University Senate
Minutes
October 3, 2011

I. Approval of tentative agenda: approved with the removal of vote on electronic communications policy.

II. Approval of minutes from September 12, 2011: approved.

III. Report from the HSC (K. Kaushansky)

• National search is on for a permanent chair for the department of Neurology.
• Open search for the Director of the Cancer Center.
• Medical School class size is 124. Have permission by the accrediting agency to increase class size to 140. There is a national shortage of physicians. Put hold on increasing class size because of insufficient number of faculty and class space.
• Dr. Steve Strongwater will be stepping down as CEO of University Hospital and Fred Sganga, current CEO of LI State Vets home, will serve as Interim CEO.
• Refurbishing some classrooms.
• Had accreditation visit for the medical school a couple of months ago.
• Construction: expansion of the hospital and a new medicine and research building.
• Just recruited a Vice Dean for the School of Social Welfare.

IV. Provost’s Report (D. Assanis)

• Fred Walter welcomed the new Provost, Dr. Dennis Assanis.
• Dr. Assanis introduced himself and talked about his role at the University of Michigan.
• Focus on quality in students and staff.
• Would like Steer BNL partnerships to new heights.
• Proponent of faculty governance.
• Met with some faculty last week regarding Stony Brok promotion and tenure practices .
• Faculty Achievement Dinner will be on Nov. 3rd at the Watermill Inn.
• Academic Achievement Banquet to honor students who have demonstrated extraordinary excellence will also be held on Nov. 3rd.

V. Senate Business (F. Walter)

Following amendments to the by-laws were voted on:

• Vote was taken on the Educational Services Committee, which would be a restructuring of the Computing and Communications Committee. No discussion. Motion was made to accept the proposal as written. All in favor, none opposed and no abstentions. Passed Unanimously.
• Vote taken on forming a new umbrella committee, the Information Technologies Committee, which would draw its membership from the existing standing committees which deal with information technologies. All in favor, none opposed, no abstentions.
• Election of Senate President: Hold nominations in November with the election of President in December instead of May. All in favor, none opposed, one abstention.
• Constitutional amendment. Second reading.

We propose the following two changes in the Constitution:

• The Constitution currently states:
• The immediate past-President shall serve on the Executive Committee until a new President is elected.
  
  This shall be changed to:
  
  The immediate past-President shall serve on the Executive Committee until a new President is elected.
  
  This will be required for consistency if the By-Law changes are approved.
• The Constitution currently states:

The Executive Committee normally will meet with the campus President once a month and the campus Provost once a month during academic terms.
This shall be changed to:
The Executive Committee normally will meet with the campus President once a month and the Provost and Vice President for the HSC once a month during academic terms.
This codifies current practice.

VI. Advancement (D. Bailey)

• Job is to work with faculty, students and leadership to create a culture where philanthropy is celebrated.
• There are over 150,000 alumni around the world. Would like to build conditions where they can spend a little bit more time investing in resources.
• Challenge in this competitive market is finding discretionary funding and the fact that people do not have the time.
• Need to re-engage alumni not just for money but for the future of Stony Brook.
• Ask faculty to participate in the process that we will have in the next two years of looking at philanthropic priorities for Stony Brook looking forward.
• Strategic alignment – need to align our priorities.
• Priorities moving forward. Hope faculty considering inviting alums come to speak at their classes to tell their career experiences.

VII. President’s Report (S. Stanley).

• Lab fees have been approved by SUNY for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
• Still waiting for the Governor to sign our NYSUNY 2020 Challenge grant application. Expected to be signed in November.
• Stony Brook will be hosting Sony’s Regional Showcase on Oct. 5th in the Wang Center featuring displays from Farmingdale State College, Nassau Community College, Old Westbury, Suffolk Community College, Empire State College and Stony Brook University. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Simper and the Presidents of each participating institutions will be at the event.
• Faculty/Student honors: Dr. Lillian R. Mujica-Parodi, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has been named by President Barack Obama as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists. This is the highest honor bestowed by the United State Government on sciences and engineering professionals in the early stages of their research careers. Stony Brook graduate student Andrea Nesteruk has been awarded a Fulbright Student Program scholarship for an English Teaching Assistantship in Italy.
• Charge given to VP for Research search committee. They are engaged in drawing up the job description and posting.

VIII. UUP Report (A. Shertzer)

• This October the UUP is conducting a food drive for non-perishable food items. There are boxes all over campus. Collected over 1,150 lbs. last year.
• PEF members have rejected their contract.
• Still working with the negotiator from the Governor’s Office on a regular basis.

IX. New Business: no new business.

X. Old Business: no old business.

Adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary