ERFSA Senator Steven V. Winter
Report of the Chair of the Faculty (Vice Chair E. Acosta Lewis for Chair L. Krier)
- APARC working on Reorganization proposal; due on March 8th, ready in 3 weeks. Not tasked to approve or reject but provide feedback to Provost.
- APARC Chair reports formula for assigned time has been sent out; still working on formula for Dept Coordinators.
- Structure and Functions Committee looking at Models for Governance with reorganization; goal is having smaller committees and Senate.
Consent Iems:
- Emeritus Eligibility List through Fall 2023
Name Department
Bethke, Jennifer Art
Farriss II, Carl Physics and Astronomy
James, Matthew Geology
McCabe, Laurel Psychology
Business Items:
1. AAS & SAC: Academic Advising Policy; 2nd Reading – M. Balasek, A. LaDuke & D. Girman
- Policy has not been updated in 16 years. Cover letter was provided with rationale for changes:
reflects advising redesign effort that began in Spring 2018 / remove outdated practices / establish guardrails, prioritize commitments and separate policy from non-policy issues.
- Graduation requirements overall is responsibility of faculty advisors. Professional academic advisors are responsible for GE graduation requirements.
- Approved unanimously
2. EPC: Policy for Suspending or Discontinuing Academic Programs; 2nd Reading Cont’d – M.
Milligan
- Language added to specify who can initiate proposals, rights of programs to receive a
consultative hearing at EPC, and allowing Senate to refer proposals to other committees such as
the Academic Planning Committee.
- Changes made since 1st Reading: Separate documents for policy and procedure / Provost may
initiate process / Executive Committee can act on behalf of EPC during the summer.
- Questions/Concerns - Statement that we now have the option of suspension, not just
discontinuance for majors / noted that suspension is still not an option for minors, concentrations, options, credit and certificate programs / Provost stated suspension is possible from the Chancellor’s Office policy, but SSU never had suspension in policy / New process of program review requiring an MOU gives more teeth when making these decisions versus in-general every department saying they do not have adequate funding resources / EPC should look at pattern of lack of faculty resources being a cause so they can refer to APARC for a broader conversation.
- Approved
3. EPC: French program suspension MOU (EPC); 1st Reading – M.Milligan
- Suspension immediately of admissions into the B.A, and Minor Programs due to low enrollment, the absence of tenure/tenure track faculty in the program and the inability to offer the courses required for completion.
- Questions/Concerns – There is a dearth already of foreign languages we teach, and now we are losing one of the few we have at a time when we want to increase international outreach / does new process make it too easy to suspend or discontinue programs?
4. Statewide Senators: SSU Resolution Supporting Academic Senate of the CSU AS3666-24
- Endorse Cal-GETC Transfer Pathway as required by Assembly Bill 928 and Opposition to
Changing CSU General Education Breadth System-wide Pattern at This Time to Match Cal-
GETC Pattern
- Waiver of First Reading Approved
- Approved Unanimously
Standing Reports:
1. President of the University – (M. Lee)
- President’s Meeting at Chancellor’s Office: Governor’s Budget Proposal defers 1% CSU
Compact increase for enrollment (2% in 20025-26 budget) / Cal-GETZ report / other
- Retention of students Fall to Spring increased / applications up by 5% from last year / Will have
6 Receptions around state for prospective students
- Professor Dan Corker - Biology received the Wang Family Excellence Award / 10K cites of his
research
2. Provost/Vice-President, Academic Affairs – (K. Moranski)
- Re-mentioned Dan Crocker and also spoke about Brent Hughes - Biology article in Nature on
Sea Otters which has received national press.
- Retention rate Fall to Spring has increased 1%; however, the third semester Fall to Fall has fallen to 73% (high 81%).
- Conversations with several school districts about dual enrollment programs.
- Sociology and Criminal Justice departments have un-impacted. Still have impaction in Nursing
and Psychology departments.
3. Associated Students Representative – (A. Lopez)
- ASSSU Elections are coming up. Please talk to students about running for offices.
4. Chairs, Standing Committees:
- Academic Planning, Assessment & Resources – (P. Amri)
- Charge to Review Reorganization Document as generating collaborative opportunities and
matched with resources to implement. Also how to access in 3-4 years to ascertain if it has meet its objectives.
Good of the Order:
Graduate Studies Mixer at Overlook after next AS Meeting on Feb. 15 / All are invited.