2004-2005 FACULTY SENATE
OF
California State University, Sacramento

Minutes
April 21, 2005

ROLL CALL [+ indicates alternate]

ACTION ITEMS

Academic Policies Committee
Mary Ann Reihman, At-large, 2008
Lisa Taylor, At-large, 2008

Committee on Diversity and Equity
Rhonda Rios Kravitz, At-large, 2008
Lila Jacobs, At-large, 2008

Faculty Policies Committee
Karen Davis O'Hara, At-large, 2008
Shawna Dardan, At-large, 2008

General Education/Graduation Requirements Policies Committee
Anne-Louise Radimsky, At-large, 2008
Janet Hecsh, At-large, 2008

Pedagogy Enhancement Awards Subcommittee
Richard Marens, CBA, 2008
Tim Horner, NSM, 2008

Livingston Lecture Annual Faculty Lecture Committee
Tim Capron, At-large, 2007
William Dorman, At-large, 2007

Carried unanimously.

University Logo Design Review Committee
Jason Gieger
Ernie Olson

Carried unanimously.

The Faculty Senate recommends approval of the following program change proposals (See Attachment A for further details).

Substantive Changes

• Master of Arts in Education-Behavioral Sciences Option – Women’s Studies
• Master of Business Administration for Executive (EMBA)
• Civil Engineering – Curriculum Changes

New Programs

• College of Business Administration – New Entrepreneurship Concentration
• New Minor – Criminal Justice – Forensic Investigation Minor

Carried unanimously.

REGULAR AGENDA

The minutes of April 14, 2005 were amended to reflect that FS 04-66 was approved as amended, so that the Cesar Chavez Holiday falls within spring break.

Carried unanimously.

The Faculty Senate recommends to the President establishment of a university-wide G.E. Honors Program for a total of 36 lower division and 9 upper division units. Nothing in this proposal would preclude other campus entities from submitting other Honors proposals.

(The vision statement of the ad hoc committee that worked on the development of the G.E. Honors Program can be found at the April 7, 2005 Faculty Senate Agenda Attachment D-1. Senators had been directed to the following document in February at the following link: http://www.csus.edu/acse/GE_honors_proposal.htm.)

CONCEPT

The objective of the CSUS Honors Program is to attract highly motivated first time freshmen and provide challenging and stimulating liberal arts education in a small class setting. Honors students will pursue a cohesive program of study and form an academic community with fellow students organized in cohorts. The guiding principles of the Honors program will be active learning, global subject matter, and interdisciplinary approaches to study.

PROGRAM PARAMETERS

1. This program will provide enhanced lower division General Education for a total of 54 units; 45 of these units (36 lower division units and 9 upper division) will be Honors enhanced courses.
    
2. Entering freshmen meeting enhanced admissions criteria will be invited to join the program.
    
3. The program will be composed primarily of courses with an Honors designation. These will be either enhanced sections of established General Education courses or specially created courses.
    
4. A faculty Honors Committee will be responsible for curriculum, assessment, and nomination of a Program Director. The Honors Committee will be composed primarily of faculty teaching in the program, but with representation from colleges and departments not participating directly.
    
5. Acting with the advice of the Honors Committee, the Program Director will supervise student recruitment and admissions, faculty recruitment, program development, etc. The Honors Director will report to the General Education administrator.
    
6. With the exception of not more than three program seminars, courses will reside in appropriate departments. Selection of faculty and scheduling of Honors courses will be the joint responsibility of the department and the Honors Director.

CRITERIA FOR HONORS DESIGNATION OF COURSES

1. A focus on critical thinking and analysis.
    
2. Combining the breadth of the GE program with depth and exploration of basic concepts used in each discipline.
    
3. An interdisciplinary approach to study.
    
4. Active participation by students in their courses.
    
5. Small class size (enrollment limit of 30 with a minimum of 20) requiring discussion and/or research.
    
6. Humanities and social science classes in the Honors Program will have a global orientation.
    
7. Reading and written work that exceeds the expectations of standard lower division GE courses.

STUDENT ADMISSIONS

1. A program subcommittee will conduct student admissions.
    
2. All freshmen applicants to CSUS with high school 3.5 GPA or a 1200 SAT will be invited to apply to the Honors Program.
    
3. Other students of exceptional ability, enthusiasm, and commitment may apply.
    
4. All enrollees must have passed the CSU mandated EPT and ELM tests or be determined to be exempt from those requirements.

GOVERNANCE

1. As a university program, the Honors Program will report to Academic Affairs.
    
2. The University Honors Committee will be composed of six faculty teaching in the program, one faculty from each college without a course in the program and at least one member from Student Affairs. The Committee will exercise the same range of responsibilities as a departmental faculty. Members will be appointed by the General Education administrator.
    
3. The director will also be appointed by the General Education administrator upon nomination from the Honors Committee. The director will be responsible to faculty in the same way as a chair in a department and will report to the administrator of General Education as a chair reports to a dean.
    
4. An interim report shall be presented by the Honors Committee to the Faculty Senate no later than October 15, 2005 and a second report shall be presented no later than March 15, 2006.

PROPOSED STAFF AND BUDGET

• Six units of assigned time per semester for the Director: $20,000 per year (reimbursement to department for four courses).
   
• At least half-time clerical support ($12,000); two peer mentors for 10-20 hours per week. $6000 per semester at $10 per hour.
   
• At least two office rooms; and a classroom (near the program office) dedicated to Honors classes for 2-3 class periods per week.
   
• Sufficient OE to support operation of the office (mail, telephone, newsletter, etc.) and travel monies for students. $10,000
   
• At least three up-to-date computers.
   
• Funds to provide stipends to participating departments and instructors: at $500 per class.
   
• Additional funds (Learning Enhancement) to support out-of-classroom activities of Honors students.
   
• Funds for recruitment of students, etc. (Shared with University recruitment efforts)

A fair estimate for the annual cost of the program to Academic Affairs, not including scholarship funds, is $80,000 to Academic Affairs. The university, the colleges and the departments will all support the program in ways appropriate to and proportional to their participation.

(Appendix A (Proposed Program for Initial Cohort) can be found at the April 7, 2005 Faculty Senate Agenda Attachment D.)

Carried.

INFORMATION

1. Faculty Senate's home page:  www.csus.edu/acse, or, from the CSUS home page, click on Administration and Policy, then Administration, then Faculty Senate.
2. Actions of the 2004-2005 Faculty Senate: 
3. Faculty Senate meetings for Spring 2005:
    

   Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Outstanding Teaching and University Service Awards Reception - the Alumni Center April 28, 2005-2nd organizational meeting (elections) of the 2005-2006 Senate (3:00-3:30); business meeting of the 2004-2005 Senate (3:30-5:00)

   Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - Outstanding Community Service Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards for Community Service Reception - Ballroom May 12, 2005 - Senate meets from 3:00-4:00; wine and cheese reception hosted by President Gonzalez from 4:00-5:00

The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

*Presidential approval requested.