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HomeSenate Senate MinutesSeptember 10, 2012

University Senate
Minutes
September 10, 2012

I. Approval of tentative agenda: approved.

II. Approval of minutes from May 7, 2012: approved with correction on VIII: Ed Feldman was elected Vice President/Secretary to the NY State University Faculty Senate.

III. Report from the Senate President (F. Walter)

  • Gyrodyne won their eminent domain lawsuit against SBU for about $160 million. This will certainly have some impact on academics. We look forward to hearing the President's views on this.
  • Middle States working groups need volunteers (faculty, staff and students). There are five working groups.
  • MOOCS – Massive open online courses. Provost will be forming a committee to study the issues involved and will recommend actions for SB.

IV. Results of the Senate Survey on knowledge of and Attitudes towards SSC’s (E. Mendieta)

  • The survey was initiated by the A&S Senate. Have worked on it since February. UUP posted the survey for the Senate.
  • Almost 40% of people do not know what a Shared Service Center is and almost 84% were not consulted about the impact of SSC’s in their area.
  • The results will be posted on the A&S Senate website.

V. Proposed new Gen Ed Requirement (G. Hammond)

  • DEC Program has been at Stony Brook for 20-25 years.
  • Between their majors and their DEC requirements, students have very few electives.
  • Writing is a huge problem.
  • Students must demonstrate versatility by showing proficiency in each of the nine fundamental areas of learning: WRT, QPS, LANG, SNW, HCA HBS, ARTS, USA and GLO.
  • Follow up on their interests by completing advanced studies in four distinct areas of the nine fundamental areas. Most students will do this by taking individual courses at the 200-400 level.
  • Highly recommended that student incorporate experiential learning.
  • Students must complete at least 30 credits of General Education while matriculated at an institution of higher education. Each of these requirements must be passed with a grade of C or better, or an S.

VI. Report from the Interim CIO (C. Powell)

  • Has been on the job since March and has been in higher education for the past 12 years including 7 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate level.
  • Email charles.powell@stonybrook.edu if you have questions or need IT help.
  • Staff and others have done a fantastic amount of work this past summer.

VII. Report from the President (S. Stanley)

  • The fall enrollment has 96 fewer students than last year.
  • Had a fantastic year of fundraising (11-12). Stony Brook raised $181,298,717 in pledges and outright gifts.
  • Former CIO, Chris Kielt, has left for personal reasons. Chuck Powell has been appointed Interim CIO.
  • Lyle Gomes has been appointed Vice President for Finance and Chief Budget Officer.
  • Lost our venue for the December graduation. Graduation will probably held in the Pritchard Gym.
  • The University will host a memorial program on September 11th at noon at the Alumni Memorial Grove.
  • Budget: For more than a year, SUNY campus representatives have been working with SUNY Administration to develop a new budget model. When implemented, it should result in a more transparent, predictable budgeting process.
  • Gyrodyne was purchased for $23-24 Mil by the state. Gyrodyne felt that the property was under rated so they sued the state. The state felt that Stony Brook should pay since SB has been using the property. Don’t know what the long-term impact will be.

VIII. Report for HSC (K. Kaushansky)

  • New leaders in the Health Sciences:

Dennis Choi MD/PhD, Chair of Neurology and Director, Neurosciences Institute
Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital and Vice President for Health Systems, Stony Brook Medicine
Ramin Parsey, MD/PhD – Chair of Psychiatry
Todd Griffin, MD – Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology
James Taylor MD and Harold Fernandez MD, co-Directors of the Heart Institute

  • Current searches for Chairs in Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Surgery and Director of Biomedical Informatics.
  • School of Medicine held a retreat designed to begin dialogue for major curricular reform.
  • Leapfrog gave SBUH an A in quality measures.
  • Signed a letter of intent to enter into a strong relationship with Southampton Hospital. Have received the blessing of the SUNY Board of Trustees.

IX. Report from the Provost (C. Robbins)

  • Dr. David Ferguson has been appointed Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Provost’s Office has again agreed to Chair the Stony Brook Cares Campaign.
  • Provost’s Lecture Series will start off with a lecture by Charles W. Mills entitled “Liberalism and Racial Justice” on September 13th at 5:00.
  • The Middle States accreditation planning committee has remained active throughout the summer.

X. Report from UUP (A. Shertzer)

  • Negotiations are continuing. Meeting with the state at the end of the month.
  • October is the 3rd annual food Drive. We collected 2,500 pounds of food last year.

XI. New Business: no new business.

XII. Old Business: no old business.

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary

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