Senate Newsletter - Fall 2011

Peter Nicholson

The CFPB is an advisory group that reviews and advises the Chancellor on new construction projects; consulting architect selections for planning and design projects greater than one (1) million dollars; space renovation and alterations; an biennium and supplemental CIP programs. The CFPB also develop, recommends, and maintains policies and budget requests related to the development and utilization of campus facilities and grounds.

[No Update Available]

The Classroom Use Policy Implementation Group is a temporary working group that was established in April 2011 to determine implementation guidelines for the Classroom Use Policy that was endorsed by the Senate in April 2011.

The CUPIG met four times (5/16, 7/14, 8/10, 12/13 all in 2011). Most of the work was reviewing and discussing implementation of the classroom policy. The committee reviewed lists of classrooms and discussed a final list. CUPIG also discussed how the OVCAA would best work with Deans/Directors to help implement the policy. The MFS SEC responded to VCAA Dasenbrock about the proposed implementation of the policy, dated 9/16/11.

Douglas Vincent

On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA), I am forwarding its 2012 report to COIA member faculty senates. This report is being sent to all senate chairs and COIA representatives at schools whose faculty senates have voted to join the Coalition since its inception in 2002. We encourage you to share this report with your campus Faculty Athletics Representative and other campus faculty and administrators who are involved with athletics governance, as well as with members of your faculty senate.

For your convenience, a copy of the report’s executive summary is pasted below.

As you will see from the Report, the Steering Committee and those who attended COIA’s annual meeting in January feel that events of the past year have increased the importance of efforts to reform college sports, and have created an environment in which the Coalition’s contributions are more likely to have impact. We hope the Report will help better inform COIA’s member senates of the issues the Steering Committee is focusing on, and we are anxious that the Coalition membership continue to make us aware of their views.

Within a few days, you will receive a further document, outlining the Steering Committee’s 2012 policy recommendations concerning the path the Coalition should pursue at this time. We hope that senate chairs and COIA representatives will provide the us with feedback on those recommendations, consulting with senates and with others on campus as seems appropriate to them.

With best wishes, John

Report to the Membership
The Steering Committee of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics
February 2012

Executive Summary

The Context of College Sports, 2011-12
During 2011, the landscape of intercollegiate athletics changed significantly, presenting COIA a new mix of challenges. In the area of improving the alignment of athletics with academics, the news was generally positive: significant new academic reforms were adopted by the NCAA, and evidence of the positive impact of earlier reforms began to emerge. However, in the areas of finances and the tension between amateurism and commercialization, the acceleration of negative trends was widely noted. Transformation of the revenue sports into on-campus extensions of the national entertainment industry provoked widespread calls to end the collegiate model of amateur sports; escalating athletics budgets and average deficits motivated an unseemly scramble for favorable media contracts through illogical conference realignments; university presidents reported through survey findings an increased sense of powerlessness to control the market forces of college sports, and an unprecedented series of scandals illustrated the difficulties of controlling big-time sports programs and the reputational risks they involve. Paradoxically, the depth of these fiscal problems creates a context in which reform efforts are more likely to be effective.

The Coalition in 2011
COIA’s efforts in this past year have been primarily devoted to strengthening its relations with other national groups whose efforts directly impact the prospects of athletics reform. The Coalition formed ties with the new NCAA administration, met with leaders and members of NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative groups (FARA and the FBS FARs), and consulted regularly with such national groups as the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletes.

2012 COIA National Meeting
COIA’s January 2012 meeting at the University of Tulsa featured presentations by Tulsa’s President, Steadman Upham, a member of the NCAA Executive Board, Britton Banowski, Commissioner of Conference USA, John Walda, President of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, Amy Perko, Executive Director of the Knight Commission, as well as representatives of the NCAA, FARA, The Drake Group, and national news organizations. Conference participants joined work sessions to focus on such critical topics as proposals to professionalize college sports, competition for control of postseason football and access to lucrative media contracts, and proposals for antitrust legislation to provide higher education the means to control market forces in intercollegiate athletics.

Preliminary Agenda, 2012
The coming year will likely bring increased debate on the future of athletics financing and approaches to the problem of controlling the highly commercialized revenue sports. In February, the Steering Committee will submit to the Coalition membership a series of recommendations concerning relevant policy stances, seeking membership feedback to guide leadership approaches. COIA will continue its efforts to network with other national groups to support coordinated efforts to find constructive solutions that national leadership groups can adopt. To strengthen its capacities, the Coalition leadership will seek 501(c)3 status for COIA, and develop a clearer model of internal structure to propose to the membership. [Full Report]

Attached please find the most recent listing of Committee on Enrollment Planning (CEP) action items and status.

The CEP is a highly effective committee co-chaired by Vice Chancellors Hernandez an Dasenbrock that serves as the coordinating body for efforts of several subcommittees tasked with identifying viable solutions to challenges we face in recruiting and retaining undergraduate students. As you can see from the attached list of action items, many of the ideas generated by subcommittees are acted upon swiftly.

The first phase of the CEP effort focused on "low hanging fruit", i.e., low cost initiatives that could be implemented quickly during times of fiscal frugality. We are now exploring initiatives that are more involved and labor intensive. With this expanded focus, the CEP has recently expanded the scope of subcommittee activity and membership. [Pdf]

The Kuali Financial System (KFS) project is a comprehensive suite of financial software designed to meet the needs of all Carnegie Class institutions. Based on Indiana University's Financial Information System (FIS), it is the first of the Kuali projects and incorporates the baseline FIS functionality and approved enhancements, in what has become the Kuali mold: a collaborative approach to design, an open development platform, and a web-based operating environment.

At the 1/30 SEC Meeting, VCAFO Cutshaw provided an update on the Kuali project. Kuali Financial is set to go live in July. The catalog shopping module is scheduled to go live in November 2012. The catalog is expected to offer items that are already considered “price reasonable” so there will be no need to have multiple bids/quotes unless the purchase is for $2,500 or more. There is some uncertainty at this time on whether the current commerce point/superquote system will interface with the new Kuali system. If it does not, getting separate bids/quotes will be required for purchases over $2,500.

The IUS Scholarship Committee was formed in January 2012.

Meeting of Maona Deans and Directors with the Manoa administration. Varied subjects are discussed. Meeting notes are listed below:

September Meeting

• UH Convocation Ceremony and Luncheon both scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2011. Ceremony will be in Kennedy Theatre with luncheon to follow at Campus Center Ballroom. Chancellor Hinshaw encouraged all to attend and support the M?noa and other UH recipients of prestigious instruction, research and community service awards.
  
• Homecoming
  • Vice Chancellor Hernandez advised Homecoming Week is scheduled for October 17 - 23. Various campus departments and programs are planning their own events. Please support and attend each other‚s events. Homecoming is way to welcome our alumni back home to our UHM campus.
    
  • Students seek Deans and Directors to participate in dunking booth at Homecoming Fair on Friday, October 21, 2011, T.C. Ching Field, 3:30 to 6:30 pm. The fair is a partnership between ASUH, GSO, student affairs and Chancellor‚s Office.
  • Chancellor Hinshaw encouraged everyone to stop by Campus Center and Hemingway Hall during homecoming week and support the student groups as they (ASUH and Campus Center Board with participating RIOs) have events planned.
• Flu shots - Chancellor Hinshaw encouraged everyone to get their flu shots. Flu shots are available at University Health Services for a nominal fee.
• Aloha United Way
  
  • Dean Bley-Vroman, Manoa AUW campaign coordinator, reminded that AUW campaign is now occurring and hard times are the times to give and be generous. Please remind employees that they have donor option for those who wish to designate a particular agency.
  • Chancellor Hinshaw advised the AUW Softball Tournament is scheduled for next Friday, September 30, 2011 at 5:00 pm at the Les Murakami Softball Stadium. Vice Chancellor Hernandez is this yea'‚s Coach. Please come out and encourage others to support our Manoa team comprised of employees from various campus departments. See http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/op/auw/ for more information.
• Native Hawaiian Advancement Task Force Update
  • Dean Benham shared current status of task force. If you are interested in learning more about the initiative and task force, please contact Pohai Kukea at pohai@hawaii.edu.
  • Benham distributed a memo requesting information and assistance from Deans/Directors regarding Native Hawaiian focused programs at UHM.
• APEC
  • Director Takayama advised of APEC media tour for group from China of Manoa facilities scheduled for September 21, 2011.
  • APEC is also producing a 1-hour video at no cost to UHM, which will include interviews of several UHM Deans. It will be shown in hotel rooms on Oahu during November 2011. UHM will be able to use the footage after APEC.
• MyGrant: Kuali-Coeus: ORS Director Yaa-Yin Fong introduced and shared presentation of myGrant and Kuali-Coeus system.

October Meeting

• Diversity Award Recipients Director Amy Agbayani, Emeritus Professor Kiyoshi Ikeda and Chancellor Hinshaw recognized recipients of the diversity awards: Professor Brenda Cartwright (Education) and Vice Dean and Director of Admissions/Professor Satoru lzutsu (Medicine).
• UH Manoa is the winner of the 61 annual UH-Aloha United Way (AUW) softball tournament that occurred on September 29. Mahalo to the faculty and staff members who served on the team from across the campus - sociology, tropical plant & soil sciences, English, PBRC, security, student counseling, athletics, institutional research, and finance and accounting. Mahalo to Dean Bley-Vroman for serving as our 2011 UH Manoa AUW campaign coordinator and to all Deans/Directors and their teams for supporting AUW.
• 'Take back the night event on September 21 reminded us that safety issues remain for us as a community to address to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our students, faculty and staff.
• Evening of Exploration' event on September 28 on Kilo Moana research vessel is an opportunity to highlight our research efforts with donors, especially in SOEST. Mahalo to Dean Taylor.
• NCAA recertification and visit is approaching.
• Staff appreciation breakfast is scheduled for October 28. Deans/Directors assistance needed to serve -email request is forthcoming.
• APEC Update: Dean Shultz advised on several pending APEC events including reception for President of Vietnam and other possible events to include leaders and delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea. Pacific Business Economic Council Conference is scheduled at Waikiki Beach Marriott on November 9-10, 2011. SOEST event scheduled November 17-19, 2011. The Curator's Choice: Selections from the UH Museum Consortium is on display at Hamilton Library. There are approximately 14 APEC interns. Media tours have been successful. APEC web pages are ready on website.
• Sungshin Unversity: We had recent visit from this women's university where they incorporated some of our practices, e.g., shaking hands, into their own ceremonies. Example of how our customs are adopted at other universities.
• Requests to fill positions Vice Chancellor Cutshaw shared-that updated-memo is forthcoming. Requests should be within existing budgets and position counts. For APT/CS positions, Deans and Directors have authority to fill. For faculty positions, submit to your respective Vice Chancellor. Updated memo will include pertinent information to reflect in your requests.
• BU01 update Vice Chancellor Cutshaw provided update on BU01 negotiations and campus preparations. 7.
• Retention and Graduation Rates: Vice Chancellor Dasenbrock facilitated discussion on practices, initiatives and activities at the school/college level in support of this priority (1 of 3 priorities discussed at Deans/Directors Advance).
• Fall 2011 Preliminary Classified First-Time Freshman Highlights\" distributed by Associate Vice Chancellor Yang.

November MET

• Chancellor is attending US-Indonesia Higher Summit.
• Vice Chancellors Dasenbrock and Hernandez are attending the WICHE conference.
• Susan Hippensteele- Welcome to Susan who joins BIG MET as she is currently serving as our campus Strategic Planning Coordinator.
• Staff Appreciation Breakfast: Mahalo to administrators who served breakfast. Our staff work hard to support students, faculty and administrators and enjoyed the event. Mahalo to Director Takayama and his Advancement team for coordinating the event.
• Homecoming Week: Assistant Ishii expressed appreciation to everyone in support of homecoming week - special mahalo to Deans and their teams who held events. Homecoming Fair on T.C. Ching Field was success- example of partnership with students, alumni and administration (ASUH, Campus Center Board, UH Alumni Association, Office of Vice Chancellor for Students and Manoa Chancellor's Office.) Students' spirit week of events included contests as well as a blood drive and was successful. Respective Deans who held events (engineering, SOEST, education, business, TIM, library) indicated success. Bike-to-Campus, UH Army ROTC golf tournament, 1st annual Ka Leo Arts Festival, 2nd annual family weekend and athletics events were all successful as well.
• East-West Ceramics Collaboration continues at the art gallery.
• Associated Students of University of Hawaii (ASUH) Sianha Gualano who serves on ASUH's Committee on External Affairs shared summary of ASUH goals and priorities for this academic year which included availability of classes and classrooms, cost of tuition and good learning environment (physical and other).
• Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Aaron Levine serves as GSO treasurer and shared summary of GSO goals and priorities for this academic year which included employment, pay and work environment for graduate assistants. Also mentioned conference to be held in next Spring 2012.
• Commission on the Status of Women (CSW): D. Ishii briefly advised on CSW, which advises President on issues concerning women students, faculty and staff who work in and for our higher education institution. Commission comprised of representatives from campuses. CSW is celebrating its 25th anniversary (1986-2011) and has addressed variety of issues system-wide. Distributed bag designed by UHM design student Erica Kunihisa, along with committee list and brief timeline of accomplishments.
• Quality of Graduate Education Vice Chancellor Ostrander led discussion on practices, initiatives and activities at the school/college level in support of this priority (1 of 3 priorities discussed at Deans/Directors Advance).
• APEC Update· a. Inspiration to Innovation - Chancellor's Report 2011-12. Director Takayama distributed copies. Report contains exciting stories regarding UH Manoa support of two APEC pillars of life sciences and earth, sky and ocean sciences. Copies to be sent to delegates and media. In addition, there will be a one hour television special that will be featured in all hotel rooms. It will also be posted on APEC website. Dean Shultz provided additional updates and event dates - note many events are by invitation only.
  

The Manoa Experience Working Group (MEWG) emerged as a product of the WASC reaccreditation focus on re-imagining the Hawaiian Sense of Place on campus. During the Capacity and Preparatory Review phase of the process the absence of consensus regarding use of terminology and subsequent implications for the conference of students' campus-experiences served as impetus for a focused effort to generate discussion between and among on and off campus constituency groups.

Led by Jon Osoria and coordinated by Myrtle Yamada, the MEWG has worked with UH Foundation to survey alumni and organized groups on campus that include representatives from a broad range of constituency groups including alumni, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and community leaders.

Work of the MEWG is ongoing and is being approached as a community-building exercise in and of itself. [Pdf]

[No Update Available]

The UH Parking Office has proposed rate increased for the FY 2013-2017. You can submit your feedback at future Town Hall meetings. The rate increases have yet to be formally approved.

• Pleased and agree that Committee is/should discuss about quality graduate education. 
• Agree that students should be supported. 
• Directive to the colleges/departments to only admit those candidates whom they can fully support for five years is counter to the other goal of the strategic plan which is to support and advance Hawaiian students. 
• There are multiple reasons why students pursue Ph.D. degrees (such as gaining respect in the community) and not everyone wants to be a professor, etc. 
• Limits local students access to a Ph.D. program and to pursue such a degree. 

• The Sub-Committee on Undergraduate Graduation and Retention Rates

• Everything that is engaged learning outside of the classroom is a problem
• Out of class learning (not tied to the coursework) such as service learning, internships, etc. may prolong a student’s degree

Committee is active. No update provided due to confidential nature of committee's work.

This committee is currently dormant, but may be re-activated in the future.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program is guided by the 10-member Undergraduate Research Opportunities Council (UROC) that represents a variety of disciplines within UH M?noa. Council members provide guidance for the development of the program, and evaluate proposals for undergraduate research projects.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Council met three times in Spring 2011, twice in Fall 2011. In October 2011, a dedicated website was launched that provides a resource for UHM undergraduate students to seek participation in existing research and propose independent research for funding. There have been two funding cycles; 72 students have been awarded a total of $147,570. Feel free to review the student research projects online, or get involved as a faculty mentor.

Sheela Sharma
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
sheela@hawaii.edu