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, February 11, 2019.  Members absent:  Ann Elizabeth Armstrong, Terri Barr, Rodney Coates, Bradley Davis, Annika Fowler, Chip Hahn, Charles Kennick, Vahagn Manukian, Terry Nixon, Ashley Pool, Breanna Robinson, Steven Tuck, and Andy Zeisler.

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

   1. Ikaika McKeague-McFadden was introduced as the new Graduate Student Association representative on Executive Committee. He is from the Department of Physics.

   2. It was announced that Dana Cox will be temporarily stepping into the role of Chair, Senate Executive Committee while Terri Barr recovers from an injury.f Physics.

Approval of University Senate Minutes

2. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the January 28, 2018, minutes of University Senate.

Consent Calendar

3. The following items were received on the Consent Calendar without debate: 

   1. Benefits Committee Minutes – December 13, 2018

   2. Honors Policy Revision – SH 1.11

   3. Curriculum dated February 11, 2019

3. 1. New Undergraduate Internship Policy

The policy will be on the February 25, 2019, agenda under Old Business.

New Business

4. S.R. 19-03 - Master of Science in Business Analytics – Skip Benamati, Chair, ISA 

   1. Professor Benamati, Chair, Department of Information Systems and Analytics presented the proposed Master of Science in Business Analytics degree, which is a 30-hour program comprised of stacked certificates. Students who do not have the four required pre-requisite courses will complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Foundations of Analytics as a summer experience prior to entering the Master’s program.  The Master’s program has two, 12-hour certificates (Core Analytics and Advanced Business Analytics) and a six-hour experiential component.

   2. There is a high demand for graduates with analytics experience, and it is projected that this program will grow in size. It can be used as a combined program, and ISA wants to market with departments for students to complete a major in one area and then add the Master of Science in Business Analytics.

   3. There was a question whether this program would be offered online. At this time, there are no plans to offer the program in an online format.

   4. The following Resolution was presented:

SR 19-03

February 11, 2019

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse the proposed degree, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Farmer School of Business;

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 19-03 was approved by voice vote with one abstention.

5. Strategic Planning Committee – Bob Applebaum and Julia Guichard, Co-Chairs.

   1. Professor Applebaum discussed that the impetus for the Strategic Planning Committee is that the landscape is changing within higher education, and Miami has to position itself to be stronger in the future. The approach is to be proactive and have the strategy anchored in Miami’s strengths, the core of which that it is a four-year, residential institution.

   2. The Strategic Planning Committee has a 14 person steering committee – two people are chairing each of the six sub-committees. The goal of the Committee is to generate a focused set of high-level priorities designed to guide Miami for the next five years. The goal to do this is June 2019. 

   3. Phase 1, informational sessions with administrative staff, of the process is complete. Phase 2 involves sub-committees work as well as listening sessions with wider university community.  Senators were encouraged to ask their constituents to participate.  Phase 3 involves drafting a report to share recommendations with President Crawford.  The report is not an implementation plan.

   4. Several members of Senate are sub-committee chairs: Terri Barr, Co-Chair, Academic Excellence Sub-Committee; Stacey Lowery Bretz, Co-Chair, Financial Sustainability Sub-Committee; and, Vaishali Raval, Co-Chair, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Sub-Committee.

   5. Senators discussed the following issues:

      1. It was asked what kinds of changes may be on the horizon that faculty may be resistant to? At this point, talks are still early and the committee is still gathering information from the sub-committees.  .

      2. Boldly creative projects are just one effort to grow revenue. Faculty are encouraged to continue to come up with more ideas.

      3. There is one sub-committee focused on evaluating the overall student experience.

      4. A question was asked about the best way to encourage fellow faculty to participate. Conversations need to start at the department level.  Professors Applebaum and Guichard will come into departmental meetings to discuss the goals and process if needed.

      5. The biggest challenge that the committee faces is that the world is not organized in ‘departments’.

      6. The relationship of the regional campuses to this process was discussed. They are an underutilized asset that has embraced online courses and has linked students with industry through applied experiences.

      7. Concern was raised regarding changes being countered by extrinsic factors.

      8. There was discussion regarding the impact of the redistribution of funds as outlined at the Faculty Assembly presentation on February 7, 2019. There are three components: 5% annual productivity savings from administrative divisions; 2.0% annual productivity savings from auxiliary operations; and, 1% reallocation of funds within academic departments. Provost Callahan will have someone from Finance and Business Services speak at a future Senate meeting regarding these allocations.

Adjournment

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

Call to Order

7. The Regular Session of University Senate was convened.

Approval of University Senate Abbreviated Minutes

8. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the February 11, 2019, abbreviated minutes of University Senate.

Adjournment

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