Date: November 15, 2010
Location: CD - 142
Time: 1:30 PM
Members Present: Katy Goforth, Penny Edwards, Donna Shannon, Keri Catalfomo, Amoena Norcross, James Walker, Scott Brabham, Matt Woodall, John Woodson, Phil Smith, Marilyn Vickery, Yvonne Vinson, Deborah Brock, Jennifer Beattie, Marla Roberson,
Members Absent: Susan Curtis
Guests: None
Presider: Katy Goforth
Approval of Minutes:
Approved with the following changes:
- Recommended to change to “W” rather than the language “drop”
- Amoena moved to accept minutes with change.
- Penny seconded the motion.
- All approved with the correction noted.
Before continuing discussion, Katie addressed using “Roberts Rules of Order”. She informed the committee that technically the committee couldn’t use them as written due to the constitution. The meeting is open to all faculty and “rules” would not be used in this event.
Faculty Senate President report from ADG.
Katie reported on meeting with Academic Delivery group and reported that the Faculty Senate proposed a change in the attendance statement. The Senate would like to change the wording “may drop” to “will drop”. It was noted that “may” gives the faculty flexibility.
Faculty Senate is in favor of the shortened drop/add period, and would like to implement it in Fall 2011. Drop is 3 days and add is 5 days. This will go to Executive staff for approval.
Katie reported that Dr. Buckheister was pleased with the response to the faculty/staff development day.
The Senate committee information is now posted on eTC. It includes the charter, and constitution and bylaws. Official minutes will be posted on the system.
1. Issue discussed and major points of discussion:
Katy requested reports from committee chairs concerning attendance policy:
Jennifer Beattie submitted the following statements to the Arts and Sciences Division faculty:
· Change “is subject to being withdrawn” to :will be withdrawn”
· Eliminate “is subject to being withdrawn” in favor of student will receive grade earned
· Leave policy as is, withdrawal at instructor discretion
· other
Response received by the Arts and Sciences division is as follows:
· Number of responses 27
· 50/50 response
· Policy needs to define ”absence”
· Policy needs to make provision for “extenuating circumstances”
· Policy needs to encourage student accountability
· Policy needs to clarify consequences
· Policy should not create extra “administrivia” for faculty/dept. heads
Phil Smith submitted similar statements as Arts and Sciences with the following results 60% faculty wants the statement re-worded for students to withdraw themselves, 30% faculty always withdraw, and 27% remains the same. Adjunct faculty 50/50.
Deborah Brock used the following statements for the Health Education Division:
· The attendance policy stays the same – allowing student to be withdrawn or not withdrawn at the instructor’s discretion.
· The language be changed to read, “ any student who accumulates more absences during the term than the class is scheduled to meet in a two-week period will be withdrawn from the class”.
· The policy be changed such that penalty for violating the attendance policy would not be withdrawal at all but simply reflected in the student’s grades (i.e. the student will remain on the class roster regardless of number of absences and will received whatever grade he earns at the end of the term)
Deborah reported that 50% of faculty wanted the policy to stay the same, 25% language to read “will be withdrawn” and 25% leave alone and the student gets whatever grade they get.
Marla Roberson – no report
Scott Brabham reported for IET division with less than half response from faculty. Strongly recommend to leave the policy the way it is.
Various attendees discussed different options and opinions of the current policy to include the following statements:
· Were the questions the same that were submitted to each division
· Addendum to syllabus for instructors personal attendance policy
· Question to change policy and submit to Academic Delivery Group
· Catalog statement for student to check with instructor for attendance policy
· Ambiguity for student – is it clear to student concerning withdrawal policy
· What method is going to make student accountable
· Faculty shouldn’t be allowed to give “W” at all unless medical reasons
· Aggregate to Department level
· Faculty should bear in mind that if student withdraws no LDA, if faculty withdraws student, faculty has to enter LDA. (last day of attendance)
· Less grading for faculty, if faculty can drop
· Attendance should be between faculty and student
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
It was determine by conversation and comments, that at this time there is not enough consensus to change the present narrative. Katy asked for a motion. Jennifer Beattie made a motion to move to committee and seconded by Scott Brabham. All approved.
2. Issue discussed and major points of discussion:
New Business:
Katy distributed the “Fresh Start” policy. This is the final draft and needs approval of the senate. This policy was initiated by the previous senate.
Discussion of various members included the following statements:
· If student chooses this option it will be all courses, no selective
· Exclude courses and grades will still appear on the student’s transcript as grade of “E”?
· Student choices for fresh start isn’t stated clearly
· 3 years or 3 semesters?
Katy will go to Academic Delivery and Scott for better defined document.
Recommendations to send back, send to committee, develop our own, or not support academic fresh start.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
Penny made motion to table to until next meeting.
Jennifer seconded the motion.
Adjourned at 2:30
Announcements/Concerns:
Next meeting date, time, and location:
Date: January 24, 2011
Time: 1:30
Place: Cleveland Hall 142
Name of recorder: Donna Shannon
