Senate Minutes


March 5, 2007

Meeting was called to order by University President Bernard Lane at 3:35 p.m.

I.  Approval of agenda – approved

II.  Approval of minutes from February 5, 2007 – approved

III.  President’s Report (S. Kenny):

  • Budget:  Planned on 50 additional new faculty appointments beyond the usual replacements.  Now we are able to stretch that to 22 lines (EIP lines and high needs lines from SUNY).  That will give us a total of 72 lines available for new faculty.  There will also be matching dollars available for packages.  This is the first time in a decade that we have been able to increase the number of faculty.  Enrollment in the next five years (between Stony Brook and Southampton) expected to increase to 25,000 students. Also, we hope to increase the number of faculty lines to 375 to help with the increased enrollment. 
  • Stony Brook Day last year was a success.  This year appoximately 900 faculty/staff/students are going to attend.  We will divide up into teams and visit various legislators throughout the course of the day.
  • The search for a new Provost will begin soon.  Bob McGrath will continue as Provost until a new Provost is hired

Joan Kuchner wanted to know what role the governance will have in the search for the Provost.  Dr. Kenny asked Bernie Lane to give her a list of three recommended people for the search committee and she will select one.  The reason for a list of three is for diversity, etc. 

Fred Walter wanted to know where we are going to put 375 new faculty.  Do we have enough space for offices for them?  Dr. Kenny is looking at how to get some of the back office operations off campus.  The new Research Park facility has a building called “Building 17” which has 45,000 sq. ft. of space to which we can move some of the back office operations.  Georges Fouron asked about subsidizing housing for faculty.  Dr. Kenny has no answer for that yet but they are trying some initiatives including rental units.

IV.  Provost’s Report (R. McGrath):

  • Three years ago we set out to recruit 30% out-of-state students.  We are meeting our milestones.  They bring in more revenue and less students
  • Started searches in Computation Sciences (received 300 applications) and Intergrative Environmental Research (received 250 applications)
  • Cluster hire search began in Digital Arts, Culture and Technology
  • Bookstore Policy— there us a tremendous amount of faculty non-compliance with the senate policy

Georges Fouron believes the operation of the Bookstore needs improvement. For example there are no desk reference copies for the instructor.  Thomas Muench felt that there is a personnel changeover every year which makes it difficult to establish smooth operation.  Gerrit Wolf is on the FSA Board (representing the University Senate) and has worked on the bookstore committee He feels there has been improvement.  It works best in the large departments and courses.  Dr. Kenny suggested that we might want to talk to FSA.  Bernie Lane suggested inviting Kevin Kelly to speak at the next Senate meeting.  Norman Goodman suggested referring discussion of the bookstore to the Student Life Committee.  Gerrit Wolf suggested that we build a bookstore on campus and move it towards a different model (not calling it Campus Bookstore but maybe “Barnes and Noble” at Stony Brook).  Dr. Kenny said the problem would be in getting the funding for a new building.

V.  Student Recruitment (M. Whelan):

  • Record high freshmen applications over the past 10 years
  • More selective in who we are admitting
  • Freshmen yield rates have stabilized at about 27%
  • Increase in SAT rates largely due to increased national reputation of Stony Brook
  • Increase in out-of-state freshmen.  There are 21% of students in the nation with SAT scores of 1200
  • Stony Brook is known as an institution with a very high academic caliber.  We are the most diverse of all SUNY campuses.
  • One third of our students are Pell eligible.  (Students that come from the poorest economic sector whose family makes less then $40,000/year)
  • Our mission is to improve academic quality, increase geographic diversity and promote retention
  • International growth rate is up
  • School of Journalism – over 300 applications and the average SAT score is 1230
  • The Admissions Office is doing a lot of outreach by visiting nationally and internationally to recruit.  Developing a more sophisticated electronic presence.

Paul Lombardi believes the appearance of the campus is what students who apply look at and are impressed by.  The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and New York City are a definite plus.  We should have a hyperlink to LI tourism site.  Appearances make a difference.

VI.  SUNY University Faculty Senate Resolution against the “Privatization of SUNY Hospitals (N. Goodman):

  • It is useful to get resolutions out to campus to see how the feel about the topic and to show support
  • Gives SUNY Faculty Senate President more leverage in negotiations and discussions
  • You have one in front of you now dealing with the Berger Commission Report, one of which would possibly lead to the Privatization of SUNY Hospitals
  • SUNY Faculty Senate took a position against it for a variety of reasons that are outlined in the resolution
  • Asking for support of the Stony Brook University Senate for the SUNY University Faculty Senate Resolution against the Privatization of SUNY Hospitals

All in Favor:   passed with no dissension.  Written vote take.

VII.  Senate President’s Report (B. Lane)

Agenda item VII.  Approval of Proposal on Smoking Ban (W. Dethlefs) will be deferred until April meeting since we are out of time and it will be moved up on the April Agenda so that we have time for discussion.

VIII.  Old Business – None

IX.  New Business – None

Adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted by Laurie Theobalt, Secretary