EOU Campus Assembly

Minutes

December 7, 2004

Meeting called to Order by Matt Cooper, Assembly Chair, at 3:15 PM.  

Approval of Minutes – The minutes of the November 2, 2004 Assembly were approved as posted to the Assembly web site.

President’s Update –

•  President Khosrow Fatemi announced that the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) conference will be held on EOU’s campus Thursday, February 3, 2005.   Faculty will be meeting with students during that day and he appreciates their help and willingness to adjust class schedules.   More information regarding this conference will be released in January.

•  EOU has recently received the EESI consultants’ report regarding the Quinn Coliseum swimming pool.   The consultants estimated annual operating expense to be $78,332.   However, this amount is conditional on a one-time expenditure of $62,500 to eliminate some safety and other issues.   The consultants also strongly recommend renovations, including Level 1 at $263,000 and Level 2 at $407,000.   The report is still being reviewed and analyzed.   A copy of this document is available for campus community at Pierce Library.

•  President Fatemi provided an update on the State budget situation.   The Governor submitted his budget to the State Legislature on December 3 rd .   Higher Education is targeted to receive a 2% increase over last year, however this is still 2% below the essential operating budget level.   This budget includes a pay increase for all state employees of approximately 2%.   One million dollars has been included in this budget for OUS faculty incentives.   This amount would be divided amongst the institutions with EOU receiving approximately $25,000.   This amount would possibly be used as a “fighting fund” to offer pay incentives for retaining faculty.   The proposed budget also includes a 5% OUS tuition increase per year.  

Approval of Minutes – In a “housekeeping” effort, the minutes of the May 13, 2003 Assembly were approved as posted to the Assembly web site.

Action Items

•  EPCC – Colleen Johnson, EPCC Chair, presented the Consent Agenda and Action Items listed below.   She thanked Nancy Knowles for her efforts with the new University Writing Requirement (UWR) courses and Kris Olson for her work on the new EPCC web site.

•  EPCC - Consent Agenda (Informational items only):  

•  General Education Designations –

•  University Writing Requirement (UWR) Courses – Approved

•  University Writing Requirement (UWR) Courses – Provisionally approved (revised syllabus must be received by December 17, 2004)

•  Course Credit Change

•  EPCC – Action Items:  

•  Request for New Course:   – A motion was made and seconded to approve the following courses.   Motion was approved.

•  Change in Existing Course Description/Catalog Entry – A motion was made and seconded to approve the following courses.   Motion was approved.

•  EPCC Draft Policy Statements– the following statements have been presented to the colleges and will be formally brought to the Assembly next quarter:

•  University Restrictions on Double-Dipping - There is no university-wide policy prohibiting the double use of courses.   However, some programs may not allow double-dipping between their major and a second major, between their major and a minor, between their minor and a major, or between their minor and a second minor.

•  University Major and Minor Residency Requirement - All EOU minors require a minimum of 10 credits be completed at Eastern and all EOU majors require a minimum of 20 credits be completed at Eastern.

•  Student Affairs Committee – Proposed Constitutional Amendment – Konnie Zacharias, SAC Chair, and Humberto Almeida presented proposed changes to the Student Affairs Committee section of the EOU Constitution.   Please see Current Topic s for Current and Proposed versions of this document.)   As outlined in the EOU Constitution (Section XII. Amending), these documents will be made available to the Assembly members at the Assembly web site for at least two weeks prior to a vote.   Online voting for this amendment will take place in January.

 

Discussion Items

•  Triennial Review – Matt Cooper announced that President Fatemi directed the Executive Committee to appoint an Ad Hoc committee to evaluate the current Triennial Review policy and make recommendations to the Assembly regarding their findings.   Differences between Academic and Administrative positions should be considered with regard to the evaluation process along with a streamlined procedure to follow.   It was proposed that such committee would be composed of a faculty member from each College (A&S, Business, Education), one dean, one administrative faculty, one DDE representative and one student representative.   Assembly members also suggested adding an Adjunct Faculty representative to this committee.   Matt Cooper asked Assembly members contact him if interested in serving on the committee.

•  Fraternities & Sororities – Officers of the new colony for Kappa Sigma introduced themselves and gave a brief overview of the national fraternity and their activities to date. The four main cornerstones are fellowship, leadership, scholarship, and service. An interest group was formed on EOU’s campus and on Nov. 10 th , 33 male students pledged to the national organization, being recognized as a colony.   Goals for this year include increasing membership to 50 brothers, raising over $4,000 to cover expenses, performing 1250 hours of community service benefiting EOU and the La Grande community, and becoming a full chapter at EOU.   All brothers must adhere to a strict code of conduct and bylaws as the colony advances.   Kappa Sigma requires each member maintain a GPA equal to or above that of the EOU male student body and participate in at least one other club on campus.   The students encouraged faculty to contact them with service project ideas.   Hazing is not allowed within their fraternity and they have a “dry house” policy.   Each member is required to attend workshops, include one focused on prevention of sexual harassment, date rape, and STDs.   These workshops will be open to the public. Written documentation is submitted to the national organization regarding compliance with all standards.

Jeff Dunbar communicated with the Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters and assured the assembly they are very cognitive of the concerns on campus and are committed to work with EOU administrators to ensure a successful organization.   Jeff clarified that the fraternity house will be “dry”, however alcohol is permitted at events held at third-party locations with approved vendors serving the beverages and checking ID to ensure compliance with the legal age limit.   A guest list will also be provided for these events.   The fraternity will have a one-year probation period after becoming a chapter.   Kappa Sigma expressed they are committed to ensuring compliance with the high standards for each chapter.

Sheldon Nord expressed the desire of his office to work with these students and he has confidence that they will pursue this in a meaningful and thoughtful way.   He asked the campus to have an open mind in the spirit of “diversity” and the notion of EOU as a “market place for ideas.”   He welcomes feedback from the campus community and expressed his willingness to contact Kappa Sigma headquarters should any problems arise.  

President Fatemi noted EOU does not have a choice on if a fraternity is formed, but if problems arise there is a process for decertification.   The Student Affairs office will monitor this issue.   Assembly members should contact Jeff Dunbar with any questions or concerns.

•  Assessment – Jeff Dense provided an update for the Assessment Taskforce on their work toward an achievable and sustainable assessment plan.   Jeff indicated he would negotiate with the Provost on the formation of an annual “Assessment Day” to be held in late winter or early spring.   A number of assessment activities would be made available to the faculty.   Evidence of improvement in assessment will need to be documented in the next accreditation report and Sarah Witte provided a model for Arts & Sciences departments to follow in providing that documentation. The Assessment Taskforce is reviewing general education and looking at integrating a number of academic and learning support programs.   The assessment report will be posted to the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA) web site.  

 

Five-minute Access

•  Spring Symposium – Jodi Varon informed the Assembly that Spring Symposium would take place on Tuesday, May 17 th .   The deadline for submitting abstracts is Monday, April 25 th .  

•  Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA) – Curt Whittaker announced that workshops for faculty are being developed.   Workshops for technical support in using Blackboard will be announced soon.   He also offered that there are no immediate plans to stop using the Blackboard Learning System for EOU courses.  

•  Association of Oregon Faculties (AOF) – Greg Monahan gave a brief overview of the AOF and current issues.   He invited those eligible Assembly members to join the organization.  

•  Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) – Jeff Dense informed the Assembly that the Athletic Committee worked with Rob Cashell to review the Athletic Department’s Student Representative Code of Conduct. Suggested revisions were made to expand the code to athletes in and out of season and include and cheerleader, dance, and stunt teams as students subject to this code. Clarification was made to the due process requirements to ensure all student representatives, as a condition of participation in athletic activities, are aware of the policy.    Rob Cashell thanked the committee for their work on the revisions and announced the document is posted to their web site.

•  Athletic Department Update – Rob Cashell provided an update on post-season awards.   Assembly members suggested an academic code of honor be developed for EOU athletes, especially for new freshman who wouldn’t have established a GPA during fall season.   Rob Cashell assured the assembly that EOU athletes are held to high standards set by the NAIA Conference.   Sheldon Nord announced that Anna Maria Dill is working on a plan to be implemented next fall for all students, including athletes, who are admitted to EOU provisionally and don’t meet the minimum high school GPA of 3.0.   They will develop a “plan for success” for each student that is provisionally admitted.  

•  Cross Country: EOU’s men and women’s cross country teams participated at nationals.   The men’s team finished 6 th overall and also placed 6 th as an academic team.   The women’s team finished 16 th overall and 17 th academically.   Three individuals received performance All-Americans honors:   Eric Griffiths , Alex McGladrey and Ian Schroeder .   EOU also had three Academic Scholar Athletes:   Ian Schroeder, Eric Griffiths, and Stephanie Colkitt.  

•  Post Season Awards: EOU was represented regionally by the following athletes:

•  Kaki McLean with NAIA All-Region I honors in volleyball

•  Kristen Rice was named to the All-NAIA Region I soccer team

•  Jason Flowers received a regional academic award for football

•  Native American Program / Native American Adolescent Mentoring Program – Jackie Grant shared that the Native American Program has been renamed to the Office of Multicultural Affairs in an effort to be more inclusive and representative of all EOU students served in this program.   Data on the diversity of ethnicity for the EOU student population will be posted to the web site in the near future.   ASEOU members and Student Activities helped located temporary office space for a Multicultural Student Center to be opened next summer.   It will be located on the second floor of Hoke.   Jana King was selected as the student coordinator for that program.

The Native American Adolescent Mentoring Program (NAAMP) is in the second year of operation and has a total of 31 EOU student mentors.   Students serving in this program commit for a one-year position and undergo several hours of training.   The NAAMP program focuses on building middle school students’ self-esteem and school attendance.   Goals are to help students improve their grades and be successful in school. The EOU student mentors travel twice a month to Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton and serve as positive role models.   They will also begin mentoring at the at a new charter school on the CTUIR at Mission, Oregon.  

•  Diversity Committee Update – Jessica Plattner provided an overview of the Diversity committee’s goals for the year.   One goal for this year is to expand the committee’s visibility on campus as consultants to search committees.   The committee is also hoping to establish a fund for cultural awareness training on campus.   Jessica announced they have been discussing a proposal for a diversity general education component and asked assembly members to contact her or Bill Grigsby with comments and suggestions.   They have continued work on a student grievance procedure, which began last academic year.   Additionally, the Diversity Committee will provide an annual report on issues of diversity for the campus.

 

For The Good of the Order –

•  Steve Tanner presented the “Major Cup” and “Magic 8 Ball” awards to the Psychology department, recognizing them for providing the most original and interesting program displays during the Major Fair.

•  Colleen Johnson requested the Executive Committee review future agendas to strike a balance between efficiency and relative discussion time.

•  John Galliano suggested moving Assembly meeting from Zabel Hall to Huber auditorium.   He further requested the assembly to consider not holding meetings during finals week.

•  Jeff Dense announced that KEOL would broadcast the Women’s Basketball games.  

 

Meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

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