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FORMATION
of the academic senate
Presented at the April 7, 2009 Senate Report
An informational presentation citing primarily from official institute planning and accreditation documents, institute policy documents, Senate Bylaws and the Pratt Faculty Handbook and Mirriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
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INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT
The Senate thanks President Schutte for undertaking the important review of academic governance. We agree that the issue calls for thoughtful examination, and we pledge our support to the effort. We are gratified that the Consultant’s recommendations recognize the importance of consultation with the Senate
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Guidelines for implementation:
After conferring with the Provost’s Office and the Academic Senate, the Governance Facilitator will recommend to the President of Pratt Institute the changes to be implemented and the date for implementation. |
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RECOMMENDATION 13: Consultant’s Report To Pratt Institute: Academic Governance and Decision-making, John H. Erickson, 1/20/2009; page 15 |
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EXAMINATION OF FACTS
Our examination of facts fall within three contexts:
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Structural |
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Historical (Past Practice) |
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Textual |
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STRUCTURAL CONTEXT
Senate Bylaws approved by the Board of Trustees, specify as follows:
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Nature of Organization
The Academic Senate is a faculty/administration governance body that will relate directly to the President and Provost without review by any other group. |
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Purpose of the Senate
... to give faculty and chairs responsibilities including, but not limited to,
(a) Approving academic policies and procedures;
(b) Reviewing structures of programs, curricula, and schools;
(c) Providing for appropriate review of course additions and changes |
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As noted in Pratt’s 1991 report to Middle States:
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The Academic Senate... will be responsible for the academic policy-making normally associated with such bodies – academic review, academic policy.... |
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An equally important function is the senate's potential role in curriculum development, and in ensuring that the curriculum is delivered effectively and efficiently. As a body charged with curricular and program review, the Academic Senate is a safeguard against both curricular omissions and redundancies… |
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… It also serves as a forum for candid and professional discussions about a core curriculum and the appropriateness and location of additional offerings outside the core. The Academic Senate can also contribute most usefully to discussion and decisions about the ranking of academic priorities, consonant with the Institute's mission statement. |
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT {PAST PRACTICE}
Since its inception in 1991, the Senate has reviewed and approved courses, programs and curricula. As noted in the Institute’s 2002 self-study:
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The Senate reviews and approves all academic offerings at the Institute in conjunction with the Office of the Provost. |
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As noted by the Provost in his email directions dated April 10, 2005:
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The attached Course Approval Tracking Sheet shows the actions taken recently by the Academic Senate on courses you have submitted. |
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An explanation of the Senate's actions can be found in the attached ‘Senate Course Approval Actions.doc' |
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As specified in the Course Approval Tracking Sheet, 2001
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Senate Actions |
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Approved: The course has been approved by the Academic Senate and the Office of the Provost... |
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Approved Conditionally: The Senate has reviewed your proposal and found that it meets most standards. Additional information is required, however, for the Senate to give final approval... |
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As specified by the Provost in his June 16, 2004 Memorandum to Deans, Directors andChairs on Bulletin Production Protocols (2005-2007)
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Only course changes with complete Academic Senate approval by August 1, 2004 (deadline) will be included… |
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TEXTUAL CONTEXT
As specified in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary:
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re-view: noun |
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a looking over or examination with a view to amendment or improvement |
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judicial reexamination (as of the proceedings of a lower tribunal by a higher) |
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an explanatory and critical account of an artistic production or performance (as a book, play, exhibition, or concert) usually in a periodical |
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a: renewed study of material previously studied
b: an exercise facilitating such study |
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re-view: verb [transitive] |
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to examine or study again; especially to reexamine judicially <a higher court may review the proceedings and judgments of a lower one> |
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to look back on; take a retrospective view of |
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a: to go over or examine critically or deliberately, as to go over with critical examination in order to discover excellences or defects
b: to give a critical evaluation of |
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FACULTY GOVERNANCE
From the Faculty Handbook, Part 1: Pratt Institute Organization & Governance, Faculty Governance Structure, page 15:
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The charter of Pratt Institute vests the Board of Trustees with the primary responsibility for the educational and financial well being of the institution. The Board, in turn, authorizes the president and administration to direct the Institute in its many and complex operations. The Board, the president, and the administration recognize the important role of the faculty in developing, implementing, and monitoring the content and quality of Institute programs, curricula, and courses. To this end the Institute has established an academic senate composed of faculty and chair representatives elected directly by the faculty and chairs of the Institute. The academic senate is a faculty administration governance body that relates directly to the president and provost without review by any other Institute group. |
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The 1993 NASAD accreditation report noted President Schutte’s role:
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“He has created an Academic Senate to make key academic decisions - a good move we think...” |
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Senate thanks the President for his pivotal role in the formation of the Senate in 1991 to remedy deficiencies in governance noted during accreditation. |
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