Minutes
Saint Anselm College Faculty Senate
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Dana Center Conference Room
5 p.m.

Present: Holder, McKeon, Tobin, Weinreb, Wierda, Perrone, O’Reilly, Michael Smith (5:40), Mahoney, David George, Meoghan Cronin, Dubrulle, Latona, Schnick

Absent: McKenna
 
President Weinreb convened the meeting at 5 p.m.. 

I. President’s remarks

a. Pres. Weinreb thanked the Senate for agreeing to meet earlier this evening.
b. Curriculum committee approved 11 new courses in November and 3 certificate programs.
c. The issues with the Dining cards seems to be resolved. A reminder, the magnetic strip is still associated with your SSN.  IT says it is on top of the issue.   You can go to dining services and it will be de-linked from your identifier.  Pres. Weinreb registered the complaints that she heard from faculty with the EVP.
d. Fr. Jonathan has sent out a letter regarding the discussions on governance. He is out of town today, but President Weinreb hopes that he will be able to visit with the Senate in the spring semester.
e. Next meeting we will be meeting in the President’s dining room with the Planning and Budget committee.  If anyone has any specific issue that you would like to have them address please let her know before the beginning of classes. 

II. Approval of minutes of November 13, 2007 Moved by Holder Seconded by by O’Reilly, Approved Yes, 12, abstention 1

III. Committee reports

a. Tenure (M. Cronin, Chair)  The committee’s work has been completed.  Sen. Cronin is waiting to meet with the Governing Board.

b. Promotion (Hugh Dubrulle, Chair)
Concluded review of candidates, all have been informed of the committees votes and Sen. Dubrulle is waiting to meet with governing board.

Discussion:
Among other things, the issue of when one comes up for promotion arose.  There is no question about what the rules are: a person has the right to apply for promotion as soon as he or she believes that he or she has fulfilled the requirements as set out in the Faculty Handbook. It seems that some faculty are still providing misinformation not contained in the Faculty Handbook to junior faculty.  Discussion continued to the question of not “sanitizing” signatures from letters submitted for a candidate.

c. Information Technology (Jeff Schnick, Chair)

Due to the scheduling of the NH primary, and the hosting of the presidential primary debates by Saint Anselm College, the installation of some of the smart rooms will be delayed.

d. Benefits (Maria McKenna, Chair)

No report

e. Grievance (James Mahoney, Chair)

No report

f. Social (Val McKeon, Chair)

Party tomorrow, 12/12 at 3:30 in the Pub.

g. Elections (David George, Chair)

No report

h. Academic Procedures (Maureen O’Reilly, Chair)

No report

i. Academic Freedom and Faculty Welfare (Ward Holder, Chair)

No report

j. Planning and Budget (Derk Wierda, Senate Representative)

Planning and Budget
A report was received on food cards

Budget parameters have been approved by Governing Board
     
One personnel request postponed from last year has been funded, another is under consideration

After a recommendation from the lay Board of Trustees, the Governing Board has increased the amount designated to depreciation by 200,000 (now a $600,000 increase per year)
   
k. Faculty Handbook (Derk Wierda, Chair)

The Handbook has been formatted and proofread by Public Relations.  As soon as it is available, it will be distributed to faculty.

IV. Old business

Academic Plan

Comments from faculty have been received .

Regarding implementation mechanism for the Academic plan  – the Dean of the College will create action items and appoint committees.

Normal approval processes will be in force.

President Weinreb asked that the Faculty Senate committees Tenure and Promotion seek out the New Faculty Forum to provide information on the processes.

Some topics of concern that need further discussion include:
    1.  Use of evaluations in tenure
    2.  Mentoring

Motion to approve the Academic Plan:
Moved by Wierda, seconded by Holder 12 in favor, 2 abstentions, 1 absent

V. New business

a. Dining Card – the Senate has been assured that it is resolved.
b. New Certificate Programs - Web Design, Computational Physical Science, and Neuroscience

Motion to approve the Certificate Programs:
 moved by Sen. Holder, seconded by  O’Reilly approved 11 yes, 3 abstention, 1 absent
 
During the discussion a concern was expressed.  The Neuroscience certificate requires only two courses less than the last Major that was approved. (9 courses to 11)  So the question becomes what is a certificate program and what is a major?  Some suggested that perhaps we should be bringing in Minors.  Others were concerned that with Minors and indeed with some heavy Certificates we were weakening the Liberal Arts nature of the institution.  How do we best insure that our students are liberally educated and not merely trained in a topic?  It was agreed that this issue merited further discussion at the February Meeting.

c. We also deferred until the February Meeting a discussion of the Meeting times of the Senate - perhaps Friday at 2:30 to encourage more colleagues to leave their name on the ballot and stand for the Senate.

VI. Adjournment Moved by Wierda, Seconded by O’Reilly Unanimous

Meeting Adjourned at 6:45 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

David B. George
Secretary of the Faculty Senate