Response to the Senate Recommendation
on the Academic Plan
At its December 12 meeting, the College Senate voted to approve and forward to the president
the report and recommendations from the Academic Plan Committee concerning the Academic
Plan document submitted by the provost.
I hereby accept the report of the College Senate recommending approval of the Academic Plan.
The academic experience we offer our students is the bedrock of Buffalo State's aspiration to be
a nationally recognized leader in public higher education. I therefore authorize Provost Ponton to
move forward with implementation of this plan aggressively, and thank the College Senate for its
work on this critical initiative.
Report to the College Senate from the Academic Plan Committee
December 12, 2003
The Academic Plan Committee has considered, with due deliberation, the proposed
Academic Plan that has been prepared and presented by the administration. The
committee has consulted with the provost, the faculty deans, and the associate vice
president for undergraduate education, and has solicited subsequent responses from
department chairs and program directors. After extended discussion about the proposed
plan, we submitted a report to the Senate for its November 14 meeting. After considering
our report, the provost responded to our questions and met with the committee on
December 2.
The committee has agreed that the development of such an Academic Plan is, indeed, an
appropriate and beneficial planning vehicle, particularly in a lean fiscal climate. The
report addresses the need for forward thinking, albeit with lofty goals, and conservation
of resources.
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The concept of reorganization is not, however, to be taken lightly. Most committee
members have voiced concerns about various parts of the plan, as proposed. The
committee believes profoundly that any changes proposed must be studied and assessed
before any reorganization can occur. If changes are made without assessment of current
practices and appropriate consultation, they will not be welcomed, understood, or
supported by this committee.
The committee has suggested the following changes to the plan, which are being
presented in the following document. There is great concern that the changes as originally
proposed would be done without appropriate consultation, and the committee has tried to
include safeguards for the involved departments and programs.
After much deliberation, the Academic Plan Committee puts forward the following
motion:
That the College Senate accept the committee's report and the following committee
revision of the draft of the Academic Plan submitted by the provost.
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ACADEMIC GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND ACTION STEPS
- BUILD A DIVERSE, INTELLECTUALLY VITAL FACULTY AND STAFF
1.1 Reinvest in and increase full-time faculty and staff.
- Benchmark Buffalo State faculty numbers with peer institutions.
- Implement a multiyear plan to increase full-time faculty.
- Implement a multiyear plan to fill staff positions.
- Evaluate ethnic and gender diversity in departments, and institute appropriate targeted searches.
1.2 Manage the deployment of adjunct faculty.
- Define criteria for allocation of adjunct faculty.
- Implement in fall 2004 an orientation program for new adjunct faculty.
- Establish regular evaluation of adjunct faculty commencing fall 2005.
- Increase adjunct faculty fee-per-course stipends.
1.3 Enhance and expand faculty and staff development to ensure quality
student learning.
- Implement a comprehensive faculty and staff development plan commencing fall 2004.
- Expand support for the scholarship of teaching and learning.
- Improve the quality of faculty and staff work life.
DELIVER A CURRICULUM THAT WILL DISTINGUISH BUFFALO STATE AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION
2.1 Revise the general education program to create a distinctive experience with common student learning outcomes as the foundation for the undergraduate degree.
- Seek recommendations during the review process, and provide
appropriate follow-up to the College Senate.
2.2 Achieve 100 percent accreditation of eligible programs.
- Ascertain the practicality of achieving accreditation for eligible programs.
- Establish a timetable to attain accreditation for programs that were identified as appropriate by fall 2008.
2.3 Support a five-year cycle for academic program review and renewal.
- Confirm and continue with five-year academic program review
schedule, and dedicate resources to support deans' action plans.
- Implement by fall 2005 a campus review cycle for academic minors.
2.4 Characterize academic distinctiveness.
- Pilot distinctiveness templates in spring 2004.
- Implement distinctiveness campaign based on pilot data and a cost-benefit analysis regarding funding resources.
2.5 Align curriculum with comprehensive institutional goals, workforce needs, and institutional capacity to deliver a quality instructional program.
- Continue curriculum audit and act on proposed curriculum additions, deletions, and changes in consultation with deans and department
chairs.
- Eliminate duplication in the curriculum and delete courses not offered
as recommended by deans in consultation with department chairs.
- Establish schedule for implementation of new degree programs to
ensure curriculum viability and relevance.
- Advance collaborative development of common courses.
- Strengthen the academic community's involvement in public
engagement by expanding faculty, staff, and student involvement
beyond the boundaries of the campus.
2.6 Meet enrollment objectives by identifying new markets, leveraging
technology, and using creative delivery models to offer courses and
services.
- Establish by fall 2004 short-term and long-term enrollment and
retention goals, including targets for academic programs.
- Identify and implement priorities to employ technology as an
advanced learning tool and to support learning productivity.
- Expand evening and weekend degree programs with emphasis on new
markets, expanding services, and offering quality programs,
commencing fall 2004.
- Resolve course availability issues to facilitate student completion of
program requirements and to improve graduation rates.
2.7 Enhance graduate education.
- Submit for review graduate task force report (expected spring 2004) to
all deans and chairs of departments with graduate programs, followed
by comment and discussion among faculty. Return comments to
provost and dean of graduate studies as soon as possible but at latest
by end of spring semester 2004. Act on final recommendations.
- Have provost form a group of representative chairs to review both the
relationship between the Graduate Office and departments, and the
Graduate Office and other deans' offices. Forward recommendations
to provost as soon as possible but at latest by end of spring 2004.
- Implement a three-year plan to increase stipends for, fund, and deploy
graduate assistants. Employ graduate assistants within academic
departments as much as possible.
2.8 Improve the infrastructure (facilities, technology, and services) to support
instruction and student learning productivity.
- Establish by spring 2004 priorities for classroom improvements,
facility renovations, master plan priorities, and external fund-raising.
- Implement an Information Commons model in the library to
streamline and comprehensively address student needs, particularly
servicing evening students, effective fall 2004.
- Implement processes for annual upgrade of instructional facilities and
equipment.
ENGAGE STUDENTS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS
3.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of current first-year programs.
- Identify relevant existing academic and student-support services by
spring 2004.
- Determine appropriate consultative means of assessment and a process
to recommend changes and introduce new concepts by fall 2004.
- Implement coordinated first-year experience based on assessment of
existing and potential programs, and consultation, by fall 2005.
3.2 Strengthen expectations for student performance and engagement in
learner-centered activities employing multiple instructional strategies.
- Strengthen partnering and identify new instructional roles for faculty
and staff in support of student learning.
- Expand student-centered learning using learning communities,
freshman seminars, experiential and service learning, internships,
accelerated learning, active learning, learning with peers, and like
activities.
3.3 Coordinate and strengthen advisement.
- Implement recommendations responding to the spring 2003 report of
the task force on advisement.
EXPAND SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATE A CULTURE OF "SCHOLARS IN THE CLASSROOM"
4.1 Provide comprehensive campus support systems essential to success in
scholarly research and creative activities.
- Implement recommendations in response to the report (expected spring 2004) of the task force on research.
- Implement multiyear plan for library to support campus scholarship.
4.2 Expand the number of students actively engaged in scholarship and creative activity.
- Institutionalize the undergraduate research program.
- Increase student research and creative efforts.
EMPLOY ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY TO GUIDE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
5.1 Expand, further develop, and certify student learning outcomes.
- Continue to develop assessment of general education and disciplinary majors.
- Implement assessment protocols for graduate programs commencing
spring 2005.
5.2 Implement processes for evaluating the effectiveness of all academic operations.
- Institute annual evaluation components to monitor progress toward excellence in service to students.
- Commence in spring 2004 five-year review cycle for "centers."
- Commence in spring 2005 five-year review cycle for noninstructional units.
ESTABLISH AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS TO ENSURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND RESPONSIVENESS
6.3 Increase revenue production.
- Centralize noncredit offerings and fee-per-service activities in the
Continuing Education Office.
- Expand summer programs.
6.4 Strengthen leadership of department chairs and directors.
- Act on recommendations from reports (expected in academic year
2003–2004) of task forces addressing leadership for department chairs
and program managers.
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State of the College Address
All members of the campus community are cordially invited to the president's annual
State of the College address at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, February 19, in Warren Enters
Theatre in Upton Hall. After her remarks, President Howard will respond to questions.
Refreshments will be available.
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SABRE Update Sessions
Join us for a SABRE update! Two identical sessions will be held in E. H. Butler
Library 210:
Friday, February 20, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
and
Wednesday, February 25, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Each session will include:
- An updated timeline for the SABRE project (from now until the project's end date of June 30 and the fall semester).
- A demonstration of grading using the SABRE system.
- An opportunity to share questions and comments on the SABRE
registration system.
Light refreshments and door prizes will be provided.
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Policy on the Use of Electronic
Resources
Introduction
Buffalo State College electronic resources (servers, computers, printers, e-mail accounts,
and Internet service) are made available to employees to facilitate the official work of the
college. Electronic resources are provided for employees and others who are legitimately
affiliated with the college for the efficient exchange of information and the completion of
assigned responsibilities consistent with the mission of the college.
Use of campus electronic resources by any college employee or other authorized person
must be consistent with this and other applicable policies.
Principles of Acceptable Use
Users of campus electronic resources are required to:
- Respect the privacy of other users. Users shall not intentionally seek
information about, obtain copies of, or modify files or data belonging to other users
without explicit permission.
- Respect the legal protection provided to programs and data by copyright laws and
license agreements.
- Protect data from unauthorized use or disclosure as required by state and federal
laws, and SUNY and college regulations.
- Respect the integrity of computing systems. Users shall not use or develop programs
that harass other users, infiltrate a computer or computing system, or damage or alter the
software components of a computer or computing system.
- Safeguard their accounts and passwords. Accounts and passwords are normally
assigned to single users and are not to be shared with any other person without
authorization. Users are expected to report any observations of attempted security
violations.
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Unacceptable Use
It is not acceptable to use Buffalo State electronic resources:
- For activities unrelated to the college mission.
- For activities unrelated to official assignments or job responsibilities.
- For any illegal purpose.
- To transmit threatening, obscene, or harassing material or correspondence.
- For unauthorized distribution of New York State data or information.
- To interfere with or disrupt network users, services, or equipment.
- For private purposes such as marketing or business transactions.
- For solicitation of religious or political causes.
- For unauthorized not-for-profit business activities.
- For private advertising of products or services.
- For any activity meant to foster personal gain.
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E-mail Privacy and Access
E-mail messages are neither personal nor private. Although system administrators will
not routinely monitor individual staff members' e-mail accounts and will take reasonable
precautions to protect users' privacy, program managers and technical staff may access
employees' e-mail accounts:
- For legitimate business purposes (e.g., the need to access information if an
employee is absent for an extended period of time).
- To diagnose and resolve technical problems involving system hardware, software,
or communications.
- To investigate possible misuse of e-mail when a reasonable suspicion of abuse
exists, or in conjunction with an approved investigation.
Employees are prohibited from accessing other users' e-mail accounts without their
permission.
E-mail messages sent or received in conjunction with college business may:
- Be releasable to the public under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Require special measures to comply with the Personal Privacy Protection
Law.
All e-mail messages, including personal communication, may be subject to discovery
proceedings in legal actions.
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Management and Retention of E-mail
Communications
Applicable to all e-mail messages and attachments:
E-mail is a communication system, not a filing system. Messages that must be retained
for an extended period should be transferred from the e-mail system to an electronic (e.g.,
computer hard drive) or paper filing system. Messages should be deleted after copies
have been filed in an outside system.
Applicable to records communicated via e-mail:
E-mail messages created in the normal course of official business and retained as
evidence of official policies, actions, decisions, or transactions are considered records and
are subject to records-management requirements under the New York State Arts and
Cultural Affairs Law (Article 57-A) and specific program requirements.
The college has developed electronic letterhead to be used for the electronic distribution
of official college documents (records). The letterhead, available on the Web at
www.buffalostate.edu/offices/collegerelations/eletterhead, should be used with Word or e-mail
documents that are to be distributed in electronic format only. Questions regarding
electronic letterhead usage should be directed to the College Relations Office.
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Examples of e-mail messages that are typically
considered records include:
- Policies and directives.
- Correspondence or memoranda related to official business.
- Work schedules and assignments.
- Agendas and minutes of meetings.
- Drafts of documents that are circulated for comment or approval.
- Documents that initiate, authorize, or complete business transactions.
- Final reports or recommendations.
Examples of messages that typically do not constitute records include:
- Personal messages and announcements.
- Copies or extracts of documents distributed for convenience or reference.
- Telephone message slips.
- Announcements of social events.
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Records Retention
E-mail records must be identified, managed, protected, and retained as long as necessary
to meet operational, legal, audit, research, or other requirements. Records needed to
support program functions should be retained, managed, and accessed in a filing system
outside the e-mail system in accordance with each program unit's standard practices.
Users should:
- Delete e-mail records after copies have been filed in an outside system.
- Delete records of transitory or little value that are not normally retained in
record-keeping systems as evidence of college activity.
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Agency Rights
Pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USC 2510 et seq.),
notice is hereby given that the Buffalo State College system provides no facilities for
sending or receiving private or confidential electronic communication.
The college reserves the right to log network use and monitor users' file-server space. The
college assumes no responsibility or liability for files lost because of violations of
server-space allotments.
The college reserves the right to remove a user account or device from the network.
The college assumes no responsibility or liability for damages that result from the use of
campus electronic resources, including data loss resulting from delays, nondeliveries, or
service interruptions caused by negligence, errors, or omissions. Use of obtained
information is at the user's risk.
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Enforcement and Violations
This policy outlines in general terms acceptable and unacceptable uses of electronic
resources and is not necessarily exhaustive. Questions about specific uses related to
security issues not enumerated in this policy statement, and reports of specific
unacceptable uses, should be directed to the associate vice president for computing and
technology services. Other questions about appropriate use should be directed to office or
department supervisors.
The college will review alleged violations of the Policy on the Use of Electronic
Resources on a case-by-case basis. Clear violations of the policy that are not promptly
remedied may result in termination of network access for the person(s) at fault and
referral for disciplinary actions as appropriate.
Policy date: September 2002
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Alumni Association Scholarship Opportunities
Faculty and staff are asked to share the following information with their students:
Applications are now available for the 13 scholarship opportunities offered through the
Buffalo State Alumni Association. Scholarships range from $250 to $1,000. To apply,
students must submit a completed application form, an essay, and two letters of
recommendation to the Alumni Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 214, by Friday April 2,
2004.
Details and applications are available through the Alumni Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall
214, ext. 6001, or on the Web at www.buffalostate.edu/alumnifoundation/giving/index.asp?sub=fund&sub2=scholarships.
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Women's Basketball Record
Buffalo State senior Monique Hanks on February 5 became the
eighth women's basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points. With
1,004 points and 577 rebounds, Hanks was the second player in Buffalo State
history to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds in a career. The only other
player to achieve this feat was two-time All-American and Buffalo State Athletics
Hall of Fame inductee Arlene Eagan. Hanks is currently tied for fifth on the
school's all-time rebounding list, and is on pace to finish second in career steals
and third in blocked shots.
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Home Athletic Events
Friday, February 13
Women's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. Oneonta
6:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
Men's Hockey
Buffalo State vs. Geneseo
7:00 p.m.
Ice Arena
Men's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. Oneonta
8:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
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Saturday, February 14
Women's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. SUNYIT
6:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
Men's Hockey
Buffalo State vs. Brockport
7:00 p.m.
Ice Arena
Men's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. SUNYIT
8:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
Sunday, February 15
Women's Hockey
Buffalo State vs. St. Mary's
4:00 p.m.
Ice Arena
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Monday, February 16
Women's Hockey
Buffalo State vs. St. Mary's
4:00 p.m.
Ice Arena
Tuesday, February 17
Women's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. Geneseo
6:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
Men's Hockey
Buffalo State vs. Fredonia
7:00 p.m.
Ice Arena
Men's Basketball
Buffalo State vs. Geneseo
8:00 p.m.
Sports Arena
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College Senate Meetings
College Senate meetings for the spring 2004 semester will be held at 3:00 p.m. Fridays,
February 13, March 12, April 2, and May 7 in E. H. Butler Library 210.
Curricular Proposal Deadline
Curricular proposals should reach the College Senate Office, Cleveland Hall 211, by
Friday, March 12 to allow sufficient time for spring-semester processing. Proposals
received after this date are not guaranteed action before the end of the semester.
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Curricular Items
The following have been received in the College Senate Office and will be
forwarded to the Curriculum Committee for review and approval:
New Course:
HEW 279 Physical Adaptation to Exercise. Human anatomy and physiology as
related to exercise and human performance; the major systems of the body as they
relate to exercise; functions and purpose of the musculoskeletal and
cardiorespiratory systems in healthy populations; the roles of energy systems
during physical activity and exercise.
Course Revision:
HEW 401 Assessment and Evaluation in Health Wellness. Concepts
surrounding assessment and evaluation of health promotion programs; assessing
genetic, social, personal behavioral, and environmental factors; health promotion
processes and planning such as needs assessments, evaluation measures, research
design, and measurement evaluation.
The following has been approved by the Curriculum Committee and will be
forwarded to the president for final review and approval:
New Course:
EXE 380 Participation for Early Childhood Special Education
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