Faculty members have to worry about participation and attendance, too.

In recent years, members of the University Senate’s Agenda Committee have noticed poor meeting attendance and an increasing number of committees not meeting or making annual reports.

“There are committees who, at best, can be graciously described as being moribund,” said Bruce Carter, senate moderator and chair of the Agenda Committee.

Carter invited senators to discuss participation during their monthly meeting on Wednesday in Maxwell Auditorium at 4 p.m. Chancellor Nancy Cantor attended.

Although there are 200 senators, Maxwell Auditorium was less than half-full Wednesday. Senators said some faculty members cannot attend because they are scheduled to teach classes at the same time. Other senators spoke up to say they changed their schedules to make the senate meetings.

What is worrisome, Carter said, is that there are also a number of senators who say they do not want to serve on a committee. The number of non-senators chairing committees is also increasing, Carter said.

Samuel Gorovitz, senator and professor of philosophy, suggested the lack in participation could be due to complicated technology. Gorovitz said he has received electronic ballots for the College of Arts and Sciences that do not always work.

Carter asked committees to continue the discussion within their groups. If a committee finds it has no business to conduct, perhaps that committee should be dissolved, Carter said.

Committee researches unpaid internships, English proficiency

Tuition costs for students taking unpaid summer internships could be reduced if a proposal from the Committee on Instruction is approved.

The committee included the proposal in its annual report presentation Wednesday. Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina is currently evaluating the proposal. According to the report, “good progress is being made.”

No specifics on the tuition reduction were mentioned and senators did not ask any questions.

The committee is also investigating the level of English proficiency of international students and how insufficient proficiency could be hampering student success.

The committee met with Maurice Harris, dean of undergraduate admissions, and Karen Bass, director of international undergraduate admissions, in November. Next week, the committee will meet with the Student Association and Graduate Student Organization to continue the discussion.

Law school promotions revised

A candidate for promotion in the College of Law can now be considered for promotion at the beginning of the year he or she becomes eligible.

According to a report from the Committee on Appointments and Promotions, the reduced time in rank reflects established practices at law schools at comparable universities, said Chris DeCorse, chair on the committee of appointments and promotions.

Craig Dudczak, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee chair and associate communication and rhetorical studies professor, asked if it would be a problem, since faculty would be held to different standards across the university.

After a discussion, DeCorse and other senators concluded it is not expected to be an issue. Procedures also slightly differ across university departments now.

The Board of Trustees stepped in to approve eight College of Law candidates for promotion during its May 12, 2012, meeting after the Committee on Appointments and Promotions declined to endorse the candidates, saying procedures were not followed.

Spina commended the committee and College of Law for coming together to work out the revised promotion and tenure procedures. The senate approved the latest report on the revised procedures.

Chancellor search commended

Dudczak asked the senate to convey its appreciation to the chancellor search committee for holding forums for staff, faculty and students on Monday. The forums asked the university community to discuss the future of Syracuse University and the ideal next chancellor.

The forums were “a meritorious practice in the search process,” Dudczak said.

But Patrick Dawes, a graduate student in the School of Education and member of the senate, said some graduate students were unhappy with the forums. He said it was unfortunate that graduate students were grouped with undergraduates for a forum, as the two have very different concerns.

Lil Breul O’Rourke, secretary to the search committee, encouraged graduate students to use the chancellor search website.

Published on March 20, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride