Minutes for the Meeting of the Faculty Assembly

February 13, 2003

 

  1. L. Brown called the meeting to order at 3:10pm and lead the assembly in prayer.

 

  1. L. Brown stated that minutes from past meetings needed to be approved.  L. Brown asked for approval of the minutes from Nov. 14, 2002.  J. Van Speybroeck moved to approve the minutes.  R. Serianz seconded.  Assembly voted and motion carried.  L. Brown then called for an amendment to the minutes from the Nov. 21, 2002 asking for the correct spelling of Paul Koch’s name in point 3.  T. Burns motioned to approve the minutes with the amendment.  R. Serianz seconded.  Motion carried. 

 

  1. L. Brown stated a need for the second reading of the IRB proposal.  G. Bailey moved to accept the proposal.  R.  Serianz seconded.  L. Brown asked for discussion.  No discussion was had.  J. Van Speybroeck called for the question.  Motion carried. 

 

  1. J. Pollitz gave update on O’Keefe Library.  Two new changes are happening at the library.  The first includes the current negotiations with a new vendor to replace the Quad Link library automation system.  It is estimated that one year from now a new library automation system will be in place.  The new purchase will bring added material and software to SAU faculty, staff, and students.  Additional software will be purchased to allow the new system to search the web, database, and journal articles simultaneously.  The new system will cost the consortium approximately $800,000.  The library has been setting aside money in the past and is actively seeking grants to supplement the costs to the consortium.  Recently, $180,000 was secured from the River Boats.  Augustana is leaving the consortium.  SAU community members will still have the right to check out books from Augustana, however, just as they do at Palmer – another non-member of the current Quad Link consortium.  J. Pollitz did not consider the loss of Augustana great considering most of the interlibrary loans and checkouts come from public libraries, not Augustana’s library. 

 

  1. D. Bozik asked if Augustana’s decision was based off of cost.  J. Pollitz stated that the reason Augustana is leaving the current consortium is to join an academic consortium with other universities in the state of Illinois.

 

  1. W. Hixon asked what types of materials SAU students were checking out at the public libraries.  J. Pollitz could not tell from his data.

 

  1. J. Pollitz announced that he, D. Zeimet, and M. Pontarelli were discussing the consequences of the new U.S. Patriot Act.  C. Stevens asked what the act was.  J. Pollitz stated that the act was passed in Nov. of 2001 after 9-11.  The act gives law officials the right to conduct investigations that involve the identification of individuals who check out books from the library that may be used in acts of terrorism.

 

  1. J. Pollitz announced the second new addition to the O’Keefe library is $700 worth of DVD for SAU community member checkout.    Approximately 33 DVDs have been purchased and will be ready for checkout on Feb. 14th, 2003.  J. Pollitz stated that he went to SGA and notified them of the opportunity.  They were excited and asked if they could donate old DVDs from personal collections to the library’s collection.

 

  1. L. Brown stated that the assembly would now hear brief midterm reports from the various faculty committees held over from last semester.

 

  1. T. Burns stated that the Academic Support Committee was currently meeting and dealing with issues of IT and the bookstore.  The next step of the committee is to revise the policy and procedure handbook and discuss the Patriotic Act.  C. Stevens asked what concerns students had about the bookstore.  T. Burns said that students were having difficulties getting books on time for classes.  Many of the assembly members nodded and T. Burns took that as an indication to press further on issues concerning the bookstore.

 

  1. T. Schlabach provided an update on the Educational Policies Committee.  She stated the group was very dynamic.  To date, the committee has approved the Irish Studies and pre-law programs, while making changes to the MBA Health program.  The group has also been discussing the themes, reviewing changes to the admission standards, and discussing the proposed changes to the academic structure of SAU.

 

  1. B. Peters reported on the progress of the Faculty Development Committee.  This year, the committee has provided faculty orientation to new members, speakers, and funding for 11 FDC grants.  The assembly was reminded mini-grants are due by March 1st.

 

  1. L. Brown reported that the Grievance Committee has not met this semester since no grievances have been filed.

 

  1. J. Trapp reported for PTS.  The PTS committee has been meeting weekly all semester, and sometimes as much as twice a week last semester.  They have interviewed 9 first year faculty.  They have reviewed 15 second-year faculty, 4 of the 12 faculty between 2 and tenure years, 1 of 10 faculty applying for tenure, 5 of 14 tenured faculty, 5 applying for sabbatical, and 6 applying for promotion.

 

  1. A. Serianz asked if the committee had discussed the proposed change for FDC to take over tenure review.  C. Johnson stated that there was no consensus with the group, but they were discussing the idea.
  2. R. Dye reported on the Student Life Committee.  The committee has been working on a justification for its existence as well as issues of security concerning students outside of dorms.  R. Dye also noted students brought up concern for what a St. Ambrose University degree stands for.  A. Ambrose asked what students were saying.  R. Dye reported students felt some classes were too easy at SAU and there was no real pride in their acceptance to SAU because it appeared any type of student can be admitted.  Students also stated that they found peers who did not appear to work as much in classes as they had; yet they still pass the course.  Overall, R. Dye stated that the morale of the students was low and they didn’t feel good about being an SAU student.  Again, R. Dye noted that students raised this initial concern last fall.

 

  1. D. Bozik asked if a proposal was emerging from the Student Life Committee.  R. Dye said they were currently formulating a description of the committee and trying to decide if concerns about admissions were within its jurisdiction and then whether that change should be added to the description.  The committee will provide a revised description of the committee at the March meeting.

 

  1. P. Jacobson reported on the Teaching Center Advisory Board.  Currently, the board subscribes to 3 publication, held a faculty in-service in August, co-sponsored the new faculty orientation with FDC, maintains a web page, is working with the library staff on activities for IL 101, held a forum on plagiarism, holds 3 teaching circles, provides teaching tips via email, and is scheduling spring presentations and speakers.

 

  1. K. Quinn reported on the Board of Studies Committee.  The board holds 2 big meeting a year to review student files.  They then meet on a monthly basis to address student appeals.  At a meeting in Jan. they reviewed 92 cases due to low GPA.  22 students were dismissed.  49 were placed on probation, 15 were removed, and no action was taken with 6. 

 

  1. D. Bozik asked if numbers were changing.  K. Quinn stated that fewer 1st year students were referred.  D. Bozik asked if they anticipated 180 to 200 referrals for the entire year.  K. Quinn said no, because many of the reviews for next semester will be the same individuals as before.

 

  1. G. Bailey represented the Ad Hoc Faculty Handbook Committee.  Currently, they have not met this semester. 

 

  1. L. Brown asked for more business.  No other business noted.  L. Brown called for a motion to adjourn.  G. Bailey so moved.  B. Jacobson seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 3:50pm.

 

  1. L. Brown reminded the assembly of the next meeting on March 20th in Galvin 161 at 3:05pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

T. Schuster