Faculty Senate opens new semester of meetings Sept. 9

The University Faculty Senate will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in 112 Kern Graduate Building, University Park. The items below will be considered at the meeting.

-- Kevin Morooney, vice provost for Information Technology, will give a special informational report on improving Penn State's computer security and protecting privacy. This two-phase process will include the scanning of all Penn State computers and full-disc encryption to protect laptops that are stolen or lost.

-- The Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs will sponsor two reports. The first is a forensic discussion of online education concerning courseware and copyright issues. The Senate will be given the opportunity to respond to six questions. The purpose of this discussion is to educate faculty about intellectual property rights related to their online teaching materials. The second report contains recommendations to ensure that all deans establish policies on promotion procedures for full-time fixed-term faculty and develop guidelines on fixed-term faculty roles in unit governance.

-- The Senate will discuss a revision to the Senate Bylaws that will allow a voting unit with only one faculty senator to send an alternate if the elected senator is unable to attend a meeting. Because this is a bylaw revision, the Senate will not vote on this report until Oct. 21. The Undergraduate Education Committee will sponsor a report with a revision to Senate Policy 42-50, Credit by Examination.

-- The Senate Committee on Intra-University Relations will present an informational report on campus security at all locations.

-- Three annual reports will be received. The report on high school students enrolled nondegree in credit courses and a report from the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. The Joint Committee on Insurance and Benefits report focuses on health-plan consolidation, health-care coverage for faculty/staff/retirees, wellness, long-term care plans and the dental plan.

Members of the University community are invited to attend this meeting. Any member of the University community not a member of the Senate may request the privilege of the floor on any item of business already before the Senate. Such a request must be made to the chair, through the executive secretary of the Senate, at least four calendar days before the meeting at which the individual wishes to speak.

The Senate Agenda will be posted on the Senate Web site one week prior to each Senate meeting. The Sept. 9 Agenda is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/index.html. Senate meeting minutes (The Senate Record) are available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/record/index.html approximately three weeks following the Senate meeting.