Chair: Dr. Susan Camp

Recorder: Sarah Lewis

Members Absent: M. Nojan, K. Budd, J. Fiorini, J. Hallagan, T. Ramalho, W. Silky, K. Marshal, K. Shaw,    W. Opello, C. Hockey, A. King, S. Short, D. Nau

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 PM.

I.    Approval of Agenda

II.    Approval of December 8th, 2008 Minutes

III.    FA Chair's Report - S. Camp

Dr. Camp started out her report by welcoming the new and returning representatives for the new semester.  She also wanted to ask the Assembly that reports be given to Sarah (slewis2@oswego.edu) in writing to speed up the work of drafting FA minutes and to also please speak extra loudly as many members have difficulty hearing reports.
She then continued on to say that she has proposed an award for faculty and professional staff service that is parallel to our teaching, advisement and research awards at the campus level.  This has been sent to the Faculty Assembly Executive Board and Personnel Policies Council for their review.
Dr. Camp then discussed the impending issues that the Assembly will face this semester. Councils are considering along with the impacted majors the declaration of major form and how the departments can keep out students in good standing, Thanksgiving week break, verification of student absence because of illness, busses scheduled by the college prior to Thanksgiving and Spring break, along with other numerous items.
She then addressed the Assembly that the Calendar Committee has met and heard from the registrar and associate deans regarding the time frame for submitting grades. Dr. Camp stressed that the urgency for disqualified students prior to spring start up led the committee to develop a guiding principle: "attempt to have grades due by Dec 22 each year".  This allows for grades to be processed on the 23rd and students to be notified in a timely fashion.
Dr. Camp then continued on to announce that after reports today she would like to discuss the work of the Admissions and student services council, Academic outreach council and other issues that we believe our councils should be addressing. Additionally she has met with Jodi Mullen, chair of Graduate Council to discuss their work including developing criteria for graduate faculty.
She also announced that future reports will be given by Dean King at February 9th's meeting, Director Wengert on February 23rd, Dean Markert on March 16th, Dean Messere March 30th, and Provost Coultrap-McQuin at an unannounced date.

IV.    Reports of Councils, Committees, and Task Forces

• Academic Policies Council will be meeting Wed January 28th with UCC to discuss the review of course prerequisites.
• General Education Council addressed the Assembly and stated that an email has been sent to department chairs concerning assessing each program's infused critical thinking components. The General Education Council will meet Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 8:00 AM.
• Graduate Council will meet on February 6th, at 8:00 AM.
• Undergraduate Council will meet on January 28th, to discuss the ongoing issues with the pre requisites among other things.
• Catalog Coordinator reported that the winter draft for the undergraduate catalog is almost finished. The department blurbs will be sent out soon and the course descriptions and the directory of professional staff will be available on-line. They also reported that this is the proof reading stage. All they ask for is that departments make sure that they have included what was requested as well as anything that has made it through governance. Lastly they reported that the draft for the graduate catalog is still being worked on.
• Campus Concepts Committee will meet Tuesday February 3rd to continue to develop the Hewitt Quad Program Mission statement for the program study architects and beyond, and to work on the Sustainability action plan.

V.    Mc Nair Program and C-STEP Report- A. Morton

Dr. Morton began her report by giving a background on both the McNair and CSTEP programs that she is in charge of overseeing.  She explained to the Assembly that the New York State Department of Education and that SUNY Oswego has been funded by the Department of Education for 4 years for the amount of $130,000.  
She then continued on to explain that CSTEP's purpose was to increase the number of underrepresented students who enroll in and complete undergraduate or graduate programs that lead to professional licensure or to careers in the STEM fields, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), or any health related field.  She also explained that this has been broadened in the last few years to include teachers that are concentrating in the sciences or mathematics areas.
Dr. Morton then continued on to say that CSTEP is available to all SUNY Oswego students that hold a 2.5 GPA or higher, though she did comment that most Scholars that are coming into the CSTEP program have much higher GPA's than 2.5, and that there has been a steady increase of the Scholars that go on to continue their education in graduate school. She continued on to say that the Scholar must also be enrolled in a major that requires a license, or in any of the STEM fields or health field.   The Scholar must also be a resident of New York State.
Currently there are 81 Scholars here on the SUNY Oswego campus, and the program is budgeted for 90 Scholars, so Dr. Morton addressed the Assembly to send any student that they thought was dedicated, and fit the criteria for the CSTEP program to be sent that can take advantage of the program.  CSTEP helps Scholars in the program to be able to have additional academic counseling, and connecting them with internships within their chosen major.  
Dr. Morton then continued to explain the McNair program, which has been in existence on the SUNY Oswego campus since 2004.  Currently there are 21 students in the McNair program on campus, and has been budgeted for 26 students.  She again stressed to the Assembly to send any students that can benefit from this program.  SUNY Oswego has an annual budget of $231,000 for the McNair program for four years.  The Mc Nair program has a rigorous 8-week research project in the summer.  At the end of the 8-week program there is a national conference at SUNY Buffalo that allows them to present their research that has an attendance of 900-1500 Scholars nationwide.  
She explained to the Assembly that the requirements for the Mc Nair program include that the Scholars are first generation and low-income college students, an underrepresented student (African American, Latino (Hispanic) or Native American) or are under-represented within their major or graduate studies, a U.S. Citizen and must have a 2.75 or better cumulative GPA.  The range of students that apply are anywhere from talented sophomores, juniors and some seniors.
She continued to say that the Mc Nair program is designed to provide disadvantaged first generation low-income college students or students that are underrepresented group in either graduate studies or within their major that provides them with an effective preparation for doctoral study.  Mc Nair Scholars receive a stipend to off-set college costs which equal $800 during the academic year and a $2000 research stipend for the summer.  They stay off-campus or are on the Oswego campus over the summer.  Dr. Morton expressed that it was also possible to study abroad with the Mc Nair program.  Living expenses are covered for Scholars as well as a lunch to have the Scholars meet to discuss their research during the summer.  There is also a multitude of fee waivers and reductions that both Mc Nair and CSTEP offer for their Scholars.  However, when they graduate they are welcome to come back and talk to their advisors, but lose the stipend that they received.  She then expressed to the Assembly that there is a discussion within the Scholars about how many Scholars that are completing their PhD are moving away from higher education.  This is an on going conversation within the Scholars.
Currently there are other SUNY schools involved with the Mc Nair program.  These include SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Brockport and a few of the CUNY schools.   An Assembly member raised the question if it was hard to get Scholars for the Mc Nair program.  Dr. Morton then explained that it was difficult to get Scholars due to the research component, but after the potential Scholar realizes that the research component of the program can "one-up" them above other students when applying for graduate school, the potential Scholar becomes much more interested.
She concluded that if you have any other questions or concerns that you visit her office in 106 Poucher Hall, call her at extension x4079, or email her at morton@oswego.edu.

VI.    Elections

There were no nominations for the vacant seat on Student Association Senate.

VII.    Unfinished Business

The Assembly addressed the issue of trying to go "green" and discussed the distribution of the paper agenda to all the members.  There was talk about having the agenda sent as an attachment on e-mails, and a motion was passed unanimously to save paper and send the agenda through email.  A member then asked the Assembly if the agenda could be posted on the web as soon as it is completed to be available to all members.  There was also discussion about the minutes going green as well.  A member then suggested that we bring both the hard copies of the minutes and the agenda to the meeting, but bringing a reduced number of copies.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:56 PM.