University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, December 2, 1993 Senate Members: S. Browning, F. Davenport, P. Caulfield, M. Gillum, C Goedsche, G. Henderson, C. James, P. McDonald, M. L. Manns, B. Miller, D. Mullen, P. Nickless, P. Snoyer, B. Yearout, L. Wilson Excused: A. Wengrow Visitors: K. Brantley, T. Cochran, A. Coyne, A. Hantz, N. Kauffman, G. Kormanik, J. Stevens, H. Quinn I.A. Call to Order Dr. Browning, Faculty Senate Chair, welcomed faculty and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:23 pm. Dr. Browning revised the agenda to accommodate Dr. Cochran as he could not stay for the entire meeting. B. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the October 14, 1993, meeting were approved as written. C. - Second Reading EC Document #1: Proposed Academic Calendar for 1994-95 Dr. Cochran explained three changes in the proposed calendar: 1) evening classes on Labor Day, 2) shortening of winter break, and, 3) elimination of the second five-week summer session term. Several senators stated that classes would be disrupted if the second five-week summer session was eliminated, particularly courses in physics, chemistry, and foreign language. Objections were also raised to shortening winter break as faculty use this time to prepare papers and grants. Many senators received negative feedback from faculty regarding these two issues. After discussion Dr. Browning moved approval of the document. The proposed document failed for lack of a second. There was no opposition to having evening classes on Labor Day. In response to Dr. Henderson's question, Dr. Wilson stated that the proposal to shorten winter break was two fold; the shorter break allowed time to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday and students have requested a shorter break for the last two years. II. Report on the Chancellor's Search Mr. Jay Banks was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. Dr. Browning reported that the search committee has held several publicized meetings for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community. Members of the search committee are currently reviewing files. Dr. Browning has reviewed 74 application files and there are 40 additional nomination files to consider. Dr. Browning estimated a 15% yield rate on the application files. Discussion revealed that faculty and staff in Karpen Hall had not received the memo and criteria for the chancellorship from Mr. Banks. Dr. Browning asked senators to contact him if they had not received the mailing by Monday. III. Administrative Report Dr. Larry Wilson gave the Administration Report. - Response to Minority Affairs Report Dr. Wilson gave the administrative response to the Report on the Status of People of Color and Women at UNCA prepared by the Minority Affairs Commission and dated April 26, 1993. Dr. Wilson stated that the overview of the report is that there are too few colleagues in various categories of minority or people of color, and in many cases there are fewer women than he would like to have. Dr. Wilson provided comparative data with other historically white institutions within the UNC system. Dr. Wilson has requested an update from the Administrative African American Task Force established two years ago. Each administrative office looks at various employment patterns and develops action plans which are monitored. Dr. Wilson stressed that institutionally UNCA has to ask "what is the extent of our commitment, how hard are we willing to work to bring about diversity, and how much are we willing to pay for it?". Since the report was released, an equity study of the physical plant found no violations. Dr. Wilson acknowledged that UNCA has had difficulty in enrolling minority students; last spring UNCA accepted 77 minority students yet only 12 students in this group enrolled at UNCA. The students who selected other institutions received very attractive scholarship and/or financial aid offers. UNCA is striving to increase financial aid for minority students; funds for financial aid are not increasing. Dr. Nickless suggested recruiting local minority students who are at risk and turning them into college potential rather than recruiting really bright students. Dr. Wilson stated that 50 ninth-grade students were selected in the Search for Excellence program about five years ago and it has been only slightly successful. Dr. Henderson stated that several factors are at play; the pool is small and many black students want to go away to school; institutions need to be aggressive in obtaining scholarships; also, many wish to attend historically black colleges and universities. Dr. Henderson stressed that alumnus can be one of UNCA's strongest sales people. UNCA needs to develop a climate that will nurture these students so that they will feel so comfortable that they will attract other students. Dr. Miller stated that the Center for Creative Retirement is starting a tracking program with middle school students and is targeting some at risk students who would have a mentor to counsel them through high school. Individuals who remain in the program and graduate receive some sort of college scholarship. Dr. Miller also suggested targeting industry for scholarships to encourage minorities in particular disciplines. In response to Dr. Caulfield's question, Dr. Wilson stated that UNCA is attempting to put together a coalition with A-B Tech and the county and city school systems as a comprehensive approach across the county to address some of these issues. Dr. Goedsche expressed concern that the report indicated that no African Americans worked in the category of Grounds and Labor, which is similar but higher paid than the Housekeeping category. Dr. Wilson stated that the information in the report was incorrect and that the category only included three people. Dr. Nickless stated that most of the "M & O" personnel are white while most of the Housekeeping staff are African American and the higher paid categories are predominately white. Dr. Wilson agreed with Dr. Nickless and stated that the Personnel Department has made a conscience effort to try to increase the hiring in those categories and hired three new people this fall. In response to Dr. Mullen's question regarding changes in scholarship procedures, Dr. Wilson stated that the chancellor would have the overview for changes in scholarship procedures and the Enrollment Services Committee deals with scholarships in general terms. The challenge seems to be to get additional scholarship money; if this is not possible then the challenge is how to reallocate current scholarship money. Dr. Goedsche asked if the administration had addressed the issue of women who predominate in the non-tenure track of Lecturer. Dr. Wilson stated that the four people in the Lecturer category were asked if they wished to go on a tenure track and there seemed to be mixed opinions regarding this issue. Dr. Wilson addressed this complex issue with the Tenure Committee nearly two years ago. - Board of Trustees Meeting The Board of Trustees discussed the building projects recently approved in the bond referendum; UNCA's projects included the physical education addition, the Conference Center, and the Arboretum. President Spangler wishes all the institutions to put the bond issue construction projects on the fastest possible track. At the same time, the administration is eager to complete Ramsey Library. Dr. Wilson is concerned that the library may be placed behind the bond issue projects. Money for the library was available in July, but official notification was received only three weeks ago. Construction could begin next spring. The dining hall construction continues to be one to two months behind schedule; the new dormitory is on schedule and should be open next fall. The Board of Trustees is very interested in the Highland Hospital property but only $2M has been allocated to purchase the property. There seems to be considerable interest on campus in acquiring the property. The Kellogg Estate located near Hendersonville is an item of continuing interest and could be used as a small retreat or conference center. The estate includes approximately 45 acres and is located on South Rugby Road near the airport. The External Affairs Committee of the Board has set fundraising for the National Endowment for the Humanities Teaching Professorship as their highest priority for next year. The Capital Campaign for the university has been postponed until a new chancellor is appointed, with the exception of raising money for the NEH professorship. The Board approved all personnel requests. The major issue is planning for projects to be submitted to the legislative session in the spring. It was clear that the Conference Center and the Kellogg property will be on the list submitted to the legislature. IV. Executive Committee Report There was no Executive Committee report. Faculty Assembly Dr. John Stevens gave the Faculty Assembly report and distributed several documents. There continues to be a lot of interest and discussion in the Faculty Assembly on teaching. This interest was precipitated by a year old report from the NC Center for Public Policy Research entitled "How the Universities in the UNC System Identify and Reward Excellent Teaching". Faculty may contact Dr. Wilson or Dr. Stevens if they wish to read the fifteen page summary. Included in the packet of information distributed to Senators was the Select Studies and Reports Mandated by the 1993 Session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly has asked the Board of Governors to establish procedures to impose a 25% tuition surcharge on students who take more than 140 credit hours. Regarding teaching, GA has asked the BOG to establish a legislative study commission on the status of education at the University of North Carolina to study undergraduate education, including teaching, rewards and incentives, evaluations of teaching, academic support systems for students, minimum standards for college course work, and student contact with tenured faculty. Many faculty are concerned that the legislature is micro-managing the universities. Similarly, the Board of Governors has put together a joint committee and produced a report dated Sept. 10, 1993 entitled "Tenure and Teaching in the University of North Carolina - a Joint Report". This report details the evaluation of teaching and fostering excellence in teaching. The BOG is spelling out details in terms of how insitutions should evaluate teaching. Dr. Roy Carroll worked with the Joint Committee and educated the committee on how things operate in an academic community; the University is thankful for what Dr. Carroll has done in working with the Board of Governors. It is a very carefully written document, but raises some questions. Administrative Memorandum 338 dated Sept. 28, 1993, from President Spangler's office to the chancellors, is on Tenure and Teaching in the University of North Carolina. The memorandum contains a series of recommendations including the review of institutional mission statements, tenure policies and criteria, personnel decisions and, where necessary, revise them so as to give explicit recognition to the primary importance of teaching in the university. The memorandum also advocates establising a statewide system of teaching awards to be designated as the BOG Awards for Excellence in Teaching. In the Faculty Assembly, the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee has been asked to look at ways to evaluate teaching, and another committee has been asked to look into the reward structure of teaching. Other items distributed concerned the Teaching Portfolio and an article from Change Magazine entitled "The Reexamination of Faculty Priorities" written by Russ Egerton. The next American Association of Higher Education conference is scheduled for January 23, 1994. Dr. Browning stressed that if each campus does not have an explicit definition of faculty work responsibility in an official document then either the legislature or the BOG will define faculty workload for the campuses. This was a very clear message. Last year one committee in the legislature was one vote short from putting university faculty on the identical work schedule of public school teachers. If this passed, it would have come out of committee for legislative review. Dr. Stevens stated that the recent bond issue was very close and the public is questioning previously unchallenged areas. The Faculty Assembly is in a defensive posture and needs to consider things previously taken for granted. Dr. Wilson stessed the importance of posting office hours. Several students have complained about this and, relating to Dr. Browning's point, this is a way of documenting time faculty commit to the University. V. Student Government Report Ms. Heather Quinn reported for the Student Government Association. - Judicial Code The SGA is working on an amendment to the Judicial Code that was suggested by a committee organized by Dr. Iovacchini. VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Gwen Henderson gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. - First Reading The following documents were distributed for First Reading: IDC #1: Amendment to General Education Guidelines from the Department of Mass Communication IDC #2: Changes in University Planning Council (Revision of SD1385F and SD3581F) VII. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bob Yearout reported for the Academic Policies Committee. - First Reading The following documents were distributed for First Reading: APC # 5: Catalog Changes in Mathematics APC # 8: Curriculum Revisions in Psychology APC # 9: Psychology Social Science General Education Proposal APC #10: Psychology Competency Proposal APC #11: Catalog Changes in Biology APC #12: Catalog Changes in Atmospheric Sciences APC #13: Mass Communication Social Science General Education Proposal - Second Reading Dr. Yearout moved approval of APC #1: Human Subjects Policy, and Dr. Miller seconded the motion. APC #1 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0393F. VIII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Mary Lynn Manns gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. Faculty Development The Faculty Welfare and Development Committee met with the University Research Council, the University Teaching Council, and Dr. Wilson on October 20th to discuss the possibility of merging the three committees. On November 8th the Chairs of the three committees met after surveying members of their respective committees. The committees will meet again on December 10th to discuss their findings with Dr. Wilson. Plans are also underway to encourage communication between the three committees. - First Reading Ms. Manns distributed the following document for First Reading: FWDC #1: UNCA Policy on Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest IX. Announcements Dr. Browning stated that President Spangler had responded to a recent Faculty Senate letter regarding the chancellor situation and Senate members had received a copy of his letter. Dr. Browning asked the Executive Committee to remain for a brief meeting at the close of the Senate meeting. X. Old Business There was no Old Business. XI. New Business Dr. Henderson thanked faculty and staff for their concern since the recent passing of her father. XII. Adjournment Dr. Browning adjourned the meeting at 5:05 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Mary Lynn Manns