Minutes of the Faculty Senate
Virtual Meeting in Zoom
March 17, 2022
Present: Senators Logan, Almotairi, Valenzuela, Oden, Petty, Pfannenstiel, S. Schroeder, Schneiderwind, Coppersmith, Tucker, T. Schroeder, White, Fanning, Wilson, Paulson, Overholser, Hudgens, Nelson
Ex-officio and guests: Trey Berry, David Lanoue, Donna Allen, Roger Giles, Shawana Reed, Jennifer Rowsam, Sheryl Edwards, Gerald Plumlee, Kim Bloss, Kayla Rasberry
Call to order: 3:41 pm
- Approval of Minutes
Minutes from February 17, 2022 were approved (motion – Fanning, second – Coppersmith).
- Special Orders of the Day
Report by Faculty Senate President Schroeder
Faculty Senate elections for 2022-2023 will be held after spring break. Senate Vice President Oden will run the election for the At Large positions. Continuing college Senators will hold individual college elections after the At Large election results have been announced.
Information from VPA Roger Giles regarding the claiming of mileage for travel reimbursement purposes indicates that the mileage reimbursement rate is set by the State of Arkansas. Unmet need is claimable on annual tax returns and anyone interested can see Roger for more information.
Report from the Faculty Senate Budget Committee
Senator Tucker indicated that there were around 100 responses to the survey of faculty thoughts on budget priorities and that it helped the committee to understand the priorities moving forward. The results of the survey have been shared with the faculty. The committee met with Provost Lanoue and VPF Reed to get a “global” view of the budget process. President Schroeder announced that a similar version went out to all SAU staff on 3/17/22. Motion to accept the committee report (Nelson) and second (Overholser). Motion carried without opposition.
Report from the Faculty Senate Handbook Committee
Senator Overholser indicates that the committee is looking over and seeking to clarify the tenure and promotion policy for approval yet this year. The committee will be meeting after spring break and will report at the April Senate meeting. Motion to accept the committee report (Tucker) and second (Oden). Motion carried without opposition.
- Old Business
Jennifer Rowsam presented information about the 4-week grades pilot studies from Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 involving voluntary reporting of 4-week grades. For Spring, 2021, 25% improved D/F grades to C or better and for Fall 2021, 39% improved D/F grades to C or better. She added that the 4-week grades are not only for students, but they are used for interventions with students at the D/F level, by instructors in freshman seminar courses, professional academic advisors, etc. The INC grade is being re-introduced for courses in which little grading has been done by the end of week four. Daniel Grimmett has also introduced NC and CR as grades for 4-week grades. Faculty would enter CR or NC in Campus Connect and these would be translated so that students see “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory,” respectively. These 4-week grades could possibly be used as academic grade checks for student athletes to streamline that process.
President Schroeder asked if there is a comparison to improvement levels without the 4-week grade. Rowsam indicated that there is not at this time.
Senator T. Schroeder asked if it was intended for a Senate vote on the policy a second time? Will it be a faculty assembly vote? Rowsam indicated a preference to re-vote at the Senate level and for it to be sent on to the faculty assembly for a faculty vote with the inclusion of the data provided.
Senator Tucker makes a motion to send the 4-week grading policy back to the faculty assembly with the preliminary data included as well as additional information about how the 4-week data will be used by various offices and individuals on campus. (second by Coppersmith). Motion withdrawn by Tucker in favor of an electronic Senate vote after distribution of the data and explanations from Rowsam to the Faculty Senate with the electronic Senate vote to occur after spring break and before the April 15 Faculty Assembly. No objections to the withdrawal of the motion.
- New Business
Questions for the Administration
- Is it possible to use a flag in Campus Connect to show a student’s FERPA status? Some faculty feel this would be helpful in the case when a parent contacts them to check up on the student’s progress.
Provost Lanoue responds that it is an IT question, so it is, technically, possible, yes. However it is complicated from a procedural standpoint. FERPA agreements can allow for some but not all relatives to have access to student records. Currently the Provost’s Office or the Dean of Students can clarify FERPA approvals for any employee needing information. VPSA Allen adds that some students allow only certain information to be shared. She also added that when there is a bona fide emergency, FERPA rules can be bypassed for the welfare of the student.
Senator Tucker asks who is legally allowed to know about the FERPA waiver. VPA Giles responds that it would be people with a true need to know, which would include current semester’s instructors.
Senator T. Schroeder asks if a button system could be incorporated into Campus Connect with options such as FERPA = NO for no agreement at all and FERPA = CALL DEAN OF STUDENTS for conditional FERPA agreement information.
VPSA Allen added that the FERPA agreements do often come in in bunches and coding everything would take time.
Senator Nelson confirms that faculty are not required to give out any information they do not want to give out, even if it is approved on the student’s FERPA agreement. VPA Giles confirms that this is true.
President Schroeder indicates we can revisit this in April after discussions with VPA Giles and VPSA Allen.
Comments from SAU President Berry
- Current COVID cases are nearly down to one case on campus and 4 in the county
- Budget meetings will begin in April
- Recruiting is going well with applications, tours, and housing numbers all up over last year
- Please keep the two Ukrainian students and one SAU faculty in your thoughts. The two students will be allowed to stay at SAU with meals for free over the summer, be offered a work-study job, and can take one free course each term if they desire.
Comments from Provost Lanoue
- The Dean search for the College of EHP closes March 28th and there are currently 12 applicants.
- Social Work accreditation virtual visit went well. Now waiting 6 months for final decision from accreditors
- Will be sending out the usual COVID-semester announcement about the availability of NC grades for the semester, would like to consider expanding the NC grade to all general education courses to help students adjust to university life.
Senator Tucker asks if there will be an in-person Faculty Assembly any time soon? Provost Lanoue is unsure if that will happen for the April 15th assembly. A Zoom option would be offered either way.
- Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn (Motion – Fanning, second – Hudgens). Motion carries without opposition.
Next meeting of the Faculty Senate is scheduled for Thursday, April 21st at 3:40 pm. The meeting will be held in-person in DWR 205m The Magnolia Room.
