University Senate
Minutes
May 5, 2008

I.  Approval of agenda – approved

II.  Approval of minutes of April 7th, 2008 – approved

III.  Provost’s Report (E. Kaler)

  • Jeri Schoof, Assistant Provost for Human Resources, is retiring in June.  A candidate for the position has been identified.
  • During Earthstock 2008 last month, we paid tribute to four distinguished faculty members from SoMAS who was on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on climate change which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former VP Al Gore.
  • Recently we held our annual emeritus faculty association luncheon.
  • Last week we celebrated URECA.  This year we had 176 posters involving over 300 students.
  • Stony Brook University was cited eight times in the U.S. News & World Report Rankings.

IV.  149th Plenary Meeting at SUNY Delhi (K. Gillespie)

  • Norman Goodman was reelected as Vice President and Secretary for the University Faculty Senate for 2008-10.
  • Provost Silverman announced a new position of Senior Vice Provost for Research.  We now have a representative at a very high level within SUNY.
  • Chancellor John Clark reiterated the dire budget situation, however, reported some good developments.  One is that the legislature did approve a $550M for critical facility maintenance. 
  • Carl Hayden, Chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees spoke at the Plenary Session.  His appearance was very important since a SUNY Chairman of the Brd. of Trustees has not spoken at a SUNY UFS in several years.
  • There were three resolutions that were passed by SUNY Faculty Senate committees.  Edward Feldman spoke about the Student Life Committee Resolution on providing resources for a ratio of 1:1000 or 1:1500 mental health counselors to students across SUNY.

V.  President’s Report (S. Kenny)

  • The total number of students who applied for graduation this May is 4,063.
  • The Presidents of the university colleges, centers, medical campuses and ESF met to discuss working together on the budget situation.
  • On April 9th the legislature passed and the Governor approved a 2.9% cut in tax dollar support to SUNY totaling $38.8 million. We are estimating Stony Brook’s cut to be between $5 and $5.5. Million.  Full funding of negotiated salary increases, etc.
  • Dan Melucci discussed Governor Paterson’s directive in relation to a spending reduction that applies to SUNY revenue funds which include Revenue Offset (tuition), SUTRA, Stabilization, General IFR funds, etc.  These are revenue funds whose spending authority comes from state legislation.  Research activities are not affected.  The reduction will curtail spending by an addition $109.5 million beyond the budgeted $38.8 million state-operated funds reduction.  This would impinge on revenue-generating funds derived from non-General Fund accounts in the State Fund category.  There is a proposed expenditure ceiling. 
  • Janice Rohlf explained the political component of the budget cuts.  The action was taken two weeks after the budget came to conclusion when the legislators were going out of town on vacation.  The Assembly Ways and Means and the Senate Finance committee were not consulted. 
  • Edward Feldman felt that we should present the information to the students since they will be leaving in a couple of weeks.  Norman Goodman suggested a “Town Hall” meeting this week. 
  • Kathy Southerton, HSC UUP Chapter President, urged that faculty and staff send letters.  A sample copy can be found at http://www.uupinfo.org

VI.  Smoking Policy (L. Esparza):

  • Louis Esparza, the Chair of the Smoking Policy Subcommittee of the Campus Environment Committee of the University Senate stated that the subcommittee has been negotiating a compromise on the campus-wide smoking policy for the past two years.  He read the policy proposed by the Campus Environment Committee

Effective Fall 2008 smoking will be prohibited within 20 feet of all building entrances throughout the University and in the academic mall except in clearly designated area(s). Individual campuses may enforce stricter smoking policies as indicated. In accordance with SUNY policy, smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including all residence halls and apartment complexes throughout the University, with the exception of the Long Island State.  Veterans home. This policy will must be reviewed after a five year period but may be reviewed at any time to assess the impact and effectiveness of the new rules Smoking cessation assistance is available through the New York State Smokers Quitline by calling 1-(866)-697-8487 or online at www.nysmokefree.com.

  • The University Senate Executive Committee immediately made the following motion for amendment by substitution.

Substitute Motion on Smoking Policy
Executive Committee of the University Senate
The Executive Committee of the University Senate recommends the adoption of the following substitute motion on “smoking policy”:
Effective Fall 2008, smoking will be prohibited within 50 feet of all building entrances throughout the University.  In accordance with SUNY policy, smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including all residence halls and apartment complexes throughout the University, with the exception of the Long Island State Veterans Home.  This policy will be reviewed after a one-year period to assess the impact and effectiveness of the new rules. The Campus Environment Committee is requested to determine a methodology by means of which the impact and effectiveness of the new policy will be appropriately assessed.  Smoking cessation assistance is available through the New York State Smokers Quitline by calling 1-(866)-697-8487 or online at www.nysmokefree.com.

Professor Goodman noted that the Executive Committee is a standing committee so its motion doesn’t require a second.  The substitute motion becomes the one on the floor and is open to discussion, amendment, and vote.  If the substitute motion is voted down, the original motion would then be considered.  In support of the substitute motion, Professor Goodman pointed out that a change from 15 feet to 20 feet as stated in the original motion is no change at all.  Further, waiting 5 years to review the impact makes no sense.  After 1 year we should be able to decide the policy is working or not.

L. Naydan (President of GSO) said the GSO Senators support the work that the smoking policy subcommittee has done on this contentious issue over the past 2-years and believe that the subcommittee's product should be adopted without amendment. The parliamentary process was debated at length and it was finally ruled that the substitute amendment was appropriately on the floor and had to be dealt with first.

There was a second order amendment to the substitute amendment changing the distance from the buildings to 20 feet while making the distances from building entrances 50 feet.  After some discussion the second order amendment passed 22 to 18.

After extended discussion about the time interval to review of the impact of the policy no additional amendments were proposed and the substitute motion, amended only with regard to distances from buildings and building entrances, was passed 24 to 16

The hour being late, the meeting was adjourned without completion of the agenda.

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary