2011-2012 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

MINUTES
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Foothill Suite, Union

Present:

Barrena, Biological Sciences; Bellon, Philosophy; Bersamin, Child Development; Blanton, Speech Pathology and Audiology; Bogazianos, Criminal Justice; Boulgarides, Temporary Faculty (Kinesiology and Health Science); Bowie, Social Work; Buchanan, English; Buckley, ASCSU Senator (Computer Science); Buckman, Humanities; Carroll, Student Services; Chanda, Nursing; Choi, Business Administration; Dickson, Counselor Education; M. Dillon, Geography; W. Dillon, Government; Fell, Civil Engineering; Flohr, Art; Gherman, Chemistry; Gibbs, Design; Hadley, Sociology; Hamilton, Mathematics and Statistics; Hammersley, Geology; Hecsh, Teacher Education; +Ingram, Mathematics and Statistics; Kaplan, Economics; Koegel, Communication Studies; Kirlin, Public Policy and Administration; Marbach, Mechanical Engineering; Mayberry, Foreign Languages; McKeough, Physical Therapy; Mejorado, Bilingual/Multicultural Education; Metz, Music; Miller, GSPC Chair and ASCSU Senator (Communication Studies); Moylan, Family and Consumer Sciences; Numark, History; Peigahi, Library; Reddick, Library; Russell, Social Work; Sheppard, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration; V. Smith, Communication Studies; Strasser, Anthropology; Taylor, Physics and Astronomy; Theodorides, Kinesiology and Health Science; Van Gaasbeck, APC Chair (Economics)

Absent:

Altmann, Nursing; Deegan, Temporary Faculty (Family and Consumer Science); Dixon, Temporary Faculty (Music); Echandia, Temporary Faculty (Bilingual/Multicultural Education); Fanetti, English; Goodrich, Theatre and Dance; Liu, Business Administration; Matthews, Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Michael, Business Administration; Mikhailitchenko, Business Administration; Mosupyoe, Ethnic Studies; Moni, Women's Studies; Noel, FPC Chair (Teacher Education); Penrod, Psychology; Pinch, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration; Reveles, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Singer, Criminal Justice; Stevens, Environmental Studies; vacant, Athletics; vacant, Special Education, Rehabilitation, School Psychology, and Deaf Studies; vacant, Student Services

 

FS 11/12-28/Ex.

UNIVERSITY BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHANGE IN TERM OF OFFICE

 

The Faculty Senate endorses the changes to the term of office for members of the University Budget Advisory Committee as outlined in Attachment A.

 

Carried unanimously.

 

FS 11/12-32/EX.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT – UNIVERSITY

 

Committee on Administrative Review

David Leon, 2014

 

Carried unanimously.

 

FS 11/12-33/EX.

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES TO STUDENTS IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT, THANKS AND COMMENDATION

 

The Faculty Senate thanks and commends the ad hoc committee on Faculty Responsibilities to Students in the Instructional Environment:

 

Joseph Sheley, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

David Wagner, Vice President, Human Resources

Bob Buckley, Computer Science

Janet Hecsh, Teacher Education

Ramneet Kaur Johl, Associated Students, Inc.

Christine Miller, Communication Studies

Jana Noel, Teacher Education

Reza Peigahi, Library

 

Carried unanimously.

 

FS 11/12-29/Flr.

MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

 

Carried unanimously.

 

INFORMATION ITEM:     UPDATE ON INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE ISSUES: JEAN-PIERRE BAYARD & DOUG JACKSON

 

FS 11/12-30/APC/EX.

REGISTRATION UNIT LIMITS

 

The Faculty Senate recommends the following early registration unit limits be effective spring 2012 and onward:

·         New and continuing undergraduate students in good academic standing may register for up to 15 units. 

·         Seniors who have applied to graduate may register for up to 21 units.

·         Undergraduate students who are not in good academic standing are limited to the number of units allowed by their individual academic contract or a maximum of 14 units if they are on academic probation (or continued probation). 

·         Graduate students in good academic standing are allowed to enroll in a maximum of 9 units unless they fall into an exception category as outlined below.

·         Graduate students who are not in good academic standing are limited to the number of units allowed by their individual academic contract, or a maximum of 9 units if they are on academic probation (or continued probation).

Special Program Requirements:

Exceptions due to special program requirements should be coordinated between the academic department and the Registrar’s Office.  Exceptions due to special requirements in graduate programs should be coordinated between the Office of Graduate Studies before sending information to the Registrar’s Office.

 

Other Exceptions:

Individual students with special circumstances who wish to increase their early registration unit load should file an “Excess Units Petition” with the Registrar’s Office. Students who can demonstrate that they can graduate within the next two semesters are encouraged to file an “Excess Units Petition,” if they would like to balance their remaining units over the next two semesters.

 

Background: 

At this very time last year, campus officials were examining the continuing student registration process with great scrutiny. They knew then that the campus’ newly reduced targets would make it difficult for mid-cycle and late-cycle registrants to have any chance at building a viable course schedule.  Faced with these uncertainties, campus officials are suggesting that specific early registration unit load limits be put in place as a long-term policy.

 

Data on the average unit loads for undergraduate and graduate students are given below. The figures are broken down based on the average units students were enrolled in at the end of the early registration period and on the University census date for each semester.

 

Average unit load (Fall 2007-Fall 2011)

 

Undergraduate

Graduate

 

Early registration

Census date

Early registration

Census date

Fall 2007

12.3

12.4

8.3

8.3

Spring 2008

12.2

12.1

8.1

8.4

Fall 2008

12.5

12.4

8.4

8.4

Spring 2009

12.3

12.8

8.5

8.3

Fall 2009

12.3

12.7

8.6

8.4

Spring 2010

12.6

12.7

8.5

8.5

†Fall 2010

11.6

12.3

7.0

8.1

Spring 2011

12.2

12.6

8.0

8.0

‡Fall 2011

12.3

  12.7*

8.0

  8.6*

 

*As of 9/21/2011. Census date is 9/26/2011

†Fall 2010 early registration unit limits: Undergraduate = 14 units. Graduate = 9 units.

‡Fall 2011 early registration unit limits: Undergraduate = 15 units. Graduate = 12 units.

 

 

 

Recommendation:

Student Affairs and Academic Affairs recommend the ongoing use of restricted unit loads during the early registration period.  It is expected that unit load restrictions will be lifted during the late registration and the drop/add period. 

 

Unit Limits During Open/Late Registration and Drop/Add Periods

Consistent with existing policy, during “Open/Late Registration” undergraduate students may register for up to 21 units unless they are subject to an academic contract limiting them to fewer units. Graduate students would continue to be limited to 12 units unless they fall into an exception category as outlined in the policy above.

 

Rationale

Based on feedback from students, faculty and staff, the divisions of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Academic Policies Committee recommend the long-term imposition of early registration unit load restrictions for continuing undergraduate students the following reasons:

1.      Early registration unit load limits increase access to courses for a broader set of students.
Since students register based on matriculation status (continuing versus transfer), class level (first year, sophomore, senior, classified graduate, etc.)

2.      The adoption of a long-term policy of limits on early registration allows students and advisors to develop course plans more effectively.
The current policy is effective only for the fall 2011 registration cycle.  Frequent changes to the number of units students may register for during early registration on a semester or annual basis make it more difficult for students to develop a course plan for timely graduation. 

3.      The 15-unit early registration limit permits students to register for a full-time course load for the purposes of financial aid.
Undergraduate students must be registered for 12 units or more in order to be eligible for financial aid as a full-time student.

4.      The 15-unit early registration limit allows students enrolling in higher-unit courses to achieve a full-time course load (12 units) during early registration.
A lower early registration cap might create difficulties for students enrolling in higher-unit courses offered in disciplines such as foreign language, science, and mathematics.

Background: The transmittal from Kristin Van Gaasbeck, Chair, Academic Policies Committee, is attached as Attachment B.

 

Carried unanimously.

 

The first reading of the following item will continue at the Faculty Senate meeting on October 27, 2011:

FS 11/12-31/FPC/EX.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES TO STUDENTS IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

 

SENATE FALL SCHEDULE:

 

(1st and 3rd Thursdays, 3:00-5:00, Foothill Suite, Union, unless notified otherwise)

October 13, 2011 – no meeting

October 20, 2011 – no meeting

October 27, 2011 – Senate meets

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 – Livingston Lecture

November 3, 2011 – Senate meets

November 10, 2011 – tentative

November 17, 2011 – Senate meets

November 24, 2011 – Thanksgiving break

December 1, 2011 – Senate meets

December 8, 2011 – tentative

December 15, 2011 – Senate meets