THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, December 7, 1995 Senate Members: S. Browning, T. Dohse, G. Henderson, D. Howard, C. James, N. Kauffman, B. Larson, P. McDonald, M. L. Manns, K. Moorhead, R. Tynes, A. Wengrow, K. Whatley, A. White-Carter, T. Cochran Excused: P. Laughon Visitors: S. Johnson, B. Sensabaugh I. Call to Order Dr. Browning welcomed senators and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:20 pm. Dr. Laughon was unable to attend the meeting due to a family illness. Approval of Minutes The minutes of November 9, 1995, were approved as written (McDonald/Henderson). II. Administrative Report Dr. Tom Cochran gave the Administrative Report. Two offices relocating at Highland Park The Council on Undergraduate Research and a portion of the Mossbauer Effect Data Center, both directed by Dr. John Stevens, will move their offices to Highland Park next week. This will alleviate some of the space problems in Rhoades Hall. Athletic Budget In response to the Blue Banner article on the athletic budget, Dr. Cochran reported that a group of faculty is conducting a comprehensive review of the athletic program as part of the NCAA certification effort. This group may be able to clarify the confusion. III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Shirley Browning gave the Executive Committee Report. Dr. Browning reported that Vice Chancellor Modlin was ill and unable to give the University Relations annual report. Ms. Modlin's report will be rescheduled for the January 18, 1996 meeting. Faculty Assembly Ms. Linda Nelms and Dr. Larson are UNCA's representatives to the Faculty Assembly; Ms. Nelms has a class during this time and was unable to attend the meeting. Dr. Larson reported on the September 22 and December 1 Faculty Assembly meetings. The State Legislature has extended the privilege to UNCCH and NCSU to make independent decisions about the tuition charged to their students and how these resources are used. UNCCH will use the increased tuition funds to increase faculty salaries and enhance faculty retention. NCSU will put the tuition increases toward library resource development. President Spangler was very disturbed by this new approach and felt this would ultimately have a negative impact on the system as a whole. In response to questions, Dr. Larson stated that the tuition option given to UNC-CH and NC State did not originate from General Administration, but from the General Assembly, perhaps through their respective Boards of Trustees. The issues of student/faculty relationships and amorous relationships were discussed, as well as updates on legislative matters. Dr. Cochran reported on the numerous studies mandated by the legislature at an earlier Senate meeting. Three resolutions were considered. The Faculty Assembly desired to have economic impact studies developed for all 16 universities so the university system might have more ammunition when they met with legislators. President Spangler did not think much of the resolution, perhaps due to the numerous studies General Administration has already been mandated to conduct by the legislature. Resolutions passed concerning professional relationships, and support of academic freedom and tenure. IV. Student Government Report No report. V. Academic Policies Report Dr. Bruce Larson reported for the Academic Policies Committee. First Reading: The following documents were distributed for First Reading: APC 11: Catalog changes in French APC 12: Catalog changes in Mass Communication APC 13: Sunset Courses for 1995-96 APC 14: Catalog changes in Art APC 15: Catalog changes in Psychology APC 16: Catalog changes in Chemistry APC 17: Catalog changes in Literature and Language APC 18: Catalog changes in Classics APC 19: Catalog changes in Atmospheric Sciences Second Reading: The following documents were considered for Second Reading: APC 4: Catalog Changes in Literature and Language (Larson/Wengrow). The document reflects the new university-wide requirement on oral competency. APC 4 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0695F. APC 5: Catalog Changes in Literature and Language (Larson/Kauffman). The document adds: "An IP grade may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor" to LANG 497 Senior Paper in Creative Writing. The creative writing process does not necessarily fit neatly into a 15-week semester. The IP grade does not have the same time constraints as an Incomplete. APC 5 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0795F. APC 6: Catalog Changes in Literature and Language (Larson/Kauffman). The document adds special topics numbers in Language 497 to allow greater flexibility for the future. APC 6 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0895F. APC 7: Catalog Changes in Political Science (Larson/Wengrow). These changes are made to satisfy the oral competency requirement and clarify department description. There is a slight alteration to the political economy program. APC 7 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0995F. APC 8: Catalog Changes in the Department of Mathematics (Larson/Kauffman). The document has multiple parts, including the new oral competency requirement, clarification of STAT 225 course content, broader credit assessment in statistics and mathematics, and modification to MATH 167 credit hours. APC 8 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1095F. APC 9: Editorial Catalog Changes (Larson/Wengrow). The document makes various editorial changes to the Catalog. No impact on the curriculum is expected. APC 9 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1195F. APC 10: Catalog Changes in Literature and Language (Larson/Kauffman). The changes reflect the new university-wide requirement on oral competency. APC 10 passed unanimously and became Senate Document #1295F. VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Kathy Whatley gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. New departmental self-study schedule Dr. Whatley distributed an Academic Program Self-Study Schedule for departments through 1997-98. The UPC will review self-studies of Philosophy and Sociology and complete the Environmental Studies self-study next semester. Budget Primer update The first draft of the Budget Primer is nearly complete. Sections of the 75-100 page document will be placed on-line for faculty to access. Guiding Concepts The first rewrite of the Guiding Concepts will be available next semester. Dr. Whatley will bring the document before the Senate for feedback. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Dr. Paul McDonald gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee report. Men's Basketball Tickets Dr. McDonald thanked Dr. Browning, Mr. Wengrow, and Mr. Hunnicutt for their work on the men's basketball ticket memorandums, and also Ms. Manns for being the author of the policy. Grievance and Hearing Committee The FWDC continues to look at the purview of the Grievance and Hearing Committee. Conflict of Interest Policy Dr. McDonald received from Dr. Cochran a request from General Administration regarding UNCA's conflict of interest policy. General Administration has asked UNCA to fine-tune the document so it will be in line with general institutional guidelines. VIII. VCAA Search Committee Update The VCAA Search Committee continues to work at a steady pace. There are 139 formal applications and 20-25 nominations in process. The Committee is dividing the pool into three subgroups and beginning to contact applicants. The pool is diverse in terms of demographics and gender; the expertise ranges from administrative responsibilities of a department chair to a sitting president. The Committee is starting to make conference calls and will eventually hold off-campus interviews and site visits. IX. Old Business Emeritus Status At the Senate's request, Mr. Wengrow reviewed those faculty members who were retired but did not have emeritus status, to see if there had been an oversight or some reason those people had not been considered. Some people retired before UNCA had an emeritus status and did not have an opportunity to be considered. Mr. Wengrow found fourteen faculty members who looked as if they should be reviewed. He has spoken to the Chairs of twelve retirees and has been unable to contact the Chairs of the remaining two. Each Chair responded that he or she would look into the matter and get back to Mr. Wengrow after talking with their faculty. Some Chairs agreed immediately that it looked as if the person in question should be recommended for emeritus status and stated they would write the appropriate letter to the Committee of Tenured Faculty. Mr. Wengrow sent a memo to Chancellor Reed, since the Faculty Handbook states that the Chancellor initiates emeritus status for retired administrators; there are three retired administrators who had been at the university for a significant length of time who possibly should be considered for emeritus status. Mr. Wengrow suggested that the Chairs get their letters to the Committee of Tenured Faculty for their January meeting, so the Tenure Committee could act and make their decision in time to be in the new Catalog. Mr. Wengrow discovered that there was one omission in the Catalog; Dexter Squibb was not listed as emeritus but was actually emeritus. Jackie Peterson will check to make sure the correction is made to the next Catalog. In response to Dr. Henderson's question, Mr. Wengrow stated that emeritus is a Latin honor. Page 16 of the Faculty Handbook states that the University grants emeritus status to those faculty members who 1) retire from the University with the rank of full professor after at least ten years of service at UNCA and 2) have demonstrated distinguished performance as determined by the judgment of the Committee of Tenured Faculty, and 3) are approved by the Board of Trustees. However, there are exceptions to the rank of full professor and the tenure rule, depending upon the status of the incumbent upon retirement. X. New Business There was no New Business. XI. Adjournment Dr. Browning adjourned the meeting at 4:10 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Paul McDonald