Academic Senate

FASP Minutes
September 20, 2007, 2:30 p.m. K-207
Approved October 18, 2007

Attendance: Mills (chair), Whitlock (Mills), Edebiri, Postma, Yudell, Place, Tropea, Richardson, Henderson, Roberts (Henderson), Houston, Johansen, Jones, Corral (Jones), Schurr, Battle, Hoban, Kotar, Haselton, Trailer, Nix-Baker.
Absent:  Beterbide, Campos, Kirchhoff
Guests: Martha Williams

1.         Minutes approved of September 6, 2007.

2.         September 20, 2007 agenda approved.

3.         Announcements
Battle announced that the University Needy Children's Project is having a drawing to buy food certificates to feed families. 

4.         Modification of EM 04-36 Policy on Academic Integrity and the Establishment of the Council for Promoting Academic Integrity as an action item was moved by Jones.  Schurr indicated that EM 1006(?) requires faculty to report violations of academic integrity, and the reports are kept in a data base.  Postma asked if there was an end of year tally.  Jones asked where the report goes.  Schurr:  to the vice-president (of academic affairs).  Place asked where the report goes.  Motion passed unanimously. 

5.         Revision of EM 89-33 University Scholarship and Awards Program moved as an introduction item by Battle, seconded by Kotar.  Williams introduced the revision, noting that the EM does not cover awards.  She stated that there is no centralized organization of the management of scholarships on campus.  Given that there will not be a centralized process, there should be a clear structure.  Kotar asked how awards are different from scholarships.  Williams:  awards are mostly one-time only, not necessarily involving money, students do not apply.  Scholarships are awarded to students who apply, after which FASO determines scholarship eligibility.  Scholarships are not taxable if they go to qualified expenses.  Postma asked if USC has oversight over the college and departmental committees.  Williams:  no, each college has a representative who coordinates the scholarship committees, according to the new EM.  Currently, there is no policy governing these activities.  Battle asked about where advancement directors get information about available funds.  FASO currently communicates that information to the point person in the college about February 1.  Mills asked who contacts donors of renewable scholarships, and how.  Williams:  a letter is sent by advancement director of the college, but there is no uniform practice.  Battle asked how incoming freshmen awards work in the cycle.  Williams:  those are recruitment awards, which are on a different schedule than retention awards, e.g. not requiring an online application.  Postma asked if this EM is meant to replace 89-93.  Williams:  yes.  Postma:  so there is no need for the line in the by-laws about the guiding EM.  Williams:  the deadline for application will be moved to Jan. 1 from Feb. 1 so that we can give faculty time to deliberate and students earlier knowledge of scholarships (to improve retention.)  The aim is to move up the deadline for decisions to April 1.  Motion passed unanimously.

6.         Other-none

7.         Adjourn-3:04 PM.