College of Arts and Sciences gets Senate's unanious support

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor

The resolution was passed at the Faculty Senate's June 17 meeting following reports by the Hearing Panel on the Reorganization of the Arts and Sciences and the Faculty Senate Academic Planning Committee. (See Hearing Panel report below)

"I move this resolution because I do believe we need to get this thing moving forward," said William Baumer, professor of philosophy, who initiated the motion. "We've been discussing it for six months....The proposal that this should go back for further faculty consideration serves no purpose."

In all, the hearing panel received feedback from 17 individuals regarding the provost's proposed academic plan, according to Michael Stokes, director of student multicultural affairs. He chaired the panel and, along with Elizabeth Mensch, professor of law and a member of the panel, presented preliminary findings to the Faculty Senate.

The mission of the hearing panel, noted Mensch, was not to provide recommendations regarding the proposed academic plan, but to compile information and concerns presented during those hearings.

According to Stokes, concerns expressed during hearings on the academic plan fell into categories that included the quality of and emphasis on undergraduate education, providing a common educational experience to students, undergraduate identity, linkages between undergraduate and graduate education and creating interdisciplinary programs while limiting bureaucracy.

The hearing panel also found that proposals for the reorganization of the arts and sciences at UB fell into two categories: formation of a College of Arts and Sciences and a series of proposals for what Stokes called "local options," such as the "Big Sciences" option and the College of Computing and Information Science.

The hearing panel, which was appointed by Provost Thomas E. Headrick to examine options for the reorganization of the arts and sciences, has agreed to provide a detailed summary of its findings to the provost by the end of June, Stokes said.

Senators also heard a report by Dennis P. Malone, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and chair of the Faculty Senate's Academic Planning Committee. Calling his remarks "the most recent interim report, because we are nowhere near completing the task," Malone noted that his group had found many of the same concerns as the university-wide hearing panel. In addition, he said, "we looked at the question whether there is a reason not to form a College of Arts and Sciences" and found none.

"The fact that the leadership will be important is obvious. We obviously want the best person to head this....The search process (for a dean of arts and sciences) should start as soon as possible," Malone said.

In other business, the senate returned to committee a resolution from its University Governance Committee on the review of plans of the future of the university and reorganization of its academic units.

The resolution outlines a four-step review process that would be followed before UB's president makes a final decision on "plans for the future of this university and on proposals regarding the formation, reorganization or dissolution of academic units."

"We will have an ongoing year of decision-making (on the academic plan)...and the committee felt it was necessary to keep the senate in this process and add to our structure (a) point that allows the senate to be informed on future decisions that will be made by the administration," said Boris Albini, professor of microbiology and chair of the governance committee.

But Jack Meacham, professor of psychology, protested strongly the need for the resolution, noting "there has been ample opportunity on this campus for discussion."

The administration, Meacham said, has met with faculty and staff, held public hearings and the Faculty Senate has discussed the issue extensively as well. "Over the past year the process has been exemplary....I think we've already spent too much time discussing reorganization and too little time discussing implementation....I really feel that we need to move forward on issues facing the campus," he said.

The resolution is intended to deal with those future issues, Albini noted. "There are many other issues in the provost's report that need discussion and I think it makes sense to have those structures written down," Albini said.

Errol Meidinger, professor of law, called the resolution "too broadly drafted. I would support a narrower resolution." The senate voted to return the resolution to committee for future consideration.

In his report to the Faculty Senate, UB President William R. Greiner indicated that there is reason for optimism concerning the state budget and the status of United University Professions contract negotiations.

According to Greiner, indications are that SUNY has a "reasonable chance" for a full-restoration budget, although he did not elaborate. He added that UUP and the state "are working very, very hard...quietly and behind the scenes" toward a contract.

"I can think of nothing better for this institution than to come back in the fall" with both the budget and a contract in place, Greiner said.