Meeting of the School of Arts and Sciences

Meeting of the School of Arts and Sciences August 18, 2010

Meeting called to order at 10:05AM by Dean Gabrielli

1. New Faculty Introductions

SIS – Esther Simon: Fulbright Scholar from Hungary, George Stickell: STEM education program and STS courses
ETCMA – Jeff Greene: tenure-track in Professional Writing; Michelle Nichols: lecturer English Generalist; Misty York (part-time): instructor in Public Speaking and Business Communication; Erin Sledd: instructor Technical Writing/Composition/bridge classes for the Graduate Program
Biology/Chemistry/Physics – Dr. Matthew Wieand: Evolution and Biology

Nancy Reichert announced research assistant possibilities through the Honors Program

2. Nominations

Al Churella led nominations

Moderator and Secretary

Mark Stevens volunteered to serve as moderator. Nominations were closed on his name.
Nancy Reichert nominated Cheryl Shinall for Secretary. Nominations were closed on her name.
Results: Mark Stevens – moderator

Cheryl Shinall – secretary

Arts & Sciences Student Status Committee Member

The following faculty were nominated to serve as a member of the Student Status Committee:

Will Skutans
Joel Fowler
Peter Sakaris

Nominations were closed on said names. Voting was done by ballot.
Results: Peter Sakaris will serve on the Student Status Committee for the College of Arts & Sciences

Promotion and Tenure Committee (3 faculty needed)

Dean Gabrielli advised that it is best for full professors to serve on this committee

Meghan Dillon will serve on the ACC peer committee

Russ Patrick will serve on the ETM peer committee

James Whitenton will serve on the CSE peer committee

2. Old Business

Dean Gabrielli stated that only two classes have been held in Burruss since its renovation

Nominating Committee

Dean Gabrielli stated there was no formal mechanism for people who might like to serve on the nominating committee.
Mark Stevens suggested the moderator can do this. The moderator can contact faculty in order to avoid coming to meetings and not getting nominations from the floor.
Al Churella suggested consulting with department chairs for recommendations
Call for a motion to make it the duty of the faculty moderator to be proactive in seeking candidates for Arts & Sciences positions

Discussion:

Dean Gabrielli stated this would mean modifying the by-laws because there is a nominating committee in the by-laws
Joel Fowler suggested Mark Stevens and Dean Gabrielli change the wording for the next meeting

Motion withdrawn. Mark Stevens and Dean Gabrielli will make a change to the by-laws and bring back to faculty for a vote.

Committee for Salary Issues

Nancy Reichert sent a report to all A&S faculty that details the results of the committee's findings. In sum, because we are brought in within lower boundaries than other faculty at the university, it makes it difficult to get salary adjustments fairly.
It was further explained that the multipliers used for salary increases support higher ranked salaries already. Business faculty is 40% higher than A&S faculty.
Joel Fowler added that the range is also multiplied which makes the difference in salaries even higher
Bernice Nuhfer-Halten suggests a procedure be implemented to make sure there is equity
Al Churella stated there are two definitions of out of equity; one with the university and one within the discipline
After much discussion over when and how A&S should communicate with Administration, a motion was called for the committee report to be forwarded to the VPAA with a request to reconstitute the membership of the university salary committee.

AMENDMENT: add: reconstitute the committee in a balanced way

AMENDMENT: add: reconstitute the committee in a balanced way this semester or as soon as possible

AMENDMENT: add: the committee be constituted in a way that represents the make-up of the university

Julie Newell changed her motion to Nancy Reichert, Tom Rotnem, Meg Dillon and Bill meet to draft suggestions of motion and resolution to be brought back to the body. Properly second.
Call to question. Motion carries.

3. New Business

None

Dr. Churella turned the meeting over to Dean Gabrielli

4. Updates

Dean Gabrielli showed the current enrollment numbers to date for the university:
One week ago: 3800
This morning – 5100 and still growing
Projected 5400-5700
Most sections are closed and there is more pressure to do more with less. There have been faculty added but not at a capacity that we need. Enrollment numbers will continue to rise until next week.

Growth in A&S based on numbers from spring 2010

A&S teaches 38% of credit hours and 44% of the student hours. Dean Gabrielli explained we get more of the workload because of the core classes.
According to the credit hours we are understaffed with 34% of the faculty make-up but this was already known. Dean Gabrielli is grateful to the department chairs for finding excellent part-time faculty
The concern is that A&S has the smallest number (11%) for majors and although the number has been growing it still is not where it should be. A comprehensive university should have more than 11% of the students majoring in arts and sciences. Dean Gabrielli notes that is good that we are building relationships with our current students but we want our numbers to grow.

Question: Is comprehensive university in the new strategic plan?

Response: Not formally but in the plan we are operating under it is in the plan and being comprehensive is still the goal of the VPAA.

5. Webpage

Dean Gabrielli stated that the webpage has been revamped. It still has a link for faculty and staff but promotion and tenure information can no longer be found here because it is all on the VPAA's webpage. The address is spsu.edu/arts.

6. Campus Changes

The following changes affect the College of Arts & sciences the most:

Building H

IT has moved to the bottom level of Building H
Physics has been moved to Building H
New labs
Front office
Faculty should be moving in soon. Dr. Patterson stated everything should be in place by Monday and there will be an open house soon.
The open computer lab has been moved to the library

Building E

With Physics moved there is now space in Building E renovations will begin this semester for labs for Biology

Building J

The ATTIC has moved to the lower level of the Student Center
The space is now a classroom for the Business Department and 6 offices

3 for CSE
3 for A&S
2 for ETCMA
1 for SIS

These should be ready by the end of the week
It also frees up office on the 3^rd floor.

Tutoring Center has been moved to ATTIC

6. Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Dean Gabrielli stated that this department gives the illusion of being two separate departments. Biology and Chemistry are together because of the overlap and are located in Building E. Physics and Astronomy do not have much overlap but have been placed together. To the students, this will look like two departments but organizationally, it is only one. In terms of budget, they are separate with the exception of travel and phones. There will soon be part-time secretary for Biology and Chemistry but we cannot convince the need for a complete split. Mark Sugowski will be in Phil Patterson's old office and Dean Gabrielli will still be in charge of Chemistry.

7. Hiring of professional advisors

Dean Gabrielli explained that CSE got a grant to hire its professional advisor. Arts & Sciences sort of has a professional advisor but not really. Jon Lindsay serves for undeclared majors. A&S does not need one because right now the faculty outnumber the students. ETM will get a professional advisor and ARCH will get one as well.

Faculty are still obligated to advise and there is a big push to improve advising because faulty are still the frontline for the students

Question: Is there a consideration for Psychology faculty?

Response: They advisement numbers are still manageable so no.

8. STEM Mini Grants

Dean Gabrielli explained this is a way to introduce innovative ways to promote STEM education, performance and recruitment

A & S has some

K-16 Learning communities
have a relationship that includes faculty and K-12 teacher with a focus on helping K-12 teachers
STEM gateway course improvements
Innovative teaching
Announcement will go out for RFPs

Dean Gabrielli encourages interested faculty to apply

9. George Stickell

Dean Gabrielli introduced George Stickell to the faculty and allowed him the opportunity to speak to the faculty:

Reports to the BOR to allow them to judge whether or not SPSU needs a teacher education program for STEM
Exciting opportunity because there is not enough training for Georgia teachers
Need to make sure our program is its own program and not a mirror image of KSU
Establishing bridges and connections with:

GA Science Teacher Association

Willing to help SPSU faculty prepare presentations for their annual meeting

Georgia Council for Teachers of Mathematics
Georgia Department of Education

Standards and outcomes for the state

Student recruitment and interest
Establishing an advisory committee
Will be sending an email to faculty soon with further details
Office located in D-133

Dean Gabrielli anticipates a big success with this program based on the work George Stickell has done so far.

10. Announcements

Dean Gabrielli announced that after 33 years at SPSU he will be retiring after this year (June 30).
Raj Sashti announced that Esther Simon is a scholar-in-residence and is available for guest lectures.
Phil Patterson announced that training for advising will begin this fall. The training will include clarification of information on policies. Please look out for emails regarding registration
Julie Newell announced the CTE Open House Thursday, August 19, 2010 after the faculty meeting. Schedule of programs will be available. Additionally, please come to the lecture Thursday, August 25 and announce to your students. Muhammad Yunus, pioneer in micro banking and Nobel Prize Winner will be on campus and we want to be sure the room is full. Cost to the university was 500 of his books that will be for sale in the bookstore at $25. The lecture is open to the public. Lecture will be from 12-1:45PM and Book signing will begin at 12:45PM
Bernice Nuhfer-Halten announced the film series will resume and will be the last Thursday of each month. Additionally, Scholarship @ SPSU has a full slate of colleagues who will be presenting during brown bags this year.
Al Churella thanked Dean Gabrielli for his service the College of Arts & Sciences and the university.

Motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 11:44AM.

Motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 11:44am.