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FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

September 13, 2005

Dr. Alan Kaufman, Chair of the Senate, called the meeting to order at 3:55 p.m.

I. REVIEW OF MINUTES

Minutes of the May 24, 2005, Senate meeting were accepted without objection.

II. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT:

A. Acknowledgments and Announcements: Dr. Kaufman thanked Dr. George Cronk for his many years of service as Chair of the Faculty Senate, Professor Laurie Hodge for serving as the Senate Parliamentarian, and Professor Michael Orlando as the Senate Course Description Editor. He announced that Professor Joan Cohen will replace Professor Joan Dalrymple (maternity leave) and Dr. Dorothy Altman will replace Dr. Janet Henderson (sick leave) for the Fall semester. Professor Michael Orlando will serve as Chair of the Committee that will investigate having a final exam week at the end of the semester.

B. Changes.

1. A recent faculty survey showed that fewer faculty members looked to the Senate than to the BCCFA or to Department Heads for leadership. To address this, the Senate Officers have decided to distribute Senate minutes and agendas to the entire faculty. Dr. Kaufman encouraged Senators to continue to report to their respective department matters regarding Senate issues.

2. Civility: Robert’s Rules of Order will continue to be used.

a. No personal attacks on individual people will be allowed.

b. Senators should feel encouraged to speak up.

3. When Dr. Cronk decided not to run again for Chair of the Senate, Dr. Kaufman went around and spoke to people and found that many felt too much time was spent on individual curriculum items.

Dr. Kaufman made a motion which proposes that the Senate not discuss each CC resolution unless someone wants to question a particular item. New curricular items will continue to be distributed to the Senate, as a package, but individual items will only be discussed and voted on if individual members bring them up. With this, we ask the Curriculum Committee to be more diligent in their work, and Dr. Kaufman will request from Vice President Porter time on the agenda of the year’s first Curriculum Committee meeting to speak to them about this Senate change and its implications for the Curriculum Committee

Motion:

PASSED: 35 – 6 – 5.

C. On the subject of Assessment, Dr. Kaufman reported that he talked with President Winn and Dr. Redmond about the Assessment Framework that had been written by Dr. Redmond. President Winn said that the report should go to the Board and needed to be approved at the July 7 Board of Trustees meeting. He explained that the part written about Assessment regarding faculty should come to the Senate first. Dr. Winn and Vice President Redmond agreed that the report that goes to the Senate from the sub-committee on assessment will, after it has been read, discussed, voted upon, and finally approved, replace what was previously in the framework on the subject of assessment of student learning objectives.

III. COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Sub-Committee on Assessment: Professor Joan Dalrymple and Dr. Maria Fressola gave the following report:

The Learning Outcomes Assessment committee, a sub-committee of Senate, was formed in Oct. 2004, to develop a Student Outcomes Assessment Plan. The initial membership of the committee was Dr. Judi Davis, Professor Denise Jerman, Professor Lenore Lerer, Dr. Maria Fressola and Professor Joan Dalrymple. The committee met frequently and the plan was revised several times following input from the executive body of Senate. In May 2005, the plan was not ready for submission to the Senate for its approval. An Assessment Framework, developed by Dr. Redmond, was presented to the Board of Trustees at the July meeting and approved. This Assessment Framework was later shared with the members of the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee. The Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee feels the Assessment Framework, developed by Dr. Redmond, is not consistent with the Learning Outcome Assessment Plan draft of the Senate. The Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee met with Dr. Redmond during August 2005 to discuss our concerns about the Assessment Framework and how the plan developed by the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee would fit into this Assessment Framework. Dr. Redmond assured the sub-committee that the Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan developed by this committee and approved by the Senate would be incorporated in its entirety into the final Assessment Framework document. It is the intention of the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee to submit the Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan to the Senate members for its review and approval at the October meeting.

IV. OLD BUSINESS: Dr. Peter Dlugos gave the following report on Middle States:

The Steering Committee set out to create an environment of reflection, one in which questions are openly raised and explored. We’ve emphasized dialogue, even when it was not efficient to do so.  We set out to create a Self-Study process that would lead to institutional renewal. I’m happy to report that the New Strategic Plan 2005-2008 was heavily influenced by Self-Study findings.

Draft chapters are currently being reviewed by the leadership of the bargaining units on campus, the Faculty Senate leadership, the Executive Council, and the Board of Trustees.  If you read Alan's email to the BCCFA this afternoon, I want to remark that it is not accurate to say we were asked to change findings; a very careful and critical read is being done, and we have been presented with evidence that has the potential to change the analyses and findings.  From the standpoint of critical thinking, I see nothing inappropriate about this.

The draft report must be sent to James Linksz, Visiting Team Chair and President of Bucks Community College, by October 10th. Linksz visits Bergen on 10/24-25.

Open Forums will be on October 18th and 20th. (Rooms TBA)

V. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Dr. Gary Porter, Academic Vice President was introduced by the Chair and asked to say a few words. Dr. Porter spoke of some of the recent positions he has held as Dean of Academic Affairs, faculty member, and Department Head. He has expertise in Middle States Evaluation, Assessment, and Faculty Development. While at Bergen, he wants to assist with outcomes assessment, institutional assessment, accreditation, work to increase lines of communication, and increase lines of connection between faculty and administration.

B. Question was asked relating to released time for projects.

C. Professor Kathy Benz-Campbell was asked by Professor Bob Muller to ask if the Pledge of Allegiance could be recited at major College events in order to support our armed forces troops.

D. Question was raised about the Certificate of Achievement: the Certificates are only 16 credits; why does this student have to take the Basic Skills?

The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Professor Marjorie Webster

Secretary

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