2009-2010 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

AGENDA
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Foothill Suite
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

OPEN FORUM

CONSENT ACTION

FS 10-13/Ex.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – SENATE

Graduate Studies Policies Committee

Sheri Hembree, At-large, 2011

REGULAR AGENDA

FS 10-12/Flr.

MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11, 2010

SECOND READING

FS 10-11/GSPC/Flr.

APPLICATION OF A POINT SYSTEM TO CRITERIA FOR REDUCTION OR SUSPENSION OF GRADUATE AND POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

The Faculty Senate expresses its strong dissatisfaction with the specific methodology and point system established and utilized by the Provost and the Graduate Dean in applying the Senate-approved criteria in FS 09-83.

The Faculty Senate urges the Provost and Graduate Dean not to rely unduly on scores resulting from the application of the methodology and point system, and further to work closely with department chairs and college deans to fairly and appropriately apply the Senate’s criteria in a holistic manner.

FS 10-04/FPC/Ex.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE POLICY

The Faculty Senate recommends adoption of the following:

With respect to tests, examinations, graded assignments, deadlines, or when consideration is given for class participation that may have a significant impact on grading, instructors shall reasonably accommodate students who notify them by the semester open add deadlines (adds without petitions) for such requirements that appear in the course syllabus or by the following class period for requirements that are defined later in the semester, regarding planned absence(s) for religious observance(s).

Background information can be found in the January 28, 2010 Faculty Senate Agenda, Attachment C.

FIRST READING

FS 10-09/Ex.

BY-LAWS: BACKFILL FOR SENATE CHAIR

Proposed Language: (To be added to I.B.1 of the By-Laws)

For the period during which the senator from an electing unit serves as the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the electing unit’s alternate senator, if any, shall serve as the unit’s official voting senator at Faculty Senate meetings. When the alternate is present and voting the Chair shall not vote on any matter. In the absence of the alternate the chair may vote to break a tie.

Reason: The Senator holding the position of Faculty senate chair must, by nature of the position, remain neutral in debates and voting, and cannot therefore be an effective representative of his/her electing unit in these matters. To ensure representation of that unit’s interests in the Faculty Senate, the unit’s alternate senator (if it has one) may serve as the unit’s official voting senator.

If the electing unit has not designated an alternate, then, as is currently the case, the Senate Chair may vote to break a tie.

FS 10-10/Ex.

BY-LAWS: STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR TERM LIMITS

Proposed Language: (To be added to II.B.2 of the By-Laws)

The Chair of the Standing Committee may be re-elected for up to three (3) consecutive terms.

Reason: This was the sentiment that emerged in the Senate’s earlier discussions of the subject. It eliminates that possibility that Standing Committee Chairs could end up serving longer than senators representing electing units and provides opportunity for new people to move into positions of senate leadership.

Note: If approved, then for current Standing Committee Chairs, the current year (2009-2010) would count as ‘year one’ of their three potential consecutive terms.

SENATE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR SPRING:

· February 25, 2010

· March 11, 2010

· March 25, 2010

· April 8, 2010

· April 22, 2010

· Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (Outstanding Faculty Awards)

· April 29, 2010

· May 6, 2010

· May 13, 2010

· May 20, 2010