FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, September 10, 1987 Senate Members: S. Browning, M. Gillum, G. Henderson, G. Kormanik, B. Larson, M. Marshall, C. Mitchell, L. Nelms, P. Nickless, S. Patch, C. Prokop, R. C. Reinoso, P. Sweeney, T. Uldricks, K. Whatley, L. Wilson Alternates: A. Comer, H. Stern Visitors: A. Altimus, P. Betts, Chancellor Brown, T. Cochran, A. Gravely, J. Heimbach, K. Howard, D. Lisnerski, W. Pott, T. Seitz, The September 10 meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:30 pm in the Whitman room by Chair Pamela Nickless. The minutes of the May 5 and May 7 meetings were approved, with the following correction on May 7, page 3: "... to establish legal counsel..." should read "...to consult legal counsel ...". Dr. Wilson gave the Administrative report. The faculty salary contracts were officially approved today and will be mailed 9/11/87. Dr. Cochran reported that the Enrollment Budget received 2,250 FTE which translated into l0.5 faculty positions and 2 secretarial positions. The balance of funds will be used to cover deficits in printing costs. The Change Budget added l lab manager for the science building and $18K in additional operating money in the 101 area. The UPC will receive a full report at their next meeting. On Capital Projects, Dr. Wilson reported that the Kellogg property was allocated $150K for renovation and minor construction; the Conference Center received planning money; the Graduate Center received approval on its construction budget. The Belk Professorship Committee will meet next week to hear descriptions and proposals of possible candidates. The following positions have been filled: Kip Howard, Assistant VC for Enrollment Services; Joanne Garrett, Registrar; and John White, Director of Admissions. Mr. White will join UNCA on 9/21 from Bethany College in WV. The position of Director for Special Academic Programs will be advertised in the next few days. The responsibilities will include supervision of summer programs, continuing education, grants, and contracts. UNCA is now a Teaching Fellows Institution and should have 15 teaching fellows next year out of 400 around the state. Committees to be established by FWDC include a Quality of Life of Adult Students and an Off Campus Study which would include international study as well as domestic programs for students. Chancellor Brown addressed the Senate on the academic eligibility issue. He stated that he favored changing the current policy, but felt that the proposed policy did not meet all the criteria that a good change should meet. Page 2 In the revised policy, he would hope for the following: (1) a policy that would increase the probability that a student would graduate; (2) reflect an increased faculty commitment to retention; (3) a probation/suspension policy that changed as the number of hours taken increased; and, (4) a policy that would have some predictability in advance for students. Dr. Brown's primary concern is that once a student is admitted, they should be given every reasonable chance to graduate. Two aspects of the proposed policy concerned him: (1) the fixed grade point average (2.0) by the end of the Sophomore year remains the same for all the years, and (2) the means by which a student may be excepted from the rule is extraordinary in that a student must appeal to a special committee. Dr. Brown responded to questions and comments from the Sentate floor. Dr. Lisnerski felt that if students were going to be readmitted, that UNCA needed to devote adequate advising to these students as they needed direction. Dr. Larson stated that, in looking at other schools that had rigorous liberal arts programs, many had a 2.0 standard regardless of class level. Dr. Brown felt UNCA was taking on a greater challenge than many other liberal art schools as many of our students started with less preparation. In response to Mr. Sweeney's question of what kind of incentive other than suspension and dismissal UNCA could use to motivate students, Dr. Brown preferred a curative incentive such as assigned assistance in scheduling or math. Dr. Brown acknowledged a lack of resources in this domain. Dr. Browning commented that this was a package problem, not just a retention problem. Dr. Nickless reported for the Executive Committee. She moved that a Certificate of Appreciation be sent posthumously to Dr. Highsmith's family and the motion passed unanimously. Dr. Nickless introduced the new recording secretary, Sandra Gravely, and thanked Dr. Cochran for his efforts in obtaining the position. Also through Dr. Cochran, the faculty senate will be receiving a DECMATE and printer and may have an office in Phillips in the future. The continuing members of the Research Council are: Paul Sweeney, Joe Sulock and Betsy Coleman (Chancellor's appointee). The senate unanimously elected Randy Booker, Margaret Cleek and Sandra Obergfell to complete the Research Council slate. Mr. Sweeney reported for the Academic Policy Committee. Memos to the Chairmen have been sent out detailing the schedule of business for the APC for this year. These indicate that proposals should be received no later than the third Thursday of each month for consideration by the APC on the last Thursday of each month. APC recommendations will then be brought to the Senate on the second Thursday of the following month. Questionnaires have been sent to the Chairmen to solicit information and attitudes toward requiring a course to be taught regularly in order to be listed in the Catalog. The APC will be trying to form some specific policy addressing this issue. Dr. Browning reported for the Institutional Development Committee. IDC has not met as of this date, but will sit with Page 3 the Planning Council later this month. Mr. Pott provided the following budget reports: In the Change Budget, $153K for scientific equipment was requested - zero allocated. In the Capital Budget, $1.93 million was requested - zero allocated. The system asked for $3.9 million to strengthen undergraduate instruction in liberal arts - zero allocated. Thru a separate bill, outside the university process, UNCA received: $5 l/2 million for the Asheville Graduate Center and classroom building, and $l/2 million in planning money for the Conference Center. UNCA also received $60K in academic and administrative computing over and above the Enrollment Budget. Dr. Kormanik reported for the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee. The Senate unanimously nominated the following eight faculty members for the Academic Appeals Board: Keith Bramlett, Mike Stuart, Don Lisnerski, Dot Sulock, Tracy Brown, Charlotte Goedsche, Mary Lynn Manns, and Tina Perdue. The faculty-at-large will elect four faculty and one alternate from the list of nominees to serve on the Academic Appeals Board. Ted Seitz and Bob Yeager were elected to the Distinguished Scholars Committee. Gary Miller, Milton Ready, and Steve Lynch will continue to serve on this committee. FWD Document #4: a proposal to establish a new policy on the awarding of Honorary Degrees at UNCA Dr. Kormanik presented the document, explaining the proposed new policy was submitted for Senate review by Mr. Byers, Dr. Walker, and Chancellor Brown. A discussion ensued with the following motions: Dr. Browning moved to strike the last sentence of the fourth paragraph: "However ... HDAC."; and to eliminate from the makeup of the committee: "(c) The President ... designee" in the third paragraph. Mr. Sweeney moved to strike the last two sentences of the second paragraph: "According ... Trustees.". With the above modifications, the document was unanimously adopted and became Senate Document #7. FWD Document #5: a proposal to allow four Full Professors on the Distinguished Scholars Committee to also serve on the Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee Dr. Kormanik presented the proposal to the Senate. For clarification, Dr. Browning moved to terminate the remainder of the document starting with the words "Honorary Degrees Committee". Dr. Kormanik moved to change the wording of the proposal to read: "The four Full Professors elected to the Distinguished Scholars Committee by the Faculty Senate will also serve as the four elected faculty members required on the Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee." The document was voted upon, passed as edited, and became Senate Document #8. FWD Document #6 Parking Document was not presented to the Senate at this time. Dr. Kormanik wanted additional information from Dr. Iovacchini before bringing this to the Senate. Page 4 During Old Business discussion, Dr. Reinoso questioned the status of the Academic Eligibility Policy and Mr. Sweeney stated that he would be redrafting the policy for the APC's consideration. Also, all input is welcome. New Business included the following: Dr. Uldricks sought advice on the problem of faculty appeal rights and protection when their contracts were not renewed. He was concerned that other faculty members across the state might have more protection than the faculty at UNCA. Dr. Nickless indicated that the Executive Committee would look into the matter; Dr. Wilson stated that other faculty handbooks within our system were available in his office for review. Dr. Browning added that a current copy of the Code should be consulted because The Code of the University supercedes a Faculty Handbook. Ms. Nelms asked that the Faculty Senate make a resolution, recommending that the City of Asheville put a sidewalk from Merrimon Ave. to the University. Ms. Marshall questioned the lack of lighting across from the Owen building. Dr. Cochran stated that lighting would be available next April and that requests had been submitted to the City Council and Mayor concerning the sidewalk problem. The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra M. Gravely Gregg Kormanik