VOLUME XXXII, No. 2
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004
3:10 – 5:00 p.m.
MU II,
Memorial
Council concerning proposed amendments to DDR 538 (Final Examinations)
proposed amendments to DDB 121 (Undergraduate Council)
the new Master of Advanced Study (MAS) degree title at UC Davis
9. Petitions of students – None
10. Unfinished business – None
Academic Senate Chair Bruce Madewell welcomed everyone to the Winter quarter meeting.
1. Minutes of the October 27, 2003 meeting – Chair Madewell called attention to the Minutes of
the October 27, 2003 meeting noting that the Minutes were distributed with the meeting call.
He asked if there were any corrections, additions or changes. Hearing none, the Minutes were
noted as having been received and placed on file in the records of the Academic Senate.
B. Madewell said there were no announcements by the President, Vice Presidents, Chief Campus
Officer, or Deans, Directors or other Executive Officers
6. Special Orders
A. State of the Campus Address – Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef
Chair Madewell welcomed the Chancellor and the Chancellor presented his annual address to
the Representative Assembly. He commented on the passing of president emeritus of the
relating to fees and
tuition, Outreach, reductions in enrollment, the relations between UC and the
City of
B. Remarks by the Chair of the
highlighted some of the activities of the Universitywide Academic Senate and noted that in the Call
to the Meeting he called attention to a website that provides final reports and recommendations
recently approved by the Academic Council and/or the Academic Assembly. He stated that these
are items of interest to systemwide and campus and include the Academic Council Resolution on
Educational Fee Waiver, the Graduate and
Council’s response to the Instructional Activities and many others. He encouraged members to
review the website.
Chair Madewell informed the Assembly that a quorum had been certified. [An attendance roster is attached as Appendix II.]
7. Reports of special committees – None
8. Reports of standing committees
A. Report of the Faculty Research Lecture Committee - Professor Tilahun Yilma presented the
Report of the committee and announced the 2004 recipient of the Faculty Research Lecture Award:
Professor Geerat Vermeij, Department of Geology. The committee’s report was approved by
acclamation. Professor Vermeij thanked the Committee, his colleagues and members of the
Representative Assembly for “this wonderful honor.” A copy of the statement read by Professor
Yilma outlining the accomplishments of Professor Vermeij is attached as Appendix III.
B. Report of the Committee on Committees – Professor Victoria Smith, Chair, Committee on
Committees presented the report of the Committee on Committees appearing on page 4 of the
Meeting Call. She moved approval of the report. Judith Stern seconded the motion and the motion
carried.
C. Report of the Committee on Courses of Instruction and the Undergraduate Council concerning
proposed amendments to DDR 538 (Final Examinations) – Joseph Kiskis, Chair of the
Undergraduate Council presented the proposed amendments, appearing on pages 5-7 of the
Meeting Call, noting that the committees have been working with Registrar Jack Farrell for the
purpose of scheduling finals that are entirely web-based. He said after review, the best option
appears to be allowing the use of dead day for holding a final examination for on-line courses.
Brief discussion ensued in which Alan Jackman sought clarification. He asked if the instructor
changed the date of the final to dead day could that be done without written permission of all
students enrolled in the course? J. Kiskis responded that students would have the choice between
the last slot of the examination period or at a time selected on dead day. Jack Farrell stated that the
proposed revision would provide flexibility of scheduling on dead day. Continued discussion
resulted in the opinion that some ambiguity with the wording existed. It was subsequently
suggested that perhaps the amendments could be approved in principle and then the wording could
be returned to committees to eliminate the ambiguity. J. Stern moved to approve the amendments
in concept. The motion was seconded.
A member asked how the rewording would be approved if the above motion passed. Chair
Madewell said it would be brought back to the Representative Assembly.
Steven Carlip moved approval of the amendments as appears in the Meeting Call effective
immediately for next quarter with the understanding that the Assembly will consider a re-worded
version at the next meeting. Philip Yager seconded the motion.
Chair Madewell restated that the motion before the Assembly is to go forward with the proposed
wording for the subsequent quarter and that the Representative Assembly will revisit the legislation
with improved language at the next Representative Assembly meeting. The motion carried with
two “no” votes, and no abstentions.
amendments to DDB 121 (Undergraduate Council). Chair Madewell reported that consideration of the proposed amendments to DDB 121 have been withdrawn for purposes of continuing discussion by the appropriate committees.
Advanced Study (MAS) degree title at UC Davis – Trish Berger, Vice-Chair of the Graduate Council, presented the request. She said the degree is part of the University’s contribution to meeting workplace needs for advanced degrees and that the program will serve specific groups of working professionals with well-defined needs for advanced degree work. She moved approval of the Master of Advanced Study (MAS) degree title at UC Davis. The motion was seconded; by a show of hands the motion carried.
A member of the Assembly asked if the Assembly could oppose the Chancellor submitting the
proposal to Provost and Senior Vice President before it was approved by the Representative
Assembly. He noted that such action was a serious violation of shared governance. Others agreed.
Chair Madewell was requested to so inform the Chancellor.
9. Petitions of students – None
10. Unfinished business – None
11. University and faculty welfare – None
12. New business – Professor Judith Stern, Chair of the Transportation and Parking Committee, presented the following resolution for consideration by the Representative Assembly:
The spiraling increase in parking rates at UC Davis has been fueled largely by the failure
of the Administration to compensate parkers for spaces destroyed due to building and
campus restructuring. Since 1990, almost 3000 spaces have been destroyed. It is projected
that almost 3000 more spaces will be destroyed between 2003 and 2004. The existing
parking spaces have been paid for and maintained by parkers. When they are destroyed,
parkers should be reimbursed.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Representative Assembly calls on the Chancellor and Provost
to credit parkers will all spaces destroyed since 1990. We endorse the blended rate of
$8900 per space. Failure to act fairly indicates a failure of fiduciary responsibility to parkers.
Professor Stern presented the Assembly with numerous graphs in support of the resolution. Discussion ensued in which Professor Stern was asked to provide clarification on several of the graphs. A few members said they were confused and one member opined that the presentation did not match the graphs shown. For clarification purposes, Professor Stern suggested deleting the sentence, “We endorse the blended rate of $8900 per space.” She said the last sentence of the resolution was really the bottom line.
Professor Stern made the following motion: I move that the resolution be transmitted to the Chancellor, as revised. The motion was carried with 3 abstentions and 1 “no”. Chair Madewell was asked to convey the resolution to the Chancellor.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Kyaw Tha Paw U, Secretary
Representative Assembly of the
Attachments