2009-2010 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

MINUTES
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Foothill Suite

Present:

Altmann, Nursing; Baker, Chemistry; Barrena, Biological Sciences; Bellon, Philosophy; Berg, Sociology; Berta-Avila, Bilingual/Multicultural Education; +Blanchard, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Blanton, Speech Pathology and Audiology; Blumberg, Music; Boulgarides, Temporary Faculty (Kinesiology and Health Science); Buckley, APC Chair and ASCSU Senator (Computer Science); Burke, History; Choi, Business Administration; Cohen, History; Cuevas, ASI; Diaz, Kinesiology and Health Science; Dillon, Government; Dixon, Temporary Faculty (Music); Dubois, Humanities; Fell, Civil Engineering; Gibbs, Design; Gieger, English; +Gonsier-Gerdin, Special Education, Rehabilitation, School Psychology, and Deaf Studies; Hamilton, Mathematics and Statistics; Hammersley, Geology; Harvey, Art; Heedley, Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Henderson, Counselor Education; +Huang, Criminal Justice; Hyson, Family and Consumer Sciences; Ingram, Mathematics and Statistics; Ishiura, Temporary Faculty (Child Development); Jin, Computer Science; Katz, Learning Skills; Koegel, Communication Studies; Kirlin, Public Policy and Administration; Kornweibel, Emeritus Faculty (History); Krabacher, ASCSU Senator (Geography); Lang, CPC Chair (Economics); Li, Business Administration; Lin, Business Administration; Liu, Business Administration; Loeza, Teacher Education; Marbach, Mechanical Engineering; McCurley, Student Services; McKeough, Physical Therapy; +Meyer, English; Michael, Business Administration; Miller, GSPC Chair and ASCSU Senator (Communication Studies); Parsh, Nursing; Peigahi, Library; Perez, Economics; +Pinch, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration; Reisner, Theatre and Dance; Russell, Social Work; +Sheehan, Student Services; Siegler, FPC Chair (Family and Consumer Sciences); Smith, Communication Studies; Sobredo, Ethnic Studies; Stevens, Environmental Studies; Taylor, Physics and Astronomy; Theodorides, Kinesiology and Health Science; Wanket, Geography; Wickelgren, Psychology

Absent:

Hecsh, GEP/GRPC Chair (Teacher Education); Nylund, Social Work; Panneton, Criminal Justice; Patten Armbrust, Temporary Faculty (Psychology); Raskauskas, Child Development; Sullivan, Anthropology; vacant, Foreign Languages; vacant, Athletics; vacant, Women's Studies

 

The agenda was amended to add the following: a resolution entitled “Mitigation of the Impact of Priority Admissions on Graduate Programs and Proposed ‘First Come/First Admissions’ as a guide to program priorities” as a first reading item and a report from the chair of the Graduate Studies Policies Committee on the graduate admissions deadline. The agenda was approved as amended.

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

FS 09-60/Ex.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – SENATE

 

Research and Creative Activities Subcommittee

Esen Onur, At-large, 2011

 

Carried unanimously.

 

*FS 09-64/Ex.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – UNIVERSITY

 

Honorary Degrees Committee

David Lang, 2012

 

Carried unanimously.

 

FS 09-61/Ex.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 

Carried unanimously.

 

FS 09-62/Flr.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL

 

Must be a Faculty Senator.

 

Current Senate representative:

Mary Kirlin, SS&IS, 2010

 

Nominees:

Tanya Altmann, H&HS

Harry Theodorides, H&HS

 

Tanya Altmann was elected.

 

FS 09-63/Flr.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Current at-large faculty representatives:

James Sobredo, SS&IS, 2010

Scott Farrand, NS&M, 2011

 

Nominees:

Bob Buckley, E&CS

Michael McKeough, H&HS

Darryl Parker, H&HS

 

All three nominees will be forwarded to the President for consideration.

 

*FS 09-58/GSPC

GRADUATION WRITING ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT (GWAR) FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

 

(See flowchart of GWAR for Graduate Students Process for a visual depiction of this policy)

 

Revisions to University Policy Manual

 

Current

Proposed Revision

WRITING PROFICIENCY (GRADUATES)

 

All entering graduate students (those classified in degree programs effective Fall Semester, 1982, and thereafter) are expected to demonstrate writing proficiency at the undergraduate level as prescribed by California State University. Students applying for admission to graduate programs who have not fulfilled this requirement because of having graduated from a non-CSU institution or having completed undergraduate degree requirements prior to the imposition of the writing standard shall be required to demonstrate writing proficiency as an admission requirement or before becoming fully classified in a graduate degree program.

 

The university's writing proficiency requirement for graduates may be met by one of the methods described below:

1.     passing the CSUS Writing Proficiency Examination with score of eight or better, or passing an equivalent standard, as approved by the appropriate committee of the English Department and by the Dean of Graduate Studies, (equivalent standards will apply only to those students who are admitted with baccalaureate degrees from non-CSU institutions, and have demonstrated writing proficiency at the former university); or

 

2.     achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP General Examination in English Composition (Essay Edition), or achieving a satisfactory score (as determined by the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee and the appropriate committee as recommended by the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the appropriate committee of the English Department.

 

Any department may, with concurrence of the Graduate Policies and Programs Committee, require other evidence of writing proficiency in addition to the minimum prescribed in either 1 or 2 above.*

 

WRITING PROFICIENCY (GRADUATES)

 

Writing proficiency at the graduate level will be demonstrated by successful completion of the graduate program requirements.

 

Students’ preparedness for graduate level writing may be demonstrated by meeting one of the standards specified on the WPG Equivalency Standards form. Students who do not meet one or more of these standards must either take the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or take a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within their first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento. Students whose performance on the WPG indicates that they do not need additional writing preparation may advance to candidacy when appropriate.  Students whose WPG performance indicates they need additional preparation may elect either to take a GWI course within their program (if available) or via the College of Continuing Education.  In either case, students must earn a B or above in the course in order to advance to candidacy.

 

 

Title 5 now requires that applicants for graduate programs who have not attended, for at least three years, secondary or postsecondary educational institutions where English is the principal language of instruction possess a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to CSUS. In addition, the immigration laws require that international students on non-immigrant visas be admitted only as fully classified graduate students. ESL international students required to take the TOEFL may demonstrate writing proficiency by the following method:

 

1. achieving a score of 550 on the TOEFL which shall be validated during the first two weeks of enrollment on this campus by taking the CSUS English Diagnostic Test, which is designed primarily for assessing the writing skills of ESL students. If lack of writing proficiency is demonstrated through this test, the Graduate Coordinator of the department in which the student is classified and the student's departmental advisor will design, in consultation with the Writing Proficiency Exam Coordinator (or designee), a plan for the student to achieve writing proficiency. This plan must be acknowledged by the student in writing, signed by the Graduate Coordinator, Advisor and Department Chair, and submitted to the dean of Graduate Studies for approval. The student must have achieved writing proficiency as outlined in the plan before advancement to candidacy. Failure to demonstrate proficiency in a timely fashion may result in the student's declassification.

 

In addition, the following policy applies to any student, ESL or otherwise, who has not already demonstrated writing proficiency according to the CSUS criteria by one of the methods above:

 

2. Graduate students who appear to have an insufficient background in the English language to succeed in graduate study and have not already demonstrated writing proficiency may be required to take the CSUS English Diagnostic Test by the Dean of Graduate Studies after consultation with the Department Chair and Graduate Coordinator. If the test result is below the acceptable minimum standard, the student may be declassified and required to gain additional English language skills before reapplying for admission to classified graduate standing. In any case, writing proficiency must be demonstrated before advancement to candidacy.**

Title 5 requires that applicants for graduate programs who have not completed a baccalaureate degree from a postsecondary educational institution where English is the principal language of instruction to possess a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to CSUS as follows: 550 on the paper-based TOEFL; or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL; or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT). Students may also demonstrate English language proficiency by possessing an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0.

 

 

Background information can be found at Attachment C.

Carried.

*FS 09-59/GSPC

WRITING PLACEMENT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS (WPG) EQUIVALENCY STANDARDS

 

NOTE: The WPG Equivalency Standards were adapted from standards currently used to allow waivers of the WPE (included below for informational purposes.) It should be noted, however, that the WPG Equivalency Standards serve a different purpose from the WPE Waiver Standards. Currently, a student who meets one of the WPE Waiver Standards has fulfilled the GWAR requirement for graduate students on this campus. A student who meets one of the WPG Equivalency Standards, on the other hand, will not have met the GWAR requirement, which will be met by completion of the culminating experience. Instead, meeting one of the WPG Equivalency Standards means that a student has clearly demonstrated sufficient preparation for graduate-level writing that there is no need for further assessment of their preparedness.

 

Proposed WPG Equivalency Standards

 

q  Have M.A./M.S., Ph.D., or J.D. from a US-Accredited University or an equivalent degree with coursework in the English language as evaluated by the Office of the Graduate Dean (attach copy of school transcript with degree noted).

q  Published a refereed academic journal article in the English language (attach a copy of the journal/publication cover and first page of the article with your name).

q  Graduated with a baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a US-accredited University with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or above (attach copy of school transcript).

q  Received 4.5 or higher on the analytical writing portion of the GRE/GMAT (attach verification).

q  Instructor of record of a college-level writing course taught in the English language at a US-accredited University approved by the Office of the Graduate Dean

 

Current Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) Waiver Standards:

 

q  Have MA/MS, Ph.D., or JD from an Accredited American University (attach copy of school transcript with degree noted)

q  Published an academic journal article or professional report (attach a copy of the journal/publication cover and first page of article or report with your name)

q  Achieved a grade of B- or better in a Junior-level advanced English composition course that required a minimum of 5000 words of writing (attach copy of syllabus and school transcript with grade noted)

q  Graduated from an Accredited American University with honors or above (attach copy of school transcript with honors noted for the degree)

q  English instructor of record or tutor of college level English course (attach verification)

q  Passed a writing proficiency exam at a CSU or passed an upper division writing exam at another University other  than a CSU (attach verification letter from institution or copy of transcript with exam noted)

q  Received 4.0 or higher on the GRE/GMAT writing assessment portion of the general exam (attach verification)

 

Carried.

 

Christine Miller, Chair of the Graduate Studies Policies Committee, briefed the Senate on the November 30th graduate admissions priority deadline.

 

Having reached the hour of adjournment, the Senate will consider the following item at its meeting of October 15, 2009:

FS 09-65/Flr.

MITIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF PRIORITY ADMISSIONS ON GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND PROPOSED ‘FIRST COME/FIRST ADMISSIONS’ AS A GUIDE TO PROGRAM PRIORITIES

 

NEXT SENATE MEETING: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009 – FOOTHILL SUITE

Schedule of meetings:

·       Thursday, October 22, 2009 – no meeting

·       Thursday, October 29, 2009 – Senate meets

·       Thursday, November 5, 2009 – tentative

·       Thursday, November 19, 2009 – Senate meets

·       Thursday, December 3, 2009 – tentative

·       Thursday, December 17, 2009 – Senate meets