LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
FACULTY MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Dr. Ivory Nelson called the meeting to order at 4:07 PM in the Dickey Hall Auditorium. 

SGA REPORT:
There was no SGA report.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
The President gave a brief report on physical plant issues.  He reported that renovation bids have been coming in exceptionally high.  An additional three million dollars has been procured for the Student Union Building renovations, which will allow Lincoln University to proceed with the $10.5 million renovation project.  Chapel renovations are taking longer than expected.

ACTION ITEMS:

• The minutes from the Oct. 3, 2006 faculty meeting were approved, with corrections.
• Dr. Alvin Amos presented the Educational Policies/Curriculum Committees’ recommendations that the faculty approve proposed revisions to the Math/Computer Science Curriculum (see attached). 
• Dr. Treisner presented the proposed revisions and the reasons for making them (expressed in attached document, Justification for Revisions in the Math & CS Curriculum).  During the discussion Dr. Shabazz raised an objection to changing the 200-level course to a 300-level course, on the grounds that it was “dumbing down” the curriculum.  A motion to table discussion was defeated, 13 to 24.  The revisions were approved by acclamation. 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

• A motion was passed to limit debate to five minutes.
• GPA Requirements for Freshmen:  Dr. James DeBoy pointed out that students not having the right to appeal would be a violation of student rights, so the question has been referred to the Educational Policies Committee to rewrite the policy.
• B.A. definition:  Educational Policies Committee recommended turning over to the Schools the question of how to set requirements for B.A. and B.S. degrees.  The Schools have therefore been charged with examining the question and determining the requirements for their respective majors.  Discussion included the recommendation that Lincoln look to other schools in order to remain consistent with standard practice and also the comment that the British/European standard college degree is the B.A.
• Middle States Self Study:  Dr. Patricia Joseph urged all task forces to get their reports to the Steering Committee as soon as possible.  They are scheduled to meet for the last time this semester on Thursday, Dec. 4.
• Faculty Bylaws:  Dr. Lennell Dade reported that a fifteen-page document of  proposed changes to the bylaws can be viewed online from the Academic Affairs page and that hearings would be held the following Wednesday and Thursday at 4 PM in the Wright Hall Auditorium.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• United Way:  Dr. Mel Leaman announced the current United Way campaign and distributed pledge forms. He introduced Carrie Freeman, Executive Director United Way of Southern Chester County, who thanked the university community  for participating in the campaign and asked us to inform students of opportunities to participate in the local community through United Way projects.
• Faculty Committee on Technology:  Dr. Daryl Poe reported that the committee plans to become more pro-active, in hopes of preventing such problems as the recent shut down of the Lincoln University website while the term was in session.  The committee will post minutes on the Ed Tech. [Academic Technology?] page of the website.
• Honorary degrees:  Barimani Ali of the faculty Honorary Degrees Committee asked for suggestions on whom to honor this coming commencement.  Forms are available for making confidential recommendations.  The deadline is November 30.

The meeting was adjourned at about 5 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Gunn Pevar
Faculty Secretary