University of Tulsa Faculty Senate
CHARGES TO STANDING COMMITTEES
For Academic Year 2011-2012
Standing Charge: The Academic Affairs Committee shall concern itself with policies and problems related to the academic mission of the University.
2011-2012 Charges:
1. Continue to study the issue of plus-minus grading. Receive the report of the University Leadership Council about grading systems at comparable universities. After considering that report, and the report submitted by Professor Donaldson in Spring 2010, submit findings and recommendations concerning the adoption of an appropriate version of plus-minus grading.
2. With the growing number of double majors, it is harder for "second-listed" departments to keep track of their alumni. There are also difficulties for all departments in keeping track of international alumni. Identify the scope of this problem and recommend ways that these contacts can more effectively be handled.
3. Pursuant to the recommendations for changes to the online course evaluations process approved by the 2010-11 Faculty Senate, report on any changes that have been made to the evaluation process made among the colleges or at the university level during the 2011-12 academic year. Report on any early evidence of changes in response rates that might be associated with changes made during the fall semester.
4. Assess the impact of the recently developed Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct Policies of TU and its individual colleges.
Standing Charge: The Academic Computing Committee shall concern itself with all phases of academic computing.
2011-2012 Charges:
1. Use of technology in our education mission:
Evaluate T.U.’s use of academic technology, comparing it to current best practices among peer and aspirant schools and in K-12 education. Identify areas of needed improvement and recommend changes to help alleviate those needs.
2. Faculty Senate Web Site:
Work with Information Services on the redesign and reimplementation of the Faculty Senate web site to ensure it will meet the needs of senators, other faculty, and administrators over the next five-year horizon.
3. Adequacy of staffing in light of current and emerging technologies:
Use results of last year’s Academic Computing survey, results of the consulting engagement with WTC, and discussions with faculty and administrators, in academic and information services areas to evaluate and report on the adequacy of current support staffing and university and college plans to meet those support needs in the future.
Standing Charge: The Faculty Affairs Committee shall concern itself with faculty relations within the University structure and all documents concerned with such issues as academic freedom, responsibility and tenure, institutional policies and procedures, sabbaticals and leaves, and the Faculty Senate Constitution. It shall also nominate members for the ad hoc committee that recommends to the President of the University the University Faculty to receive teaching awards at Commencement.
2011-2012 Charges:
1. Monitor the faculty hiring, tenure and promotion polices related to the new TU-OU College of Medicine as the new program evolves and report its findings and recommendations concerning the impact of the new TU-OU College of Medicine on the operations of the related departments.
2. Work with TU administration to monitor the progress and implementation of the five-year strategic plan for faculty development proposed by 2010-11 Faculty Affairs committee to contribute to TU's goal of becoming a top-50 university. Monitor implementation of the plan and report progress to the Faculty Senate.
3. Monitor the activities of the Hennekke Center for Academic Fulfillment housed in the McFarlin Library to enhance the academic atmosphere, and develop recommendations about how faculty can better utilize it.
4. In consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies and directors of graduate programs, evaluate our progress and develop specific recommendations to maintain and increase Doctoral Granting ranking of TU. Focus on what is being done right and what could be improved by the faculty and TU administration.Standing Charge: The Financial Review Committee will meet with the administration and the trustees, including the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and the Chair of the Audit Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees, to review the financial status of the University. Meeting discussions are to include but not be limited to a confidential discussion of the annual audit and the auditor’s findings regarding the internal control structure of the University, and the budget policies for the coming year approved by the Finance Committee.
2011-2012 Charges:
1. Evaluate the rate of TU’s endowment growth and compare our endowment’s growth to that of similar institutions.
2. Evaluate the performance of TU’s endowment investments.
Standing Charge: The Library Committee shall concern itself with all phases of the University Libraries.
2011-2012 Charges:
1. Review the Library funding Bridging Strategy that has been established, investigate budget models at other institutions, and help formulate specific recommendations in terms of developing a permanent, more comprehensive budget model for McFarlin Library going forward.
2. Continue to review progress regarding assessment of library services. Formulate specific recommendations in the development of a comprehensive assessment program (a strategic priority for McFarlin Library) to address collections, services, and information literacy. The focus should be on assessing the effectiveness of services provided to students and faculty.
3. Appropriate care and management of our Special Collections remains one of McFarlin Library’s greatest challenges and most important opportunities. Explore the significant issues associated with storage and preservations efforts, and work with Library administration to create a new, long-term plan for housing and caring for special collections.
Standing Charge: The Student Affairs Committee shall concern itself with all aspects of student life that relate directly to the educational process. It shall appoint faculty members to the Student Publications Board pursuant to the “Student Publications Policy Statement.”
2011-2012 Charges:
1. The Department of Education distributed a “Dear Colleague” letter in April of 2011 in order to assist recipients in meeting Title IX obligations. The letter includes expanded guidelines and procedural recommendations for the handling of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The Student Affairs Committee is to
a. Identify administrators and offices within TU that are directly affected by Title IX issues, including but not limited to
1) Roger Blais, Provost
2) Winona Tanaka, Vice Provost
3) Kevan Buck, Executive Vice President
4) Wayne Paulison, Assoc Vice President of Human Resources and Risk Management
5) Bubba Cunningham, Director of Athletics
6) Yolanda Taylor, Dean of Students
b. In cooperation with the appropriate entities identified in (a), review the new guidelines and recommendations along with the Student Affairs Committee’s 2009-10 report on services for women and minority students.
c. Recommend improvements to TU’s implementation of its Title IX obligations.
2. Assess the adequacy of quiet, safe study areas for students, especially those available overnight. In cooperation with the appropriate administrative offices, devise a proposal to address any inadequacies.
3. Assess the extent to which emphasis on “merit” (or “no-need”) scholarships has reduced the availability of funds for need-based TU-funded financial aid. Additionally, investigate any adverse impact of financial aid policies on the diversity of TU’s student body as measured by family income and race and ethnicity.
4. In cooperation with the Graduate School, assess any disparity in funding between graduate TAs and RAs. Make recommendations to remedy the situation.
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