Slippery Rock University Forum

Minutes

22 January 2009

Attendance: Padma Anand, Trudy Bayer, Angela Bernardo, Seth Bires, Katie Cooklin, Adelaida Cortijo, Kim Creasy, Justin Kleemook, Unhae Langis, Wenhao Liu, Laureen Lokash, David Nugent, Annette Salsovic, Kevin Sharkey, Judy Silva, Erin Street, Lalanda Stromp, Diane Tomasic, Jialing Wang, Barbara Westman, Junko Yamamoto

I.                 Call to Order

II.                Approval or Corrections of December 2008 Minutes - approved

III.              Old Business

a.      Plus/Minus Grading – Trudy Bayer: Over the break Trudy did research on plus minus grade.  The pros were reported as providing more precise assessments for student grades and having motivational effects on students.  One negative of plus/minus grading is that it lowers the QPA of 4.0 students.  Some questions are:  Is it financially feasible to institute the plus minus grade?  Is there an interest in instituting this system?  Trudy talked to the Communication Department and the majority of the faculty members were in favor of it.  Kim Creasy spoke to Elementary Education Department and they talked both pros and cons.  Kim offered to invite the provost to the next meeting.  APSCUF needs to have an input in this discussion.  Trudy is willing to compile the summary of the literature. Trudy and Kim agreed that a survey among faculty members and students needs to be taken.  

b.     Outstanding Secondary Teacher Nomination – Unhae Langis handed out the letter to the Forum.  Unhae taught in a high school for 10 years.  When she taught at the high school level, it meant a lot that she was recognized as an outstanding teacher by the MIT and University of California at San Diego.  Maybe freshmen in the FYRST seminar can talk about high school teachers, but the nominations could come from all freshmen.  Lalanda Stromp from Park and Recreation Department offered to assist. 

c.      Smoking on Campus – PASSHE is revisiting it.  May be it is not going to be as harsh as “no smoking at all across campus,” which is the current regulation.  May be there will be designated smoking place.  Justin Kleemook from the Residence Life mentioned that SCUPA is proposing an amended smoking policy that is similar to the recommendations of APSCUF.

d.     After the meeting closed a group gathered to inquire if there was any progress with the Kiester Road cross-walk situation.  This issue is also on slated for discussion with the provost.  

IV.              New Business

V.               Next Meeting

                  Thursday, February 19, 2009, North Hall University Room at 12:30pm.

VI.              Adjournment