Senate Minutes

University Senate Minutes
September 10, 2007
Open as pdf

I.  Approval of tentative Agenda – approved

II.  Approval of minutes from May 7th, 2007 – approved

III.  President’s Report (S. Kenny)

  • This is the 50th anniversary for Stony Brook.  There are events that are being planned, the first of which will be the convocation on September 19th at the Staller Center.  Former Stony Brook Presidents, John Toll and John Marburger will be present. 
  • A new Provost has been appointed.  Dr. Eric Kaler will be on campus beginning on October 2nd.   President Kenny thanked Dr. Brent Lindquist for doing a fine job as Interim Provost
  • The capital campaign goal for this year will be $300 Mil with a  2-3 year period in which to finish the campaign
  • During Q and A to President Kenny, Norman Goodman observed that there is an increasing demand on infrastructure.  Dr. Goodman added that there should be a group addressing the issue and faculty should be involved.
  • President Kenny gave a Facilities update.  New School of Journalism newsroom has been completed.  Two new residents hall projects are underway and  a new 30,000 gross square foot Biomedical Engineering building is now under construction next to the Life Sciences building (see President’s written report)

VI.  Interim Provost’s Report (B. Lindquist)

  • Richard Leakey has been elected to the highly prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society
  • Four Stony Brook Professors were approved for appointments to distinguished ranks.   Distinguished Professors:  Gregory Belenky (Electrical Engineering), and Miriam Rafailovich (Materials Science).  Distinguished Teaching Professor:  Thomas Hemmick (Physics).  Distinguished Service Professor: Vincent J. Iacono (Periodontics)
  • Total of 22,450 students were registered on opening day this fall, 603 more than last year.  There will be an updated snapshot through first couple of weeks of fall semester.
  • SUNY Critical Incident Management Initiative:  requires the development of a process of documenting, reporting, treating and following-up with any disruptive abnormal or threatening behaviors that cause concern to faculty and staff
  • Announcement for call for nominations for Distinguished awards (see Provost’s written report for deadlines)
  • Survey on space is being spearheaded by Barbara Chernow (VP for Administration’s Office)
  • Initiatives that are in the planning stages:  Bill Arens is pushing for permanent study abroad sites.  Plan to target Asia for recruiting efforts with a permanent office (possibly Shanghai)
  • SPD was given an award by the Osher Foundation.  SPD has a life-long learning program.  They have 650 life-long learners through this program and if they can increase the number to 1,000 by year three there will be a 2 Mil endowment

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

  • A Senator was a member of the search committee for the new Provost and the EC had a role in the last stages.
  • The Undergraduate Council endorsed the Critical Incident Management Initiative Statement and they will continue to monitor it.  Have asked the Campus Environment Committee to look into security
  • Two rejuvenated committees are starting to meet.  The Research Committee and the University Affairs Committee.  The Charge for the University Affairs Committee needs to be revised
  • There are still open positions on Standing Committees.  If you are interested in a position, please visit the new Senate website at:  http://stonybrook.edu/univsenate/

VI.  Old Business:  No old business

VII.  New Business:  No new business

Adjourned at 4:35

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary