UMES Senate Meeting



UMES Senate Meeting

Senate Minutes for October 08, 2019

11 a.m. Frederick Douglass Library

I. CALL TO ORDER & ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Senate meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Dr. Michael Lane. Accepted quorum (22 Senators) were present to proceed with meeting.

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Approval of the agenda was properly moved by Dr. William Chapin and seconded by Dr. Mark Williams. Motion carried.

III. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES

Approval of the minutes was properly moved by Dr. Mark Williams and seconded by Dr. William Chapin. Motion carried.

IV. SENATE CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Dr. Linda Johnson, Chair of Senate Constitution Committee informed the members of the committee recommend the voting senators attend the monthly senate meetings in order to give the opportunities to understand their responsibilities as a voting senator, create a electronically voting mechanism to record voting patterns, allow the senators to develop a working process and aligned with our needs of the senate.

Discussion:

Vice-President Hans Cooper asked if the Senators that are in place will make recommendations for substantial changes. Yes

Dr. William Chapin suggested that the committee make recommendations public in a timely fashion to provide an opportunity for them to be reviewed.

Mr. Joseph Bree recommended that we suspend rules to allow senators the opportunity to understand their role.

Vice-President Cooper asked if the senate is accepting more senators? Yes.

President Heidi Anderson suggest suspending rules with representation.

Dr. Mark Williams move that the committee distribute the proposal and take no action and seconded by Dr. William Chapin. Motion carried.

V. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS – TEST OPTIONAL; SALARY STUDY; PPI / STRATEGIC PLANNING

Dr. Heidi Anderson, University President, informed the Senate that the university will implement test-optional for students. Students must have cumulative GPA of 3.4. The SAT/ACT scores will not be utilized in admissions decisions. Scores will still be submitted by all students. NCAA, Honors, and departments will still have access to SAT/ACT scores. The infrastructure to accommodate increased enrollment concerns, resources will be allocated.

UMES Salary Study will be linked to Towson University’s. The study will review gender quality, salary compression, and discipline related. The review will consist of the faculty and staff.

PPI / Strategic Planning is completed. Dr. Anderson reviewed the proposal with Vice-Chancellors and will provide the new Dean of School Business and Technology an opportunity to review and provide input. The strategic plan is an inclusive process consisting of faculty, staff, and students. The Board of Regents will be reviewing and updating the strategic plan and the university will be aligning their strategic plan with the system and prioritize. The goals of the strategic plan for the university originally were 66 and have been reduced to 30 workable goals. Searches in the system are underway. The new Chancellor will be announced December 2019.

VI. INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF / ADMINSITRATION

Mr. Hans Cooper, Vice-President of Enrollment Management and Student Experience introduced the following:

• Mr. Alphonso Garrett, Director of Admissions

• Mr. Courtney Thompson, Residence Life

• Ms. Latoya Jenkins, Special Assistance to VP

• Mr. Jimmy Lunnermon, Executive Director

Dr. Nancy Niemi, Provost introduced Dr. Derrek B. Dunn, Dean, School of Business and Technology.

VII. HUMAN RESOURCES: EMPLOYEES BENEFITS AND OPEN ENROLLMENT

Use or Lose – 12-month faculty can carryover 400 hours and staff can carryover 440 hours. If one has more hours, they must take their days before January 4, 2020 or lose their days.

Open Enrollment – Changes to benefits are from October 15 – November 14, 2019. The instructions are located on the SBS system and any changes must be completed through the online system.

Wellness Assessment – Any employee that completed in 2019 will not have to complete another one for 2020. The assessment prevents employees from paying co-pays to doctor visits and a $5.00 discount for specialist.

Tuition Remission Forms – Forms are online.

VIII. CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION: SUMMER ACTIVITY

Dr. Lombuso Khoza, Director for the Center of International Education shared her experience traveling to South Africa. The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program was undertaken at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa. Dr. Khoza spent one month (July 16-August 16, 2019) with her colleague, Dr. Nadine Sonnenberg working on co-curricular activities related to sustainability in textiles and apparel. Both professors visited four campuses and presented at three, including UP, on their Fellowship activities. They hosted a workshop addressing curriculum gaps in textiles and apparel. Ten institutions from South Africa and ESwatini participated in the workshop. 

Dr. Mark Williams, Professor (Mathematics/Computer Science) shared he and three colleagues (R. Kohl, D. Seaton, W. Zhu) traveled to Bejing, China on May 20 for 8 weeks to teach mathematics. They are planning to return again in Summer 2020.

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Name Cards – Provided to individuals that have been identified as voting senators

Dr. Jin, Chair of Department of Engineering informed the senate that the Engineering degree program offered at UMES is a general engineering program, with four specializations in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Computer. It is not a standalone electrical engineering program or mechanical engineering program, or aerospace engineering program, or computer engineering program. As an institution, we will make sure the wording is accurate on social media, news report, official transcripts, and university publications, etc, for the sake of accreditation compliance based upon the feedback of the recent ABET comprehensive accreditation review.

However, getting a general engineering degree does not prevent our students from getting job offers in conventional engineering disciplines. For example, a recent graduate in aerospace specialization has been offered a full-time job with the title "Aerospace Engineer Associate" as an entry level engineer with NASA in the Wallops Flight Facility. Likewise, our graduates are admitted to doctorate programs in conventional engineering disciplines, for example, one graduate in mechanical specialization was admitted to the Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. program in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one graduate in electrical specialization was admitted to the Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering at University of Maryland Baltimore County. Since 2011, the engineering program has produced over one hundred graduates, landing in jobs in major corporations and enrolling well known graduate programs at other institutions throughout the nation. It is our commitment to providing a pipeline of technical talents to the region, the state, and the nation.

Hawktoberfest – October 11-13 and Coronation for Mr. and Miss University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Dr. Lombuso Khoza announced 2 students from Engineering and Kinesiology will be Fulbright Scholars. Two students will be participating in Semester at Sea.

Dr. Leesa Thomas-Banks, Acting Chair announced student is accepted in the Under 30 Scholars Program.

X. ADJOURNMENT

Dr. Michael Lane adjourned the meeting at 12:15pm. Adjournment was properly moved by Mr. Joseph Bree and seconded by Dr. William Talley. Motion carried.

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