University Senate
Minutes of March 3, 2008

I.  Approval of agenda:  approved with the addition of Robert Lenahan, the new Director of Emergency Management - approved

II.  Approval of minutes from February 4th, 2008:  approved

III.  President’s Report (S. Kenny)

  • Stony Brook has received a $60 mil donation from the Simons Foundation to establish the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics. 
  • This brings us very close to our capital campaign target of $300 mil (by 2009).   We have approximately $250 mil on the books with an additional $20 mil not yet set in stone which will bring a total of $290 mil.
  • Alliance between Brookhaven, Cold Spring Harbor and Stony Brook is moving along.
  • The theft incident was discussed.  An employee in SAC Dining Hall gave the wrong information regarding the theft of food.  It was reported that the thief had a gun.   Emergency plans were initiated immediately:  text messages/emails were sent.  The Suffolk County Police were dispatched with canines.
  • There will be a siren installed to alert people to read email, etc if an emergency does arise.
  • We have a new director of Emergency Management:  Robert Lenahan.
  • Dr. Goodman:  George Myer put together a SUNY state mandated Safety Committee.  Wanted to know what their relationship is to the Safety Committee at Stony Brook.  Dr. Kuchner, who is on the campus safety committee, says that it is an advisory committee that reviews current operations. 
  • Dr. Fred Walter:  there has to be a way in which to notify students and faculty in the Lecture Halls. 
  • Dr. Norm Goodman brought up the fact that the Emergency Management Team spoke recently to the University Senate and one topic brought up was the need for faculty training in the event an emergency should arise.  The Emergency Management Team at some point has to decide what would be the most prudent advice as to what people should do in case of emergencies.
  • Dr. Georges Fouron suggested monitoring the Campus entrances. 
  • 1,236 people have signed up for Stony Brook Albany day. 

Dr. Lane introduced Robert Lenahan the new Director of Emergency Management.  Mr. Lenahan requested that anyone with suggestions/questions can see him after the meeting.

V.  Provost’s Report (B. Lindquist)

  • President Kenny asked Barbara Chernow to do a survey on all academic space on West Campus (which began last summer) and is now nearing completion.
  • Three Stages:

1.  Physical walk through by Facilities to investigate every room and determine what the room is used for.
2.  Each unit was sent a report showing the results of the survey of the rooms assigned to them and then asked them to verify the recorded rooms/assignments
3.  Data analysis – which is being done now.

  • Janet Youngblood pointed out that most undergraduate teaching is done in the Javits Lecture Halls and graduate teaching is done in labs.
  • Frank Myers asked if the quality of the rooms were being looked into.
  • Facilities is now working with the Provost’s Office on the redesign of Old Chemistry to turn it into a teaching facility.  The project will take approximately 4 years from start (design) to finish.
  • Stony Brook Manhattan is being doubled to include a new floor with six new classrooms.  President Kenny said that the funding for this will be self-supporting – no special allocation.
  • Stony Brook Southampton has 189 enrollments this semester.
  • The Provost’s Office and the Senate have formed a committee chaired by Mark Aronoff to look into the Governance structure of Southampton.

VI.  Report on Athletics (J. Fiore)

  • Introduced some of the Athletics staff
  • There was a real fracture between athletics and academic in 2003.
  • Stu Goldstein gave a major gift for the entire 6,000 sq. ft. facility
  • There are four tudor rooms, a wireless study hall, a career resource center and a computer lab with 24 computer stations.
  • In 2003 GPA was 286 whereas now it is 311.
  • View students as scholar athletes
  • Have taken scholarships away from athletes who do not perform well academically. 
  • Georges Fouron wanted to know how you balance athletics with academics.  Courtney Sanfellipo responded that they try their best to schedule around classes and competitions.  They try to utilize the classmates to either tape notes or copy the notes.  When the athletes are away, they have study halls in the hotel rooms.
  • There are 425 students in athletics.
  • Athletics had 14 students with a 4.0 GPA this past semester.
  • Will be hosting the AAU meeting this September.
  • Randy Sussman was introduced.  He is the liaison between faculty and athletes.  He sits on many committees (including the Intercollegiate Athletics Board).  Dr. Sussman said a few words about the importance of athletics and about being the faculty-athletic representative.
  • Fridays are Red Friday, not just for athletics but for school spirit.

VI.  Interface between Athletics and Academics (F. Walter)

  • Athletics are an important part of this campus as an outlet for students, faculty and staff.
  • Intercollegiate athletics is the public face of many universities in this country.  They give us focus and kindles school spirit.  Our program is growing.
  • Dr. Walter is the Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletics Board (IAB).  This Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Athletics Director and to the President.  Tasked to engender regular communications between administration, athletics, governance and the broader community of faculty, staff and students.  The IAB has a webpage if you need to communicate with them.
  • Provide feedback and advice to the Department of Athletics on matters concerning compliance with NCAA regulations, academics, gender equity and athletic budget.
  • IAB consists of 5 faculty members, 3 students (one being a non-athlete), 4 administrators, 1 alumnus and 1 head coach.
  • Probation ending on NCAA.
  • We do not treat student athletes any different then other students.  They take same courses as the rest of the students.

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

  • Topic at next Senate meeting will be on Stony Brook’s carbon footprint and ways in which we are promoting a greener campus.
  • The smoking policy is not dead.  We will also discuss this at the next meeting.

VIII.  Old Business:  No old business.

IX.  New Business:  No new business.

Adjourned 4:50 p.m.

Submitted by:
Laurie Theobalt
Senate Secretary