University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, December 12, 1991 Senate Members: A. Coyne, F. Davenport, M. Gillum, B. Greenawalt, A. Hantz, D. Lisnerski, C. McClary, D. Mullen, S. Obergfell, B. Sabo, D. Van Engelen, L. Wilson Excused: L. Dorr, G. Henderson, P. Nickless, J. Rackham Absent: M. Gillum Visitors: B. Bridges (Blue Banner), T. Byers, T. Cochran, M. Fox (SGA), J. Garrett, D. Harmon, J. Heimbach, A. Huang, S. Schuman, B. Yearout I. Call to Order The 1991-92 Faculty Senate met on Thursday, December 12, 1991, in Karpen Hall - room 005. Alan Hantz, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. II. Minutes Dr. Hantz presented the November 14, 1991, minutes for approval. The minutes were approved as written (Lisnerski/Sabo). In the Executive Summary, the words "Admission and Academic Appeals Board" were replaced with "Advisory and Enrollment Services Committee". III. Academic Policies Committee Report Dr. Bill Sabo reported for the Academic Policies Committee. - First Reading Presentation Dr. Sabo presented the following documents for first reading: APC #5: Catalog Changes in Psychology APC #6: Catalog Changes in Bibliography APC #7: Changes in Soc 215 and General Education APC #8: Changes in Art APC #9: Changes in Biology and Physics Teacher Certification Programs - Second Reading Dr. Sabo moved approval of APC #2: Catalog Changes in Political Science. The motion was seconded by Dr. Lisnerski. On page two under Change 3, the title "Political Foundations of Law" was replaced with "The Politics of Law" in an editorial change. APC #2 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0391F. Dr. Sabo moved approval of APC #3: Grading Options in Health & Fitness. This document changes all courses listed as "Elective Skill Development Options" to a S/U grading system. The motion was seconded by Dr. Coyne. The date for adoption was changed from 1991 to 1992 in an editorial change. APC #3 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0491F. Dr. Sabo moved approval of APC #4: Catalog Changes in Atmospheric Sciences. This document adds ATMS 105 to the general education laboratory natural science requirement. Dr. Davenport seconded the motion. An editorial correction was made to change the number "411" to "410" on page seven. APC #4 passed with one abstention and became Senate Document #0591F. IV. Administrative Report Dr. Larry Wilson, VCAA, gave the Administrative Report. - Intercollegiate Program Dr. Wilson reported that there was some disagreement at the faculty meeting yesterday concerning costs included in the intercollegiate program. A clarification will be sent to faculty after a resolution is made on this issue. Chancellor Schuman's Comments Dr. Schuman announced that President Spangler accepted the recommendation of the consultants regarding UNCA's Liberal Arts status. In response to questions, Dr. Schuman reported that the consultants recommended UNCA's classification change to a Liberal Arts status, and that the state appears ready to use the Carnegie classification in its entirety. Dr. Schuman asked for understanding and good wishes as he receives the recommendation of the Athletic Task Force Committee. It was clear at the meeting yesterday that it is going to be a complicated decision which cannot leave everyone happy. Dr. Schuman will make his decision after receiving the committee's recommendation. V. Executive Committee Report Dr. Hantz gave the Executive Committee Report. The Executive Committee has not met this month. Dr. Shirley Browning and Dr. John Stevens have been invited to give the Faculty Assembly report at the January Senate meeting. Dr. Hantz asked the Senators to encourage faculty to speak with any member of the Athletics Task Force Committee regarding the athletic decision before it is too late. The Task Force will probably make recommendations to the Chancellor in January. Members of the committee include: Larry Wilson, Alan Hantz, Linda Nelms, Alan Comer, Bob Yearout, Steve Patch, and Dwight Mullen. VI. SGA Report Upon invitation by the Executive Committee, Michelle Fox reported for the SGA. Approximately 1,500 canned goods were collected in the recent canned food drive. The blood mobile will be on campus Friday, January 24th. Ms. Fox reported that UNCA's low turnout at the last blood mobile may be due to scheduling the drives on Fridays when many students leave campus and refrain from donating blood as they will be driving afterward. The SGA cannot set blood drive dates but they have asked the Red Cross to not schedule blood drives on Fridays. Ms. Fox gave an update on the Edgewood Road sidewalk issue. Nearly all the residents on the north and south sides of Edgewood have refused to give up their right-of-way in order to have a sidewalk constructed. An option under consideration would be to request parking on one side of the street only so it would be safer to walk, and to request enforcement of a lower speed limit. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Dr. Bruce Greenawalt gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report. - First Reading Dr. Greenawalt presented the following document for first reading: FWDC #1: Revision of UNCA Reappointment, Tenure, Promotion Guidelines for Formal Application Election Results Dr. Greenawalt announced the following election results: - Grievance Committee Kathy Whatley 1990-1992 term Michael Stuart 1991-1993 term - Academic Appeals Board Randy Booker 1991-1993 term Heidi Kelley 1991-1993 term Questionnaire In January the FWDC will be looking at questionnaires which will go out to Chairs of the various committees next week. The questionnaire will request information on the mechanics of how the committees are working and whether they could be collapsed into another committee. VIII. Institutional Development Committee Report Dr. Don Lisnerski reported for the Institutional Development Committee. UNCA's Capital Projects In November the UPC agreed to a priority listing for UNCA's Capital Project needs. Dr. Lisnerski distributed a copy of the memo sent to Dr. Schuman for review. Dr. Schuman stated that with very minor changes all the committees working on the capital project needs list were in agreement. Humanities Self-Study Recommendations Based on the Humanities Self-Study of December 6, 1991, UPC made the following recommendations: 1. That further determination be made as to the impact of the enforcement of pre-requisites for each humanities course and the requirement that they be taken in appropriate sequence. 2. That appropriate resources be provided the program to reduce the percentage of courses being taught by adjunct faculty, and for the purchase of needed audio visual materials and supplies. 3. That a university fund raising effort aimed towards increasing financial resources for the humanities program be conducted. 4. That the establishment of a humanities long-term planning committee be given serious consideration. Such a committee can initiate on-going course review, curriculum evaluation, teaching preparation and outcomes assessment. Dr. Lisnerski stated that the recommendations of the consultant were included in the UPC recommendations; copies will be sent to Chancellor Schuman and Vice Chancellor Wilson. The UPC recommendations were taken as information as the recommendations did not contain policy matter or a vote by the Senate. IX. Old Business - Second Reading Summer School Report Dr. Hantz stated that last year the Senate asked the administration to look into alternative ways of paying faculty for participating in summer school, including a fraction of salary method as opposed to a credit hour method. Dr. Cochran prepared the report at the Senate's request. In response to questions, Dr. Cochran stated that UNCA's summer salaries are not necessarily lower than other campuses; Chapel Hill's salaries are higher than UNCA's, Western Carolina's salaries are lower, and Appalachian's salaries are about the same as UNCA's. The larger schools are able to compute better economies of scale than UNCA because they offer larger course sections. UNCA could achieve this by offering fewer courses but larger sections of courses. Dr. Cochran's report was based on funding that UNCA was allotted. Some areas of UNCA's funding levels were established 16 years ago when we were 1,000 students. The only funding formula that has changed to our disadvantage was last year when the academic year funding ratio was raised from 15:7 to 16:4. Tuition and fees are set by the state and most of the summer courses are taught by the junior faculty who would benefit by the proposed arrangement. Dr. Cochran considered diverting some of the operating budget for summer salary, but UNCA's budget was short this year by $13,000 because we did not reach our total enrollment target this year nor our out-of-state target enrollments. Dr. Cochran stated it was up to the faculty to voice whether to implement this plan this summer when developing the pay schedule. Discussion followed concerning the possibility of raising deductibles for the summer months to avoid being taxed at a higher rate. Dr. Greenawalt asked if this could be put into the minutes so faculty would know that it is possible for summer faculty to raise the number of their exemptions. Dr. Cochran stated that any employee can have their withholding changed. Dr. Hantz stated that he would pursue this further with Vice Chancellor Foley. Dr. Van Engelen stated that it may take two months before a change is realized. Dr. Hantz asked if there was any sentiment on anyone's part to put into a motion the suggestion in the report. Dr. Davenport moved a recommendation favoring the proposed pay schedule as the sense of the Senate, seconded by Dr. Greenawalt. Dr. Coyne took exception with the statement on page five, stating that it was not fair to suggest that service and scholarship are somehow not involved in summer pay. Faculty who teach summer know that service responsibilities continue and the only major block of time available for scholarship is in the summer when teaching reduces your ability to engage in scholarly activity. Dr. Wilson stated another way to generate more revenue for summer school would be to attract additional students without a greater number of addition offerings. Perhaps UNCA should create a core of courses that are likely to draw people who come to Asheville to vacation, and then promote it. Dr. Hantz stated there was an option to table the document, refer it to an existing standing committee, or table the document and recommend to Dr. Wilson that he establish a group to look at alternative solutions to the problem. Dr. Davenport stated he would be willing to withdraw his motion from the floor if other action would be taken. Dr. Greenawalt also agreed to withdraw the motion. After discussion, the Summer School Report was forwarded to the Executive Committee by consensus. X. New Business Pass/Fail Dr. Wilson stated that an IST course entitled The African American Colloquium involving six faculty and several staff had been rather popular this semester. IST courses typically have letter grades but the faculty teaching the colloquium asked about the possibility of using pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades this semester. Dr. Wilson requested input from the Senate before he responded to their request. The Senate members did not have a problem with the course having a pass/fail grade, especially if it had a precedent. Senate Meetings The next two Senate meetings will be held on January 16th and February 13th respectively at 3:30 pm in Karpen Hall - room 005. XI. Adjournment Dr. Hantz adjourned the meeting at 4:55 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Bruce Greenawalt