University Senate
Minutes
April 9, 2012

I. Approval of Tentative Agenda: approved.

II. Approval of minutes from March 5, 2012: approved.

III. Report from Senate President (F. Walter)

• Have gotten a lot of calls and publicity from media regarding the academic calendar.
• Provost Assanis: had reached out to the GSO, USG and the Chaplains and made a number of adjustments based on what everyone provided. Currently exploring the option of using technology to provide video and audio transcripts of all the sections that could potentially be lost for a student because of the observance of their religious holiday.
• Provost will be announcing the Provost’s Outstanding Lecturer Award. Took ten years in the making. Thanked Hugh Silverman for hard work by the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Policies Committee.
• The Administrative Review Committee is finishing up a survey of the effects of the implementation of Shared Services from approximately six other universities. Administration has slowed down the implementation of Shared Services in the academic sector while the survey is in process. Expect a full report by the next senate meeting.
• Election nominations for University Senate positions are officially closed and it is sad to report that interest has been somewhat underwhelming.

IV. IT Appropriate Use Policy (C. Kielt and C. Papadopoulos)

• Purpose of policy is to safeguard information technology infrastructure that promotes the basic missions of the University in teaching, learning, research, patient care, and administration.
• Outlined major points of the policy.
• Most import section is 4.F. (Conditions of University Access).
• A big issue is on how long logs should be maintained.
• It was suggested to be more specific on 4.A.iii.j. Use of unauthorized devices.
• The document has been approved by Legal Counsel.
• If you have more suggestions, please send them in.

V. Report of the East Campus (K. Kaushansky)

• Education match date (where graduating medical students find out where they will spend their residency training) was 100% matched in all twelve disciplines.
• Research architect was approved and the contract signed for the Medicine and Research Translation building and for the Hospital expansion. Eighteen subgroups working on space.
• Dr. Maureen McGovern has been elected Chair of the Governing Board of the Clinical Practice Management Plan (CPMP) at Stony Brook Medicine
• Hospital CEO: bringing back top 3 individuals.
• Four Chair searches in progress: Neurology, Physiology, Obstetrics and Psychiatry. Cluster hire (6) for Biomedical Informatics.

VI. President’s Report (S. Stanley)

• On March 30th Governor Cuomo and the State’s legislative leadership announced the early passage of the 2012-13 NYS Budget. Remarkable for Stony Brook. No cuts in SUNY’s budget. The passage of a technical amendment to the NY-SUNY 2020 legislation allows Stony Brook to benefit from the full five years of increased out-of-state tuition and academic excellence fees.
• The Official designation of “Center of Excellence” for SB’s Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center. The Center will receive $500,000 in seed money for operations.
• Recovered sum of previous cuts for the Hospital. A total of $89.8 million in state support for hospital budgets.
• New talks in developing new budget formulation. Looking at changing the allocation model.
• April and May will be very productive for Advancement and the SB foundation. On April 25 we will host the Stars of Stony Brook Gala expected to raise more than $1 million to create an endowment to support the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center.
• Dr. Benjamin Hsiao was appointed the new VP for Research. Vice President for Finance search is moving ahead.

VII. Provost’s Report (D. Assanis)

• Announced the Provost’s Oustanding Lecturer Award. Recognizes the University’s appreciation of a faculty member’s significant and ongoing contributions to the mission of the University. Considered to be an accolade granted to a FT Faculty Lecturer based on significant contribution to the university as evidenced by the quality of the individual’s teaching, service and related professional development. Awardees shall carry the title of Provost’s Outstanding Lecturer in the unit to which the faculty member was appointed as Lecturer. The designation at SB is anticipated to remain in effect for the duration of the faculty member’s service in the rank of Lecturer at the University. Carries a one-time monetary award of $1,500. Departments spend a lot of time hiring annually. May look at extending terms.
• Axel Drees appointed Vice Provost for Budget and Planning. This is a new position in the Provost’s Office. First part of reorganization in the Provost’s Office.
• April 2012 Provost’s Lecture Series: Dr. Rod Ewin will present a lecture “Plutonium: Burn or Bury-Nuclear vs. Geologic Solutions on April 26th.
• SUNY Korea and Songdo Global University Campus celebrated the grand opening on March 19th. SUNY Korea begins with a Master’s and doctoral programs in computer science and technology systems management. In the fall a program in quantitative finance will be offered.
• Earthstock 2012 will be held from April 16-20.
• Admitted students day will be held on April 21st. Students and their families will meet with faculty, students and staff to learn more about our campus and life at Stony Brook.

VIII. Report from the UUP-HSC (C. Gizzi)

• At the winter delegate assembly, Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr., U.S. Representative Tim Bishop, Senator Ken LaValle and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton won the prestigious “Friends of SUNY” award.

• Voice your opinion about keeping SUNY Downstate and SUNY update open and running. Please show your support for your colleagues.
• At the up and coming delegate assembly there will be elections for officers: three officers and five Executive Board members.

VIII. UUP Report (A. Shertzer)

• Negotiations continue and progress is being made.

IX. Old business: no old business.

X. New business: no new business.

Meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary