THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE Faculty Senate Minutes June 14, 1978 The Faculty Senate met on Wednesday, June 14, 1978 in RL1 at 3:00 pm. Senate Members present: Dr. Boland, Dr. Browning, Dr. Cole, Dr. Gillum, Dr. Hart, Dr. Otti, Dr. Reed, Dr. Remington, Dr. Seitz, Dr. Shoaf, Dr. Stern, and Dr. Trullinger. Members absent: Dr. Perry, Dr. Riggs, Dr. Squibb, Dr. Stevens, Mr. Wengrow, and Dr. Wilson. Visitors: Dr. Bruce, Mr. Coyle, Dr. Howard, Mr. Pott, Dr. Rosenblatt. Dr. Browning called the meeting to order. He asked for approval of the Faculty Senate minutes for May 4. There were no changes and the minutes were approved. Dr. Browning asked for a report from the Institutional Development Committee. Dr. Cole gave the Senate members copies of the Status Report on Planning for a New Degree Program in Atmospheric Sciences and Meterology. Dr. Cole said President Friday wanted a status report on new programs by July 1, and Dr. Highsmith had asked for the reports by June 15. Dr. Cole reviewed the status report with the Senate. He said UNCA had had several discussions with the Director of the National Climatic Center and his staff regarding the program. He said the National Climatic Center is anxious to do their part in developing the program. Dr. Cole emphasized that a program in atmospheric sciences and meterology would not be duplicated elsewhere in the U.S. and the market for students trained in this program is growing rapidly. An undergraduate program in this area could be readily built on the existing courses in the natural sciences with new courses in the junior and senior years. This would necessitate the addition of one full-time faculty trained in atmospheric science. Additional faculty to teach specific courses would come from the staff of the National Climatic Center serving on an adjunct basis. Dr. Cole said there were two options, each of which needed further study, for the incorporation of an atmospheric science program into the UNC-A curriculum: (1) a separate department of atmospheric sciences and meterology, or (2) the incorporation of atmospheric sciences under a larger umbrella of interdisciplinary studies. Dr. Browning asked when this program would be implemented. Dr. Cole said the earliest possible date would be a year from this fall (Fall 1979). Dr. Remington said Chapel Hill had set no specific time for filing a program that had been authorized. Dr. Cole said he felt the request should be submitted within a year. Dr. Seitz referred to the point which states "that to fully exploit the resources available in the National Climatic Center, a Masters degree program in climatic applications would be extremely desirable" and asked if it would be possible to have a masters program. Dr. Remington said it may be possible at some point in the future. The next item on the agenda for discussion was the progress report on revisions to the 5-year-plan. Dr. Cole said revisions of the 5-year plan were due in Chapel Hill by the first of August, and should be submitted to the Chancellor by the first of July. Dr. Cole said plans were being considered to resubmit requests for programs in environmental studies, drama, education and the community. These programs were denied in the 1977 5-year plan revisions and the Institutional Development Committee felt the cases were stronger now. With the National Climatic Center moving across the street, opportunities would be available to build interdisciplinary studies related to forestry and biomath in the environmental studies areas. This would be a focus for potential programs in impact studies which would cut across all disciplines on campus. Due to the Steadman Report, it was felt now would be the time to submit requests for programs in Drama and Education in the Community. Although it was clear graduate studies in education would not be approved, it was felt the request for graduate programs in the areas of management and community psychology should be resubmitted. Due to the strong case against, the Institutional Development Committee did not recommend an undergraduate program for speech, debate, and forensic science. Dr. Cole said that during the last few days the committee had been asked to consider a degree program in computer science and address the issue of an Asheville Graduate Center -- as in Fayetteville, where several institutions pool their resources. Dr. Cole said this was a delicate matter at this time. Dr. Reed asked if programs which were not recommended by the Institutional Development Committee would go to Chapel Hill anyway. Dr. Cole said it was possible. Dr. Hart said continuing education programs had an advantage in that monies could be retained and rolled over within the year. Dr. Trullinger said the program would was presented to the Academic Policies Committee a couple of years ago from William Bruce should be considered when dealing with continuing education. He said UNC-A would need funding to meet the needs of professionals and the community. With the Title IX grant, more things were possible. Dr. Cole said it would be good to use Dr. Trullinger as a resource person due to his experience with continuing education. The next item discussed by the Senate dealt with implications of new Affirmative Action guidelines for recruiting new faculty at UNC-A. Dr. Cole said that although this had been discussed in the Institutional Development Committee meeting, since Mr. Pott was present, he would let him explain the affirmative action guidelines. Mr. Pott said the report sent to Chapel Hill was compiled two ways: (1) breaking the total faculty into tenure tract/non-tenure tract, then according to race and sex (2) breaking the faculty down by disciplines, then as tenure tract/non-tenure tract, then according to race and sex. Mr. Pott said that when the faculty as a whole was broken down (as in #1) more reasonable figures were attained, however he did not know which report would be accepted in Chapel Hill. The question was raised as to whether counting a person in tenure tract or non-tenure tract would lock them (or the position) in that area. Mr. Pott said no, the affirmative action plan would be continually updated and revised. Mr. Pott said the goal would be to hire 4 blacks over the next 5 year period. Dr. Browning asked Mr. Pott to discuss the implications of the new Affirmative Action Plan for the role of the Affirmative Action Officer. Mr. Pott said he had asked the Chancellor not to appoint him as Affirmative Action Officer. Mr. Pott said he recommended that the next person serving as Affirmative Action Officer be an academician. Mr. Pott said that at the time a faculty vacancy occurs, dialogue between the Affirmative Action Officer and the department chairman must take plce and be documented. The Affirmative Action Officer insures that before a decision is made--at each stage of screening-- minorities, blacks, and women are not discriminated against because of race or sex. It was the job of the Affirmative Action Officer to see that chances were equal all along the hiring process. Mr. Pott said no person who was "qualified" for a job should be discriminated against. Dr. Gillum asked how the statistical base was prepared, specifically how would a person be counted who was in a non-tenure tract, but serving in a tenure position. Mr. Pott said he was not sure how that person would be counted. The statistical data for the Affirmative Action report was furnished by the Institutional Research Office at Mr. Pott's request. Dr. Trullinger said the goals of the non-tenure tract were different from the tenure tract. He suggested that when a non-tenure person was changed to tenure-tract, problems could arise. Dr. Trullinger said it was easier to hire non-tenure than tenure. Dr. Browning felt it was proper for the Affirmative Action Officer to ask each department chairman to ascertain the rationale for having a given number of people in his department be classified in a tenure or non-tenure tract. Mr. Pott said the percentage of tenure tract/ non-tenure tract would be constantly updated. At UNC-A the percentage was about 70-30, while at Appalachian State University the percentages were 95-5. Dr. Bruce asked Mr. Pott for the percentage faculty goals for women. Mr. Pott said he did not recall exactly, but thought it was around 40% new hirees which should be women. Dr. Hart said we would have to make an effort to maintain flexibility. The market in fields changes over the years and UNC-A would have to move by fields according to opportunities. He said that in areas which were tight we may want to hire non-tenure for a fast turnover and later when the field opened UNC-A would hire a tenure tract person. Dr. Trullinger asked if there would be a central Affirmatiave Action Office in Chapel Hill. Mr. Pott said it was possible. Dr. Seitz asked how the term "technically qualified" was defined. Mr. Pott said it was all persons who met the basic qualifications of the job. Dr. Trullinger asked if the Affirmative Action Officer would be the one to set "qualifications." Mr. Pott said no, that the department chairman would state the qualifications when a position opened. The next area of discussion concerned the 1978-1979 Enrollment Increase Budget for 101 (Regular Term Instruction) and 152 (LRC). Mr. Pott gave members of the Senate a copy of the requested expenditures for the increased budget. Mr. Pott explained the majority of the funds must be used for 3.8 new faculty positions and fringe benefits for those positions. Of the other requested expenditures, Mr. Pott had consulted with Dr. Riggs and noted the three recommendations of Dr. Riggs': (1) Faculty Secretary, Grade 53 for Social Sciences (2) Technician for LRC (3) Inflationary increase for telephone. Mr. Pott asked the Senate for their recommendations. Dr. Browning asked if line 9-request for a chemistry laboratory manager could not be paid from part-time salaries. Mr. Pott said yes. The point was raised by Dr. Stern that $250 for faculty travel was really inadequate for attending meetings which kept one up-to-date in his field. Mr. Pott agreed that several areas were deficient in budget and faculty travel was one of those areas. He noted the large amount of money spent on recruiting. It was noted that LRC (Learning Resources Center) had requested a technician but the recommendation was for a Clerk III. Mr. Pott explained there was not enough money to hire anyone in the "technician" position. Dr. Cole asked if it would be possible to upgrade the position in a year or so. Mr. Pott said yes. There was discussion among the Senate concerning the allocation of money to LRC for a technician and work-study positions. Concern was expressed over changing or modifying staff assignments and responsibility in LRC prior to the analysis of the LRC Oversight Committee. Dr. Gillum moved that the Senate approve Mr. Pott's budget recommendations. Dr. Trullinger seconded the motion. The question was called and a vote taken. The motion passed with a vote of 4 yes, 0 no, 5 abstain. Dr. Cole then gave the Senate a sheet which listed the anticipated hiring opportunities by academic discipline for 1977-1983. The academic departments were broken down according to the HEGIS code. The hiring percentages for 77-83 were 80% tenure track/10% non-tenure track. Dr. Cole read Resolution #3, which expressed the Senate's appreciation to Mr. Pott for accepting faculty recommendations regarding the spread of new faculty positions across academic disciplines in the writing of the Affirmative Action plan. The resolution further stated that the senate wished to continue the close working relationship with the Affirmative Action Officer in future revisions of the Affirmative Action Plan. The Senate concurred with Mr. Pott in his recommendation that the next Affirmative Action Officer be a person with primarily academic duties. Dr. Cole moved that this resolution be accepted by the Senate. Dr. Hart seconded. A vote was taken and the motion passed -- 8 yes, 0 no. Dr. Cole then addressed the Senate concerning the faculty hiring priorities. Dr. Cole said that last fall, 4 new faculty positions were allocated, 2 were filled and 2 were canceled. Dr. Cole said the Institutional Development Committee had been told by Dr. Highsmith that there would be a priority on hiring a person in the position of Director of Women's Athletics. The Athletics Committee had emphasized the need for this position over the past few years, but the response had been that a person could not be hired at that time. Dr. Cole said the funding for the Director of Women's Athletics would be in part from the instructional budget, although there was no admitted need for this person to teach Physical Education. Dr. Cole had talked to Dr. Highsmith about the issue bacause the Institutional Development Committee was concerned over the critical instructional needs which could not be met while faculty money was used to fund a "non need" instructional staff. Dr. Cole said the Institutional Development Committee was also concerned over a new position in the Dean of Students office. This position appeared to have a higher priority than the Director of Women's Athletics. Dr. Cole said though the Institutional Development Committee had taken no formal position, it was concerned over faculty monies being used in a priority other than what the Committee and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affiars set as hiring priorities. Dr. Cole said he wished to report for the record that the Institutional Development Committee was not opposed to a Director of Women's Athletics, but was concerned over the manner of funding. Dr. Otti asked the status of of the 2 positions which had been previously canceled. Dr. Cole said the positions were apparently now restored, the Institutional Development Committee would review the needs with the department chairmen, and that the Committee would be meeting with Dr. Dorr prior to making its recommendations to him. Dr. Browning noted that due to several Senators leaving for other commitments there was not a quorum remaining, the Senate would continue on an information basis only. Dr. Browning said he wold like to meet with Drs. Cole and Trullinger after the Senate meeting. Dr. Browning said discussions were continuing with the UNC-A/WCU Joint Planning Committee. Dr. Browning asked that the minutes show he requested the Faculty Welfare Committee consider the mater of grant acquisitions having unexpected implications and consequences for the academic budget, specifically supplies, equipment, and family travel. Dr. Browning also asked that the Ad Hoc Committee to Study the Tenure Criteria for Administration consider the question of granting academic rank to administrators and people funded by grant money. Specifically-- what criteria is used, who is consulted, and what are the staffing implication of such appointments. The Senate meeting adjourned at 4:55 pm. Shirley Browning Linda B. West Chairman Secretary