MINUTES
FACULTY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
December 4, 2001
Erlanson 304, 3 PM
PRESENT: Greg Trudeau, Joel Sipress, Greg Moore, and Hal Bertilson.
EXCUSED: Timothy Cummings.
MINUTES: Motion (J. Sipress/G. Moore) to approve the November 6 minutes of the Executive Committee passed.
NCA ACCREDITATION: Bob Carmack discussed the preparation of the Faculty Senate's portion of the report. The deadline for Faculty Senate material to Professor Carmack is May 1, 2002. The report serves as a document for planning. Where are we going beyond 2003 with special emphasis on multicultural, diversity, gender, technology and all constituencies. We are to describe the changes, strengths, and challenges. Description should be limited to what is necessary. B. Carmack will provide guidelines for writing which we can distribute to people and Councils asked to write sections.
CONCERNS RAISED IN 1993: Seven concerns were identified in the 1993 NCA report. A copy of the 1993 report and evaluation team report is available in the Library. These concerns need to be attended to in the 2003 report. They are:
1. There are numerous examples of the proliferation of majors and subcomponents of majors--options, programs, concentrations, components, minors, emphases, and foci--which also have small enrollments and even smaller numbers of graduates. This proliferation erodes the overall academic quality, is a drain on faculty resources, and results in offering of numerous courses that are cross-listed as both undergraduate and graduate.
2. The existing committee system appears to be excessively large and complex for the size of institution. There is a need to recognize and restructure the entire governance and committee structure to determine the best means by which faculty, students, academic staff and classified staff can be organized to fulfill their respective governance responsibilities.
3. The academic administrative structure should be reviewed and improved with responsibilities and compensation more closely allied.
4. The relationship between teaching and research expectations for faculty need to be clarified.
5. The 1983 NCA Report cited the dislocation of clerical and support staff as a concern. This Team seems the continued absence of these support services in certain areas as a serious impediment to the efficient functioning of the university.
6. The cutbacks in funding for the library have restricted holdings in both books and periodicals in several academic areas and have reduced the hours of operation and staff support.
7. While UW-S shows progress in its recruitment of women, it needs to continue efforts to recruit minorities.
ASSIGNMENTS: The following assignments were made. The due date for Executive Committee members to complete their assignments is mid-January.
1. Planning, Budgeting, and Review Council will be asked to write a report on the proliferation of majors and submajors. The PBRC will also be asked to write about the role of the Faculty Senate in governance, academic and curriculum matters.
2. Hal Bertilson will write the report on a large and complex committee structure for an university our size. H. Bertilson will note that we did cut the number of committee members on committees.
3. Greg Trudeau will write on shared governance. He will write prose or bullets on what needs to be strengthened.
4. The Personnel Council will be asked to write the report on clarification of teaching and research expectations for faculty. They will be asked to hold public hearings in order to develop their response. The PBRC will also be asked to write about the role of the Faculty Senate in governance, academic and curriculum matters.
5. Bob Carmack will write the report on academic administrative structure.
6. Academic Affairs Council will also be asked to write about the role of the Faculty Senate in governance, academic and curriculum matters.
7. Graduate Council will be asked to write about the role of the Faculty Senate in governance, academic and curriculum matters.
8. Honors Program will be asked to report on their mission.
9. International Education Committee will be asked to report on their mission.
10. General Education Committee will be asked to write a substantive report on both general education and the special emphasis on the liberal arts.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:
1. Matt Farber asked to be replaced on the RSC Policy Board. Greg Trudeau has assumed that position on the RSC Policy Board.
2. Ken Weeks asked to be replaced on the Academic Computing Committee. Maureeen Salzer will take that position on the Academic Computing Committee.
3. Provost Schelin asked the Executive Committee to rule on whether the MSW should be considered a terminal degree for promotion purposes. The Executive Committee ruled that the MSW be considered a terminal degree provided that the applicant for promotion provide evidence that comparable campuses use that standard for promotion.
DECEMBER SENATE MEETING:
1. Bob Carmack will attend the December Senate meeting and will be given a slot on the agenda.
2. Jan Hanson will attend the December Senate meeting and will be given a slot on the agenda just before PBRC.
ADJOURNED.

Prepared by Hal Bertilson, Faculty Senate Secretary, 12-6-01