TRANSMITTAL AND ABSTRACT OF SENATE REPORT

Date Presented to the Senate: May 9, 2005

Presenter: Doug McElrath, Chair, Senate Elections, Representation and Governance Committee

Subject of Report: Proposal to Change the Size and Composition of the Senate CORE

Committee

Senate Document Number: 04-05-09

Voting: (a) on resolutions or recommendations one by one, or

(b) in a single vote

(c) to endorse the entire report

A. Statement of Issue:

The Elections, Representation and Governance Committee (ERG) received the charge to change the size and composition of the Senate CORE Committee. The original proposal was from Senate Chair-elect, Adele Berlin. Professor Berlin noted in her report to the Senate Executive Committee that it was difficult this year, and has been historically difficult through the years, to find faculty to fill those CORE seats that rotate among the professional colleges and the smaller colleges. The smallness of the CORE Committee has narrowed the representation of the academic disciplines, and the committee size may have contributed to the failure to find five CORE members willing to chair the five CORE subcommittees.

The ERG Committee met on several occasions and has attempted to bring more clarity in aligning references to the various colleges and to make clear the apportioning of faculty representation.

B. Recommendation:

The ERG proposed revisions have five essential elements as follows:

Increase the total number of faculty to ten,

Identify the presiding officer as one of the ten faculty representatives,

Provide for seven members from the four Arts & Sciences colleges: Arts & Humanities; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences; Chemical and Life Sciences,

Provide for three members to rotate among the seven professional and smaller colleges,

Eliminates voting rights for the three ex officio members

The proposed revisions to Article 6.4a of the Senate Bylaws is attached for approval.

C. Committee Work:

The ERG discussed the proposal to change the size and composition of the Senate CORE Committee. This change requires an amendment in the Senate Bylaws, Article 6.4a. The committee has proposed suggested revisions to the Senate Executive Committee.

D. Alternatives:

The Senate Bylaws could remain unchanged.

E. Risks:

By not changing the structure of the Senate CORE Committee, the Senate would risk the possibility of making this committee less responsive to the departments and faculty offering CORE courses.

F. Financial Implications

There are no financial implications in the proposed amendments.

Article 6.4a Core Liberal Arts and Science Program (CORE) Committee

ERG Proposed Revision to Bylaws:

Membership: The committee shall consist of a presiding officer appointed by the chair of the Senate from the faculty representatives on the committee; ten (10) faculty members consisting of seven (7) faculty representatives from the Arts and Sciences colleges: Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Chemical and Life Sciences provided each college has at least one representative and no college has more than two representatives; three (3) faculty representatives rotated among the following colleges: Education, Architecture, Business Management, Health and Human Performance, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Journalism, and Engineering provided no college has more than one representative; and two (2) student representatives. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Director of the University Honors Program (or their designee) and the Director of CORE Planning and Implementation shall be non-voting ex officio members.

Current Version in Bylaws:

Membership: The committee shall consist of an appointed presiding officer; one (1) faculty representative from each of the following colleges: Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences; one (1) faculty representative rotated-from one of the following: Education, Architecture, Business and Management, and Health and Human Performance; one faculty representative rotated from among the following colleges: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Journalism, and Engineering; and two (2) students. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Director of the University Honors Program (or their designees) and the Director of CORE Planning and Implementation shall serve ex officio.