University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, March 10, 1994 Senate Members: S. Browning, P. Caulfield, F. Davenport, M. Gillum, C. Goedsche, G. Henderson, C. James, N. Kauffman, P. McDonald, M. L. Manns, B. Miller, D. Mullen, P. Nickless, P. Snoyer, B. Yearout, T. Cochran Visitors: J. Banks, M. Blowers, K. Brantley, D. Brock, E. Brotak, W. Bruce, R. Bryan, T. Byers, T. Cooke, A. Coyne, M. Dann, R. Daugherty, L. Dohse, C. Ewing, E. Fox, A. Hantz, D. Harmon, D. Harris, G. Kormanik, M. Marshall, C. McClary, C. Miller, B. Modlin, L. Nelms, K. Parker, P. Paxton, J. Stevens, R. Tynes, J. Vandermeer, A. Wengrow, K. Whatley, R. White, L. Wilson, D. Wright (and others) I.A. Call to Order Dr. Browning, Faculty Senate Chair, welcomed faculty and guests to the meeting and called the meeting to order at 3:20 pm. Dr. Browning revised the agenda to accommodate Mr. Jay Banks' schedule. II. Report on the Chancellor's Search Mr. Jay Banks, Chair of the UNCA Board of Trustees and UNCA Chancellor Search Committee, named three candidates selected to visit UNCA between March 21 and March 29. The candidates are Barbara Hetrick of Hood College, Patsy Bostick Reed of Northern Arizona University, and John E. Trainer Jr. of Lenoir-Rhyne College. Complete resumes will be available on reserve at Ramsey Library. The Search Committee will present each candidate's qualifications at an open forum for the campus community from 3:15 to 3:45 pm on March 21 at Owen Conference Center. The schedule of the candidates' campus presentations was announced. Dr. Browning reported on the search process and urged faculty to complete candidate evaluation forms as quickly as possible. Dr. Henderson stated that the Search Committee was very careful in taking into consideration information and concerns received from the faculty and administration, and were very conscious of the applicants' positions with respect to the mission of the institution. I.B. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the January 27, 1994 and February 10, 1994 Senate meetings were approved as written. III. Administrative Report Dr. Tom Cochran, Interim VCAA, gave the Administration Report. Faculty Searches As reported earlier, enrollment projections were revised downward from 2655 for next year to 2620. The revised figure was accepted by General Administration and will be used for budgeted funds for next year. Unfortunately the figure does not save the ongoing searches for new faculty positions; all three of the new position searches have been terminated. In terms of faculty replacements, Sociology has hired two new people for next year. Management and Biology have each hired one new person. Offers are pending for Mathematics, Classics, and the Chemistry Chair. Active searches continue for Education, Chemistry (fixed term appointment), Management, and the Music Chair. UNCA has made commendable progress in hiring four additional women thus far. All of the other searches also have women candidates. One of the Sociology individuals is from Sudan. Budget All of the reserve money ($27K) will be used to replenish department budgets for telephone, printing, (3000 series of accounts), and temporary wages. Efforts will be made to bring department budgets up to a zero balance, then to allocate funds to operate for the balance of the year. Dr. Nickless asked if the poor business managers were being rewarded. Dr. Cochran stated that traveling and copying had been monitored; most of the expense in the 3000 series is a result of moving the telephone charges to the departmental level. Equipment purchases will not be included. Parking Dr. Cochran presented four parking options designed to ease the loss of 150+ parking spaces due to construction projects. Dr. Cochran distributed campus maps and requested faculty preferences or alternative suggestions to consider. Departments have been asked to schedule 8:00 a.m. classes in an effort to minimize the parking impact. The administration has taken the position that UNCA cannot afford to ban parking from freshman or any group given current enrollment difficulties. The four options consisted of three temporary parking areas and one permanent parking area. The temporary parking options were: #1 the area in front of Carmichael Hall, #2 the area along the campus main entrance, and #3 the area above or below Reed Creek. The permanent parking option, #4, is the area below the Highsmith Center and the Botanical Gardens. This lot would accommodate approximately 140 parking spaces and was one of six lots recommended by a consultant six years ago. The Senate discussed drainage problems, student parking, narrow driveways, aesthetic impact, feedback from the Botanical Gardens, and faculty parking. Dr. Wilson stated that the University only planned to follow through with one of the four options due to cost. Dr. Cochran requested a straw vote or a sense of the Senate on the options discussed. Dr. Wilson stressed that the administration had no intention of moving forward until they had talked with the Botanical Gardens to make certain they were comfortable with the drainage and the aesthetics of a parking lot in their area. A student urged the Senate to delay a vote until concerned parties could gather additional information and perhaps walk through the proposed lots. Dr. Henderson stated that as chair of the UPC she was very aware of student concerns regarding parking. Dr. Cochran stated that he sensed that the Senate preferred option #4. No members of the Senate corrected, altered, or redirected Dr. Cochran's impression. Dr. Wilson will have markers placed around the proposed lot to give a sense of what the lot would encompass. IV. Executive Committee Report Dr. Shirley Browning reported for the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee met to set today's agenda. V. Student Government Report Mr. Charles Ewing gave the Student Government Report. Mr. Ewing distributed a draft of a final exam schedule, which includes a reading day, and requested feedback at the next meeting. Dr. Browning asked the APC to review the schedule and give a response at the April 14 meeting. Mr. Ross Bryan announced that Sigma Nu Fraternity will host an Easter Egg Hunt during UNCA's Family Wellness Celebration. The fraternity will hide dozens of plastic eggs filled with prizes for the children. VI. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bob Yearout reported for the Academic Policies Committee. Comer Rule Dr. Yearout stated that some of the documents had been delayed in coming before APC this year and moved that the Comer Rule be waived for APC documents 19 through 27. Ms. Snoyer seconded the motion. Dr. Nickless asked why the documents were so late and if the deadline had been moved. Dr. Nickless was disinclined to approve the motion and stated that next year all the documents will be late and the Senate will return to the bad old days when people voted on documents they had not read. Dr. Yearout stated that one of the reasons they were delayed was principally the bad weather. Dr. Nickless asked if these were emergency documents. Dr. Yearout stated that the documents needed to be passed if they were to be included in the Catalog. Dr. Cochran stated that the Computer Science documents were in on time but could not be addressed at the APC meeting. Dr. Yearout agreed with Dr. Cochran and stated that the documents were tabled because APC ran out of time. Dr. Henderson stated she understood Dr. Nickless' consternation. The motion to waive the Comer Rule passed by a vote of 10 to 4. Documents Considered APC #19: Advanced Placement Policy (Yearout/Miller) This document is advanced placement policy for international baccalaureate and was submitted by Dr. Caroline Miller, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management. Dr. Caulfield pointed out a typographical error. In response to Dr. Henderson's question, Dr. Caroline Miller stated that the international baccalaureate is the official name of the education program that has come out of the magnet school movement. These are tests that have been developed that assess preparation of students who have gone through these particular programs wherever they might happen. Dr. Wilson stated that this rigorous degree began in Zurich and in some of the best high schools around the United States. APC #19 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1894S. APC #20: Conditional Readmission Policy (Yearout/Davenport) The document was submitted by Dr. Caroline Miller. This policy allows students who have been out of school for three years the option to reapply for admission without having their old GPA's intact. A student could appeal for readmission and not use this policy if for some reason they wanted to keep some of their "D's" applying toward their academic completion. They would just take their chances that they could raise their GPA. UNCA is seeing students who left long ago and are being readmitted through the Enrollment Services Advisory Committee with their old GPA's intact. They are preforming very well but cannot complete graduation requirements because their GPA was in such disrepair. To apply for this policy the student would have to be out of school for three years. UNCA will have two admission policies. APC #20 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1994S. APC #21: Catalog inclusion for Jazz Styles HF 139 (Yearout/Snoyer) This document is linked to the document passed earlier this year that allowed this course to be used as a fulfillment for an ARTS lab. Previously this was a special topics course. It will now be a Catalog course. APC #21 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2094S. APC #22: Change IST designations for three Sports Medicine offerings to catalog courses (Yearout/Snoyer) This document will eliminate three IST courses and make them Catalog courses. APC #22 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2194S. APC #23: Change ST designation for Women's Health offering to a HF catalog course (Yearout/Snoyer) This document takes a Women's Health course which has been a special topics course and makes it a Catalog course. It also gives an option for fulfilling a Health and Fitness course and becomes an elective part of the Women's Studies Program. APC #23 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2294S. APC #24: Catalog change for HF general education requirements (Yearout/Snoyer) This document takes APC #23 and makes specific Catalog changes that are intelligible so that students can understand what it says. APC #24 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2394S. APC #25: Catalog change in Computer Science Curriculum (Yearout/Davenport) This document makes corrections in the Computer Science program, changes a math course, and changes a requirement for certain tracks in Computer Science to take Physics 105 which the Physics department does not intend to offer. APC #25 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2494S. APC #26: Changes in Computer Science Course Descriptions (Yearout/Davenport) APC #26 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #2594S. APC #27: New Computer Science Courses (Yearout/Davenport) This document combines and updates courses to meet new technology and the needs of the computer science students. APC #27 passed unanimously and became Senate Document # 2694S. VII. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Gwen Henderson gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. Economics Department Self Study The UPC reviewed the Economics Department Self Study and found it to be well written and very clear. The document recognized its strengths and weaknesses and made specific recommendations to keep the department in the mainstream of the University. One recommendation UPC made was that the Economics Department continue to dialogue with the Department of Management with reference to the finance course. Dr. Henderson stated that all of the Self Studies are available for faculty perusal. Freshman Experience Program Report and Update of Long Range Planning Report Dr. Henderson stated that the Freshman Experience Program Report was on the agenda because UPC received a separate document on this report. However, reference is made to this report under the Long Range Planning Report each senator received. The UPC favored the concept of a Freshman Experience but did not approve a particular structure. In response to Dr. Nickless' question, Dr. Henderson stated that Dr. Hantz had some discussion with the UPC about the Freshman Experience about two weeks ago but some members had to leave and it was not a full discussion. It was Dr. Henderson's understanding that this was discussed last year. Dr. Hantz stated that the idea of a Freshman Experience Program has been discussed repeatedly over the last few years. Most recently it was discussed in the Summer Planning Retreat, and as Asst. Vice Chancellor he was asked to take on the investigation of this as part of his responsibilities. One report was given to the APC relative to retention and how it relates to a Freshman Experience Program along with information about such programs at other institutions. A condensed version of that report was given to the UPC. Dr. Hantz stated that in both cases his goal was to alert people to the fact that planning was taking place. The plan calls for the 18-member group to work in three subgroups, consisting of 1) faculty development issues regarding Freshman Experience, 2) resource implications of the Freshman Experience, and 3) the curriculum of the Freshman Experience. Dr. Hantz previously requested and received several volunteers from APC to work on the planning process. Dr. Hantz plans to take a proposal to UPC in late September and then to APC in October. Implementation is scheduled for fall of 1995. This will involve some revision of general education. Dr. Henderson stated there has never been a formal discussion with UPC but there are UPC members who are aware of it and want it to be understood that even in the past it has been a concept. Dr. Henderson moved suspension of the Comer Rule for discussion of the Update of the Long Range Plan. Dr. Yearout seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Senate discussed diversity, enrollment projections, and a request for authorization to plan a new degree program in Multimedia Arts and Sciences. The Update of the Long Range Plan suggests that instead of listing diversity issues as subpoints under other goal areas, it might be wise to "break diversity out as a separate goal area". Under Enrollment Projections, the Long Range Plan states "the suggested revision moves the target date for 3500 undergraduates to 1998". Dr. Hantz encouraged the Senate to watch this figure so modifications can be made sooner if necessary. In response to questions, Dr. Hantz stated that eight institutions failed to reached their projected enrollments. Only two institutions missed their targets by more than UNCA. The entire UNC system also missed its enrollment projection. GA has stated that it will no longer fund under-enrolled or over-enrolled budgeted institutions after this biennium. Another problem is UNCA's success; there has been a ten percent increase in the number of graduates over last year and these fifty students will also have to be replaced. GA set UNCA's current headcount for 1994-1995 at 3381. The Senate agreed that UNCA has both a recruitment and retention problem. The Senate discussed the Request for Authorization to Plan a New Degree Program in Multimedia Arts and Sciences. In response to Dr. Mullen's question, Dr. Cochran stated that he did not know why the deadline for GA's request for a planning document had been moved up a year. Dr. Mullen stated that faculty want to discuss this and there is insufficient time to do this even by waiving the Comer Rule. Dr. Henderson agreed and stated that UPC members have questions regarding resource implications. The UPC wants it to be clear that it has given approval to plan, but only if it can be assured that this does not bring hardship to current programs at the institution, facilities presently here, and other science departments. Faculty want to be certain that this is a well thought out proposal and hope the Senate will look at this carefully. Dr. Mullen stated that he felt very uncomfortable committing to a timetable and a set of numbers when UNCA does not have a strategy to approach these issues. Dr. Hantz stated that this document is a revision to the Long Range Plan. Dr. Hantz agreed to delete the word "semester-long" and to reword the goal "a first-year experience program" on page three under Student Involvement. Dr. Hantz stated that this was the first time UNCA had followed the process in establishing a new degree program. The process calls for UNCA to secure permission to plan from GA. The Proposal to Plan states that UNCA cannot afford this from existing resources. If UNCA cannot come up with extra money from GA or grant money, the new degree program will not come to fruition. Once the planning is complete, the plan will go before the UPC, the APC, the Senate, the Board of Trustees, and to GA again. In response to Dr. Miller's question, Dr. Wilson stated that UNCA was the only institution to propose no new degree programs and GA was quite pleased because 231 new programs were proposed, none of which were going to cost any money. Dr. Wilson did not believe GA would refuse the Request to Plan a new degree program. However, GA is likely to say don't expect any new money for the program. Dr. McDonald suggested that Dr. Hantz expound upon the section #3 on Current and Projected Demand for Graduates if the new program would resolve enrollment problems. Dr. Browning asked the Senate to vote on the motion, recognizing the editorial adjustment on page three. Dr. Browning also asked that the minutes reflect that there is concern about whether UNCA can meet the long term enrollment targets; there is concern about sufficient resources with regard to the proposed Program for Planning; and there is an anticipation that the Senate will receive, through the proper channels, a structural proposal that outlines the First Year Freshman Expericence. The Senate approved the Update to the Long Range Plan with the above mentioned concerns. VIII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Mary Lynn Manns gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. - First Reading FWDC #5: Progress Report and Preliminary Proposal on the Ad Hoc Committee on Committees Ms. Manns stated that the FWDC was requesting a sense of the Senate on FWDC #5 at the April 14 Senate meeting. It is important to receive feedback from the Senate before proceeding further with the document. Ms. Manns added to the agenda FWDC #4: Policy on Extended Illness and Serious Disability for Faculty (Other than Twelve Months) at UNCA. This document will be presented for Second Reading at the next meeting. - Report on Status of People of Color & Women at the University The FWDC recommends that the recently formed Task Force consider faculty issues along with concerns raised by APC, and also IDC's concerns which were articulated in the original report. Dr. Mullen stated that the Task Force is looking at the charges given to them by the Senate, IDC and APC, as well as other concerns within the report. - Concerns Affecting Faculty Morale At the last Senate meeting Dr. Browning asked the FWDC to conduct an informal survey to determine five concerns effecting faculty morale. The Faculty Assembly is conducting a poll for the entire system. The five areas of concern identified by FWDC were: high class loads, low salaries, limited travel funding, lack of clear guidelines for expectations in teaching versus research, and unwillingness of administration to carry through with some commitments. Dr. Nickless asked if anyone discussed our poor benefits package. Dr. Kauffman stated that "unwillingness of administration to carry through with some commitments" was so vague she wondered how it would help the Faculty Assembly. Ms. Manns stated that this was a general theme expressed by faculty. - Elections Elections will begin after spring break. Mr. Ken Wilson with Insitutional Research will be out of town during part of the election process. The Committee Preference Form has been mailed to faculty. IX. Old Business There was no Old Business. X. New Business There was no New Business. XI. Adjournment Dr. Browning adjourned the meeting at 5:20 pm. The next regularly scheduled Senate meeting will be held on April 14. Each of the three chancellor candidates will meet with the Senate. Dr. Browning urged Senate members to attend. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Mary Lynn Manns