University Senate motioned to change the broadcast journalism department name to broadcast and digital journalism during the final session of the spring 2009 semester in Maxwell Auditorium Wednesday.

Dona Hayes, the broadcast journalism department chair, said the change has been discussed for a long time and is part of the ongoing curriculum update in the department.

‘We have added into our courses considerable exercises utilizing new media and have reviewed all our classes and reworked them,’ Hayes said after the meeting.

The Senate moved quickly through six other items on the agenda, ending after about 35 minutes of discussion.

The Committee on Academic Affairs presented the 11 students chosen as the 2009 SU Scholars – the highest student honor the university gives.

Bruce Carter, a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, criticized the Academic Affairs committee for waiting until the last meeting to present the students. He said the scholars should have been announced before Spring Break and that the committee did not do an adequate job of notifying students of the award.

‘At this point, it becomes something that is lost in the mix,’ he said. ‘I don’t think most students know about this award.’

Carter later updated the Senate about the progress of the Chancellor’s review. He said the results of the survey, which was distributed university-wide and asked for all students, faculty and staff to evaluate Nancy Cantor’s performance, will be sent to the Board of Trustees sometime in May. The trustees will then meet with Cantor to discuss the review’s results. The evaluation will not be made public.

Other business included:

* Eileen Schell, a professor in the writing program, presented the new Senate committees for 2009-2010. She also made the ceremonial motion to confer degrees on the upcoming graduates.

* Schell also reported on the progress of the Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Power Subcommittee. She said the group has made revisions to the policy and will now examine new procedures against violators. She said several complaints led to the review of the university policies.

* The Senate passed all the promotions, appointments and curriculum changes presented.

* Jerry Mager, the interim chair of instructional design development and evaluation in the School of Education, presented a report by the Committee on Administrative Operations, which detailed many of the ongoing building projects at SU – including renovations for Lawrinson and Bowne halls and the construction of a green data center on South Campus.

adbrow03@syr.edu

Published on April 15, 2009 at 12:00 pm