Present: C. Carr, M. Dalton, S. Doellefeld, B. Dudek, C. MacDonald, D. McCaffrey, J. Pipkin, J. Place, C. Santiago, R. Toseland, E. Turner, L. Williams
 

Chair Elect Pipkin called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. He announced that the Fall Faculty Meeting would be held on October 31.

1. Approval of Minutes
On page 2 under Council Reports, GAC report should read: "Professor MacDonald reported that GAC met." On page 3, delete "There was no Old Business." The paragraph should read: "Last year there was a concern about ethical issues pertaining to ROTC. What Senate Councils would deal with these issues? It was noted that the first and second year courses are open to all students while the third and fourth year courses (which are not taught on this campus) are restricted. The Council discussed several options for further involvement by Senate Councils." There being no further corrections, the September 10 Executive Committee minutes were approved as amended.

2. President's Report
Provost Santiago, reporting for President Hitchcock, read a statement from the President to the University Community regarding the Faculty Meeting being rescheduled.

The University has received a directive from the Director of the Budget through the Chancellor's office, reported Provost Santiago. The budget request for 2002-03 is due to the Chancellor by October 26 and should not go beyond the current budget amount. Albany's budget allocation for the current academic year included resources for UUP faculty negotiated increases. There are some items that are part of the supplemental budget that will be included this year. EOP has taken a cut in their budget.

Security is a major issue and there are additional expenditures in this area. The University is also addressing safety issues on the east campus.

Provost Santiago announced that 48 teaching faculty and librarians would be welcomed to campus this year.

The Provost will be discussing with the Deans an incentive-based budget model for 2002. He will also bring the model to EPC and URPAC.

Turning to enrollment, the Provost announced that enrollment is good, especially at the graduate level. Albany has surpassed its scaled down enrollment targets. Stony Brook and Buffalo had an increase in their budgets because of tuition increases.

The Governor has requested $54 billion from the Federal government in face of the September 11 tragedy. There is a hiring freeze and State may ask for a mid-year correction to the budget.

Professor Turner asked if Albany would benefit from the drop in energy costs. Yes and Vice President Stec has been asked to look at implementing energy efforts. There will be a deficit, said Provost Santiago, but there may not be as deep a deficit as earlier anticipated.

3. University Faculty Senate
Professor Turner announced that there is a University Faculty Senate Meeting in Fredonia next week.

4. Chair's Report
Chair Elect Pipkin commended the work Chair Wulfert has done with Ms. McAuliff on the Senate web page.

5. Council Reports
a. CPCA: Professor Toseland noted that CPCA has scheduled its first meeting and will be meeting weekly.
b. EPC: Professor McCaffrey reported on a meeting with Provost before the last EPC meeting. They identified three general areas for discussion: the incentive-based budget; the issue of student satisfaction on campus; and outcome assessment. Professor McCaffrey will meet with the Provost to set in place the dynamics in which EPC will work with others concerning the Spring 2000 student survey. Professor McCaffrey will discuss the results with Institutional Research.

The Provost reported that there have been improvements regarding first and second year students and that Albany continues to rank third or fourth among the other University Centers. Student focus groups have been set up concerning the residence halls.
c. GAC: Professor MacDonald reported on a discussion with Assistant Provost Mumpower on assessment and the graduate program.
d. UAC: Professor Dalton reported that Dean Faerman asked UAC to discuss general education assessment (the Council is reviewing the work done last year). UAC is also considering residence requirements for students abroad; V grade; and anticipating a proposal to require a written syllabi. There is an item under New Business.

Professor Dalton reported that UAC is considering a proposal to eliminate minors as a requirement for graduation. It will be difficult for transfer students to complete their education in two years and advisement in the minor is spotty. UAC has asked for statistics on minors. Counselors have been asked to discuss this with students. This is a possible topic for discussion at a forum, he said. He noted that having a minor is a local requirement. It was suggested to use the CAS as a resource and each department, as well as students, be asked about eliminating the minor.
e. RES: Professor Dudek reported on that RES is organized for the year. RES has been collecting surveys on the centers and institutes; eight of the centers are defunct. The Council is developing a scheme to evaluate the centers.
f. LISC: Dr. Doellefeld reported that meeting dates are set and agenda items have been discussed. There will be an e-mail policy that is an addendum to what was passed last year. He reported on a discussion with Ms. Haile concerning multi-media web service.
g. CAF�: Ms. Place noted that CAF� would meet as needed.
h. ULC: Dr. Carr reported that ULC plans to meet every two weeks. He noted that Vice President Doellefeld charged the group. Concerns to be discussed include health issues, security issues and quality of life. Vice President Stec will be invited to the next meeting to address issues of snow removal, lighting, and disabled student needs. There were issues brought up about Middle States and if we are addressing the needs. Also want to address issues about food service.

6. Old Business
There was no Old Business.

7. New Business
a. University Senate Council Membership Changes. The changes were moved, seconded and approved to forward to Senate.
b. Faculty Forum Topics. Chair Elect Pipkin reported that he has four possible topics. The date has been changed from October 31 to either November 8 or 13. It was decided to hold the Forum on November 13.

The topics for consideration are: incentive-based budgeting; quality of the student experience; elimination or making optional the minor; and dealing with the events of September 11 and our national and campus response to terrorism. Chair Elect Pipkin thought that our campus responded very well to the topic of terrorism.

The members discussed the topic of the minor -- it may be premature; UAC should discuss it first; wait until the Spring; there are different things driving it; students coming from other institutions can not graduate in two years; and other institutions are being aggressive with SUNY students about completing general education requirements. It was noted that an initial presentation of the incentive-based budget was being made to the Deans this week. Professor McCaffrey reported on the EPC meeting where the student survey was discussed. EPC had a general concern about the numbers and will be looking at it during the Fall semester. There was a retention task force a couple of years ago that made many recommendations, reported Chair Elect Pipkin. Because of these recommendations, the Advisement Services Center has made measurable progress. This should be more focused. The students at the EPC meeting stated that some courses are not challenging. Students have expressed concern about the quality of faculty advisement. It was suggested to invite people from different areas to address concerns about the quality of life. Chair Elect Pipkin repeated members suggestions about major and minor advisement. Members suggested people to invite as speakers: Dean Faerman, John Downey, someone from English, Business, and Psychology.

b. Proposed Senate Bill: Revision of the Undergraduate "New General Education Program" Implementation Dates for Transfers. Professor Dalton noted that this deals with the fact that there will be students who enrolled in an institution before the year 2000 and did not anticipate the general education standards adopted in 2000. This new bill would allow these students to take general education courses at Albany. He noted that the last sentence of the Rationale gives the students the option of using the old or new requirements. The members agreed to send this back to UAC for further discussion. It was suggested to change the wording so that no institutions are named specifically. Professor Dalton will discuss with UAC. He noted that the bill, if approved by Senate, would accommodate students when they enter Albany in the Spring 2002 semester.

8. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lillian S. Williams
Secretary