University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, December 13, 1990 Senate Members: A. Comer, A. Coyne, L. Friedenberg, B. Greenawalt, A. Hantz, J. Heimbach, D. Lisnerski, S. Obergfell, J. Rackham, B. Sabo, D. Sulock, D. Van Engelen, A. Wengrow, B. Wilson, L. Wilson Absent: L. Dorr Visitors: R. Booker, T. Byers, T. Cochran, F. Davenport, J. Garrett, D. Harmon, G. Kormanik, B. Miller, C. Miller, M. Ruiz, B. Corbin (SGA), I. Call to Order The 1990-91 Faculty Senate met on Thursday, December 13, 1990, in NCB-005. Lisa Friedenberg, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:33 pm. Minutes The November 8, 1990 Senate minutes were approved as written (Motion: Lisnerski/Sabo). Senate members responded positively to the Executive Summary prepared for faculty in lieu of the longer Senate minutes. II. Executive Committee Report Dr. Friedenberg reported for the Executive Committee. UNC Faculty Assembly Report The Faculty Assembly report has been delayed until the January 17th Senate meeting. Student Government Report There was no Student Government report. III. Institutional Development Committee Report Dr. Hantz reported for the Institutional Development Committee. Document for First Reading Presentation Dr. Hantz distributed IDC #3: Resolution to Modify UNCA's Guiding Concepts, and a document outlining the Guiding Concepts approved by the Senate in 1986. Senators were urged to read both documents carefully. IV. Administrative Report Dr. Larry Wilson (VCAA) gave the Administrative Report. Enrollment UNCA has accepted 16 new Freshman and 180 Transfer students for Spring 1991 with the expectation that 80 Transfers and 12 new Freshman will come to UNCA. The student profiles of this group are substantially higher than last year. Comparing current applications to applications last year at this time, the number of new Freshman applications for Spring 1991 is down 10% while Transfer applications for Spring 1991 have increased 3%. For Fall 1991, Freshman applications are up 16% and Transfers are up 61%. The average SAT score of applicants for next Fall is less than a year ago, but SAT scores of accepted students are running 1,036 compared to 1,010. UNCA's Freshman class will have approximately 400 students with entering credentials a little better than in the past. Budget As previously reported, last summer each of the institutions across the state had a 3% across-the-board budget reduction. This reduced UNCA's base budget by $530K and resulted in the loss of three faculty positions. At the same time, UNCA was instructed to set aside an additional 1 1/2% in a negative reserve which resulted in a loss of $265K. Each institution has now been instructed to produce another 2.8% between now and the end of the year; UNCA's reduction will be $470K. For the year, UNCA has had a total reduction of 7.3%, or $l.3 million out of a $17 million budget. These are state appropriated funds only. Dr. Wilson reported that approximately 85% of UNCA's budget is in personnel costs which leaves 15% of the budget to reduce by $470K. Dr. Cochran reported that all equipment orders will be frozen in order to set aside $20-25K from the instructional budget. All travel funds not previously approved or currently under consideration will be frozen for an additional $25K. $150K is available from lapsed salaries and an additional $50K will become available through frozen positions. Dr. Wilson stated that these severe approaches are necessary in order to protect our meager operating supplies to carry on the teaching function of the university, to protect the library, and to prevent lay-offs. Rising utility costs are also a major concern. All offices are asked to voluntarily restrict long distance telephone calls and postage. It is possible that all monies will be placed in a general pool and special permission will be required for all expenditures in an effort to monitor spending. As of November 30th, $9.3 million was available in the following categories: $4.3 million in the 101 budget - 85% of this is in salaries. The library has $20-25K available excluding salaries and books previously ordered. Student Services has approximately $180K in nonpersonnel funds. Physical Plant, which includes utiltities, has $1.2 million left out of $2 million. Every requisition is now being reviewed before granting approval. The requirements for bulk-rate mailing, recruiting faculty, and financial aid minority scholarships were discussed. V. Academic Policies Committee Report Dr. Coyne gave the Academic Policies Committee Report. Documents Presented for First Reading The following documents were presented for first reading: APC #10: Proposal for Astronomy 105 APC #12: Requested Revision in Department of History Curriculum APC #13: Mid-term Deficiency Notices for Freshmen APC #14: Catalog Changes in Mass Communication APC #15: Protocol for APC Review of General Education (as per Senate Document #36, 1984) Report of APC Action The APC approved the following action: APC #11: Retained PSYC 240 and PSYC 440, scheduled to be dropped from the 1991-92 Catalog under the new "Sunset Policy" APC #16: Use of the IP grade in BIOL 451 and BIOL 452 APC #17: Cross-listing Art 382 in the MLA Schedule Documents for Consideration Dr. Coyne moved approval of the following APC Documents: APC #7: Replacement of Grade (Motion: Coyne/Sabo). Dr. Coyne explained that this document takes the current rules that allow replacement of an F grade and applies them to the D grade. This does not allow replacement of grades C or higher. APC #7 passed by a vote of 11 to 1 with one abstention and became Senate Document #1190F. This document is effective as of Spring semester 1991 and is retroactive to grades earned 1982-83. APC #8: Revision of General Education requirements in Natural Science (Coyne/Sabo). The document allows courses to be added in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, and Astronomy to count toward the five hour natural science general education requirement. Amendment #1: (Van Engelen/Heimbach) to delete the words "where feasible" from page one of the document. The amendment passed. Amendment #2: (Van Engelen/Wengrow) to rephrase the remainder of the sentence after the words "where feasible" were deleted to read: " .. and must not require any previous background in science nor contain mathematical concepts beyond the level of Math 155." Discussion followed concerning the vague statement reqarding the special needs of non-majors, the difficulty and focus of the course, and restricting the freedom of the instructor to design the course. A suggestion was made to resubmit the document to APC for reconsideration. Amendment #2 was defeated. Amendment #3: (Heimbach/Hantz) to add Atmospheric Science to the last sentence on page one under the proposed changes. Dr. Heimbach stated that Atmospheric Science does have a 2-course sequence. The amendment passed. APC #8 passed unanimously as amended and became Senate Document #1290F. APC #9: Proposal to increase Physical Geology (ENVR 105) (Coyne/Heimbach). APC #9 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1390F. VI. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Dr. Greenawalt reported for the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee. Term Quote Service The FWDC surveyed several proposals from various vendors who would like to present their proposals on campus. The FWDC approved a term life insurance term quote service which is free to the user. The agency will provide five life insurance quotes covering the individual's needs. Dr. Greenawalt stressed that any FWDC recommendation comes with the usual caution "let the buyer beware". Dr. Wilson added that the term quote service also reports the financial health of the organization. The organizations they recommend are rated from A to A+. Summer School Salaries Some years ago, the Senate commissioned the FWDC to make an annual report of summer school salaries. The problem first arose when UNCA's summer salaries remained the same for eight years. The FWDC recommended changing the method of paying summer school salaries from a fixed payment to a percentage of one's annual salary. The Senate rejected the motion and in an amendment instructed the FWDC to report on the summer school salaries each year. This process is currently underway. The issues of class size, committee structure, teaching workload, reassigned time, and FTE's were discussed. IDC #3, which will be considered at the next Senate meeting, would place caps on enrollments, but the issues of committee workload and teaching load also need to be addressed. Dr. Greenawalt reported that the FWDC is currently looking into the committee structure and will give an annual report on committees in the Spring. Parking The FWDC has been looking into the parking issue and should have a resolution ready by January or February. VII. Old Business The following corrections were made to the November 8, 1990 Senate minutes: page 2 - replace the word "Environmental Studies" with "Atmospheric Sciences"; page 3 - substitute the word "Humanities" with "General Education". The minutes were approved as amended. VIII. New Business New Senator The Senate elected Dr. Cheryl McClary, an alternate, to assume Dr. Heimbach's position on the Senate while he is on sabbatical. Senate Meeting Dates The next Senate meetings date are January 17th and February 14th. Parking Lot Dr. Sabo requested information on the parking garage survey and asked if UNCA was going to build a new parking facility. Dr. Friedenberg stated that the Board of Trustees approved planning for a parking lot above the new dormitory, (also in the planning stage.) IX. Adjournment Dr. Friedenberg adjourned the meeting at 5:05 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Bruce Greenawalt