Faculty Senate Executive Committee

The Executive Committee approved and amended recommendations today, as well as discussed future proposals. The monthly meeting began by approving last month's faculty senate minutes. Members then began to assess recommendations. The recommendations, if approved, would continue on to receive approval from faculty senate, followed by President Kopp and then the Board of Governors.

The executive committee approved SR-13-14-56, SR-12-14-61 and SR-13-14-62 without much opposition. The first recommendation approved added a clause to syllabi that addressed the protocol for a late instructor assignment. The second approved an accelerated BS/MD program that would be open to 10 in-state incoming seniors per year to complete an undergraduate degree in Biology and doctorate through the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in seven years. The last recommendation was an intent to plan a Bachelor of Arts in the Arts degree, which allows students to study more than just one discipline in the Fine Arts.

SR-13-14-63 was amended then approved. The General Education Council proposed wording changes in the international course designation.
Original submitted changes: (3) evaluate how specific approaches to global issues will affect multiple cultural communities, and (4) untangle competing economic, religious, social, political, institutional, or geographical interests of cultural groups in conflict.
Mary Beth Reynolds, director of academic assessment, said she felt the proposed changes restricted certain programs too much, especially several majors in the College of Liberal Arts. She said she believed there would be more data to prove if this change was justified in the summer when more artifacts of course studies would be submitted and categorized based on which parts of the description they fit. Reynolds said she wanted to leave in the term "cultural." The committee passed the recommendation with the amendment of leaving every word currently in the description and adding "political, institutional."

The intent to plan a sport management major (SR-13-14-64) was approved, though it is being researched if sport or sports should be used. SR-13-14-65 proposed that a possible multidisciplinary degree should be referred to the Council of chairs for further development. Numerous committee members said they believed it had been so long since this initiative started that they needed to see the original information, including the intent to plan, before approving it. The recommendation was tabled until March.

SR-13-14-66 to continue certain degrees at their current levels and SR-13-14-68 to offer four librarians Ex-Officio Non-Voting Membership for faculty senate were both approved. On the other hand, SR-13-14-67, recommending a joint Board of Governors and faculty senate meeting each year, was not approved due to the fact that it was already present in the W.Va. State Code.

The agenda was set and approved for the Senate meeting on Feb. 27 before handing out a packet for the March meeting. The packet included policy changes and procedure regarding salary, promotion and tenure. Faculty members were encouraged by Chair Eldon Larsen to share this information with their respective colleges prior to its appearance at March's meeting and possible implementation fall semester. College of Business professor Rex McClure said he was concerned about the citizenship clause in the tenure section because he believes it is vague and could result in misunderstanding and disgruntled professors. President Kopp said there is precedent from previous academic court cases that would shelter this statute.

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Corley Dennison said this is a change from the previous terminology of "collegiately." He said no one was sure of the definition of collegiately, so it was changed to "university citizenship." Dennison thinks the proposal will stand. "I think once there's full explanation of the citizenship clause, I think it will probably pass," Dennison said. Larsen agreed with Dennison's prediction of outcome, but clarified further. "The concerns are not universal," Larsen said. "I did not hear anybody else express their concerns. All the proposals for salary, promotion and tenure will go as a package. If Senate wants to amend part of it, they can do that before they vote on the whole package."

While the final package will not be voted on until the March meeting, the next General Faculty Senate meeting will be February 27, 2014.