An academic calendar and a mission statement for the College of Arts and Sciences were the hot topics Tuesday at the Baker University Faculty Senate meeting.

Members of the faculty senate only meet once a month, but since there was so much business on the agenda for March, a special meeting was called Tuesday.

At the meeting, Professor of Biology Darcy Russell presented a proposed calendar for the 2012-2013 academic year. This proposed calendar came from the Educational Programs and Curriculum Committee.

The calendar called for a fall term, a winter term and a May term. In the proposal, there was no Interterm, but rather three weeks at the end of the winter term, called May term.

“I could go through a lengthy list of the problems,” Professor of Chemistry Gary Giachino said. “But, one of the biggest problems with having that break at the end of the semester is that the seniors have to hang around for a month before they can graduate.”

While there was discussion on the calendar, the vote did not pass. One senator was in favor of the proposal, and the rest of the senators voted in opposition of the motion.

A “traditional” Baker University calendar, having a fall term, Interterm and a spring term was voted on for the 2012-2013 year.

The senators spent nearly 25 minutes discussing a proposed mission statement for the College of Arts and Sciences. The new statement reads “The College of Arts and Sciences prepares students for a lifetime of continued intellectual, professional, and personal development. Graduates will be responsible global citizens who think critically, communicate effectively, act ethically, serve generously and live fully.”

“A mission statement is not a vision statement, nor a strategic plan,” Professor of Communication Susan Emel said. “… It is a statement about who we are, where we have been and where we see ourselves going for an eternity, why we exist, not how we are going to do it.”

While there was some discussion at the meeting about removing the clause “live fully” from the statement, the motion to remove it was opposed.

“I think that is exactly what we teach,” Emel said. “That’s what (general education) is. And, not only a variety of disciplines but physical growth, spiritual growth, mental growth. That’s living fully.”

The mission statement will be voted on at the April 5 senate meeting.