Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate holds first spring meeting

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Editor's note: For more detailed information, including meeting minutes, visit the Faculty Senate website

8:56 a.m., Feb. 12, 2013--The University of Delaware Faculty Senate held its initial meeting of the spring semester on Monday, Feb. 4, in Gore Hall.

Members of the Faculty Senate learned of new appointments in the Office of the Provost, were addressed by UD’s new director of athletics and recreation services and discussed faculty workload.

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In her remarks, Nancy Brickhouse, interim provost, lauded several new administrative appointments, including that of Domenico Grasso, who will become UD’s next provost on Aug. 15.

Other appointments in the Office of the Provost cited by Brickhouse included James Richards, vice provost for graduate and professional education; John Sawyer, interim associate provost for institutional research and effectiveness; and Ravi Ammigan, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars.

“I extend my congratulations to each and every one of these individuals,” Brickhouse said. “I look forward to working with them as they bring tremendous scholarship and research power to the University.”

Athletics

Faculty Senate President Sheldon Pollack, professor of legal studies, introduced Eric Ziady, director of athletics and recreation services, who fielded questions on the evolution collegiate sports at the NCAA Division I level.

NCAA Division I includes Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions, formerly classified as I-A, and Football Championship Subdivision universities, including UD, formerly classified as I-AA.

“The next big step will probably see the top four or five conferences setting themselves apart from the rest of the pack,” Ziady said. “When that happens there will be a tremendous realignment of Division I-A schools, as well as those at the top of Division I-AA.”

Ziady was asked if the University has plans to celebrate the accomplishments of Blue Hen quarterback Joe Flacco, who passed his way to most valuable player honors in leading the Baltimore Ravens to victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 4., in New Orleans.

“Right now, the only person happier than Joe Flacco is his agent,” Ziady said. “We are trying to get him back on campus this spring.”

Faculty workload

Pollack also discussed the consideration of faculty workload during the promotion and tenure process. 

The Office of the Provost and the Faculty Senate Committee on Promotion and Tenure have both expressed willingness to review initial college and departmental documents concerning this issue, Pollack said.

“It may be that some departments are going to wait and see how the contract is negotiated and whether workload remains part of that agreement,” Pollack said. “In the meantime, if a department or college wants to change its promotion and tenure document, it should submit such documents to both the Office of the Provost and the Senate Promotion and Tenure Committee.” 

Pollack also noted that the Faculty Senate Committee on Student and Faculty Honors reminds everyone that nominations for the Francis Alison Award are due by March 1 at the respective dean’s offices. 

Other issues discussed by Pollack included class schedules, changes for future Winter Sessions and a future report by the Ad Hoc Committee on Responsibility Based Budgeting. 

Consent agenda

Senators approved several consent agenda items, including revisions to undergraduate degree concentration requirements, majors and minors in music, biomedical engineering, coaching science and medical diagnostics. Also approved were changes to the catalog for athletic training, and deletion of the minor in leisure management services.

Graduate level revisions were approved for organizational development and change, accounting, entrepreneurship and technology innovation, and historic preservation programs.

At the doctoral level, revisions in urban affairs and public policy and disaster science and management, and a graduate program policy statement for the Department of Physical Therapy also were approved.

Regular agenda

Name changes approved include the master of science/master of business administration (MBA) program in organizational development and change (formerly organizational effectiveness, development and change) and the major in health sciences (formerly health studies). 

A request for a new dual degree master’s/MBA program in international business, effective Sept. 1, also was approved.

New programs at the undergraduate level approved by the senate include a bachelor of science in entrepreneurship and technology innovation. Senators also gave the green light to establishing a new major leading to the honors bachelor of arts degree in public policy. Both are effective Sept. 1. 

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the UD Faculty Senate is March 4, in 104 Gore Hall.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

 

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