Present: V. Aceto, J. Bartow, N. Belowich-Negron, C. Carr, H. Charalambous, S. Doellefeld, K. Douglass, B. Dudek, P. Eppard, L. Evens, M. Fasco, S. Friedman, M. Gallant, M. Genkin, R. Gibson, F. Hauser, K. Hitchcock, R. Hoyt, R. Irving, S. B. Kim, B. Levine, A. Linken, C. MacDonald, M. Martinez, D. McCaffrey, G. Newman, J. Pipkin, J. Place, C. Santiago, L. Schell, D. Shub, R. Toseland, E. Turner, J. Uppal, S. Webber, L. Williams, E. Wulfert

Guests: R. Farrell

Chair Wulfert called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.

1. Approval of Minutes
Under President's Report on page 1, the second paragraph, change "both" to "overall". The third paragraph should read: "New York State will have a $3-9 billion deficit, announced the President. The governor has requested $54 billion from the federal government. It is not certain if the State will receive this amount. Negotiated salary increases were included in the 2000-01 budget, President Hitchcock said. There has been an increase of 62 percent in utilities over the past two year. No supplemental budget has been approved for this year. The Governor and Legislature are now planning for the 2002-03 budget year. The Budget Director asks that the 2002-03 SUNY budget be no more than this year. The University must look at the strategic plan and focus on areas that must receive investment."

On page 2, the last sentence in the first paragraph, change "is" to "are".

There being no further corrections, the October 29, 2001, University Senate Minutes were approved as corrected.

2. President's Report
President Hitchcock reported on her meeting with the Cyprus delegation.

The Governor will release his Executive Budget in mid-December, the President said. The 2002-03 budget will be the same as the 2001-02 budget. The 2002-03 budget will not include negotiated salary increases. Vice President Stec is looking at utility conservation, she reported. Provost Santiago noted that the price of natural gas has been going down, while the price for electricity has not. The University is trying to renegotiate these contracts. The Provost also noted that the State allocates approximately 25 percent of the University's operating budget.

The University has received $25 million of total giving from private funds, which are frequently designated funds.

The President reported on the Life Sciences Building cornerstone laying. There is $20 million of private funding to fund the Life Sciences Building. The University would like to establish $12 million for faculty endowment. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D'Ambra pledged $1 million to match donations by the faculty, staff and friends, the President announced.

The President announced a Memorial Service for those in the November airline crash on Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Ballroom.

3. University Faculty Senate Report
Professor Turner had nothing to report. The next meeting will be held in January.

4. Chair's Report
Chair Wulfert reported on the Faculty Forum. The issue of making the minor optional had a lively discussion.

There was a discussion at the last Executive Committee meeting of the potential need to review the Faculty Bylaws, reported Chair Wulfert. She asked the Council Chairs to review the Bylaws and bring them to conformance.

Chair Wulfert reported on a listserv discussion in which the Fredonia Faculty Senate passed two resolutions on a tuition increase and a rational tuition plan. Other University Senates are reviewing this matter. This will be a topic at the January University Faculty Senate meeting.

Professor Aceto that it is an issue of a rationale funding policy rather than a rational tuition plan. There is a difference between what Fredonia is supporting and what the University Faculty Senate is supporting.

5. Council Reports
a. CPCA: Professor Toseland reported that CPCA continues to meet.
b. EPC: Professor McCaffrey reported on EPC discussion of its role in the budget process and on URPAC. EPC also discussed the student survey.

c. GAC: Professor MacDonald reported on an assessment discussion; uniform policy problems with the 899 courses; and a discussion of student petitions and new programs.
d. UAC: Professor Hoyt reported for Professor Dalton. There are items under New Business. UAC discussed the issue of Incompletes.
e. RES: Professor Dudek reported that RES is working on internal funding.
f. LISC: Dr. Doellefeld reported that there is an item under New Business.
g. CAF�: Ms. Place had nothing to report.
h. ULC: Dr. Carr stated that three subcommittees were established: look at ways to reconnect retirees with the University; improving and enhancing school spirit; and re-examine suggestions made by Middle States. ULC heard a presentation on NYPRIG.

6. Old Business
There was no Old Business.

7. New Business
a. Council Changes. Chair Wulfert explained the changes. The changes were moved, seconded and approved.
b. Senate Bill No. 0102-03. Professor Dalton explained the Bill. Mr. Gibson stated that this Bill would clarify the intent for student abroad programs. This Bill would not cover a student taking credits at another institution and then taking 39 Albany credits overseas. Mr. Gibson stated that this Bill would clarify the intent for study abroad programs. It was suggested that advisors be informed about this Bill. It was moved that this could be achieved through advisorship rather than the Bill.

The question was called on this: 13 in favor; 9 against. The motion was defeated.

It was noted that this is routinely waived. Students look at the requirements ahead of time and check with their advisors.

The vote on the Bill had 2 votes against it. The Bill was approved.

It being 5 p.m., it was moved to extend the Senate meeting by 10 minutes. The motion was seconded and approved.

c. Senate Bill No. 0102-04: Proposal to Establish a Joint Degree Involving the BA in Public Policy and the Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA). Professor MacDonald reported that GAC and UAC both approved this Bill. Professor McCaffrey noted that this Bill would clean up any anomalies. There are 40 public policy majors. Will there be any impact on political science or economic students who want to pursue this? This Bill would only affect a few students, said Professor McCaffrey, and no additional resources are need. It is not expected that a student in political science would move to this program. And it will not affect slots for the BA/MPA students. Professor Dalton reported that, in terms of political science, Anne Hildreth answered those kinds of questions.

It was moved and seconded to approve the Bill. The motion was approved.

d. Senate Bill No. 0102-05: Proposed Amendment A to Senate Bill No. 0001-02 (University at Albany Policy for the Responsible Use of Information Technology). Dr. Doellefeld reported that this piece was absent when the original Bill was passed last year. It had been suggested to remove this part and submit later.

Mailings from departments were discussed in the Executive Committee meeting, stated Professor MacDonald. She suggested changes. Dr. Doellefeld noted that if a person volunteers to have their name on a listserv, they could always unscribe to it. In discussing telephone broadcast messages, it was noted that this was outside of the scope of LISC. There will probably not be a general listserv for students as this Bill is designed to deal with groups. It has not been resolved as to who will monitor this.

Would it be permissible for a student or faculty member to conduct a survey via e-mail? Dr. Doellefeld stated that if suggested wording were provided, he would add it to the Bill. An official UAlbany notice would need either Presidential or Vice Presidential approval. Senators discussed suggested wording for official University approval. It was moved and seconded to change Vice Presidential approval to Provost approval. Mr. Levine opposed the change because the Vice Presidents need to send communications to faculty and students. Restricting it to just the Provost would cause more problems. Other Senators registered opposition to the amendment and policy. It was noted that other institutions have policies like this and are much more restrictive.

The vote on the amendment to change to Provost approval: 1 in favor; majority opposed. The amendment was defeated.

Is this policy meant to prohibit instructors from typing in addresses and sending out? No, Dr. Doellefeld referred back to the proposed amendment. Campus e-mail is generally intended for direct communication from one individual to another or to a selected group of closely associated individuals. For example, mailings from advisors to advisees, from academic departments to their respective majors, from faculty members to students in their courses, mailings from department chairs to their department faculty, from unit directors to their staff, from Human Resources to groups of campus employees, and from committee chairs to their members are appropriate.

Vote on second amendment: 18 in favor; no opposition.

The vote on the Bill with the amendment: 6 in favor; 18 opposed; 1 abstention. The Bill was defeated.

8. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
 

Lillian S. Williams
Secretary