University of North Carolina at Asheville

FACULTY SENATE MEETING

Minutes, December 3, 2009

 

 

Senate

Members:   C. Bell, R. Berls, G. Boudreaux, L. Dohse, G. Ettari, V. Frank, B. Haas, G. Heard, J. Konz,

                  B. Larson,   A. Lanou, K. Moorhead, L. Nelms, E. Pearson, D. Pierce, K. Reynolds, L. Russell,

                  M. Sidelnick; J. Fernandes.

 

Visitors:      E. Adell, G. Ashburn, L. Friedenberg, S. Haas, E. Katz, H. Kelley, K. Krumpe, P. McClellan,

                  G. Nallan, R. Pente, A. Reagan, A. Shope, R. Sousa, H. Stern, T. Tieman, G. Trautmann.

 

 

 

I.       Call to Order, Introductions and Announcements

         Dr. Dohse called the meeting to order at 3:17pm and welcomed Senators and guests. 

 

II.      Approval of minutes

         The minutes of November 5, 2009, were approved as distributed.      

 

III.     Executive Committee Report

         Dr. Lothar Dohse reported for the Executive Committee. 

         Report from Faculty Assembly

         Dr. Gary Nallan reported that he and Pamela Nickless are UNC Asheville’s two representatives on the Faculty Assembly.  Dr. Nickless serves on Tenure and Promotion and Phased Retirement.  Dr. Nallan serves on Communication and the Assembly website.  The Faculty Assembly met in October and in November. 

         At the October meeting the Faculty Assembly met with President Bowles who outlined his five priorities for this academic year.   

·            Continue to do our part to Improve Public K-12 Education. 

o    We have worked successfully to educate more teachers, now we have to make sure we are producing better teachers. 

o    Comprehensive academic program review to redesign program of study to school leaders (Principals)

·            Continue efforts to Increase Access to Higher Education

o    Develop and implement plan to increase community college transfers

o    Continue to expand distance education

o    Review Enrollment Growth Plan (tied to retention and graduation)

·            Continue to internally Transform our Institutions to be more Nimble, Efficient, and Responsive

o    Continue efforts to be more Demand Driven

o    Evaluate all campus leadership on Performance Goals

o    Eliminate useless regulation that creates bureaucracy with little value

o    Reduce middle management

o    Institute Budget Reductions based on Best Practices

§ Centralize HR

§ Review all Centers and Institutes

§ Merge redundant programs

o    Reexamine appropriate Faculty Workload Productivity

·            Increase Focused Research and Become more Actively Engaged in Economic Transformations

o    Take advantage of Stimulus funding

o    Focus on UNC Tomorrow identified needs

§ Marine Science, Aviation, Health Care, Environmental Science, Energy, Nanoscience, Biotechnology, Natural Products, Advanced Manufacturing

o    Coordinate with Community Colleges

o    Focus on Innovation

·            Enhance Global Competitiveness

o    Use crisis to upgrade Talent (administrators, employees, and faculty)

o    Set higher Standards of overall performance

o    Set higher Admissions Standards

o    Focus on improving Retention and Graduation (graduation with a diploma that means something)

o    Better Customer Service at all levels (admissions, financial aid, advising, etc.)

o    Fix Employment Practices

§ Examine salary, leave, benefits (prepare study on benefits)

§ Better definition, better accountability on retreat rights

 

Dr. Nallan said ‘retreat rights” refer to golden parachutes that have been given to some departing Chancellors.  The Board of Governors is going to end this practice.  They are expected to vote in January that: Administrators could qualify for a six-month leave after five years on the job and only at a faculty-level salary. 

Some examples of the golden parachutes from the Greensboro editorial page: 

·         When Stanley Battle stepped down in June as Chancellor at NC A&T after only two years in office, he did not go off the payroll.  His $273,156 annual salary continued while he took a “study leave,” which began July 1 and ends December 31.  He then has the opportunity to return to a faculty position at “a normal salary for his discipline.”

·         UNCG’s Patricia Sullivan was granted a year’s research leave at her $301,952 salary when she retired in June 2008 after successful 13-year tenure as chancellor.  Then she was to return to a tenured faculty position at 60 percent of that pay level.  Sadly, she died in August of cancer.

·         In June, UNC President Erskine Bowles brokered a resignation deal with beleaguered NC State University Chancellor James Oblinger, under fire for his role in the hiring of former first lady Mary Easley.  The terms included a six-month research leave during which Oblinger would continue to earn his full chancellor’s salary -- $420,000 annually, or $35,000 a month.  In August the UNC BOG scaled Oblinger’s pay rate back to $173,000 annually, more in line with other faculty members in the department where Oblinger will return to teach.   

 

November Faculty Assembly meeting:

      Health Insurance for Students

·         Currently eleven schools in the NC University system, including UNC Asheville, have mandatory student health insurance.  Students purchase the insurance plan at their University, or prove they are insured from some other plan.  Five schools have no requirement that students have health insurance

·         The plans at the Universities differ, in terms of cost, and the amount of coverage.  By Fall 2010, the University system should have a unified mandatory plan, with a cost of $600-$700 per year, and coverage up to $100,000.

      Health Insurance for State Employees

·         The State plan is poor, compared to other State plans.  Why?  The 600,000 people in the plan are old, sick, and too many people are obese and/or cigarette smokers.  A reason is that the plan is free for employees, and expensive to insure one’s dependents.  Increasingly, people accept the free plan, and insure their dependants in another plan.  There are few children in the State plan, and children are generally healthier. 

·         No HMO wants us.  There was a time when we had about 12 HMOs bidding for our business.

·         Our only choice in the State plan is 80/20 or 70/30.  Employees not insuring dependants in the State plan invariably select the 80/20 plan.

·         On July 1, 2010, smokers will be placed on the 70/30 plan.  On July 2, 2011, the obese will be placed in the 70/30 plan.

 

         First Reading

         The following document was distributed for First Reading:

         EC 2:  Student Learning Outcomes

 

         ILS – Clusters

         Dr. Dohse said it may be necessary for the Faculty Senate to take a second look at clusters.  Some clusters are being dropped and the more popular ones are amorphous.  He pointed out that the ILS Faculty Survey report conducted last year is available on the Senate website:  Integrative Liberal Studies Faculty Survey (Spring 2009). 

         Dr. Pierce asked Dr. Dohse to notify faculty of the link on the website:  all faculty need to be made aware that the survey results are available.  He also asked that the Senate discuss the survey data, and perhaps even hold a special session of the Senate for discussion.  He was out of town at the last meeting and should not have missed it.  He did not believe that the report from APC (APC Report on 2009 Faculty Perceptions of ILS) reflected the seriousness of the results in the survey data.   

         Dr. Russell said, as APC representative to ILSOC, she will follow up with Patrick Bahls to keep the lines of communication open.  ILSOC is actively pursuing this question of the clusters and trying to come up with mechanisms.  ILSOC needs to be included in the conversations. 

         Dr. Dohse said he is in close communication with Dr. Bahls.  He agreed with Dr. Pierce that the Senate should look at clusters more carefully.  He also agreed with Dr. Russell that we need to work with ILSOC to have a cohesive discussion.  He encouraged everyone to read the reports.

         Dr. Bell and Dr. Lanou spoke in support of action ILSOC is taking.  Dr. Bell said that ILSOC saw the same results everyone else did and it started dealing with the problem at that time.  APC has oversight over ILSOC and it gave the committee a nudge.  Dr. Lanou spoke as a new member of the Cluster Oversight Subcommittee.  ILSOC has met twice with cluster coordinators and she has met with them twice since she became a member last month.  Action is happening to look at all types of issues. 

         Dr. Bell asked if this was the Senate’s responsibility or APC’s responsibility.  Dr. Dohse noted that APC is part of the Senate. 

         Dr. Pierce said there is a lot of defensiveness apparently whenever any criticism is offered.  He was not sure there was a lot of faith in the evaluation that has taken place. 

         Dr. Dohse asked that everyone to read the report.  The Senate and APC needs to stay on top of this issue.  If the process to address these issues has started by May then we have done our job.    

              

IV.     Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report

         Dr. George Heard reported for the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee.

         Second Reading

         The following documents were considered for Second Reading:

 

         FWDC 2:  Revision to UNC-Asheville Phased Retirement Policy

                        (Revision of SD2098S; Faculty Handbook 2.11.2)

 

         Dr. Heard explained footnote 1:  A half-time employee is eligible to participate in the health plan, but only if the employee pays 100% of the premium.  If a faculty member is reduced to a half-time appointment through the phased retirement program and begins receiving retirement benefits, then the health insurance premium is paid by the retirement benefits.  If a faculty member is moved to half-time and does not draw retirement benefits, then he or she would pay to participate in the state health plan.  FWDC 2 passed without dissent and became Senate Document 0809F.

 

         FWDC 3:  Proposal to change term of Faculty Athletics Representative (Faculty Handbook 10.5.11)

 

         FWDC 3 extends the tenure of the FAR from three-years with one year renewal to four-years with one renewal.  Dr. Nallan spoke in support of lengthening the term limits or having no term limits on this position.  He served for nine years as Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) and after nine years, he was still learning.  Most faculty representatives serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor and have done so for many years.  Several schools have no term limits on this position. 

         Dr. Pearson said some schools do have indefinite terms, but most are “heavy hitters.”  Even Penn State has a five year term.  FWDC 3 passed without dissent and became Senate Document 0909F.

 

V.      Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Reports

            Ms. Linda Nelms reported for Institutional Development Committee and University Planning Council.

         Institutional Development Committee (IDC)

·      In terms of assessment, IDC is hoping it can at least propose a rotation at some future point. 

·      In terms of SACS, IDC will be meeting with Dr. Friedenberg on a regular basis next semester. 

·      In terms of planning, IDC has said it will work actively with the UPC to bring forward ideas. 

·      In terms of communication, IDC will be meeting, as part of the UPC, with the Board of Trustees for lunch next week. 

 

   University Planning Council (UPC)

·         UPC continues to discuss the strategic plan dashboard.  There are now fewer areas with no set standards.  In those areas, there are dates by which we should expect set standards. 

·         Steve Baxley met with UPC and provided background on capital projects.  With the budget crisis, all capital projects have been on hold except those that were already underway. 

·         To be prepared for possible requests from General Administration regarding capital, Steve Baxley briefed UPC on his top priorities.  UPC discussed them at length and approved the top priorities and forwarded them to the BOT for discussion at its upcoming meeting.  

·         UPC discussed the idea of addressing some group leaders for segments of the strategic plan.  Dr. Katz and Dr. Harvey met with UPC and discussed undergraduate research, areas that might be set up in terms of goals, areas of concern, and areas of communication. 

 

         Discussion

         Dr. Larson asked if there was anything on the construction priority list for the performing arts.  According to the UPC minutes, the Chancellor has said that campus priorities no longer need to align with the 2000 Eva Kline study.  That study recommended a performing arts center and he believes it is important for us to take a close look at this – it is one area where great changes can take place.  Ms. Nelms said UPC only discussed the top three priorities.  These included Carol Belk Theatre and Lipinski Hall. 

         Second Reading

         The following documents were considered for Second Reading:

 

         IDC 2:      Proposal to Establish a New Degree Program in Anthropology

         IDC 2 passed without dissent and became Senate Document 1009F.

 

         IDC 3:      Proposal to Eliminate the Institutional Effectiveness Committee

                        (Revision of SD4002S; Faculty Handbook 10.2.2.3.1)

         IDC 3 passed without dissent and became Senate Document 1109F.

 

VI.     Academic Policies Committee Report

         Dr. Chris Bell reported for the Academic Policies Committee.

         First Reading:  [Unanimously approved by APC]

         The following documents were made available for First Reading:

         APC 1:    Elimination of Reading Licensure Program
         APC 2:     Elimination of B-K Licensure Program  
         APC 4:     WMST Program Title & Curricular Change to Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
         APC 5:     Divide ACCT 317 into two courses: ACCT 317 (lecture) and ACCT 320 (laboratory)
         APC 6:     Add new course, MGMT 388, Leading Organizational Change; Add MGMT 388 to
                        list of electives in Business Management and Administration concentration
         APC 7:     Addition of new course, LIT 346 , Readings in Gender and Sexuality
         APC 8:     Allow CLAS 340 to be repeated for credit
         APC 9:     Remove IP grading designation for CLAS 495
         APC 10:   Add new course, ENVR  107, Natural History of the Southern Appalachians
         APC 11:   Change course description for ENVR 330
         APC 12:   Change course description for ENVR 336
         APC 13:   Delete ENVR 354, Management of Hazardous, Municipal and Solid Wastes
         APC 14:   Change in the number of required hours for the Concentration in Ecology and
                        Environmental Biology
         APC 15:   Change requirements for Earth Science Licensure concentration
         APC 16:   Revise requirements for Environmental Studies minor

         [Approved by 3-2 vote]
        
APC 3:     Delete German Major

         [Approved by 4-2 vote]
        
APC 17:   3-Year Academic Calendars 2010-2011; 2011-2012; 2112-2013

         Discussion of APC 3:  Delete German Major

·         Dr. Russell said she voted against the document formalizing the deletion of the German major in the UNC Asheville catalog at the October 29th APC meeting. She wanted to share some of the reasons for her vote:

“First of all, I understand that this decision to end the German major was a mandate from the GA, and that my dissenting vote holds little power for changing the decision.  I did, however, think that the loss of the German major marks a significant curricular change for the university, and I used my vote in part as a mechanism to invite broader discussion on the meaning and significance of this decision for the campus and our liberal arts mission.

 

The cancellation of the German major came at a critical time during an economic crisis. While some describe the collusion of events “a perfect storm,” we should also be aware of the ways the decision points to a level of potential vulnerability for small programs across campus. The measure whereby GA identifies “underproductive programs” puts all those programs graduating less than ten students per year at risk. Other indicators, such as the program’s demonstrated excellence and centrality to our mission of liberal learning, may not be sufficient defense given such a focus on productivity.

 

Our success as a university depends in part on our small size and dedication to programs like German, where students can experience the best of what a liberal education can offer. UNC Asheville is a small university in a state dominated by larger universities, places where the counts for productivity are inevitably higher, and where reaching that ten-student goal is less of a challenge. Despite our status as the state’s only public liberal arts university, we are subject to the same criteria used at larger NC universities. We need to be aware and cognizant of how these measurements create a special vulnerability for our campus, which remains small by choice for good reason.

 

I want to end by publically thanking Henry Stern for all of his hard work on the behalf of the program and the university. I speak as a former German major and graduate of UNC Asheville, and my dissent in part registers my sense of personal loss at this cancellation. I am sorry that future students will not have the opportunities I had, and urge the university to recognize what a loss to our curriculum this change represents. Moreover, I wanted to alert my colleagues to the potential threat that these GA productivity measurements might pose to other quality programs on our campus. Recent changes in staffing point to the increasing vulnerability of German on our campus, and I urge careful consideration of this decision.”

 

·         Dr. Frank opposed APC 3 and shared his colleagues concerns in terms of the inequities that are involved in the process.  He asked Senators to be careful about how quickly we approve decisions that come from General Administration.  We should raise our voices when we feel something is not kosher about the process, regardless of whether or not we agree on the substantive issues.  He noted that UNCA’s homepage says: “A total of 34 UNC Asheville students have received the prestigious Fulbright award.”  Over one-half of the Fulbright awards have gone to a German-speaking country.  This speaks directly to the productivity issue.    

 

·         Dr. Gretchen Trautmann, Chair of Foreign Languages, thanked Dr. Russell and Dr. Frank for their comments.  She shared discussions the Foreign Language (FL) department is having about reconfiguring its major.  There is a consensus within the department to move its major(s) from one in French, German and Spanish to a major in modern languages and cultures with a specialization in one of the languages.  This reflects trends in language departments in smaller campuses nation-wide, and it is a response not only to try to protect lower-enrolled languages, but also to defend the evolution of Spanish as nothing but a service-department for the wider campus.  The department is in the process of meeting with its dean and other administrators to see how quickly it can move on this.  Should this come to pass, it will affect catalog changes not only for German, but for other languages as well.  She noted that weakening the German program also weakens all of the programs in the Foreign Language department and across the campus.

 

·         Dr. Larson asked if it is the case that the same standards have been applied to all the universities in the system – 10 graduates per year.  Dr. Bell said yes, that is his understanding. 

 

·         Dr. Haas opposed APC 3.  He rejects that the same standards apply system-wide.  The Faculty Senate will not stop GA, but it should tell them loudly that their standard is not appropriate and they should not micromanage the campuses.    

 

·         Dean Gwen Ashburn said low productivity programs are an ongoing issue.  Some sister institutions have also had to make difficult decisions.  General Administration is struggling to maintain university funding, so do not make too loud a noise.   

 

         Discussion of APC 17:  3-Year Academic Calendars 2010-2011; 2011-2012; 2112-2013

         APC 17 (Revised) was distributed for First Reading.  It passed APC by a vote of 4 to 2. 

 

         The APC wanted to make Senators aware of significant changes in the new calendar.  As background information, Dean Keith Krumpe explained that this year the administration established an Academic Calendar Committee with eleven representatives, including:  Dr. Dohse (Faculty Senate), three department chairs and one program director, CSAC, SGA, Athletics and Finance.  The group identified a number of issues that were important to the various constituencies and are reflected in the calendar:

·         GA mandates 75 instructional days (can include final exams.) 

·         The Finance area was interested in the possibility of saving the university money by shortening the calendar.  In recent years our calendar has been longer than the minimum. 

·         Students were concerned about having final exams all in one week and losing the opportunity to study and to complete projects and papers over the weekend. 

·         There was concern about keeping Martin Luther King Day in the academic calendar and not starting after this holiday. 

·         Some faculty wanted a full week of classes after Thanksgiving break. 

·         Faculty wanted an equal number of class meetings for every day of the week.

·         Academic Affairs wanted an official start to the semester.  In recent years there has been a growing problem with the need for committee meetings and the need for decisions to be made with regard to curricula at the start of the semester.  Often faculty are not on campus until one or two days before the semester starts.  Most of our sister institutions have a start of the semester which is typically one week before the first day of classes.   

 

·         Dr. Reynolds identified two problems with the calendar.  1) Some faculty members take field trips over winter break.  They would like to have at least two weeks after Christmas day before classes start so there is time for our students to get immersed in a specific ecosystem, such as Costa Rica.  2)  Many of the faculty in Environmental Studies and Biology who teach in the spring semester have field trips at the end of the semester.  With this calendar we lose about a week or more of time at the end of the spring semester.  This is valuable time for biologists because this is the time in the mountains when we have spring migration of birds occurring when we are getting more wildflowers blooming.  She surveyed her colleagues who teach these courses: Drs. Petranka, Rossell, Ward, Horton and Gillette; they all object to ending the semester a week early.    

 

·         Dr. Krumpe related discussion at the APC meeting.  No faculty would be penalized if they were engaged in student learning and were on a trip and were not available during the first week the semester was open. 

The one fundamental difference between what is before the Senate moving forward and what we experienced the last two years and in both 2003-04 and 2004-05 is the reduction of one week within the semester.  If we want 75 instructional days (the shorter calendar) we can not have the week that the biologists and the environmental studies faculty want and also have Martin Luther King Day in the academic calendar.  The only way to have MLK Day and the environmentally rich week at the end of the semester is to go to a longer calendar (79-80 instructional days.)

  

·         Dr. Reynolds said the shorter calendar means that our students who study biology classes are going to be very negatively effected.  These are the types of things that Senators need to consider.    

 

·         Dr. Sidelnick said he reiterated the same concerns as Dr. Reynolds at APC.  Penalizing faculty is not the issue.  The issue is disadvantaging faculty and our potential advisees that week because these faculty members would not be on campus to do post-bac and transfer advising, and meeting with new students in our specific areas.  These faculty would return on a weekend and essentially start teaching on Monday – so preparation for that would have to occur over our “holiday.” 

 

·         Dr. Konz said the idea of having an official start date creates an expectation that faculty are around in that week.  He also heard that faculty will not be penalized or expected to change.  Dr. Konz asked what the impact would be on the lives of faculty for having an official start date for the semester a week before classes begin.   

 

·         Dr. Krumpe said he would expect faculty to be on campus for a departmental meeting unless they were traveling on university or scholarly business.  Dr. Konz said if that is the case, then we need to consider the language that is in the Faculty Handbook about the expectations for faculty. 

 

·         Dr. Bell said another issue is the date by which senior grades are due.  The new schedule has finals spanning over a weekend with graduation on the following weekend.  We can not wait until all students, including seniors, take their final exams with their classes.  The date when senior grades are due precedes the end of finals.

 

·         Ms. Nelms asked that someone address the idea of starting earlier to include the holiday in the calendar.  Dr. Krumpe said it was important that MLK day was incorporated in certain University sponsored activities and it would be difficult to include these if the semester started after the holiday.  Ms. McClellan said one aspect of including the holiday is to be able to have programs to recognize Martin Luther King.  If classes start the Tuesday after the holiday, staff members trying to get the students moved in would work not just on a weekend, but also on a holiday weekend.  This could also involve holiday pay as well.        

 

VII.    Administrative Reports
Academic Affairs

Proposed Change to Academic Calendar 2009
Dr. Fernandes reported that changes made to the calendar last year were designed to help us save money and it did save the university about $50,000.  However she has learned that in the December graduation students will receive a program book, but it does not recognize their honors/distinctions because we are not able to compute them in time.  This problem has been addressed in future calendars.
   Dr. Fernandes proposed changing when senior grades are due to our current academic calendar to enable students graduating with Latin Honors and departmental distinction to have their achievements printed in the program book they receive at commencement in December and May.  Discussions have occurred with the Registrar’s Office and the Publications Department in making this proposal.      
   Dr. Bell moved a Sense of the Senate Resolution.  Dr. Haas seconded the motion.  Dr. Dohse clarified that senior grades are due the last day of final exams.  Dr. Lanou said there was significant resistance to making the change for fall 2009 at this late date, just eight days from now.  Following further discussion, Dr. Lanou offered an amendment to delete the section on Fall 2009.  APC accepted this as a friendly amendment.  The amended Resolution follows:  

                                                     Sense of the Senate Resolution

            Resolved:          That the Faculty Senate endorses the Provost's proposed change to the
                                    2009-2010 academic calendar: 

                                    For Spring 2010, Senior grades are due Friday, May 7th by noon.

The Sense of the Senate Resolution passed as amended and became Senate Document 1209F.

 

            Craft Campus Committee Update
            Dr.
Fernandes said that because the county landfill proved to be a nonviable site for the Craft Campus the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees set up a committee with university representation to revisit the Craft Campus project.  If the university decides to recommit to the Craft Campus Project, then we will recommend to the BOT a possible location on this campus.  The project itself is changing and focusing less on a craft campus and more on a craft studies program.  We are considering relocating the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design in Hendersonville to this campus and having the Craft Studies program become one of its units.
            The Craft Campus Committee’s first meeting was November 6, 2009.  They will meet three or four more times and hope to come to a clearer idea of where the project is going and to make recommendations for a site on campus.  The group agreed that an environmentally-friendly campus should be the first priority.  Dr. Fernandes’ report is available at: Craft Campus Committee Update. 
           
Discussion
           
Highlights of the discussion follow:

·         Dr. Fernandes said that the newly acquired Rhoades property has been considered as a possible site for the project, but it is not one of the most prominently considered locations. 

·         She said the idea of a craft campus was born out of a think-tank of craftspeople to advance the craft field.  In 2004, Craft Studies was announced as an area for development as an academic university program.  The idea of a craft campus preceded the idea of using the methane gas at the landfill. 

·         Dr. Fernandes said most of the people on the committee think we will have a craft studies program, but it has not been formalized yet.  We need to make a formal decision to have it and we need to make a formal decision about how we will proceed and where it will be located. 

·         When asked if there will be opportunities for others to comment about the decision before it is made, Dr. Fernandes said the committee had not planned to do that, but they could if it would be a good thing to do. 

·         Dr. Moorhead said he had been involved in this process for years and would like to be involved in this.  He was very concerned about the scale of what was planned at the landfill now possibly coming to campus.  The design and location of this project on campus is a huge change for this campus.  He was also concerned about the energy requirements of this facility.      

·         Dr. Sidelnick said during a time when we are cutting programs, reducing budget, and have a director of a program that does not exist and a site that was just taken away, this project does not look good to the public nor to the people whose programs have just been cut. 

·         Dr. Fernandes said that this is a particular niche, inherent in western NC that can become a very important program for UNC Asheville.  We could be one of the only universities with a craft studies major.  There can be tremendous economic benefits to us and to the region that has been documented through economic studies.  There are also many people whose hopes have been raised by the university repeatedly.  Large numbers of community members came to this campus and participated in designing a building at the landfill.  There are pros and cons and we have to weigh them all as we make a decision. 

·         Dr. Sidelnick noted that our university has raised the hopes and disappointed others in the past, for example a day care center.

·         Dr. Haas said the B.F.A. mentioned will have to come through IDC and then the Faculty Senate for approval.  He would imagine that new buildings and territory on campus would go through UPC.  He would hope that the Faculty Senate has input in this. 

·         Dr. Berls had a question for the future:  When craft studies becomes a viable option, will the faculty come from outside the area, from local craftspeople, from the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Penland School of Crafts, or will we staff it with our present faculty?   A marvelous crop of individuals also have their hopes raised. 

·         Dr. Fernandes said that it is important to note that 56% of practicing artisans in the region are over 55 years old.  Only 9% are under 30 and most of them move here because of what is already here.  With the majority of our practicing artisans reaching retirement age, and few young craftspeople in line to take their place, the region needs new artisans to support crafts in Western NC. 

            Community School Partnerships Initiative Committee Report
            Last year Chancellor Ponder set up a task force called the Community School Partnerships Initiative Committee to revisit the various partnerships and activities that the university does with local schools and with the community.  The task force did a massive project of gathering data and information on what the university does, what kind of programs we do, and how well we do them in Asheville and in Buncombe County.  This project initially reached out to four or five other counties.  Due to budget constraints, it was scaled back to Asheville City and Buncombe County.  The committee made recommendations to improve: communication, program quality, coordination, and pre-college outreach.  Dr. Fernandes was asked to find ways that we can move ahead with the work without any resources or people.  Dr. Fernandes’ recommendations are in the report at: Community School Partnerships Initiative Committee Report (12/03/09).

            Student Government

            Mr. Stephen Haas said this would be his last report from SGA as he will begin student teaching next semester.  He introduced his replacement, Mr. Andy Sherman, a freshman who also serves on SGA’s Academic Affairs Committee.  The Faculty Senate gave them both a round of applause.

 

IX.     Old Business

         There was no Old Business. 

 

 X.     New Business

         Dr. Dohse presented Ms. Gravely with a gift on behalf of the Faculty Senate.

 

XI.     Adjourn

         Dr. Dohse adjourned the meeting at 5:25pm.

 

Respectfully submitted by:        Sandra Gravely

                                               Executive Committee