UNI VER SI T Y SENATE ANNUAL REPORT | 2018 - 2019
SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Aarti Ivanic (School of Business), Chair Juliana Maxim (College of Arts and Sciences), Vice Chair Michelle Camacho (College of Arts and Sciences), Secretary Michael Kelly (School of Law), Parliamentarian Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick (Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies), Member at Large Sat Garcia (Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering), Member at Large Alejandra Nann (Copley Library), Alternate Member at Large Reyes Quezada (School of Leadership and Education Sciences), Alternate Member at Large
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Senators: Mary Durkin, Alan Gin, Carl Rebman, Steven Sumner, Aarti Ivanic Alternates: Pengcheng (Phil) Zhu, Alyson Ma
Carl Rebman (School of Business), Alternate Member at Large
Dean: Jaime Alonso Gomez
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF LAW
Senators: Michelle Camacho, Kevin Guerrieri, Jena Hales, Juliana Maxim, Brad Melekian, Vidya Nadkarni, Cameron Parker, Tom Reifer, Daniel Sheehan, David Shirk, Divya Sitaraman, Steve Staninger, Susannah Stern, Andrew Tirrell (Fall 2018), Jerome Hall (Spring 2019) Alternates: Harriet Baber, Shannon Starkey Dean: Noelle Norton
HAHN SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE Senators: Ruth Bush, Eileen Fry-Bowers Alternate: Kathy Ann Marsh Dean: Jane Georges
JOAN B. KROC SCHOOL OF PEACE STUDIES Senator: Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick Alternate: Topher McDougal Dean: Patricia Marquez
Senators: Laurence Claus, Michael Kelly, William Lawrence Alternates: Jean Ramirez, Herbert Lazerow Dean: Steven Ferruolo
SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION SCIENCES Senators: Ian Martin, Afsaneh Nahavandi, Reyes Quezada Alternates: Marcus Lam, Ned Golubovic Dean: Nicholas Ladany
SHILEY-MARCOS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Senators: Ernie Kim, Sat Garcia Alternate: Frank Jacobitz Dean: Chell Roberts
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Senator: Diane Maher Alternate: Alejandra Nann Dean: Theresa Byrd
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVE Christopher Hermes
GRADUATE STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVE Breanna Clark
EX-OFFICIO
James T. Harris III (President), Gail F. Baker (Provost), Justine Gonzales (Faculty Status Support Specialist)
RECORDING SECRETARY Justine Gonzales
Dear Members of the University Community, Colleagues, and Friends: A university is founded on a core tenet of shared governance, which ensures that faculty have an active voice in the direction of the university and in key decisions that affect all campus constituents. Transparency and accountability are fundamental to foster trust across all levels of the institution, which is essential to moving a university forward. At the University of San Diego, the University Senate is the vehicle through which we ensure shared governance is espoused. The University Senate includes 32 elected faculty Senators who represent all units on campus, seven Deans, undergraduate and graduate student representatives, and the President and Provost. Through our actions and decisions, we aim to foster transparency, accountability, trust and collaboration among all members of the university community. We address faculty and student-related policies and serve as vocal advocates for both groups. We are active contributors to various University task forces and provide input into key decisions that affect the entire university. We proactively identify matters that are important to the campus community, propose solutions and work in collaboration with members of the university leadership to implement the solutions. This is the inaugural annual report of the University Senate for 2018-2019. This report highlights key topics of discussion over the past year and our progress toward implementation of important solutions. I want to thank all members of the University Senate, faculty members across all units, members of the university leadership and collaborators across campus who have helped facilitate a productive year. Best wishes,
Aarti Ivanic Associate Professor of Marketing, Chair of University Senate
PROACTIVE CONVERSATIONS Campus climate Over the past year, the University Senate has discussed the matter of campus climate. The first discussion pertained to faculty-related gender, sexual harassment and equity matters on campus. A Senate ad hoc committee conducted an exploratory investigation of this matter over the past year and took a data-driven approach to recommend action steps to the Senate. The action steps include:
○○ IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES AROUND GENDER EQUITY FOR ALL FACULTY AT USD. ○○ EXAMINE EXISTING DATA / PROPOSE DATA THAT SHOULD BE COLLECTED TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY. ○○ REVIEW EXISTING POLICIES OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT AND DIVERSITY. ○○ FACILITATE AND CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS ON GENDER EQUITY ON CAMPUS. The Senate has worked with the Provost to establish a working group to examine best practices and make recommendations on faculty education, hiring and retention practices, and workload allocation. Recommendations will be forthcoming in Fall 2019. In the same vein, a second Senate ad hoc committee examined the establishment of an Ombuds office on campus. After thorough research, members of the committee recommended a pilot program to gauge need and serve as a support for faculty-related matters on campus. The University Senate will work with the Provost to determine next steps on this matter.
Research and Scholarship In line with the Envisioning 2024 pathway of Engaged Scholarship, senators have started a discussion regarding the role of scholarship at our university and the allocated resources. Scholarship was highlighted in a presentation to the Board of Trustees, and conversations on this topic are continuing and emerging across various units on campus.
Academic Program Review The Faculty Status Committee worked actively and in collaboration with the division of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives. Through discussions with Assistant Vice President Karen Lee and Vice President Andrew Allen, the Committee examined and refined the Academic Program Review process and particularly, the portion concerning the Memorandum of Understanding. The Committee has completed the work, and this topic will be raised at the Senate for discussion and approval in Fall 2019.
Transparency and Cascading of Information In an effort to facilitate transparency, for the first time in our history, all University Senate materials are now accessible to faculty, students, staff, and administration through the Senate website. Additionally, the University Senate now shares a “Monthly Update Newsletter” with the campus community, issues “Senate Soundbites” which appear in Faculty News Notes, and serves as a conduit for information from the President’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees to the University community.
POLICIES The University Senate approved policies that affect all members of the university community including faculty, staff, administrators and students.
Student POSTHUMOUS DEGREE POLICY (OCTOBER 2018). An approved policy update established parameters for when students qualify for a posthumous degree or honorary class membership. Previously, the University did not have a mechanism to formally recognize students who passed away early in their academic career at USD. The University Senate established a recognition award of ‘honorary class membership’ for those students who had passed away while at the University but had not yet completed all the requirements for a posthumous degree. DISPLAY OF FACULTY AND STUDENT WORKS OF ART IN PUBLIC SPACES AT USD POLICY (OCTOBER 2018). A policy governing the temporary display of works of art in public spaces on campus that arise from student and/or faculty research, creative work activity or coursework was discussed and approved. The policy specifies the formation of a Public Art Committee, a process for submission, review, approval, appeals, and denials of proposals, and the deinstallation of exhibits. PASS/FAIL COURSES IN A MAJOR/MINOR (MARCH 2019). Currently, there is no policy governing the number of units that can be taken as pass/fail for courses in a minor. A Senate ad hoc committee is currently drafting a policy to specify the number of units that can be taken as pass/fail in a minor.
FINANCIAL AID STATEMENT (NOVEMBER 2018). A Senate Statement on Tuition Increases and Financial Aid was issued in November 2018 and stated, “[The University Senate] suggests that the amount given to financial aid should be increased more than proportionally [relative to tuition increases], with the intention to reduce the amount of unmet need our students face.” Senators called for alignment with the Envisioning 2024 pathway of Access and Inclusion, greater transparency in allocation of funds generated from tuition increases and enhanced opportunities for the campus community to provide feedback. PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR VETERAN STUDENTS (FEBRUARY 2018). The Senate Executive Committee issued a statement to encourage all degree-granting units to evaluate permitting priority registration for veteran students. As of Fall 2018, 333 veteran students were enrolled at USD. In line with the University’s stated mission of being an advocate and ally for the military community and in order to support of our veteran students, the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Law, School of Business, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, and Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science all approved granting priority registration, effective for the Fall 2019 registration cycle.
Faculty SENATE SIZE EXPANSION (MARCH 2019). Historically, all units on campus regardless of size, have elected to two alternates to the University Senate. As the Senate has expanded in size, we have often fallen short of alternates. A constitutional amendment was approved by the majority of USD faculty such that each unit can send up to four alternates to the University Senate effective 2019-2020. SABBATICAL POLICY (APRIL 2019). The University Senate approved a policy update that will allow faculty taking a year-long sabbatical the opportunity to augment their income up to 100 percent of their base salary, using external funds. The external funds should be intended to support the primary purpose of the sabbatical leave (e.g., external grants to support sabbatical research).
University UNIVERSITY VEHICLE POLICY (OCTOBER 2018). The Senate provided feedback, and no objections, to an update in the University Owned Vehicle Policy. Updates include changes to authorization to drive a university owned vehicle, vehicle operation and safety rules, acquisition, disposal and maintenance of university vehicles and enforcement of the policy. HOLIDAY POLICY UPDATE (FEBRUARY 2019). As part of StrideTo2024@USD, a change was proposed to the holiday policy that pertains to staff and administrators. The modification eliminates the floating holiday and explicitly adds and makes permanent the business days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve to the list of recognized USD holidays. The Senate approved these changes. TUITION REMISSION (MARCH 2019). As part of StrideTo2024@USD, modifications were proposed to the tuition remission policy which would affect faculty, staff and administrators. The University Senate rejected the proposed changes and determined that additional information was required before the policy could be approved. A request for additional information was submitted to Vice President Andrew Allen, Associate Vice President Karen Briggs, and General Counsel Kelly Douglas.
SENATE PRESENTATIONS Every year, in the spirit of shared governance, transparency, and accountability, the University Senate invites partners from across campus to discuss and address various matters of importance and concern to the university. The goal is to receive an update from leaders in various units and to create a formal mechanism to provide faculty feedback on these matters. Moreover, the faculty and university leadership are able to identify areas of collaboration to continue to move the university forward. In the 2018-2019 year, we had nine presentations organized into the categories of campus matters and conversations with senior university leadership.
Campus Matters HUMAN RESOURCES (FALL 2018). Karen Briggs, Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, updated the Senate on changes to the various insurance plans. CONSTRUCTION AND MOBILITY PLAN (FALL 2018). Ky Snyder, Vice President of University Operations, presented information regarding campus construction, specifically focused on the Learning Commons. Mr. Snyder also provided information on the Campus Mobility Plan. Senators provided feedback on the process surrounding the Learning Commons and requested more frequent consultation during the construction process. Additionally, based on discussions, the implementation of the mobility plan was deferred until Fall 2019. BRANDING AND MARKETING (FALL 2018). Kenneth Bates, Associate Professor of Marketing and Brand Council Chair, and Peter Marlow, Associate Vice President of University Communications, presented findings regarding the branding and marketing plan for the university. Senators provided feedback on the prominent role that academics, scholarship, and research should play in the plan. The feedback was incorporated into the revised plan. STRIDETO2024@USD (FALL 2018). Vice President Andrew Allen provided Senators with a broad understanding of the goal of the StrideTo2024@
USD initiative, which supports Goal 3 of the Envisioning 2024 strategic plan: “Improving Structural & Operational Effectiveness.� The goal is to identify from administrative operations at least $15 million annually that can be redirected toward student scholarships and employee compensation. Throughout the year, senators have provided feedback on various initiatives, and three faculty members representing the Senate are active members of the StrideTo2024@USD Initiatives Steering Committee. The committee focused their efforts on non-labor expenses in Spring 2019. ENROLLMENT PLANNING (SPRING 2019). Steven Pultz, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, shared a draft Strategic Enrollment Plan for 2024. The committee used three of the goals outlined in the Envisioning 2024 Strategic Plan to develop the undergraduate enrollment plan: Goal 1: Enhancing Student Learning & Success; Goal 2: Strengthening Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice; Goal 5: Amplifying Local & Global Engagement and Reputation. These three goals and projections of changing graduation rates and demographics of graduating high school seniors over the next decade are used to recommend a number of changes. Senators provided feedback on the proposal and conversations will continue as progress is made toward the goals.
Campus Matters (continued) BUDGET & PLANNING (FALL 2018, SPRING 2019). Ms. Janet Courtney-Smith, Associate Vice President of Budget and Treasury, presented proposed tuition increases for 2019-2020 to the Senate in November 2018. She received feedback from senators, and a Senate statement on tuition increases and financial aid was issued. In Spring 2019, Ms. Courtney-Smith indicated that tuition has been increased by 3.5% for the 2019-2020 academic year. The additional revenue from tuition increases will be allocated to salary/benefits, instructional and student support, strategic initiatives, Copley Library, technology, plant operations and athletics. FACULTY COMPENSATION TASK FORCE (SPRING 2019). The Faculty Compensation Task Force, chaired by Provost Gail Baker, completed its work in April 2019 and presented a set of concrete recommendations to President Harris. In May 2019, those recommendations were shared with the University Senate. The task force presented the compensation philosophy anchored in a unified faculty compensation system, competitive salaries, transparency, adjustments for geographical differences, promoting and rewarding excellence in teaching, scholarship, and commitment to the university’s mission, equity and fairness and open communication. Benchmark schools were presented and a compensation framework for each unit was shared. Senators provided feedback on the benchmark schools, framework and unit differences. A faculty compensation policy writing group has been convened to determine policies for effective implementation of the compensation framework. Faculty Compensation Policy Writing Group Tom Herrinton, Vice Provost *Chell Roberts, Dean & Associate Provost *Alyson Ma, Chair and Professor of Economics Laurence Claus, Professor of Law
*Karen Briggs, Associate VP and Chief HR Officer Vlad Bolsokov, Assistant for Finance and Administration, SOLES
*Members of the Faculty Compensation Task Force.
Senior University Leadership PRESIDENT JAMES T. HARRIS III. (SPRING 2019). In his annual visit to Senate, Dr. Harris addressed USD’s historical strengths and challenges and presented a progress report on the Envisioning 2024 Strategic Plan. He shared information about the Renaissance Plan, the Comprehensive Administrative Review, the new budget model process, faculty compensation, community engagement and brand marketing. He shared ideas about the role of research and indicated his support for more research resources, progress toward classification as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an interest in being more proactive about this designation. Dr. Harris discussed opportunities to deepen USD’s culture of philanthropy, the process of senior-level decision making at USD and shared governance with the University Senate. Conversations will continue with Dr. Harris on various campus-related matters in order to continue to facilitate shared governance, transparency, accountability and collaboration. MR. DON KNAUSS, CHAIR OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES (SPRING 2019). Mr. Knauss engaged with the Senate on a variety of topics including shared governance; philanthropic gifts; gender, equity and climate matters; athletics criminal investigation; research and scholarship; and fundraising. Mr. Knauss expressed his commitment to working with the senators and faculty on all of these matters. A faculty member has been added to the Board of Trustees committee of University Advancement in light of questions that were raised regarding evaluations of philanthropic gifts. Mr. Knauss indicated the importance of fundraising in order to procure more funds to allocate toward research and scholarship. Conversations will continue with Mr. Knauss on various campus-related matters in order to continue to facilitate shared governance and collaboration.
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES: SENATE REPRESENTATIVES 2018-2019 In order to provide an active faculty voice on campus, the University Senate has faculty representatives on each of the following University Committees. FACULTY COMPENSATION TASK FORCE
BUDGET MODEL REDESIGN
WASCUC STEERING COMMITTEE FOR UNIVERSITY REACCREDITATION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PATENT TASK FORCE
Alyson Ma (School of Business), Hugh Ellis (College of Arts and Sciences), Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic (School of Business)
Steven Sumner (School of Business), Sarah Gray and Rachel Blaser (College of Arts and Sciences), Ann Mayo (Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science)
Daniel Sheehan and Russ Fuller (College of Arts and Sciences)
Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic
STRIDETO2024@USD
Michelle Camacho (College of Arts and Sciences), Laurence Claus (School of Law), Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic
CENTER FOR INCLUSION & DIVERSITY
ENVISIONING 2024 STRATEGIC PLAN
Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic
Michelle Camacho, Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic
ANCHOR BOARD
Eileen Fry-Bowers (Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science) – Goal 4: Elevating Faculty & Staff Engagement; Strategic Planning Steering Committee: Kevin Guerrieri (College of Arts and Sciences)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMITTEES
Academic Affairs: Jillian Tullis (College of Arts and Sciences), Senate Chair: Aarti Ivanic Athletics: Reyes Quezada (School of Leadership and Education Sciences)
MOBILITY COMMITTEE
Finance: Steven Sumner
Carl Rebman (School of Business), Nathalie Reyns and Nate Pardee (College of Arts and Sciences)
Student Affairs: Carl Rebman
SALTO CLASSROOM SECURITY
Erik Fritsvold (College of Arts and Sciences)
Items Senate continues to Monitor in 2019-2020 ○○
GENDER, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND EQUITY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS
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OMBUDS OFFICE
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FACULTY COMPENSATION IMPLEMENTATION POLICY
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STRIDETO2024@USD – LABOR-RELATED POLICIES
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MOBILITY PLAN
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RENAISSANCE PLAN
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UNIVERSITY BRANDING INITIATIVES
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ENROLLMENT PLANNING AND ADMISSIONS
Aarti S. Ivanic, PhD Associate Professor of Marketing Chair of University Senate ivanic@sandiego.edu (619) 260-4868 sandiego.edu/senate