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University Senate
Minutes of Meeting at the HSC
November 7, 2011

I. Approval of tentative agenda: approved.

II. Approval of minutes from October 3, 2011: approved.

III. Senate Business: F. Walter

  • GS0 resolution on Shared Service Centers: C. Papadopoulos, President of the GSO, presented the resolution. This was accepted by the A&S Senate and the GSO. The GSO is not fundamentally against SSC’s in principle. This resolution has been discussed in length by the Executive Committee and with Dean Squires. Motion was made to accept the resolution: all in favor, none opposed, 1 abstention.
  • Resolution on Access to course evaluation data: Resolution came from the VP for Academic Affairs. The idea is to pre-empt third party vendors from selling the information. Discussion: Should be a mechanism in place to make sure the evaluations have been reviewed before published. Make it more specific on having the Chair of the department check the evaluations before they go on-line. H. Silverman suggested a friendly amendment: last paragraph after the words “opportunity to” add “affirm that they have read the evaluation”. Motion to accept the friendly amendment: All in favor, none opposed, no abstentions. Motion passes. Motion to accept resolution as amended: All in favor, 3 opposed, no abstentions. Resolution accepted.
  • Resolution on Access to Course Syllabi: Discussion. Motion to accept: All in favor, none opposed, 1 abstention. Motion passes.
  • USG Resolution on Recreational Athletics Fields: M. Graham presented the resolution on supporting the students request for more field space. The current outdoor field space available to students is inadequate. The USG Senate would like Stony Brook to find an acceptable solution and provide adequate space for student recreation. Motion was made to support the USG Resolution. All in favor, none opposed, no abstentions. Motion passes.
  • Third reading of the proposed changes to the constitution:

The University Senate 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 seated.
This will be required for consistency if the By-Law changes are approved.

The University Senate 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 with the Provost and the Vice President for the HSC once a month during academic terms.

This codifies current practice.

Motion was made to adopt changes: All in favor, none opposed, no abstentions. Motion passes.

  • Nomination for President of the Senate (E. Feldman): Accepting nominations through midnight November 17th. Forward nominations to Dr. Edward Feldman with ten names and signatures supporting the nomination. There were two nominations from the floor. E. Mendieta nominated Michael Hadjiargyrou and Fred Walter.

IV. Research Committee Facilities and Infrastructure Survey Report (D. Schneble)

  • Dr. Schneble provided the Senate with a power point presentation of the findings of the survey that was conducted in the second half of November 2010.
  • The survey included 2700 faculty at Stony Brook on the research infrastructure and facilities on campus. There were 385 responses during the 10-day window of the survey.
  • The following problems were frequently mentioned by respondents and should be addressed to the extent possible: Physical Plant (poor physical conditions of buildings, electric power, climate control, etc.), Equipment and infrastructure (need for more shared equipment and core facilities, upgrades, computers) and Support Services (insufficient janitorial services, security)
  • It is hoped that the survey will quantify faculty perceptions of the research infrastructure and facilities at Stony Brook. It is hopeful that this survey and its recommendations will be useful in providing guidance for strategic planning of improvements and maintenance.
  • Motion was made to accept: all in favor, none opposed, no abstentions.

V. Provost’s Report (D. Assanis)

  • Provost’s Lecture Series: on November 1st Lourdes Portillo presented her lecture entitled “Art and Poetry in the Struggle for Human Rights”. On November 12th the twelfth annual George Goodman Memorial Symposium will be held in the Wang Center Theatre. The symposium will feature Dr. Diane Meier. Dr. Meier will present the data behind the rapid growth in hospital palliative care while describing the outcomes and future of palliative care.
  • On November 18th we will be celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the Chemistry Department by hosting Chemistry Research Day—an annual showcase and celebration featuring poster presentations by graduate students, undergraduates and postdoc researchers.
  • SUNY’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has announced the Faculty Diversity Program for 2012-2013. The program is budgets to provide partial salary support to SUNY state-operated campuses for new assistant professor-level appointments.

VI. Report from the East Campus (K. Kaushansky)

  • Received letter from LCME that the School of Medicine has been re-accredited for eight years. Re-accreditation of the School of Nursing and the Graduate Program in Public Health are due in one year. Physical Therapy and the Cancer Center are being done this month.
  • Stony Brook Hospital is a 900 mil. operation. The hospital was supposed to receive 55 mil. from the State of New York but the Executive Budget zeroed it out. With the help of legislators in Albany we were able to get back 26 mil. of the initial proposed budget. With another 6 mil. (Medicaid cut) and another 13 Mil (faculty and staff pension payments) cuts, we have ended up in a 47 mil. hole in the hospital budget.

VII. Report on the 159th Plenary Meeting of the Faculty Senate (G. Fouron)

  • Reported on highlights of the meeting (President’s and Provost’s report, SUNY Finance Report, Chancellor’s report, etc.)
  • A total of six resolutions were passed:

Evaluation of Shared Services
Change in by-Laws
In Support of SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy
Resolution on Shared Services between SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam
Morrisville College Council resolution
The Association of Council Members and College Trustees of the State
University of New York (ACT)

  • The first SUNY report card “The Power of SUNY” has been published. It is very informative.

VIII. UUP Report (C. McAteer)

  • Gave an update on UUP negotiations.
  • Thanked everyone for the 2,500 lbs. of food that has been donated by community services in October.
  • UUP in conjunction with community services has a program for LI State Vets Home to collect donations for a large TV. Already have collected $600.
  • Election Day is tomorrow – please vote.

IX. Report from the President (Written Report)

X. Old Business: no old business.

XI. New Business: no new business.

Meeting adjourned at 5:15.

Submitted by:

Laurie Theobalt
Secretary