program was approved.
  • An election was held for the Council on University System Faculty (CUSF).

    The Detailed Version:

  • Wiengaertner called attention to an article in the Washington Post that reporter Governor Glendening's announcement of a $203M budget cut. She also announced two new committee apointments: David Grimsted, Chair of CORE Committee; Michael Marcuse, Member of Programs, Curricula, and Courses Committee.

  • Linda Clement, Vice President for Student affairs gave brief overview of size and scope of the Division of Student affairs, which includes 1400 employees and 13 departments. Clement outlined three challenges: (1) Ministering exhausted staff who have worked to acommodate students in difficulties resulting from recent disasters; (2) Increased demand for on-campus housing; (3) Parking. Clement recommended rethinking boundaries so that commuters will feel included in the "residential community".

  • Proposal to revise the Policy on the Review of Academic Units so that it is two-step process instead of a three-step process. There were numerous discussions, with several additional proposed revisions. Ultimately the motion that passed was one that approved the following ammendments regarding evaluation of an academic unit: (1) Are laboratory apparatus and manuals maintained, updatable, accurate, and up-to-date; and do students have adequate workspace? (2) Does the academic unit support/enforce University policy on academic integrity and are faculty aware of undergraduate referral procedures? (3) Is the academic unit provided information resources by the University libraries? (4) Does the academic unit support contact with faculty, especially mentoring, other than in the classroom and during formal office hours? (5) Are graduates of the program prepared to use information resources and technology at a level appropriate to the discipline? A vote was taken to approve the entire report as amended; the amended report was approved by one vote.

  • Robert Brown, Chair of the Senate Programs, Curricula, and Courses Committee (PCC) moved to rename the "Logistics and Transportation" B.S. program to "Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Management". Supply chain management is a more inclusive term than logistics, and the new term more adequately reflected its programs. The motion passed.

  • An election was held for the Council on University System Faculty (CUSF). Carl Smith was the only candidate who came forward. A write-in candidate, Frank Alt, came forward when the chair asked if others would agree to serve. No other candidates came forward; the faculty proceeded with marking their ballots and both Smith and Alt were elected for a two-year term as CUSF members.

    Bonnie Dorr & Don Perlis
    Senators, Department of Computer Science