Minutes of the Faculty Senate

March 9, 2001

President Sadler called the meeting to order. The Minutes of the February 9 meeting were approved.

The Distance Education Task Force, commissioned by the Academic Planning Committee, reported on its work. The task force consists of Senators and other interested faculty members. It was formed in response to increased University commitment to distance education and the formation of DUXL. While the advisory committee to DUXL is being formed, the Academic Planning Committee of the Senate feels a need to be proactive and contribute to campus discussion of distance education.

The work of the task force has been influenced by 1) the original internal white paper on distance education, 2) the NCA report, 3) the meeting of AHUM and SOCS faculty with Dean Griesemer and 4) by information in the Chronicle of Higher Education detailing with efforts of other schools in setting guiding principles for distance education. These other efforts include work by San Diego State University, Northern Texas State, Stevens Institute of Technology, and work by the American Federation of Teachers and the Association of American University Professors.

A draft list of principles was circulated among Senators for discussion and comment. Discussion centered on several key issues, including

The importance of face-to-face instructional interactions between professor and students, as well as between students,

Lack of clarity over policies and processes being used to make decisions to create and market courses.

Lack of clarity over the nature of partnerships between DUXL and Departments and Schools.

Concerns about the definitions of faculty participation in distance learning and selection of instructors.

Suggestions for ways to support course development and delivery.

The draft was referred back to the task force for revision and will be reviewed by the Senate in a future meeting.

President Sadler presented the current draft of the UPAC vision, values, and mission statements for discussion.

Examples of statements from other Universities and Colleges were presented for comparison. These statements can be found at http://www.ColoradoCollege.edu/AboutCC/AboutCC.htm and http://www.kent.edu/ksuStrategic_Plan/. There was considerable discussion of the choices made by UPAC framers. Discussion centered on several key issues, including

The struggle to balance brevity and clarity with the need to convey a unique picture of DU.

Concern regarding the lack of attention to research and scholarly activity as defining elements.

Interest in focusing on the combination of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Other institutional statements that are worth considering are available on the web at:

www.auburn.edu/campus_info/aumission.html

www.bgsu.edu/offices/president/vision/visstate.html

www.brown.edu/webmaster/about/factbook/mission.shtml

www.dartmouth.edu/about/mission.html

www.registrar.northwestern.edu/nucatalog/catalog9799/universityinfo/mission.html

www.pacificu.edu/welcome/mission.html

www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Epresiden/html/mission.html

www.tufts.edu/source/about.html

www.virginia.edu/%7Eregist/ugradrec/matter/umatter2.html

www.vanderbilt.edu/mission.html

All faculty have received print copy of the vision, values and mission statements and have been encouraged to offer feedback to UPAC before their next meeting on March 30. Senators were asked to encourage faculty in their own departments and units to participate in this discussion. Electronic discussion is available through a Blackboard discussion group on the UPAC website. Faculty and community input will be considered as UPAC works to draft the Goals statements that will shape the Universitys direction for the next 3-5 years.

There being no old business for consideration the Senate was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted 3/5/01

Cathryn C. Potter

Secretary, Faculty Senate