Resolutions 2003-2004

Table of Contents

Archived 2003-2004 Resolutions

Resolution 2003-2004-1 GEP Science Foundations Group 2 Requirement for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Be it resolved that upon recommendation from the GEP Oversight Committee, the Undergraduate Course Review Committee, the UPRC and the Faculty Senate recommends the approval of the addition of MCB 1xxx, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering to the GEP Science Foundations Group 2 Requirements.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on September 25, 2003.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on September 25, 2003.
Approved by Provost Hickey on October 31, 2003.

2003-2004-2 Anti-discrimination Policy
(Not Approved)

Whereas, the University of Central Florida is a vibrant and diverse educational community committed to intellectual enquiry, academic freedom and human rights;

Whereas, each member of the University of Central Florida community is valued and respected regardless of an individual’s gender, race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, veterans status, or sexual orientation;

Whereas, the elimination of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations and veteran status has been facilitated by the adoption of an anti discrimination policy which affirmatively expresses the University of Central Florida’s commitment to protect members of most of the aforementioned groups from discrimination;

Whereas, efforts to prevent both discrimination and hate motivated violence against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are hampered by the failure of responsible institutions to include sexual orientation in their anti discrimination policies;

Whereas, the University of Central Florida community includes members who are lesbian, gay and bisexual;

Whereas, the University of Central Florida’s peer institutions, including but not limited to the University of Florida, the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Washington, the University of Arizona, the University of Illinois, Ohio State University, the University of Kansas, Indiana University, the University of Nebraska, the University of Texas, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Maryland and Rutgers University, each has expanded their respective anti discrimination policies to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Central Florida encourages the administration of the University of Central Florida to support the expansion of UCF’s anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation, consistent with State and Federal laws.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on October 23, 2003.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on October 27, 2003.
Returned by the Provost on December 29, 2003:

Provost stated that a policy will need to be implemented.

Resolution 2003-2004-3 Tenure and Promotion Composition Resolution
(Not Approved)

Whereas, UCF is a far larger and more mature university than when the original promotion and tenure procedures currently being used were adopted, and;

Whereas, most research universities have faculty actively involved in promotion and tenure decisions that hold an equivalent or higher rank than the candidates on department, college, or university levels, and;

Whereas, it can be considered inappropriate for a faculty member of a rank lower than the rank a candidate is seeking to make a promotion or tenure decision;

BE IT RESOLVED that promotion and tenure committees at the college level should be comprised of faculty that hold the rank of tenured full professors and that in no case should untenured faculty be a member of a promotion and tenure committee. This should take place through the next election process.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on November 20, 2003.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on November 21, 2003.

Provost Comments on this resolution: Provost Hickey sent a copy of the above-referenced resolution to the deans and the provost’s staff. “To date I have received only two responses, one from Dr. Schell in my office and one from Dean Pizam. Dean Pizam’s concerns regarding the resolution are explained in his attached email. This is a collective barging issue.”

Resolution 2003-2004-4 Amnesty Program, Academic

Whereas, the current UCF policy by the Admissions and Standards Committee for readmission of ineligible undergraduate students bars from admission a small number of adult students who may be excellent candidates for a bachelor’s degree; and,

Whereas, a highly structured program of study approved by the degree program, college, and Admissions and Standards Committee may give otherwise ineligible former students a second-chance to earn a bachelor’s degree; and,

Whereas, the mission of UCF as a metropolitan research university is to serve all worthy students when possible; therefore,

Be it resolved that the proposed Academic Amnesty Program be adopted.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on February 26, 2004.
Transmitted to Provost Hickey on February 27, 2004.
Approved by Provost Hickey on March 1, 2003.

Resolution 2003-2004-5 Special Leave

Whereas, current University policy dictates that graduate students who interrupt their enrollment for two or more consecutive major semesters (Fall/Spring) must apply for readmission to their programs of study, and;

Whereas, graduate students who apply for readmission are not guaranteed that they will be continued in graduate status, and;

Whereas, some graduate students may encounter special circumstances that preclude their maintaining continuous enrollment,

Be it resolved that the University of Central Florida will include a provision for Special Leave of Absence in its policies regulating the matriculation of graduate students.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on February 26, 2004.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on February 27, 2004.
Approved by Provost Hickey on March 22, 2004.

Resolution 2003-2004-6 American Sign Language Proposal

Whereas, it is the intent of the Florida legislature to authorize public and independent schools to offer ASL as a course of study, to ensure that postsecondary institutions accept secondary-school ASL credits as foreign language credits, and to encourage postsecondary institutions to offer ASL courses to students as a fulfillment of the requirement for studying a foreign language;

Whereas, UCF is inconsistent in its treatment of ASL by accepting it as satisfying the foreign language admission requirement but not the foreign language exit requirement:

Whereas, ASL is a language taught at UCF for which the University can obtain standardized proficiency tests;

Whereas, individual BA programs, departments and colleges within UCF are in the best position to determine whether ASL meets their Bachelor of Arts foreign language exit requirement; and

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Central Florida recommends to the university administration that students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree may substitute American Sign Language for the foreign language exit requirement, except where one or more foreign languages have been specified by a college, school, department, or program for a specific degree.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on February 26, 2004.
Transmitted to Provost Hickey on February 27, 2004.
Approved by Provost Hickey on March 22, 2004.

Resolution 2003-2004-7 Tenure and Promotion Review Process
(Not Approved)

Be it known that the tenure and promotion process at UCF is intended to be a collegial process based in professional integrity.

Whereas tenure and promotion at UCF is dependent upon having satisfied the minimum university statutory requirements, according to the collective judgment of the department tenure and promotion committee, the department chair, the college tenure and promotion committee, the college dean (where appropriate), the university-wide tenure and promotion committee, as approved by the Provost and President of the University, and as approved by the Board of Trustees,

Whereas each department sets policy and procedures for the attainment of tenure and promotion,

Be it resolved that all tenure earning faculty and those undergoing promotion review are to be subjected to the aforementioned promotion and tenure process and that a non-academic unit such as a center or an institute should not grant tenure or promotion.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on March 25, 2004.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on March 26, 2004.
Returned by Provost Hickey on April 22, 2004 with the following comments:

“UCF has successfully utilized centers and institutes to rapidly build research expertise and reputation in selected areas-of-opportunity. Tenure reviews in centers and institutes are conducted in ways comparable to those done in departments and colleges. In addition, candidates from centers and institutes are reviewed by the University Promotions and Tenure Committee, by the Provost, and by the President. Thus, there is no reason to believe that the review process for candidates from centers and institutes is any less rigorous than that for other candidates. With that said, I will continue ongoing efforts to resolve some of the issues underlying this resolution, including efforts to develop joint appointments, and possibly joint-tenure, for faculty hired into centers and institutes. I would also urge the Faculty Senate to reconsider the decision that bars faculty hired in centers and institutes from participating in the Faculty Senate.”

Resolution 2003-2004-8 Academic Freedom

Whereas Academic Freedom is to be understood as defined by the AAUP in its 1949 formulation:

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.
Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.
College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

Whereas the following UCF documents already recognize academic freedom: Faculty Handbook (Chapters 5 and 7), and

Whereas, the Board of Trustees has the responsibility and authority to effectively govern and set policy for the University of Central Florida,

Be it resolved that University of Central Florida Faculty Senate urges the Board Trustees to add to the list of Duties and Responsibilities in section 2.3: “Board of Trustees Bylaws, Powers and Duties of the Board” the following item: Protect Academic Freedom.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on March 25, 2004.
Transmitted to Provost Terry Hickey on March 26, 2004.
Approved by Provost Hickey on April 22, 2004 and forwarded to the BOT for further consideration.

Resolution 2003-2004-9 Tuition, Out-of- State

Whereas, First Time in College students frequently seek degrees or minors in more than one discipline, and

Whereas, almost 50% of First Time in College students change their majors at least once after realizing their skills and aptitudes are better suited to another field that requires an additional fifteen to thirty credits of course work, and

Whereas, additional intellectual growth of Florida’s citizens often occurs after completion of their initial baccalaureate or higher degree, and

Whereas, both second degree and non degree seeking students at the University of Central Florida include citizens of Florida who:

Are among the national population who change careers up to three times in their lifetime.
Seek professional certification, courses to obtain or maintain professional licensure, and training for community service, especially in social services.
Desire to maintain or enhance themselves for participation in the skilled labor force in the global economic marketplace and to prepare for new jobs in the changing economy of Florida.
Seek to remain a part of the educated citizenry Horace Mann stated was necessary for republican institutions to survive.
Desire further education as part of a lifelong learning plan.

and

Whereas if charged out-of-state tuition, a student (or their employer supporting their education) would have to pay $2000+ for a single course, and

Whereas charging out-of-state tuition could prevent citizens of Florida from furthering their education and in so doing lower the skill and intellectual capacities of its citizens,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate encourages the Board of Trustees to not require out of state tuition for second degree or non-degree seeking Florida residents and to provide adequate latitude for those for students who take over 120 credit hours (or the required minimum credit hours in any degree program).

Top of Page