Members Present:   Bedell, Buck, Drezner, Emry, Fitch, Fromson, Gass, Guerin, Hall, Hassan, Hewitt, Holland, Jones, Junn, Kanel, Kantardjieff, Klassen, Klein, Liverpool, Lovell, Matz, Meyer, Michalopoulos, Nanjundappa, Napper, Rhoten, Schroeder, Shapiro, Syed, Taylor, Walicki, Wiley

 

Absent:  Alva, Burgtorf, Dabirian, Fidalgo, Gordon, Hagan, Kelly, Kirtman, Kreiner, Pasternack, Pierson, Smith, Tavakolian, Vogt

 

I.             CALL TO ORDER

Chair Bedell called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. 

 

II.          URGENT BUSINESS

Time Certain

11:35 a.m.         

Drew Wiley, Executive Vice President, Associated Students, CSUF Inc.

Subject: ASI Fee Referendum Presentation

 

Drew Wiley, Mona Mohammadi, President, Associated Students CSUF Inc., and Brian Quinn, Athletics Director, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the fee referendum that ASI is proposing. President Mohammadi discussed the programs that ASI supports. Vice President Wiley reviewed the history of ASI fees. Currently, the budget is approximately $3.3 million, but the funding requests have begun to exceed the budget. If ASI continues at the current rate, the reserves have a negative balance of $282,160 by 2009. ASI has been making budget cuts, taking money out of its reserve budget, and the funds are quickly disappearing. ASI is proposing a $5 fee increase to be charged to students every semester until Spring 2009, bringing the fee to $74 per semester by Spring 2009.

 

This fee increase will:

·        Allow continued funding of all programs and services that students value and allow them to grow in the future.

·        Allow continued funding of grants and aid that goes to student athletes

·        Allow the athletic program to continue to serve as a publicity vehicle for CSUF

·        Sustain a healthy ASI reserve balance

·        Insure the success of ASI and student life in general

 

 

         Wiley and Mohammadi invited questions from the Senate:

 

Senator Schroeder asked about the students’ reactions to this referendum. Mohammadi stated that the students seem positive about the referendum.

 

Senator Guerin asked what the rationale is for keeping the $8 Children’s Center fee the same. Mohammadi explained that the Children’s Center fee goes into a savings account. The students did not want to borrow money or take out loans to fund construction of the Children’s Center. The money will continue to accumulate in the account until the Center is built. The $8 fee did not need to be increased. Senator Guerin asked if rising construction costs make a difference. Mohammadi recognized the fact that construction costs are increasing and stated that ASI may have to take out a small loan to try to start construction sooner. She added that the $8 fee that students pay will go towards operating the Children’s Center.

 

Senator Nanjundappa asked if a formal survey about the referendum had been conducted. A formal survey has not been conducted, but ASI has been talking with students about the referendum and making presentations to campus clubs and organizations like the one that is presented to the Academic Senate. Wiley added that a question about the referendum will appear on the student election ballot on November 2-3, 2005. Senator Nanjundappa also questioned the significant difference in fees between CSUF and San Diego State. Wiley explained that each campus has its own method for charging fees. For example, unlike CSUF, San Diego’s Athletics fee is not included in its ASI fees. Another example is that CSUF includes travel fees in its ASI fees which help facilitate sending students to professional and academic conferences. ASI feels that this is valuable to the educational experience of its students and takes pride in the wide range of services that it is able to provide to CSUF students. Senator Gass remarked that she appreciates the fact that travel to conferences is supported by ASI fees.

 

Senator Michalopoulos requested a breakdown for how ASI money was spent last year and if that information is available. The information is considered public information and is available upon request. Two or three articles and opinion articles about the fee referendum have run in the Daily Titan. ASI is currently working on getting budget information posted on web site.

 

Senator Rhoten congratulated Mohammadi and Wiley on their hard work and expressed support from Dr. Palmer and Dean Mink who could not attend the Academic Senate meeting.

 

Senator Buck asked what the total campus base fee is for students. Wiley responded that the current fee for full-time students is $14.02 per semester.

 

Senator Klassen asked if students will continue to attend athletic events free of charge. He was told that if the referendum does not pass, ASI will have to make cuts to the clubs and organizations budget.  Senator Klassen also asked if there are mandatory costs that are out of our control, such as benefits. Wiley replied that there are mandatory costs and that as the costs incur, they are dealt with. He stated that although these costs are ongoing, they have not been a major issue.

 

Senator Michalopoulos asked if the $54 fee that students pay for ASI could serve as sufficient income for ASI. Wiley and Mohammadi explained that since a couple of thousand students are waived from paying the fee, ASI does not receive funds from those students.

 

 

Time Certain

11:45 a.m.

Irene Matz, Senator

Subject: Recognition of National Debate Team

 

Senator Matz introduced Jon Bruschke, Advisor for the CSUF Debate Team. Coach Bruschke introduced Brenda Montes and Luis Magellan and their coach, Toni Nielson. The team performed spectacularly at the Georgia State University Debate Tournament. Montes finished in third place, five places ahead of last year’s champion, Josh Branson from Northwestern. Michael Klinger from Harvard finished in second place this year, behind Luis Magellan, a sophomore at CSUF! Bruschke showed a video clip (from College Sports TV) of the National Collegiate Debate Championship which took place in Spokane, WA last May. Chair Bedell presented CSUF key chains to the debaters and their coach in recognition of their achievements.

 

 

Time Certain

12:00 p.m.

Elections Committee

Subject: Update on Special Election – Fall 2005

 

Senator Matz, Chair of the Elections Committee, provided a chronology of events for the part-time faculty election. The election ran from October 3 to October 6, 2005. The results of the election were 49-47, in favor of Al Nestlinger, 25 votes for Curtis Williams, and one write-in vote. Al Klein challenged the results. Two voters were unable to vote due to problems with web links. Both submitted votes for Klein via e-mail. The Election Committee reported to the Executive Committee its recommendation to allow the two votes to count. The election was declared a tie and it was decided that the result would be decided by lot on Friday, October 14, 2005. On October 13, 2005 at 9:14 p.m., Senator Matz received an e-mail from Al Nestlinger withdrawing from the election. With the withdrawal of Al Nestlinger, Al Klein was declared the winner. The Elections Committee is reviewing several areas of the by-laws. Items that may need to be revised are:

 

·        Voting timeline

·        Making it clear that people can only vote in one constituency

·        Verifying with departments lists of eligible part-time faculty

·        The method of breaking ties

 

The problem was with the list. Amir Dabirian assured the Elections Committee that by Spring 2006, part-time staff will appear on list in CMS. He will attend the next Academic Senate Meeting and discuss CMS and lists.

 

There was an increase in interest among the part-time faculty. In Spring 2005, 6.02% of part-time faculty voted. In the Fall 2005 Special Election, 9.06% of part-time faculty voted.

 

Senator Shapiro suggested revising the bylaws to allow for run-off elections. Senator Matz responded that the Election Committee has placed this issue on its agenda.

 

Senator Matz welcomed Senator Klein to the Senate. Chair Bedell thanked Senator Matz, the Elections Committee, and Marilyn Miller for their efforts during and after the election.

 

        

III.    ANNOUNCEMENTS

Senator Nanjundappa announced that President Gordon has notified the first round of  faculty applicants for market equity salary increases. Whether the applications were approved or denied is unknown at this time. The deadline to apply for the second round is November 14, 2005 (the second round will also include any applications that were submitted after the May 20^th deadline). The decision will be announced on March 1, 2006.

 

Senator Wiley passed around a handbill for the fall semester “Pizza with the President” event that will take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 from 12-1 p.m. He encouraged everyone to come. President Gordon, VP Palmer, Drew Wiley and Mona Mohammadi, will serve on the panel.

 

Senator Guerin attended the CFA Delegates Assembly last weekend. The main goal is to increase compensation. The CFA Bargaining Team encourages faculty to stick together and support each other, rather than trying to support special interests. Guerin encouraged the body to vote to defeat Propositions 75 & 76 and to encourage family and friends to do so, as well.

 

 

IV.    MINUTES

         Minutes were not available.

 

 

V.     CHAIR’S REPORT

Chair Bedell reported that the Vision Committee for Academic Quality will have its first meeting during the week of October 31, 2005.

 

 

VI.        STATEWIDE ACADEMIC SENATE REPORT

No report.

 

 

VII.     CONSENT CALENDAR

M/S/P [Michalopoulos/Nanjundappa] to approve the consent calendar with Lynda

Randall added to the list of nominees for the Time to Degree Ad Hoc Committee.

 

 

VIII.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

 

 

IX.        NEW BUSINESS

None.

 

 

         Meeting adjourned at 12:37 p.m.