The meeting was called to order at 4:08PM.

I.       Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved with deletion of content accidentally included at the bottom and on the reverse side.

II.       Approval of Minutes of General Faculty Meeting of September 10, 2007

The minutes of September 10, 2007 were approved unanimously

III.  President's Report – D. Stanley

President Stanley began her report with a progress report on the new Metro Center, which is in the Atrium Building in downtown Syracuse. The expected opening date is late March of 2008. There will be a part-time MBA program, and graduate courses in education and liberal arts. Also included will be customized and contract training, as well as small business consulting.
      The President then discussed the new School of Communication, Media and the Arts. Fritz Messere was named Interim Dean; Julie Pretzat was named Interim Associate Dean. This new school combines Art, Communication, Music and Theatre. On January 21st , there was a retreat for the new School that included Dr. Geoffrey Newman as the speaker. The temporary Dean’s office is 602 Culkin Hall.
      President Stanley then showed statistics about AAFTE enrollment and funding for Oswego from 2001-2007. The chart showed that Oswego was funding more students than for whom they were given money. Her reports also showed that there was an increase of 6% for freshman applications for Fall 2008.
      President Stanley moved on to discuss the 2008-2009 Executive Budget. The budget for SUNY Oswego is $2.4 billion. This is a $38.3 million decrease over the fiscal year 2007-2008. Her report included no tuition increase in any degree program. Statewide, President Stanley predicts no more major cuts against SUNY Oswego due to the previous cuts.

  The President then mentioned a few Capital Program Highlights, which show that the critical maintenance allowance was $2.75 billion, strategic initiatives is $1.6 billion, and the SUNY Green initiatives was $500 million.

Then the President discussed the plans for the new science buildings. The program study for the new building has been completed, and SUNY Oswego is in the process of negotiating with Cannon Architects. Phase I of the construction is several additions to Piez Hall. Phase II is renovation of Piez Hall, and Phase III is expansion on Phase I.

Another upcoming construction project for SUNY Oswego will be the addition of apartments on campus. There will be a 350-bed facility, projected to cost $34 million. Oswego is anticipating upper-division student inhabitants. The school has already received bonds from the Dormitory Authority.

The final topic President Stanley addressed was in regards to the NY Alert System. It was put to the test the previous Friday with the cancellation of classes. Mostly, the Alert Program was a success, yet there were a few issues raised regarding department secretaries being alerted, as they arrived at school before the alert was sent.

IV.      Faculty Senate Report – M. Ryniker

Professor Ryniker spoke about her recent trip to Albany for the University Winter Plenary. She and Dr. Camp heard from a number of speakers at the conference, and concerns with administrators taking on too many other roles. There were also questions about lobbying legislators. All faculty members have to report that they have been lobbying. The major item of business was the Voluntary System of Accountability. Buffalo State continues to pilot the system, for which there were controversial reports. Professor Ryniker also shared that there were to be articulation agreements with community colleges, and that University at Buffalo reported that they plan on growing in size by 10,000 students.

   V.   UUP Report – C. Spector

Professor Spector began his report discussing the success of the Union Winter Social, which featured entertainment by the Oswego Jazz Project. He then reported that he was seeking data regarding the phased-retirement project at other campuses. A Spring retirement function honoring retiring faculty and staff is in the planning stages. A copy of the “Tentative Agreement” will be in the mail to faculty by the middle of February.  On February 20, 2008 at 12:40 in room 305 Park Hall, the negotiations team will be on campus to explain the tentative agreement.  Voting on the agreement will follow in March and will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association.

VI.      Faculty Assembly Chair Report - S. Camp

Dr. Camp discussed several items of interest in her report. She began by speaking about the launch of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts. Along with this, she discussed the needed by-law amendments for the new school and the library.

Dr. Camp then mentioned that the new Retention Task Force is looking for faculty members.

Dr. Camp then alerted Assembly members that there were a number of seats on various councils that need to be filled due to resignation.

The Chair then urged all members to send their feedback regarding Graduation Outcomes to APC.  Also faculty should send feedback to Personnel Policies Council regarding DSI ranking (1through infinity) versus rating as either highly recommended, recommended or not recommended.

Dr. Camp noted that there would be further discussion of a new campus-wide assessment center, that there would be further assessment of the College Hour pilot, that several departments need to inform the General Education Council their plans for the infusion of critical thinking into the curriculum, and that CCC would soon begin visioning for the Hewitt Quad.

VII.   Unfinished Business-     

                        There was no unfinished business.

VIII.   New Business-

There was no new business.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:11 P.M.