University Senate - April 29, 2019 Meeting Minutes

Call to Order and Announcements

The University Senate was called to order at 3:30 p.m., in Room 111 Harrison Hall, Oxford Campus, on Monday, April 29, 2019.  Members absent:  Jasmine Adkins, Helaine Alessio, Kenya Ash, James Bielo, Bradley Davis, Yildirim Dilek, Annika Fowler, Jon Grenier, Jannie Kamara, Richard Keifer, Charles Kennick, Lei Kerr, Vahagn Manukian, Max Mellott, Terry Nixon, Molly O’Donnell, Ashley Pool, Andy Revelle, Joe Rode, Vince Smith, Jeffrey Wanko, Caroline Weimer, and Liz Wilson.

  1. Announcements and Remarks by the Secretary of University Senate, Phyllis Callahan

    1. Terri Barr was recognized for her excellent work as Chair of Senate Executive Committee. Her time and attention to Senate matters has been appreciated.

    2. It has been announced that 2019 Convocation will be Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 3 p.m. The summer reading group discussions will still be held on Friday, August 23, 2019.  Those wishing to be a facilitator for the discussions can sign up on the Office of Liberal Education’s website.

    3. The Provost search is underway. Senators and their constituents are encouraged to attend the open forums to meet the candidates.

    4. It was announced that Bill Newell, prof emeritus in the Western Program, passed away this weekend.

Approval of University Senate Minutes

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the April 22, 2019, minutes of University Senate.

Consent Calendar

  1. There were no consent calendar items to approve.

Old Business

  1. SR 19-10 – MUPIM 7.11 Proposed Revisions

    1. A question arose regarding what happens if the dean doesn’t approve a promotion. It was explained that there is an appeal process, which varies by division.  Every dean has an advisory committee, though this is not mandated by policy.

      SR 19-10

      April 29, 2019

      BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse proposed revisions to the Miami University Policy and Information Manual (MUPIM) 7.11.

      SR 19-10 carried by voice vote 

New Business

  1. SR 19-12 – MUPIM 7.8 – Promotion and Tenure Process

    1. The proposed revisions were shown and discussed. The use of the word ‘full’ in the title was discussed.  It was explained in later discussion that this is not part of the title, it is to identify rank.

      SR 19-12

      April 29, 2019

      BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse proposed revisions to the Miami University Policy and Information Manual (MUPIM) 7.8, Promotion and Tenure.

      SR 19-12 carried by voice vote.

  2. SR 19-13 – Miami University Faculty Plan – Keith Fennen, Chair, Faculty Welfare Committee 

    1. The proposal is a compromise between the Faculty Welfare Committee and Administration. The current policy states that appointments of nontenure-eligible faculty are made on a yearly basis, and those who are not going to be renewed are given notice by February 1.

    2. The proposal will change the non-renewal notice to February 15. Those at the Assistant rank will need to develop a philosophy of teaching and service with their chair and from that, develop a plan of activities in correspondence with the needs of the department, division, and students. These plans will be reviewed annually and feedback given. TCPL faculty are then eligible to be promoted to the Associate level.

    3. Associates are given three-year contracts with a one-year notice for non-reappointment by July 1. After promotion to the full or senior rank, the contracts are in five-year increments.

    4. Open discussion included the following points and questions:

      1. Question regarding A.1 and the term ‘introductory’ and that it was not defined. Concern was that some TCPLs teach upper level courses. It was noted that the teaching expectation is that they will teach at the introductory and foundational level, but exceptions could be made for TCPLs who meet qualifications to teach using tested experience criteria. 

      2. It was noted that a low number of TCPLs develop plans. This brought forth a discussion about how to grandfather in existing TCPLs.  This current document is designed for newly hired TCPLs, but represents a commitment to TCPLs on an ongoing basis.

      3. There was discussion and concern regarding the text in B.2. The words ‘who wish to be considered for promotion should carefully’ were deleted. If a candidate for promotion to the Associate rank does not get promoted, they are given a full year’s notice by July 1 and have the opportunity within that last year to reapply for promotion.

      4. TCPLs are not required to go up for the second promotion, just the first. Current TCPLs would have a five-year window to reach Associate.  Previous attempts to reach promotion would not count.  There are currently 66 TCPLs who have not been promoted

      5. Three years from the first promotion point, the faculty member is eligible for promotion to the rank of full. A TCPL can apply multiple times for this level of promotion.

      6. For Associate rank to full, the formative promotion evaluation can continue. It would have to be done by July.

      7. Termination process and position elimination sections were discussed. The key point that has been added is that faculty members are entitled to be accompanied by legal counsel.  All appeals go through the Provost.

      8. Discussion regarding section D. Position Elimination centered on the sentence, “If practicable, the department should first seek to eliminate per credit hour, part-time and temporary faculty before eliminating Lecturers and Teaching Faculty.” The phrase “if practicable” was removed from the statement.

  3. SR 19-14 - B.A. Data Analytics – John Bailer, Chair, Statistics

    1. There is currently a high demand for graduates with data analysis backgrounds. Miami is uniquely positioned in that it is able to provide students this type of experience in a liberal arts setting.

    2. The proposed major has a common core plus a concentration in a discipline. There are several new courses for the core, including a course on Ethics (HST/PHL/GIC 286).  The two discipline areas currently offered are Bioinformatics and Geospatial. A question was asked whether Statistics would be open to developing more concentration areas, and the answer was yes. This was met with enthusiasm and immediate brainstorming from senators on the floor.

    3. A question was asked whether there were other local schools offering this major. There are institutions that offer data science, but they don’t have a deeper specialization.

    SR 19-14

    April 29, 2019

    BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse the proposed degree, Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Data Analytics, College of Arts and Science;

    AND FURTHERMORE, that the endorsement by University Senate of the proposed degree and major will be forwarded to the Miami University Board of Trustees for consideration.

    SR 19-14 carried by voice vote.

Report

  1. ASG Annual Report – Meaghan Murtagh, ASG President

    1. Senator Murtagh spoke of the many activities of Associated Student Government this academic year, including the 3rd Annual Mental Health Forum, a prescription disposal program, a diversity and inclusion forum, activities to celebrate Earth Week, and the addition of Bird & Lime scooters.
    2. ASG also created a new non-discrimination clause into the ASG Bylaws.

Adjournment

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to adjourn the Regular Session of University Senate.

Next scheduled meeting of University Senate:

May 6, 2019, 3:30 p.m.

Room 111 Harrison Hall, Oxford Campus