February 16, 2006
PRESENT: E. Baxter, I. Benz, P. Bishop, C. Boettrich, F. Burger, S. Cable (Vice-President), B. Connell, R. DeFelice, K. Doyle, S. ElRayess, M. Ewanechko, S. Fess, M. Fugate, C.T. Gilbert, E. Grissing, R. Hamell, K. Huggins, A. Hughes, R. Kennedy, P. Keyes, D. Leach, A. Leopard, M. Marino, J. McKenna, S. Murphy, J. Nelson, M. Rizzo, D. Shaw, D. Smith, B. Smithgall, E. Stewart, J. Thompson, M. Timmons, T. Tugel (President), H. Wheeler (Secretary), W. Willard, H. Wynn-Preische, W. Yanklowski
ABSENT: K. Eirich, J. Ekis, S. Forsyth, N. Karolinski, D. Mueller, M. Pastorella, P. Peterson, S. Ruckert, V. Toth, P. Wakem,
GUESTS: S. Blacklaw, D. Cecero, K. Collins, B. Conolly, E. Laidlaw, D. Mohr, J. Rao, R. Rodriguez, S. Tshibangu, D. Seelos
STUDENTS: H. Leach, O. Arthur, R. Raskin
I. Meeting called to order: 3:35 p.m.
II. Guest Speaker: Maureen Erickson – Strengthened Campus Based Assessment (SCBA) Update
A. The Senate will be asked to vote on three updates to General Education Assessment Campus Based Assessment as recommended by GEAR (General Education Assessment Review) after a call from SUNY for campuses to use externally referenced measures in assessing basic communication, critical thinking, and mathematics.
B. Margaret Murphy represents Basic Communication
1. The two outcomes involved in SCBA are that students will demonstrate the ability to
a. Produce coherent text within common college level written forms
b. Demonstrate the ability to revise and improve such texts
2. A common rubric developed by GEAR will be used to complete the assessment because
it is similar to the one MCC has already been using.
3. Before the assessment begins, reviewers will calibrate for inter-rater reliability and each essay will be scored by two people with a third reader if necessary.
4. The Faculty Senate will be asked to vote on the decision to use a rubric.
C. Beth Laidlaw represents Critical Thinking
1. The two outcomes in this area are that students will demonstrate the ability to
a. Identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their own and others’ work.
b. Develop well-reasoned arguments
2. The first outcome will be assessed using a multiple choice test and the second with an essay using a GEAR developed rubric.
3. Before the assessment for the second outcome begins, reviewers will calibrate for inter-rater reliability and each essay will be scored two people with a third reader if necessary.
4. The Faculty Senate will be asked to vote on the adoption of a rubric and benchmarking MCC’s quiz to the ACT test.
D. Annette Leopard represents Mathematics
1. Five different learning outcomes in this area are that students will demonstrate the ability to
a. Interpret and draw inferences from mathematical models such as formulas graphs, tables, and schematics
b. Represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically, and verbally
c. Employ quantitative methods such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems
d. Estimate and check mathematical results for reasonableness
e. Recognize the limits of mathematical and statistical methods
2. Assessment will be completed after calibration with SUNY’s rubric.
3. The Faculty Senate will be asked to vote on the decision to use a rubric and to use the ACT if it becomes possible.
III. Announcements: T. Tugel
A. Janet Glocker has initiated the formation of an ad hoc committee, co-chaired by Professor John Wadach and Dean Dianna Phillips, to study and make recommendations concerning the need for graduates but the relative few enrollees in MCC’s Engineering Technology, Applied Technology and Engineering Science programs.
B. The Middle States Self Study has been completed and copies are now available at the Brighton Campus and Damon Campus libraries. Members of the Middle States Evaluation team will be arriving February 26th and will be meeting with some members of the campus community February 27 – March 1.
C. The “Gold Book” will be published this spring to help publicize college processes and procedures. The Senate Bylaws will be included while updates to the Resolutions will be distributed in the fall since they are still being updated.
D. Update on concerns generated in the December Senate meeting:
1. Academic honesty—Jay Nelson is the Senate’s representative on an Honor Code Committee
2. Withdrawal policy—work is ongoing in APC
3. Dual credit—Louis Silvers, our representative to the FCCC, will keep the Senate informed as the FCCC has expressed concerns that SUNY has very few guidelines regarding dual credit. Louis is also a member of a campus committee, chaired by Kathie Affleck, that is studying the idea of having MCC become an "accredited" institution in this area.
4. Academic Calendar—The Student Opinion Survey will include questions regarding the calendar as a way of addressing the concerns the Senate received in this area.
5. Text book and bookstore concern—an ad hoc committee was formed and they completed their report. The EC will be reviewing the report soon.
6. Timing of announcement of faculty lines—an ad hoc committee was formed and its currently doing research.
7. Integrating new faculty into college—an ad hoc committee has been working for the last year and will be turning in a report at the end of the semester.
8. Student response system (“clicker” technology)—the EC is developing a charge for the ad hoc Classroom Committee to investigate the various systems, MCC’s options, and impact on students and faculty.
9. Senate Bylaws and Resolutions--Standing Committees are in the review process. The EC is also making sure that past approved changes have been updated in the Resolutions.
10. Concern regarding computer technicians not being available before 8 a.m.—Technicians are available by 7:30 a.m.
11. Concern about Professional Development funds—this concern has been forwarded to the Faculty Association as it is a contractual issue.
IV. Student Announcements:
A. Owen Arthur, Brighton Campus Student Government Organization
1. The SGO is working on plans to contact legislators regarding proposed cuts to the
Tuition Assistance Proposal for 2006-2007.
2. The SGO election process begins in March with elections to follow in May.
B. Ruth Raskin, president of DCC’s SEGA
1. SEGA has invited Mayor Duffy to talk to the campus in April regarding his first 100 days
in office and other topics including education and economic development.
2. They are also finalizing a date for Manuel Rivera to visit the campus to the children’s
zone program.
V. Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the January 26, 2006 meeting were approved as written.
VI. Standing Committee Reports
Academic Policies Committee -- E.Grissing
The APC is continuing to look at the withdrawal policy with the returned questionnaires. The majority of respondents prefer that the withdrawal process be completed online, so the APC will recommend that policy be adopted. John Witherspoon has been asked to investigate the possibility of a pop-up window in the online withdrawal process to remind students to talk to their professors and the generation of an automatic e mail to professors when students withdraw. Respondents would like to keep the W designation simple.
The Committee will recommend that professors have the option to go to a possible new standing committee when students withdraw from a course to avoid a grade of D or F for violating the plagiarism policy. The recommendation is that the professor be able to change the grade to what the student’s grade would have been if he or she had not withdrawn.
The Student Opinion Survey will include questions about the calendar as well as other questions if received from faculty in the next two weeks.
NEG - S. Murphy
Two elections are upcoming--one for Senators and another for the MCC Association. Information regarding calls for nominations will be provided at the March Faculty Senate meeting
Curriculum – A. Leopard
The Curriculum Committee has given final approval to the following:
One New Course: NC23F ENT 180 Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Enterprise (Special Studies)
Seven Course Revisions:
CR28F BIO 230 Molecular Genetics
CR29F ENG 251 Technical Writing
CR30F ENG 250 Professional Communication
CR31F BIO 155 General Biology I
CR32F BIO 226 Bioanalytical Techniques II
CR33F BIO 137 Biology of HIV and AIDS Infection
CR14F BIO 209 General Microbiology
CR20F BIO 202 Microbiology
Two Course Deactivations:
CD2F TAM 156 Advanced Tool Room Processes
CD6F BIO 164 General Zoology without Laboratory
One Program Revision: PR5F Precision Machining AAS Degree
The Curriculum Committee has posted the following:
Four New Courses:
NC10F PHL 106 Topics in Philosophy Post 2/2 – 2/16
NC1S HBR 221 Israeli Culture on Location Post 2/2 – 2/16
NC2S CIS 212 Introduction to Data Warehousing – POST 2/10 – 3/2
NC3S CIS 213 Database Programming - POST 2/10 – 3/2
Five Course Revisions:
CR2S BIO 235 Introduction to Human Disease Post 2/2 – 2/16
CR3S BIO 170 Marine Life Post 2/2 – 2/16
CR4S BIO 133 Human Machine Post 2/2 – 2/16
CR9S IDE 201 Interior Design III - POST 2/10 – 3/2
CR10S CE 250 Cooperative Education Business Administration - POST 2/10 – 3/2
SCAA -- T. Gilbert
Bob Novak has resigned as chair of Engineering Technologies. Bill Yanklowski has agreed to serve as Interim Chair. Departments who will be electing a new chair will be hearing from SCAA soon regarding the process.
Planning – B. Connell
Bonnie will be meeting with President Flynn after break to present him with the committee’s recommendations for Strategic Planning grants. The committee is working on examining their Resolutions and making recommendations regarding the grant process.
The Strategic Planning Committee is continuing their interview process of members of the college community.
Professional Development – J. Thompson
The Professional Development Committee is currently evaluating the ideas they’ve received for the June workshop and welcome any additional ideas. Jeff reminded Senators of the following deadlines:
applications for leave for professional advancement--March 31, Hanson Award Nominations—April 6, and nominations for the MCC Award for Professional Service—April 6.
VII. Curriculum Action Item: Program revision: Precision Machining AAS MT06 approved unanimously
VIII. Old Business
none
IX. New Business
none
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Terri Tugel Holly Wheeler
President Secretary
Minutes approved at theMarch 16, 2006 Faculty Senate meeting.
Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate Office
03/23/2006 |