THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, January 26, 1995 Senate Members: S. Browning, P. Caulfield, C. Goedsche, D. Howard, C. James, N. Kauffman, B. Larson, P. Laughon, P. McDonald, M. L. Manns, P. Snoyer, K. Whatley, B. Yearout, A. White-Carter, L. Wilson Excused: B. Miller Visitors: F. Davenport, P. Downes, C. Hall, J. Jordan, E. Katz, H. Kelley, G. Moses, K. Ray, C. Reed, P. Reed, B. Sensabaugh, C. Small, J. Taylor I. Call to Order Dr. Browning welcomed senators and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:25 pm. Dr. Miller had a professional commitment in Washington, D.C. and was unable to attend the meeting. Approval of Minutes The minutes of December 8, 1994 were approved as distributed (Snoyer/Larson). II. Administrative Report Chancellor Reed and Dr. Larry Wilson gave the Administrative Report. Enrollment Chancellor Reed reported that UNCA had a headcount enrollment of 3060 for Spring 1995 and 2443 FTE. This represents a one-half percent increase from Spring '94 enrollment. The annual FTE is 50 below the 2% window. To understand what this might mean, Dr. Reed explained that one FTE = $5700, and UNCA's shortfall of 50 FTE = $285K. Dr. Reed did not know if UNCA would be asked to return money, but stated it would probably depend on how the entire UNC system fared and how the new legislators reacted to the enrollment shortfall. Dr. Wilson reported on 1995 enrollment applications and acceptances. Next year's enrollment target will remain 2620 FTE. Compared to last year at this time, Fall 1995 admission applications have increased 15 percent and the acceptance rate has remained constant. Quality measures, such as SAT scores and rank-in-class, are also comparable. However, there has been a dramatic increase in minority student interest. Minority student applications have increased 50 percent and acceptances are up 250 percent for next year. UNCA's students who audit courses pay full tuition and fees; officials may create a new category to allow UNCA to count audit students as FTEs. This issue will be discussed at the next APC meeting. Mr. John White recently learned that UNCA leads the State in Freshman application increases with 17.6 percent; NC State had the second highest increase with 11 percent. New Student Survey Results Dr. Wilson gave the following highlights from the New Student Survey Results compiled by Institutional Research: The percent of new Freshman intending to graduate from UNCA increased from 35% to 46% over the last five years; 74% of Transfer students enrolled with the current intent of graduating at UNCA. Factors reported by students as important reasons for enrolling at UNCA: (1) academic reputation, (2) small school environment, (3) location, (4) choice of major, and (5) cost. The number of students coming to UNCA who listed our liberal arts emphasis as "very important" has increased from 15% to 33% over the last five years. Approximately 47% of the entering Freshman class are first-generation college students; 31% have family incomes of $30K or less. This is the lowest average family income of any of the historically white institutions in the system. UNCA has a talented student body to whom costs are not trivial; 54% of our new Freshman are employed an average of 16 hours per week and 67% of Transfer students work an average of 24 hours a week. National Conference of Undergraduate Research Dr. Wilson reminded Senators that an extra two-day no-class period was factored into the 1995-96 academic calendar as UNCA will be hosting the National Conference of Undergraduate Research on April 18-19. Many people will be called on to help host this group of 1500 to 2000. New Course Schedule Grid A revised course schedule grid will be mailed to department chairs and program directors. III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Shirley Browning gave the Executive Committee Report. The Executive Committee has met to structure the agenda for the spring semester. APC is no longer accepting new documents for the upcoming catalog. Dean of Faculty Development Position As temporary assistant vice chancellor for faculty development, Dr. Peg Downes reported on the proposed Dean of Faculty Development position. Dr. Downes stated that last year the UNC Board of Governors mandated (Administrative Memo 338) that "[i]t is the board's clear expectation that an institution which does not have a special center for teaching and learning should plan to create such a center as soon as possible." In response to the mandate, UNCA is creating a Faculty Development and Teaching Resource Center, as well as a Dean of Faculty Development position. The Dean will be appointed by the VCAA in consultation with representatives from the UTC, URC, and FWDC. The Dean will hold a new, fulltime position under a 9- or 10-month contract. Initially the position will be offered as a 3-year, renewable appointment. The salary will be appropriate to commitment of time and increase in responsibility. The Dean will continue to teach one course per semester, and will be replaced in his or her department by a fulltime, term-appointment assistant professor. A private office in the newly renovated library will be provided, as well as a part-time secretary. Although the Dean's responsibilities are yet to be finalized, and will, in fact, continue to evolve, the Dean will be engaged in devising and recommending plans, policies, and actions that will effectively improve faculty opportunities for professional development. The Dean will report directly to the VCAA. Dr. Downes stated that the following faculty also worked on the proposal last summer: Ed Katz as UTC chair, Mary Lynn Manns as FWDC chair, Linda Nelms as UNCA's Faculty Assembly Representative, and George Yates as URC chair. Discussion followed concerning budget, whether the person would be someone currently on campus, criteria for selection, review at the end of year one, and whether working Board members would receive credit for service responsibilities. Several senators questioned the use of "Dean" rather than "director" or "asst. vice chancellor" as a title. Senators were asked to e- mail further suggestions to Dr. Wilson by Monday. IV. Student Government Report Mr. Jay Jordan reported for the Student Government Association. The SGA is considering a Student Bill of Rights, and is concerned about the NC tuition surcharge and security telephones. Homecoming will be held Feb. 10-11. The SGA plans to advertise the Homecoming Dance as attendance has been down in recent years. The new parking deck has alleviated parking problems somewhat. However, the addition of a new 120-bed dorm will cause additional parking difficulties. In response to Dr. James' question, Dr. Yearout stated that he met with members of the SGA concerning the exam schedule last September. Members of the SGA have not contacted Dr. Yearout since the meeting. Mr. Jordan stated that Charles Ewing and Beth Daniels were working on the schedule. Dr. Browning reminded the SGA that Dr. Yearout was the Senate contact person on this matter. V. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bob Yearout reported for the Academic Policies Committee. Dr. Yearout asked APC members to remain after the Senate adjourned for a brief meeting. First Reading The following documents were distributed for first reading: APC # 8: Catalog Changes in Education APC #11: Accounting and Management Minor APC #12: Catalog Changes in Atmospheric Sciences APC #13: Curriculum Proposal - Economics APC #14: Catalog Changes in Sociology Course Titles APC #15: Anthropology as a Social Science General Education Requirement APC #17: Deletion of PSYC 316 APC #19: Catalog Changes in Education - Social Studies Second Reading: The following documents were considered for Second Reading: APC #4: Minor in Sports Medicine (Yearout/Snoyer) Dr. Browning stated that the description listed 19 hours, when in fact a student has to take 19 hours plus an additional 13 hours in Biology. To make the description clear to students and advisors, Dr. Yearout made the following motion to amend APC #4: "Students pursuing a Sports Medicine Minor should pay particular attention to Health and Fitness course prerequisites to ensure fulfillment of their major degree requirements within the minimum number of hours." The motion to amend was seconded by Dr. Kauffman and passed by the Senate. APC #4 passed unanimously as amended and became Senate Document #0795S. APC #5: Expansion in Health and Fitness (Yearout/Snoyer). APC #5 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0895S. APC #9: Changes in the Industrial and Engineering Management Curriculum (Yearout/Kauffman). APC #9 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0995S. APC #10: Awarding Departmental Distinction APC #10 was the APC study with recommendations presented at the last Senate meeting. After discussion the document was given an APC number and it was considered for first reading. Under second reading, Dr. Yearout moved that the recommendations of the APC contained in this document be approved. Dr. Howard seconded the motion. Dr. Charlie Reed, chair of the Education Department, urged the Senate to reject APC #10, stating that this document actually would say that the students in teacher education had not achieved the same academic honors as students in other academic disciplines. Also, that UNCA is devaluing the Teacher Education students, the Teacher Education program, and the Teacher Education faculty. In effect, APC #10 is saying that UNCA faculty does not believe that the education of teachers has the same institutional priority as the education of students in other academic disciplines. Dr. Reed stated that another concern was that this document reaffirms a public perception that UNCA does not value its Teacher Education program. An evaluation of the Teaching Fellows Program completed last spring resulted in similar concerns. Dr. Reed quoted from a document she received from Tom Lambeth, Chair of the NC Teaching Fellows Commission, under an item on the Teaching Fellows Review called Institutional Priority, which said "needs improvement". While UNC-Asheville demonstrates a strong commitment to the Teaching Fellows program through university-wide participation in the program, support of the Cambridge Summer Program and, most recently, efforts to house the program office in an appropriately-sized and accessible space, the Commission is concerned about the priority placed by the Institution on the training of its teachers. The liberal arts approach to training teachers is well understood by the Commission -- the cause for concern lies not with the students' academic preparation to become educators but the Institutional attitude toward certification. Students often graduate from the Institution and then return later to complete their student teaching requirement to achieve certification, as if it were an "add- on," not an integral component of preparation." Dr. Reed stated that she has heard this concern in meetings across the state and also from parents who send their children to UNCA. Dr. Reed asked the Senate to return the document to APC and ask them to consider each program's request for distinction separately, so that the education faculty would have an opportunity to make their case to APC. Ms. Snoyer stated that UNCA has to find a way to acknowledge those students who are truly distinctive, even beyond their department, and asked if a distinction in education would be significantly different from giving a departmental distinction. Dr. Yearout stated that APC feels that Education should follow the same procedure as Honors and Research Scholars; that is, they are recommended by their academic degree-granting department, and the application is considered by a Board. The Research Scholars are considered by the Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Board. The criteria would be identical in a Minor of Sports Medicine with Health and Fitness (non-degree granting). Ms. Snoyer argued that Education is a certification granting agency with State and National standards and NTE and is significantly different than a 24 hour minor. Dr. Laughon stated that APC had not seen a proposal from Education as to what the criteria would be; the criteria in an early draft were very different than the criteria other departments use. Dr. Whatley stated that the Education department holds a unique position at UNCA in terms of its internal relationship on campus and in terms of its relationship to the State of NC. One of UNCA's obligations is the education of teachers, and if there are students who are distinguished in Education, then there should be a way to indicate that on their diploma and at graduation. Also, Education should have the opportunity to present a proposal through whatever mechanism other departments use. Dr. James stressed that the intent was not to devalue Education; APC was not told to change the rules, rather to study the rules and come back with a recommendation, a generalized rule that would cover departmental distinction in any non-degree granting program, not just for Education. Dr. Browning stated that APC was responding to a faculty request made last spring. There is concern about whether a person could get distinction in Education and might not get distinction in the major; concern over whether there is consistent performance that would warrant the recognition. Ms. Snoyer suggested these programs be dealt with individually rather than using a generalized rule. Dr. Howard made a motion to return APC #10 to the committee to consider a policy for awarding "departmental distinction" to non-degree awarding departments and to realize that non-degree awarding programs are an entirely different issue to be considered separately. Dr. Caulfield seconded the motion. Dr. Yearout reminded senators that the APC passed this document unanimously. After further discussion, the motion to return APC #10 back to committee with instruction passed by a vote of seven to six. VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Kathy Whatley gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. Master Plan Ms. Snoyer served on the Master Plan Steering Committee and observed three presentations of the campus Master Plan given on December 19-20. The Sasaki Committee from Boston, MA has been invited to help UNCA develop a master plan and time frame for obtaining the plan. The entire process normally takes twelve months to complete. Dr. Whatley encouraged faculty involvement. Budget Primer Committee The Budget Primer Committee has held three meetings and plans to complete the initial draft of the budget primer by the end of spring semester. Faculty are asked to forward budget questions to a committee member. Fiber Optic Network Plan Mr. Kern Parker, Director of the Computer Center, met with the UPC and outlined funding difficulties. The UPC voted unanimously to support the Fiber Optic Network Plan and to recommend it for funding at the highest priority level available, both from State funds and from any other creative funding sources officials could find. Literature and Language Self Study The UPC anticipates completion of the Literature and Language Self Study in the next two weeks. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Mary Lynn Manns gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. Teaching Awards Selection Committee The FWDC presented a slate of faculty members to serve on the Teaching Awards Selection Committee, as requested by the Senate. Ms. Manns moved approval of the slate; Dr. Goedsche seconded the motion. The Senate approved the following slate: Joyce Dorr (Arts), Gwen Henderson (Professional Programs), Dwight Mullen (Social Sciences), Ileana Grams (Humanities), John Bernhart (Natural Sciences), and Peter Caulfield (FWDC member). Ms. Manns reminded senators that this list would be amended if a person on the slate was nominated for an award in the next few days. First Reading FWDC #4: Policy on Extended Illness and Serious Disability for Faculty VIII. Old Business Dr. Caulfield distributed a revised version of SD0294F: Professional Responsibilities of UNCA Faculty (FWDC #1), as requested by the Senate. The revision was accepted as a friendly amendment. IX. New Business Dr. Wilson distributed a list of peer institutions which UNCA submitted to General Administration. X. Adjournment Dr. Browning reminded Senators of the February 9 Senate meeting and adjourned the meeting at 5:25 pm. APC members remained for a brief meeting. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Mary Lynn Manns