Minutes of Faculty Assembly

November 13, 2003

 

  1. R. Serianz called the meeting to order at 3:07 and led the Assembly in a moment of meditation.
  2. President Rogalski gave a report on the October Board of Directors meeting.  A review of the audit was done and he stated that the University did well last year.  Two decisions have been made, first to proceed with the new residence hall that will be at Ripley and High.  It should be completed by August 1st 2004.  Also a decision was made to purchase the Accel building since it was found to cost just as much to lease the building.  It was reported that we will continue with the plans to renovate the chapel and approval has been given to proceed with the new Health Science Building in cooperation with Genesis Medical Center.  Dr. Jack Smith has filled a vacancy on the board.  The Academic Affairs committee is pursuing merit awards for faculty, but this is still under study.  Dr. Rogalski finished by stating that he feels the institution is headed in a good direction.  Some questions were asked regarding the usage of space once the Health Science Building is complete.  Dr. Rogalski stated that faculty would be involved with their department heads, deans, and the Center for Excellence in Teaching to make recommendations.  He stated that accommodations will be made for the offices in Davis Hall first.  He also stated that the new residence hall would be for 1st and 2nd year students only.  He ended by stating that the January 18th meeting of faculty and staff would have an emphasis of spirituality on campus.
  3. R. Serianz asked for approval of the October 9th minutes.  J. VanSpeybroeck so moved.  L. Brown seconded motion.  Motion passed.
  4. R. Serianz announced that Brenda Peters had requested a special faculty assembly meeting for January 29th, 2004 at 3:05, to talk about the new work on themes. Ryan Dye will arrange for the room.
  5. Irene Kramer gave an update on the computer network.  Through the virtual private network faculty can now access my documents from home.  Please call the IT department if you have any problems doing this.  The department is now working on a technology plan to look at needs for the campus for the next 1-5 years.  A planning committee that is made up of members from various colleges, IT departments and the library will be meeting to discuss ideas.  Irene will let us know who is on the committee so faculty can send them their ideas and needs.  The department is also working on a single sign on password so that Beeline will have the same password that you have on your computer.  This should be in effect by January.  Blackboard will also be included in the future.  She also announced that there would be extended lab hours during finals week.  A faculty member asked why we need to change our password every three months and if it was necessary to have a 7 digit password. Irene explained that this was necessary for security reasons and that the 7 digit password is a standard.  Another question was asked about the Macintosh password issue.  Irene stated that this issue would be addressed right away.
  6. Dan Zeimet presented an update on Beeline.  He also mentioned the single use login and stated that there will no longer be a new pin number given for students each semester.  There will be a new mechanism is Beeline where the faculty member will check off when their advisees have been advised so that they will be allowed to register.  A faculty member will be able to check off more that one student at a time.  This will hopefully simplify things.  Someone asked the question about forgetting to check off the student after they had been advised.  Dan recommended that you check them off as soon as you advise them and he encouraged everyone to use Beeline while you are advising to make sure classes are available.  R. Serianz asked if there was any way for faculty to get information on more than 1 student at a time and could the names be on the transcript.  Dan stated that on the next upgrade faculty should be able to access more than 1 student at a time.  He will also ask the IT department about getting names on the transcripts.  It was also asked if the upgrades would be improved in regards to degree audits.  He stated that they are in the process of cleaning up the current information and working with IT on layout.  Please let him know about any problems you are having.
  7. Owen Rogal presented a PTS report. The following motion was presented “In order to be in compliance with the Commission of Institutions of Higher Learning (A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) requirement for a published statement on scholarship, the Promotion, Tenure, and Standards Committee moves that the faculty accept the document Scholarship at St. Ambrose University:  A report of the Promotion, Tenure, and Standards Subcommittee on Scholarship at S. Ambrose University Fall 2002 and requests the posting of the report on the Vice President for Academic Affairs’ web page.” T. Schlabach moved, S. Cassady seconded. J. VanSpeybrock called the question.  Motion approved.
  8. Andrew Smith reported on the Academic Programs Termination Committee Report.  The recommendations of this committee were distributed to the faculty.  He asked whom this report should go to?  J. Trapp moved that the report be accepted and forwarded to the president.  J. Cook seconded the motion.  A friendly amendment was made to include that the report also be sent to the board and appropriate administration.  R. Wastyn called the question.  Motion accepted with the amendments.
  9. Tom Burns presented on the Academic Support Committee Handbook description.  He made the motions to:  Revise section 2.2.7 of the Faculty handbook to the following:  2.2.7.  Academic Support:  Reviews policies affecting students and faculty developed by the following offices at St. Ambrose University:  The Library, the Information Technology Office, the Student Success Center, the Financial Aid Office, the Admissions Office, the Bookstore, the Career Development Office, the Office of Records and Registration and the Business Office.  Reviews and evaluates annual reports of these offices and meets with directors of these offices at least once very three years.  The Committee addresses concerns about the policies and procedures of the above offices raised by members of the campus community.  The committee makes annual policy recommendations and prioritizes academic needs to the appropriate officers and directors and to the Faculty Assembly.  2.2.7.1 Membership includes two administrators (ex officio) appointed by the Academic Vice-President; four faculty members:  one each from the college of Education and Health Sciences and the College of Business and two from the College of Arts and Sciences elected to two-year overlapping terms.  Three students will be named by the Deans, one from each of the colleges, selected from students in good academic standing.  If there is a separation of the Health Sciences departments from the Education departments by the replacement of the College of Education by two colleges (likely the College of Education and the College of Health Sciences), section 2.2.7.2 should be change to:  Membership includes two administrators (ex officio) appointed by the Academic Vice-President; six faculty members:  one each from the college Education, the College of Health Sciences and the College of Business and three from the College of Arts and Sciences elected to three-year overlapping terms.  Fours students will be named by the Deans, one from each of the colleges, selected from students in good academic standing.  B. Jacobson seconded the motion.  T. Schlabach motioned to table the motion due to some new information that would be presented at the next meeting by the Faculty Handbook Committee.  R. Wastyn seconded the motion.  There was a faculty vote with 37 in favor of tabling the motion.  The motion was tabled till the next meeting.  There was then much discussion about communication between the Faculty Handbook Committee and other committees, and about the role of the Faculty Handbook Committee.  It was suggested that the motion presented by T. Burns be forwarded to the Faculty Handbook Committee and that communication methods be investigated.  It was also suggested that the Faculty Handbook Committee needs to distribute more information to the faculty about their meetings.
  10. C. Stevens moved to adjourn the meeting.  J. Stauf seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 4:23 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted

Renae Harroun, Secretary

Faculty Assembly.