THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, February 9, 1995 Senate Members: S. Browning, P. Caulfield, C. Goedsche, D. Howard, C. James, N. Kauffman, B. Larson, P. Laughon, P. McDonald, M. L. Manns, B. Miller, P. Snoyer, B. Yearout, A. White-Carter, L. Wilson Excused: K. Whatley Visitors: S. Johnson, H. Kelley, D. Lisnerski, J. McGlinn, B. Modlin, B. Sensabaugh, D. Van Engelen I. Call to Order Dr. Browning welcomed senators and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:21 pm. Dr. Whatley was unable to attend the meeting. Announcements The annual UNCA Academic Leadership award presentations will be held May 4, 1995 at 7:30 pm in the Grove Park Inn. Departments that want to present an award at the ceremony should contact Nina East as soon as possible. Service Awards Dr. Browning presented the State Award Jewelry to Sandra Gravely as part of her ten year service award. Chancellor Reed on WCQS Chancellor Reed was a guest on WCQS' program Conversations last night. Senators agreed that Dr. Reed did an excellent job of representing the University and responding to questions in an unscripted public setting. Dr. Reed was described as being patient, articulate, gracious and firm, as well as having the wisdom to say "I don't know" when appropriate. Faculty are encouraged to send Chancellor Reed information on how UNCA serves the community. Ms. Modlin stressed the importance of also sending this information to the Public Information Office. II. Administrative Report Dr. Larry Wilson gave the Administrative Report. Enrollment Although UNCA's FTE increased one-percent over last year, the annual FTE is 50 below the 2% window. The rumor is that the system as a whole did not make its enrollment target for the second straight year. No one knows what, if any, action the legislature may take to reclaim funds. Dr. Wilson thanked those who worked to increase enrollment by one percent. The 1995 enrollment target will remain 2620 FTE. Freshman applications have increased 15%, while acceptances have increased 28%. The student profile is essentially the same as last year. Minority student applications have increased 100%. Acceptances of African Americans have increased 110%; acceptances of all minorities have increased 98%. For the first time in four years, UNCA is ahead on applications from WNC by 2%. Out-of-state applications have increased 32%, while Transfer applications have decreased 12%. Sixty-eight Transfer students who came to UNCA in the last eight months did not return this semester. Enrollment is also affected by increasing numbers of graduates. UNCA's increasing graduation rate is a good sign, but works against holding enrollment figures. Officials are hoping for a Freshman class of 425 vs. 397 this past year. One constraining factor in meeting enrollment is the lack of residence hall space. Although a new dorm was recently completed, there is still a 100-student waiting list. Plans are underway to break ground on a new residence hall late this spring. The dorm will be located near the newly completed dorm. Budget This is the first year of a biennium. The General Administration has had an extraordinary number of requests from legislators on special items. There appears to be some concern about the number of out-of-state students in the University system. The Senate discussed the importance of having out-of- state students and the diversity they bring to campus. Renovation Budget The Renovation Budget designated funds to: complete the Kellogg Estate, replace the air conditioning system in Owen Hall, install a new boiler in Justice Gymnasium, conduct some work in Rhoades' sidetower, and air condition the top floor of Phillips Hall on the west side. Dean of Faculty Development Dr. Wilson has received six nominations and two applications for the Dean of Faculty Development position. The deadline for applications and nominations is next week. Inclement Weather Policy Dr. Wilson referred to page 49 in the Faculty Handbook on UNCA's inclement weather policy. A copy of the policy will be sent to all faculty. Several students contend that even though UNCA was open, a lot of classes did not meet because faculty did not attend. This problem will be discussed with chairs and directors. III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Shirley Browning gave the Executive Committee Report. University Relations Annual Report Ms. Beverly Cutter Modlin, Vice Chancellor of University Relations, distributed a report in advance of the meeting in order to discuss development. Ms. Modlin discussed the effects of the NEH Challenge Grant. Although the NEH Challenge Grant was a huge success and fostered volunteer and community relations, it also depleted the prospect pool for large gifts to professorships; for this reason Ms. Modlin predicted a decrease in the annual fund. After consultations with the BOT, Foundation members and volunteers, University officials have concluded that UNCA is not ready for a Capital Campaign. Ms. Modlin stressed the need to increase the development staff in order to better serve the University. There is untapped donor interest in scholarships or other kinds of faculty development; Ms. Modlin explained the prudence of targeting scholarships as the next development thrust. The Senate discussed merit, need-based, and minority scholarships. UNCA has some of the most talented, sought after students, but also the lowest average family income of any of the system's historically white institutions. Ms. Modlin suggested that the University Relations Faculty Advisory Committee serve as a basis for looking at the various types of scholarships and asked that students and representatives from the Senate also be involved in scholarship discussions. Dr. Browning asked Ms. Modlin to put the request in writing. The Senate thanked Ms. Modlin for the informative report. Budget Committee The Budget Committee continues to work on a pamphlet which will explain the budget process and clarify definitions, such as "restricted" and "unrestricted funds." Faculty Assembly Dr. Browning reported on a recent Faculty Assembly meeting. A large portion of the meeting concerned grievance procedures, faculty personnel problems, and the importance of following policy statements. Fortunately, UNCA has a clear delineation between hearings and grievance committees and follows policy statements set out in The Code and Tenure documents. The Chair of the Board of Governors, an attorney, recommended arbitration and mediation over going to court. He expressed a great concern that teaching is the primary emphasis, yet many institutions reward only scholarship. He also has a problem with the University saying it wants to hold down tuition costs, yet continuing to request fee increases. The Assembly passed a Resolution requesting the President to encourage the chancellors, and in turn the appropriate officials on each campus, to make environmental sensitivity and ecological balance and preservation a very high priority in all building and master planning having to do with the physical components of the university system. The Assembly passed a Resolution requesting the President to seek an increase in State contributions to the family-coverage health plan. Apparently UNC has the lowest contribution to that type of plan of virtually any school in the country by a large proportion. The State contribution is about 20% and the mean around the country is about 60%. A Resolution that did not pass requested the President to request that the chancellors of each institution see to it that more resources were devoted to the delivery of Freshman and Sophomore instruction, the Freshman and Sophomore curricula, and the general education curricula. The Resolution was hotly debated and went back to committee. Vice Chancellor Carroll felt it was an extremely unwise move of the Assembly not to have passed the resolution. IV. Student Government Report No report. V. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bob Yearout reported for the Academic Policies Committee. Awarding Department Distinction At the last Senate meeting the APC was charged to go back and look again at the issue of awarding "Department Distinction" to a non-degree granting program. Dr. Yearout distributed a status report which did not require Senate action. The committee's findings will be forwarded to all department chairs and program directors for formal input. If determined appropriate, the issue of changing the definition of Departmental Distinction may be presented in a special meeting of the full Faculty for vote. First Reading The following documents were distributed for first reading: APC #16: Catalog Changes in Environmental Studies APC #20: Course Changes in Political Science APC #21: Change in Political Science Curriculum APC #23: Modification of Audit Classification Second Reading: The following documents were considered for second reading: APC # 8: Catalog Changes in Education (Yearout/Miller). APC #8 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1095S. APC #11: Accounting and Management Minor (Yearout/Miller). APC 11# passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1195S. APC #12: Catalog Changes in Atmospheric Sciences (Yearout/Miller). APC #12 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1295S. APC #13: Curriculum Proposal - Economics (Yearout/Miller). APC #13 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1395S. APC #14: Catalog Changes in Sociology Course Titles (Yearout/Goedsche). APC #14 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1495S. APC #15: Anthropology as a Social Science General Education Requirement (Yearout/Goedsche). The Senate discussed whether having both social science general education courses within the same department would pose a problem. The Senate determined that this was a special case as Sociology and Anthropology are two distinct disciplines within the same department. APC #15 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1595S. APC #17: Deletion of PSYC 316 (Yearout/Miller). Dr. Yearout explained that APC #8, just passed by the Senate, makes PSYC 316 redundant. APC #17 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1695S. APC #19: Catalog Changes in Education - Social Studies (Yearout/Miller). APC #19 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1795S. VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Bill Miller stated that the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council was unable to meeting Wednesday and had no report. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Mary Lynn Manns gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. Second Reading The following document was considered for Second Reading: FWDC #4: Faculty Disability (Manns/Caulfield) Dr. Howard and Dr. Wilson had reservations concerning several portions of FWDC #4. After a lengthy discussion, the document was amended six times. Dr. Howard moved to amend by deleting the passage beginning with the word "year" on page two, section II, sentence three. The motion to amend was seconded by Dr. Kauffman and passed by the Senate. Dr. Kauffman made a motion to amend by inserting the following sentence at the end of page two, section II: "This policy does not preclude requesting leaves for non-medical or serious disability reasons." The motion to amend was seconded by Ms. Snoyer and passed by the Senate. Dr. Kauffman made a motion to amend by rewording the next to last sentence of page two, section II, as follows: "Approved, but not used, leave shall not accumulate nor be carried forward from academic year to academic year." The motion to amend was seconded by Ms. Manns and passed by the Senate. After discussion, Dr. Kauffman made a motion to amend by replacing the first five lines on page one as follows: "Members of UNCA faculty entitled to benefits may apply under this policy to help them maintain pay status during the sixty-day waiting period for the short-term Disability Insurance Program provided by the State of North Carolina." Dr. Yearout seconded the motion to amend, which the Senate passed. Dr. Kauffman made a motion to amend by deleting the words "...and consulting the Personnel Department." on page four, paragraph one, sentence one. The motion to amend was seconded by Dr. Miller and passed by the Senate. An editorial change was made to replace "Personnel Department" with "Human Resources Department" where appropriate, and to make a typographical correction. Dr. Miller made a motion to amend by replacing the phrase "from time to time" on page five, section VII., with "..every three years from the date of approval or sooner if necessary,...". The motion to amend was seconded by Dr. Kauffman and passed by the Senate. Dr. Howard made a motion to table FWDC #4 until the March 9 Senate meeting; the secretary will send the revised document to senators and Chancellor Reed for review, and it will be considered for Second Reading on March 9. The motion was seconded by Dr. Miller and passed by the Senate. VIII. Old Business There was no Old Business. IX. New Business Campus Security Dr. Yearout stated that three incidents of either stalking or sexual harassment have been reported to him since the beginning of school. The incidents involved either student-to- student or people from off campus-to-student. None of the incidents involved faculty or administration and all were handled correctly through various agencies. Dr. Yearout's main concern is students' security while on campus; this involves security, lighting, and availability of parking late at night. Dr. Lisnerski agreed that this had become a problem and knew of two individuals who had taken out restraining orders with security. Another student dropped out of school. The Senate expressed concern over these incidents and agreed that something should be done. Dr. Wilson will discuss this problem with the Vice Chancellor's Council. X. Adjournment Dr. Browning adjourned the meeting at 5:40 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Mary Lynn Manns