PURDUE UNIVERSITY CALUMET

COUNCIL OF FACULTY DELEGATES

MINUTES

4th Meeting December 2, 1996

Present: Professors C. Chancey, R. Colon, S. Conners (Sergeant-at-Arms), A. Elmendorf, R. Evans, R. Foreman, J. Hack (Presiding Officer), J. Jennings, L. Mura, B. Pai, K. Pierce, L. Rittenmeyer, C. Sekhar, C. Stacy, S. Sil, S. Tickoo, W. Ting, C. Torres-Robles, J. Walker, G. Wegner, L. Willer, Vice Chancellor S. Singer, Vice Chancellor L. Bryant, Vice Chancellor G. Newsom, Chancellor J. Yackel, M. Dakich (Parliamentarian), J. Wermuth (Secretary),

Absent: Professors M. Dobberstein, D. Pick, R. Stankowski; J. Mitchell (Student Government)

I. The meeting was called to order by Professor Hack.

II. Professor Chancey moved the approval of the minutes of the November 4, 1996, meeting of the Council of Faculty Delegates. Professor Elmendorf seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes passed.

III. Professor Evans moved the acceptance of the agenda for the December 2, 1996, meeting of the Council of Faculty Delegates. Professor Elmendorf seconded the motion. The motion to accept the agenda passed.

IV. Chancellor's Report

Chancellor Yackel said that the state electorate had approved the constitutional amendment that will allow more aggressive investment of PERF funds. He said that proposed changes in the federal work study program will allow Purdue Calumet students to work in community service and literacy programs. He said that the university is reviewing its previous policy of awarding most work study funds to new students; and is considering increasing the percent going to continuing students. He said the policy change should permit academic departments to hire relatively more experienced, and thus more effective, work study students.

Chancellor Yackel said Fall Commencement will be held on Thursday, December 19, in the PER building beginning at 6:30 p.m. He said that about 500 students are eligible to participate and about 300 will do so. He said the Spring 1997 Commencement has been scheduled for Monday, May 12, 1997, and that it will be outdoors and in the evening.

Chancellor Yackel said that three committees had been established and their members appointed. He said that Mr. Ed Andrews will chair the academic program review committee for the renovation of Gyte and Gyte Annex; Professor Dennis Korchek will chair the academic program review committee for the restoration of the Anderson building, and that Professor Leslie Rittenmeyer will chair the athletic affairs review committee. He said that Professor Dan Dunn will chair the committee to review the Vision Statement, and that the Vice Chancellors are supplying him with names of persons willing to serve on the committee.

Chancellor Yackel said that the Indiana General Assembly is organizing for the 1997 session to begin in January. He said that the session will set the budget for the next biennium, and that the university will make its presentation before the House Ways and Means Committee in February.

Vice Chancellor Singer said that beginning in Spring 1997, the university will provide support for those developing grant applications. She said that a consulting firm based in Washington D.C. has been engaged for one year for this purpose, and that representatives will be on campus in January. She said that a university-wide poster session of scholarly activity will be held on campus in early February. In response to a question by Professor Elmendorf, it was reported that the number of enrolled students is down 6 to 7% relative to last year at this time, and that most of the drop is in continuing students. Both Vice Chancellor Singer and Chancellor Yackel urged those present to work with their continuing students to ensure their registration.

Vice Chancellor Newsom expressed his appreciation to the faculty for their participation in the Title IV enrollment monitoring effort during the present semester. He said that the monitoring revealed that 1200 students have had serious attendance difficulties, of whom 300 had withdrawn fully. He said that Assistant Vice Chancellor Pellicciotti will study the issue.

V. Special Business of the Day

Council Document 96-14 English Proficiency Requirement Research and Educational Policy Committee For Discussion

Professor Mura distributed copy of a revised version of Council Document 96-14 that included the English Proficiency Requirement for Associate Degree students. She reviewed the history of the English proficiency requirement; and in response to a question by Professor Jennings, said that the rationale for eliminating the requirement as presently stated, i.e., by assessing English proficiency by a single exit exam no longer suffices. She said that the faculty can create a new academic regulation based on more valid assessment practices if need be.

With no further discussion on the issue, Professor Mura moved Council Document 96-14 to action. Professor Conners seconded the motion. Professor Mura said that passing Council Document 96-14 at this time will put it in effect immediately; i.e., there would be no exit exam for the Fall 1996 semester. The motion to move Council Document 96-14 to action passed with one dissenting vote.

Professor Mura moved the adoption of Council Document 96-14. Professor Sekhar seconded the motion. Vice Chancellor Newsom asked what the policy was at other universities and around the system. Professor Sekhar said that no such policy existed elsewhere in the Purdue system. Vice Chancellor Singer said such an exam was rarely done anymore as writing now involves rewriting an original until it is satisfactory. Professor Mura concurred that a single sample is no longer considered to be a valid measure of proficiency as composition is now considered a “write and revise” process. Professor Jennings said that the document will allow the faculty to address the issue of English proficiency, but he also expressed concern about who would do so. Vice Chancellor Singer said that English proficiency should certainly be a concern of the Assessment Policy Advisory Committee, and she said the Office of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will ensure the issue stays current. Professor Mura said that the Research and Educational Policy Committee will concern itself with developing a new policy if needed. With no further discussion, the motion to approve Council Document 96-14 passed unanimously.

Council Document 96-15 General Education Research and Educational Policy Committee For Discussion

Professor Mura introduced Council Document 96-15, reviewed its history and its origins in the volunteer faculty committees A and B, and said that the requirements meet the general education philosophy approved by the Council. Professor Mura moved that Council Document 96-15 be opened for discussion. Professor Sekhar seconded the motion. The motion passed.

In reference to Item 3, Professor Elmendorf asked whether the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics or the academic department or school in which a particular program resides will decide what constitutes a collegiate level mathematics course. Professor Mura said that decision will reside with the academic department presenting the particular program. Vice Chancellor Singer said that “0” level courses will not meet the requirement for any program. In response to a discussion on the collegiate level quality of some Ma 1xx courses, Professor Rittenmeyer suggested that the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics may wish to remove or revise some MA 1xx courses.

In reference to Item 1, Professor Jennings requested clarification of the support statement because it was the only item statement that named specific courses, and because the language did not make clear whether 3 or 6 credits were required. Professor Stacy suggested the use of the term “Composition I”. In response to a question from Professor Wegner, Professor Mura said the second course should be a writing course, and could be met by a writing component in a course other than English composition. Professor Kozel, upon being permitted to address the Council, asked about the emphasis on English 103 in the statement. Professor Willer suggested that the order of items in the support statement be changed.

In reference to item 4, Professor Torres-Robles spoke to the inclusion of foreign languages in this item. Professor Roman-Lagunas, upon being permitted to address the Council, supported Professor Torres-Robles’s recommendation. Professor Mura said that those developing curricula to meet general education requirement should be aware of the philosophy behind Purdue Calumet’s general education program and less concerned with three or four-letter course designators.

In reference to item 7, Professor Foreman asked whether a department could say a student doesn’t need to “take” coursework in computers, wellness, or technology and society. Professor Mura said that departments must make accommodations in their programs to ensure that students meet the requirements of these items, but that specific coursework need not be specified. Vice Chancellor Singer asked that the last sentence of the document be noted. She said that the requirements constitute a minimum set. She also said that the Council is rightfully responsible for evaluating programs relative to their general education content, and is the best body for doing so. She assured the Council that the Academic Affairs Office will help provide support to ensure that programs are meeting general education requirements.

In reference to item 7, several members of the Council and visitors expressed concern that the importance of the three items listed had become diminished.

Professor Elmendorf recommended that, if the Council passes Council Document 96-15, it be submitted to the faculty for ratification. He said the document is sufficiently important that it should undergo such a ratification process. Professor Hack said that there was no mechanism for such action. Professor Mura said the Council is elected by the faculty and has been assigned the responsibility to make curricular decisions for the campus. Chancellor Yackel said that a plebiscite, for which there is no mechanism under the Articles of Organization of the Faculty of Purdue University Calumet, would set a bad precedent. He said that determination of the sufficient importance of an issue would become a very difficult task.

Professors Sekhar and Pai commended the volunteer committees for their work.

In response to a question from Vice Chancellor Bryant, Professor Hack said that there is a June 1 deadline for Purdue University Calumet’s response to the North Central Association. Professor Rittenmeyer urged the Council members to educate their constituencies on what has been accomplished and what remains to happen.

Professor Hack asked Professor Mura what the next steps by the Research and Educational Policy Committee will be. Professor Mura said the Committee will meet with due speed and consider the comments made both in the Council and to the members of the Committee directly and in other meetings.

Professor Hack asked whether Professor Mura considered the general education requirements process more open than before. Professor Mura said that the process was equally open in both cases, but that there seemed to be more participation in discussions on the issue.

VI. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

VII. Reports of Committees

Agenda Committee: Professor Hack said the committee will meet on Monday, December 16, to prepare the agenda for the January 13, 1997, meeting of the Council.

Faculty Affairs Committee: Professor Evans said the committee is discussing the work previously done by the ad hoc Committee on Promotion and Tenure. He said the committee is reviewing it in light of the upcoming change in academic administration, and will meet with Chancellor Yackel and Vice Chancellor Singer on December 10 for further discussion.

Nominating Committee: Professor Ting said there was no report from this committee.

Research and Educational Policy Committee: Professor Mura said that the committee will meet after the Council meeting to set a date for its next meeting.

Resources and Planning Committee: Vice Chancellor Newsom said that at its last meeting, the Committee discussed issues raised by student government, and that there was consensus to poll the members of the Council on a fall break at the January Council meeting.

Student Affairs Committee: Professor Rittenmeyer said that a fall break had been discussed, and that the athletics review committee will meet the week of December 9.

Intercampus Faculty Council: There was no report on the previous meeting of the Intercampus Faculty Council, but Professor Hack said she had read the minutes of the meeting and had found no issues of great concern to Purdue Calumet.

Student Government: Professor Hack requested and received permission form the Council for Kristan Lemos, student, to present the Student Government report. Ms. Lemos said that Student Government had discussed the fall break, had surveyed students on the use of C100 space, and was itself undergoing internal restructuring as some of its senators graduate in December. She said that Student Government president Jarrett Mitchell spoke before the Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Professor Hack asked that the minutes show that she was complimenting Mr. Mitchell for the quality of his report to the Board of Trustees.

VIII. Other New Business

Professor Elmendorf said that the Commission on the Academic Reorganization will hold an open meeting on constitutional issues in C321 on Thursday, December 5, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

IX. Adjournment

With no further business before it, Professor Hack declared the meeting adjourned.

c:\cfd96-97\cfd1296.doc