The resolution from APC called for extending the Pass/Fail (P/F) policy used in the Spring 2020 semester through Fall 2020. This would allow students a P/F option for any class for which they request it, and allow a student to receive a “P” for any grade of “D” or above. The rationale for extending this policy is that public health emergency conditions still exist, as do student problems with access to technology for distance learning. In addition, communication failures at the beginning of the semester led students to believe they would have in-person classes when, in fact, they do not.
A question was raised about whether other schools are doing this. APC member, Senator Whittinghill, reported that a significant number are. Most discussion then focused on whether “D” or “C” should be required for the “P” grade. Some senators suggested that we could simply extend the deadline for selection on the existing P/F policy in the catalogue. This calls for a Pass to equal a grade of “C” or better.
After extensive discussion, the resolution was tabled and APC was directed to revisit it after consulting with the Student Government Association (SGA).
Committee chair, Senator Wang, reported that director of Institutional Effectiveness, Lauren Graves, attended the last committee meeting to give an update on the Council on Post-secondary Education (CPE) process for approval of new programs. Result of this discussion was that, in the future, whenever the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee (FSCC) approves a new program proposal, it will notify Ms. Graves.
Senator Wang presented a proposed revision of the FSCC forms to take the dean signature line off new course and program change proposals and put it on the tracking document for any such proposals approved by the committee. Senator Whittinghill, who chaired FSCC the previous two years, noted that the dean signature line was there to make sure that deans were in the loop on changes in their colleges.
No action was taken on this item, and Chair Wang agreed to invite Senator Whittinghill to the next FSCC meeting to assist in their discussion of this issue.
PCC Chair, Senator Valentine, reported that the committee met last Friday, October 9, and learned that committee members were still gathering information for a resolution on faculty salary issues. In order to deal with that issue, another meeting was held Tuesday October 13 to work on that resolution. In addition, at the next meeting, October 23, the committee will vote on a proposed policy on hiring of deans and chairs.
At this point, Senate President Keeler noted that the provost search committee has met once, but did not meet in the past week. Derek Greenfield is in charge of the search. There is no job ad or timeline yet.
Also, in President Keeler's meeting with the provost he asked about the tenure/promotion calendar for this year, which has not been distributed. The provost told him that the tenure/promotion calendar comes from the Board of Regents. President Keeler stated that this is not true, and other senators affirmed this fact. President Keeler is supposed to meet with President Brown next week, and at that time he will push the question of the tenure/promotion process.
Senator Wang asked if he could also ask about the status of course proposals approved by Senate, and President Keeler said that he would.