Sonoma State University

To:    SSU Faculty
From:    Ben Ford, Chair
Date:    7 November  2011
Re:    Fall 2011 Update #5

I am trying to keep a blog updated with news about ongoing academic story conversations:  www.sonoma.edu/senate/chair .  Go there for more details on what's below, and add comments by clicking on the entry title and then scrolling to the bottom.

Note the new breakfast conversations in #1 below

1)  Faculty conversations about SSU's academic story.  What should we be as an academic institution, beyond a collection of departments?  Or, what should it be that makes an SSU education distinctive?

Lunch conversations. Since I last wrote, we've had two lunch conversations in the Faculty Center (October 12 and 26) and two breakfast gatherings at North Light Books and Cafe (October 21 and November 4).  Eight to 15 faculty have attended each, along with the Provost.  President Armiñana has joined us several times, and others from the campus community are joining in as well. 

To continue, I invite you to join me at lunch on the following Wednesdays (drop-in, bring your own lunch).  Provost Rogerson will be joining us at most, and President  Armiñana will join us about once a month.  These will be in the new Faculty Center, 1125 Schulz.

• Nov 9, noon-1:00 (with President Armiñana)

• Nov 30, noon-1:00

• Dec 14, noon-1:00 (with President Armiñana)

Breakfast conversation!  One remaining Friday breakfast gathering this semester: On December 2 at 8:00 a.m., Provost Rogerson and I will be having breakfast at North Light Books & Cafe (in the Oliver's shopping center, 550 E. Cotati Ave.), for another discussion along the lines above. 

2) Faculty Governance updates
Here I'll list brief updates of faculty governance happenings.  Talk with your faculty governance representatives if you have interest in any of these.  You can find your representatives here: www.sonoma.edu/senate/committees/meetings.html

• The Academic Planning Committee has just been assigned a trio of related issues to work on:  An in-depth look at the new CSU Online initiative, and consideration of any possible faculty response; the possible drafting of an SSU policy on online learning; and the drafting of a new Memorandum of Understanding with the School of Extended Education.

• The Professional Development Subcommittee is working with the Provost's office to figure out what professional development opportunities can be put together for this year, how support can be found for someone to oversee them, and what the long-term structure for professional development might be.
  

• The Student Affairs Committee has a very full plate, currently working on a "Disruptive student" policy and a re-working of campus policies on fee referenda, among many others.