University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, April 25, 1996 Senate Members: S. Browning, T. Dohse, G. Henderson, C. James, N. Kauffman, B. Larson, P. Laughon, M.L. Manns, P. McDonald, E. Katz, K. Moorhead, R. Tynes, A. Wengrow, K. Whatley, A. White-Carter, T. Cochran Visitors: L. Franklin I. Call to Order Dr. Browning welcomed senators and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:20 pm. II. Administrative Report VCAA Cochran gave the administrative report. Master Planners Visit Dr. Cochran reported on the master planners' preliminary master plan. Important issues such as parking, academic needs, and aesthetic aspects were addressed. The preliminary plan would cost $80-100M over a ten-year lifespan. The planners will return in a month with priorities and sequencing information. The Conference Center site has been shifted across the street on the corner between Broadway and Weaver Blvd. Personnel All hiring has concluded with the exception of one opportunity in the Psychology Department. $25K was spent on recruiting this year. Tenure and promotion announcements went out last Friday. Legislative Mandated Reports The Chief Academic Officers will meet next Monday. At least twelve reports mandated by the legislature are on the agenda. NCUR Dr. Cochran thanked Pam Laughon and others involved in the successful NCUR event recently held on campus. III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Browning gave the Executive Committee report. VCAA Cochran has approved all Senate documents passed thus far this year. Dr. Browning received three documents from Vice President Little which will require input from campus faculty and administrators in the coming months. The documents include the BOG plan for rewarding faculty teaching, the BOG's study of incentive funding, and a plan to expand educational opportunity. The Executive Committee will ensure that a timely response is given. IV. Student Government Report There was no report. V. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bruce Larson reported for the Academic Policies Committee. First and Second Reading: Dr. Larson moved to waive the Comer Rule in order to consider APC 56: Alternate Schedule. Dr. McDonald seconded the motion, which the Senate unanimously approved. The document was then considered for Second Reading (Larson/Kauffman.) This document allows all classes to meet on days when classes begin late. Dr. Larson made the following editorial additions: "4:30-5:45 and 4:40-5:40. Evening classes are not affected by a late start." APC 56 (Alternate Schedule) passed unanimously and became Senate Document 5996S. General Education Special Topics Courses At the last Senate meeting the APC was charged with developing a response to clarify matters in relation to General Education Special Topics Courses. The concern arose in the context of a proposal from the Mathematics Department to offer MATH 174: Earth Algebra, as a General Education course. Dr. Larson distributed APC's response and read a portion of the recommended policies and procedures. 1) Since APC is "responsible for reviewing courses suitable for general education," no course may count toward general education unless it has been reviewed by APC and acted upon by the Faculty Senate; 2) No mention is made of Special Topics courses in SD3684. Consequently, in the absence of information to the contrary, every Special Topics course which would count for general education must meet the same criteria and follow the same procedures as any other general education course; 3) The issue of Special Topics General Education courses arose because the Mathematics General Education requirements are written very broadly. Consequently, it is suggested that the next APC consider revising the Mathematics General Education requirements. This will be an agenda item for next year. Thanks given to Bruce Larson for service on APC Dr. Kauffman read a memo to Dr. Larson, Chair of APC, from APC members (Dohse, Downes, C. James, Kauffman, Laughon, Tynes, Wengrow, S. Johnson and R. Sensabaugh) to offer their sincere thanks for making a very hectic year measurably more pleasant. VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Kathy Whatley gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. UNCA Guiding Concepts The revised Guiding Concepts distributed at the last Senate meeting have been forwarded to the Chancellor. Dr. Whatley encouraged faculty with suggestions or concerns to contact her as soon as possible. Dr. Whatley made a motion for general acceptance of the rewritten UNCA Guiding Concepts. Dr. Katz seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Dr. Whatley extended thanks to Dr. Sabo for his excellent rewrite of the document. Kellogg Property Proposal Dr. Whatley referred to a memo sent to Senators earlier concerning the development of proposed affiliate(s) on the Kellogg property. For a number of years, the development and use of the Kellogg property near Hendersonville has been under discussion. Remodeling and expansion of the house is underway and it should be available as a general meeting facility for campus groups late next fall. It should also have telecommunications facilities at some point. Discussions about other potential uses for the Kellogg property are also underway. Specifically, UNCA has been approached about housing an affiliate institute there which would involve the Southern Highland Guild and Handmade in America, and perhaps other groups. Ultimately a privately funded institute is envisioned as having its own building on the property as an affiliate to UNCA. The building is proposed to house the archives of the Southern Highland Guild and make them accessible to scholars as well as provide a site for related collections and activities. The UPC endorsed Chancellor Reed's proposal. Dr. Whatley made a motion that the Faculty Senate endorse Chancellor Reed's memo "Proposed UNCA Affiliates on the Kellogg Property." Dr. McDonald seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Equity Funding Study The Equity Funding Study has been approved by the BOG. Mr. Foley met with the UPC and discussed the funding implications of the study in a positive way. While one report stated that UNCA was in the middle of the sixteen universities and was neither over or under-funded, two comments in two separate portions of the report state that UNCA and the School of the Arts are unique institutions having separate funding requirements. Recommendations for Environmental Studies self-study Copies of the UPC recommendations for the Environmental Studies Program were distributed to senators prior to the meeting. There were no questions. Master Planners Visit Although the UPC did not meet exclusively with the Master Planners, Dr. Whatley was impressed with the final plan which allows for the requested green space. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Dr. Paul McDonald gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. Faculty Election Results Hearings Committee: Pat Snoyer, Gregg Kormanik, Cheryl McClary Academic Appeals Board: Keith Ray and Mark Sidelnick; alternate Sophie Mills. There is a run-off in the Grievance Committee. Faculty will receive the results of the election on email next week. Report on Leave of Absence Policy Dr. McDonald reported on the Tenure Committee's request that FWDC develop a written policy under which faculty leaves of absence and off-campus scholarly assignments were considered. Copies of the request and response were distributed. The FWDC considered the matter and noted that there is such a policy in the Faculty Handbook under section 4.2 (page 66) for leaves of absence and 4.1.4 (pp.63-65) for off-campus scholarly assignments. In each of these sections, the role of the department or program chair is emphasized in the chain of decision-making for such requests. FWDC believe that if these written procedures are followed the welfare of the individual departments/programs and of the faculty is well addressed. FWDC did not feel that there is a need for wider consultation, but noted that it is essential that current written procedures be followed. A copy of the Tenure Committee request and the FWDC response will be sent to the new VCAA when he takes office in July. Report on Grievance and Hearing Committees Purviews The FWDC was asked earlier in the year to report on what the relative purviews are of the Faculty Grievance Committee and the Faculty Committee on Hearings. The Faculty Committee on Hearings is limited to considering matters on (Faculty Handbook 14.2.III.J.1 and 14.2.III.J2): "Permissible and impermissible grounds for nonreappointment" of faculty members. "This review is limited solely to determining whether the decision not to reappoint was based upon any of the grounds stated to be impermissible in Section III.J.1, or (2) affected by material procedural irregularities." The Faculty Committee on Hearings is like a court of appeal but is very limited. Most other grievances come to the Faculty Grievance Committee. Dr. McDonald stated that the Faculty Committee on Hearings should not be confused with the "hearings committee" referred to in President Friday's memo (Faculty Handbook 13.1.4., bottom of p. 188.) President Friday is making reference to the Faculty Grievance Committee. Also, the UNC Code (Faculty Handbook, 13.1.1, Section 609.B, p.179) refers to Hearings but this is at the level of the Board of Governors. The Senate recommended that the 1996-97 Senate give some consideration to having items pertinent to the Faculty Grievance Committee and the Faculty Committee on Hearings covered in individual sections of the Faculty Handbook. Report on Deryl Howard Memorial Dr. McDonald reported that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee was asked to solicit ideas for a memorial for Professor Howard. The Executive Committee gathered numerous requests and unanimously recommended developing the quadrangle between Carmichael, Zageir, Belk and Ramsey into an elegant kind of Philosophers' Walk in memory of Deryl. As the master planners are recommending preservation of the green spaces on campus, the memorial could be developed in stages as funds are contributed, elaborating on it in multiple stages. UNCA could also approach Deryl's family, and Peter Loewer, a local expert on gardening and landscaping who is involved with the Botanical Gardens and who spoke at Deryl's memorial service on campus. The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor responded very positively to the idea. Other suggestions that could be incorporated into the plan include a croquet field, a plaque, and walkways in the form of St. Andrew's cross. Dr. Henderson made a motion to formally endorse the plan. Dr. Katz seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Senate Appointments to various Committees The Faculty Senate endorsed the following nominations for various committees (McDonald/Larson): Distinguished Scholars and Honorary Degrees Committee: (1996-98) Hopes, Spear University Research Council (1996-98): Snoyer, Nallan University Teaching Council (1996-98): Cole, Seymour, Sabo MLA - UNCA Graduate Council (1996-98): Rackham, Combs Minority Affairs Commission (1996-98): Omer UNCA Foundation Board (1996-97): Lisnerski to replace A.J. Reed UNCA Foundation Board (1996-98): Greenawalt University Relations Advisory (1996-97): Lisnerski to replace A.J. Reed University Relations Advisory (1996-98): Greenawalt, Diefenbach Faculty Conciliator: This year's Alternate, J.W. Miller, will succeed Nancy Kauffman as Faculty Conciliator for 1996-97. The following names will be submitted to the SGA, who will choose one to serve as next year's Alternate and thus Faculty Conciliator for 1997-98: Friedenberg, Haas, Nelms. First Reading: Ms. Anita White-Carter distributed FWDC 4: Sexual Harassment Policy for first reading. The 1995-96 Senate agreed to meet on May 2, 1996 to finalize the document. If passed, this document will replace section 3.8.6.1. in the Faculty Handbook. The language and structure of this document was adapted from UNCG's policy on sexual harassment, which University Attorney Betsy Bunting offered as a possible model. Ms. White-Carter encouraged senators to carefully review sections F (Confidentiality) and G (Responsibility for Implementation.) VIII. Old Business There was no Old Business. IX. New Business Dr. Browning extended appreciation to out-going senate members: Charles James, Nancy Kauffman, Mary Lynn Manns, and Paul McDonald, as well as the entire Senate for their work this year. Dr. Browning noted that the incoming Senate will be pivotal in helping the new VCAA adapt to UNCA's system of governance. Dr. Whatley read a Resolution in Appreciation of Shirley Browning signed by senators. A round of applause followed. X. Adjournment Dr. Browning adjourned the meeting at 4:30 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Paul McDonald