The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: RESOLUTION PASSED ================== BE IT RESOLVED, That the UAF Faculty Senate ratifies the election of President-Elect on the basis of the following ballot. BALLOT PRESIDENT-ELECT Please vote for ONE individual to serve as the President-Elect of the UAF Faculty Senate for 1997-98. Maynard Perkins, Associate Professor General Studies/Northwest Campus *** Madeline Schatz, Professor Music *** President-Elect ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to add the following to the list for Transfer of Credit on page 11 of the UAF catalog: 10. Any student who has completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution will be considered to have completed the equivalent of the baccalaureate core when officially accepted to an undergraduate degree program at UAF. EFFECTIVE: Fall 1997 RATIONALE: This motion addresses baccalaureate CORE courses only. The motion accepts students' baccalaureate degrees as meeting the UAF baccalaureate core requirement. The student could be re-enrolling into the UAF system after having completed a baccalaureate degree at UAF in the past (when possibly the core requirement was different), or the student could be enrolling from another institution. Because of the core transfer policy there are actually few courses that students would need to take and this policy, in the majority of cases, would allow a core transfer without a course by course evaluation. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== Departments and programs will annually review courses not offered in the previous five-year period and consider if they should be deleted from the printed catalog. A list of courses to be deleted will be forwarded to the Provost with the request to have the courses removed from the catalog. EFFECTIVE: Immediately RATIONALE: This motion responds to the actions of the provost in deleting courses from the University catalog. The motion reconfirms that changes to the catalog made by administration affecting any academic concerns should only be implemented after appropriate faculty deliberation. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to clarify walk through requirements for graduate students as follows: To meet the definition of having "essentially completed all degree requirements" (current policy) to "walk through" graduation ceremonies, a student must have meet the following requirements: a. successfully completed all required tests, course work and thesis/project defense; and b. submitted to the Graduate School by the date set for filing a thesis/dissertation in Spring Semester, a memorandum signed by the student and the major advisor certifying that the student is essentially completed the graduate degree, and that all required signatures will be obtained and the thesis, project or dissertation filed by the last day of instruction. If the student is a Ph.D. candidate, the major advisor or designated committee member must also agree to participate in the graduation ceremonies; and c. filed a copy of the required project/thesis/dissertation with the Graduate School with all required signatures, by the last day of instruction in Spring Semester; and d. for Ph.D. candidates, filed a 50 word abstract of the dissertation research along with the signed dissertation. NOTE: Individuals who "walk through" graduation ceremonies will NOT be listed in the graduation program. These students names, and if Ph.D. recipients, descriptions of dissertation research, will appear in the program of the academic year in which the Degree is formally granted. EFFECTIVE: Upon Chancellor's Approval RATIONALE: Dana Thomas requested the Committee review the current policy and clarify the meaning of "essentially complete". The above definition ensures that the student has "essentially completed" the degree requirements and should be allowed to "walk through" the ceremony. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to approve the minimum requirements for Master's Degrees shall be as follows: For all Master's Degree Programs, the following must be met: a. Submit a Graduate Study Plan (GSP) and an Appointment of Committee Form to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester in attendance. b. Be registered for at least 6 credits per year (fall, spring, and summer combined), or have an approved leave of absence form on file. c. Submit an Advancement to Candidacy form to the Graduate School. Once submitted, this form supplants the GSP and serves to formally establish specific degree requirements. d. Submit an application for graduation and be registered for at least 3 graduate credits in the semester in which the degree is to be awarded; and e. Complete all degree requirements within the 7-year time limit allowed. Furthermore, the following additional requirements are the minimum requirements for Master's Degrees: For a Master's of Science or Master's of Arts Degree - with thesis Successfully complete at least 30 credits of course work including at least 6 credits of thesis (699). (No more than 12 thesis/research (699/698) credits may be counted towards the minimum degree credits). At least 24 credits must be at the 600 or above, except for a Master's of Arts in Music, which must have at least 21 credits at the 600 level or above. Pass a written and/or oral comprehensive exam (may be combined with the thesis defense. Publicly present and defend thesis. Submit a completed and signed thesis defense form to the Graduate School. Archive thesis in UAF Library. Master's of Science or Master's of Arts Degree - with project Successfully complete at least 30 credits of course work including at least 6 credits of project work (698). (No more than 6 research (698) credits may be counted towards the minimum degree credits.) At least 24 credits must be at the 600 level or above, except for a Master's of Arts in Music, which must have at least 21 credits at the 600 level or above. Pass a written and/or oral comprehensive exam (may be combined with the project defense.) Publicly present and defend project. Submit a completed and signed project defense form to the Graduate School. Archive project in UAF Library. For a Professional Master's Degree (i.e. Master's of Business Administration, Education, etc.) Successfully complete at least 30 credits of course work (research or thesis credits NOT included). At least 24 credits must be at the 600 level or above (research or thesis credits NOT included). Successful completion of a comprehensive exam or capstone course that includes demonstration of the ability to synthesize information in the field at a level appropriate for a Master's degree. Note on Implementation of Motion: It is the understanding of the Graduate Curricular Affairs Committee that changes to existing programs degree requirements or the name of the degree which may be necessitated by this policy, if implemented, will need final approval of the Graduate Curricular Affairs Committee, but does not constitute a new degree offering, and will not need approval by the Board of Regents. No minimum presented herein prohibits programs from requiring additional work. The adjustments that have been made from existing programs include the requirement for the non-thesis project to be documented and in some manner archived in the Library (i.e. slides, recording, report.) EFFECTIVE: Fall 1998 RATIONALE: Currently there is great disparity in the administration of Master's degrees using a thesis or non-thesis option. In addition, there is an increasing movement towards Professional Master's Degrees which require only course work. To ensure the quality and workload for a degree is comparable for the thesis, project option, and professional (non-thesis and non-project) minimum must be set and applied across all degrees. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED AS AMENDED (16 yeas, 8 nays) ========================== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to amend the resolution submitted by the Faculty Alliance regarding "upon recommendation of the faculty" to include the following: WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the University of Alaska Southeast are each separately accredited and are from a student perspective separate universities, EFFECTIVE: Immediately RATIONALE: The purpose here is to justify inserting the individual MAU after the University of Alaska on dipolmas. The current wording, "University of Alaska," comes from the time when there was only one University and that was located in Fairbanks. For two decades, now, we have had three universities forming one statewide system, and that should be recognized on diplomas and at graduation. ****************** RESOLUTION =========== WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance gains it authority by policy 03.01.01 of the University of Alaska Board of Regents, and WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance provides official representation for the faculty of the University of Alaska in matters which affect the general welfare of the University and its educational purposes; and WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance provides consultation to the President of the University and the Board of Regents on academic matters; and WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance recognizes the faculty of the individual academic major administrative units as having the primary responsibility and authority for recommending the establishment of degree requirements; implementing the degree requirements; establishing the curriculum, the subject matter and the methods for instruction; determining when established degree requirements are met; and WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance has advisory and coordinating role in academic affairs of the individual academic major administrative units; and WHEREAS, The University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the University of Alaska Southeast are each separately accredited and are from a student perspective separate universities; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the University of Alaska Board of Regents shall have included at all University of Alaska graduations and in all diplomas the phrase ". . . and upon the recommendation of the Faculty of the University of Alaska . . . ." with the insertion of the appropriate major academic unit's name. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== The Faculty Senate moves to approve the disbanding of the Academic Computer Users Committee and let this function be moved to the Provost's Office. EFFECTIVE: Immediately RATIONALE: The Academic Computer Users Committee handles academic issues and should fall under the Faculty Senate or the Provost who is the chief academic officer. The Committee also feels that it would be more effective if it reported directly to the Provost. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED AS AMENDED (unanimous) ========================== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to approve the following prerequisite for all core ethics courses in the Perspective on the Human Condition: "Junior standing; completion of two courses in the Perspectives on the Human Condition recommended but not required." EFFECTIVE: Fall 1997 RATIONALE: Upon consensus among Political Science, Philosophy, Natural Resources Management, and Communication, Junior Standing will be the prerequisite for all the ethics courses. Requiring the same prerequisite will enable students to have equal access to all these courses. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (1 nay) ============== The UAF Faculty Senate moves to amend the Department Head Policy to clarify department affiliated faculty members' eligible to vote for department head as follows: A full-time faculty member currently holding academic rank is affiliated with a department if: 1) the head of that department evaluates the faculty member or; 2) the head of the department signs the faculty member's workload agreement. EFFECTIVE: Immediately RATIONALE: The motion to amend the policy defining the role and duties of the department head, which also establishes the procedures for the election of department heads at UAF (as passed by the UAF Faculty Senate at its Meeting #21 [October 15, 1990] and #23 [December 17, 1990] and modified by the Chancellor) is intended to clarify Section III. B. Eligibility to Vote. ****************** The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #71 on April 14, 1997: MOTION PASSED (unanimous) ============== The UAF Faculty Senate forwards to the Faculty Alliance its concerns and recommendations regarding proposed changes to Regents' Policies and Regulations on Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Harassment as follow: 1) the proposed policies and regulations are poorly organized. The regulations for general harassment seem to have been simply inserted into the regulations on Sexual Harassment (R04.06.09 B). Given the organization of University Regulations, the regulations on general harassment and discrimination should be contained in R04.06.09 B; an existing section in University regulations which is titled Harassment and Discrimination. The blending of sexual harassment regulations and the regulations for general harassment and discrimination is contrary to the organization of University Regulations and adds confusion to the distinct issues. 2) The provisions regarding third party sexual harassment (R04.06.09 B.7) are redundant since harassment of an individual resulting from a relationship with a third party would already constitute harassment under P04.06.09 A. (Harassment and Discrimination). Also, in the current form, the third party sexual harassment provision as a special form of sexual harassment has the potential to violate an individual's freedom to association. 3) The language in the proposed regulations allowing anonymous complaints (R04.06.09 B. 7) on the surface seems to be benign in that a formal investigation of charges and possible disciplinary actions would only occur if anonymous complainant names his/her self. However, the regulation also states that the acceptability of anonymous complaints depends on the number of or persuasiveness of anonymous complaints. Hence, if enough "poison pen" complaints are made or if they are sufficiently well written, a formal investigation my occur. This is completely unacceptable. This clause simply opens the way for institutionalized character assassination. While this clause seems to afford protection from formal disciplinary action due simply to anonymous complaints, it does not prevent informal actions. For example, repeated or persuasive anonymous complaints may result in the perception on the part of peers or supervisors that an individual acts unprofessionally, thus affecting periodic evaluations or chances for tenure or promotion. 4) In R04.06.09 B. 2. h (Definition of Harassment Review) it appears that the review will typically be conducted by a single individual. This would give a single individual excessive power. An investigatory committee of three (or more) individuals should be constituted to investigate an alleged violation of harassment or discrimination policies. 5) Policy P04.04.09 A. 1. (a) through (d) (Examples of Harassment) outlines examples of harassment. Given these examples, policy seems to state that the situations, if they occur, are sufficient to constitute harassment. The policy should be reworded to state that the examples listed may be lead to harassment and that the determination that harassment has occurred is made by examining the total context of the situation. In addition, the many examples are vague and potentially open the door to limiting academic freedom. For example, examining supposedly "sexually charged literature" may restrict an English professor's academic freedom. Or, prohibiting supposedly "suggestive objects" may restrict an anthropology professor's academic freedom. Lastly in a separate issue, with respect to examples of discrimination, modifiers need to be added such as the "reasonable accommodation" language of the American's with Disabilities Act. 6) Since it is frequently the case that an individual who violates this policy does so out of ignorance, policy and regulations should stress this. Hence, with respect to disciplinary actions, more emphasis needs to be placed upon the education role that the harassment policy can fulfill. 7) Throughout the proposed policy there is language which is prejudicial to the accused which seems to imply "guilty until proven innocent". For example in R04.06.09 B. 4., the accused is referred to as the "aggressor". In order to remove some of the prejudicial language when referring to an individual accused of harassment or discrimination, the definition of a "respondent" should be added to R04.06.09 B. 2. (Definitions) where "Respondent" should be defined as an individual accused of violating Regents' Policies and Regulations regarding harassment or discrimination. EFFECTIVE: Immediately RATIONALE: The motion responds to a formal request from Faculty Alliance to UAF Faculty Senate regarding input on the proposed changes in Board of Regents' Policies and Regulations on Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Harassment. The poorly written document received from BOR was scrutinized by the UAF FASAC in response to that request.