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Highlights of the College Park Senate meeting on September 14, 2006

Report of the Chair (Jim Gates)
- Gates reported the following:
  - His goal is to establish a culture of excellence at College Park.
  - Personal leave policy was approved by president. Amendment to treat as parent anyone performing parenting responsibilitiess was not approved on advice of legal counsel as not being a legal definition.
  - Approval of revised plan of organization is in progress. Faculty representation in Senate stays constant, student representation will increase.
Report of the Senate Executive Committee
- Executive committee approved the nominations for Senate standing committees
Approval of Library Council Members
Election of Representatives to the Council of University System Faculty
- Needs 3 more faculty representatives, only one faculty candidate.
- Issue this year is to request a raise to state of Maryland contributions to faculty Optional Retirement Plans (e.g., TIAA-CREF, Fidelity) to match last year's increase in state pension plan
State of the Campus 2006 Speech by President Mote (So far so good, so what's next?)
- Campus is at historical best.
  - Highest incoming student median GPAs (3.9), SAT scores (1300)
  - Most diverse incoming class, at 39% minorities
  - 100 new faculty hired last year
  - 43% incoming students are first generation college students
- Problems
  - $600 million in deferred maintenance
  - Grad student support lagging
  - Library support costs rising
  - Fear repeat of unruly student celebrations
- Plans
  - Will open up for development 36 acres of university land across main entrance on Rt. 1
  - New journalism building
  - Speed up plans for physics building by 3 years
- Questions from Senate
  - Plans for graduate housing
  - More non-academic support for transfer students
  - More resources for libraries
  - Smaller classes for undergraduate liberal arts students

Chau-Wen Tseng