University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, September 12, 1996 - 3:15 p.m. Senate Members: T. Dohse, M. Ghidina, G. Henderson, K. Moorhead, B. Larson, P. Laughon,P. McClellan, I. Rossell, B. Sabo, H. Stern, R. Tynes, K. Whatley, A. White-Carter, J. Pitts Excused: E. Katz, A. Wengrow Visitors S. Browning, B. Bunn, G. Kormanik, M. Latz, B. Sensabaugh I. Call to Order Dr. Larson welcomed senators and guests and called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.. Dr. Katz and Mr. Wengrow were unable to attend due to other commitments. Dr. Larson praised the Faculty Senate's ability in recent years to operate in an informal but efficient manner without getting embroiled in tedious rules. Dr. Larson expressed hope that this practice would continue. Approval of Minutes The following minutes were approved as submitted: March 28, 1996; April 25, 1996; May 2, 1996 (3:15 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.). II. Administrative Report VCAA Pitts gave the Administrative Report. Enrollment Although this is the second largest first-year enrollment in UNCA's history, enrollment is down in the aggregate for new transfers and part-time students, students in certain athletic programs, and African American students. UNCA will re-engage an Enrollment Management Task Force to examine these issues. UNCA's 1996-97 budget FTE target is 34-35 students below the 2% window. Institutional Research data show that spring enrollment is typically down 5%. Efforts will be made to increase enrollment at midyear. The decline in transfer student enrollment may have occurred statewide. Position Descriptions Last spring several departments applied for new and replacement positions. Announcements will go out to program and departmental chairs regarding which positions were replaced. Dr. Pitts has declined to grant one new position given the university's enrollment plateau. This year will be devoted to Dr. Pitts' becoming acquainted with our programs and planning. He will award the position at a later date. Salary Increases Notification of the long awaited salary increases will be mailed following the September 13, 1996 Board of Governors meeting. $250K Donor UNCA has recently received a commitment from an anonymous donor for $250K over the next three years to give greater predictability to the offerings in Jewish Studies. Funds may be used as compensation for faculty study, course development, or for paying adjuncts to either teach a course or replace a full-time faculty member for course preparation and instruction. III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Larson gave the Executive Committee report. The Executive Committee met on September 3, 1996 to set the agenda and to share the issues they will be trying to achieve this year. Senate agenda and minutes on email Faculty Senate agenda and minutes will be sent to faculty via email; printed copies will be mailed to faculty who are not on email. Open Meetings Law Information on the new Open Meetings Law has been sent out on email. Faculty who have questions should contact Mr. Tom Byers, UNCA's campus authority on the new law. Faculty Senate Preliminary Handbook The Faculty Senate Preliminary Handbooks and copies of the Comer Rule were distributed. Dr. Larson suggested that senators insert the 1996-97 Committee list in the Handbook for reference throughout the year. IV. Student Government Report Mr. Brandon Bunn reported for the Student Government Association in Sergio Mariaca's absence. Blood Drive The SGA is working on a campus Blood Drive and would like to make participation in this activity count as a cultural event. The recent hurricane has left blood bank reserves low. Yearbook Members of the SGA are trying to revive the UNCA Yearbook. Contact Sarah Worth in the SGA office if you are interested in this project. UNCA "Rock the Vote" UNCA has been officially sponsored by the "Rock the Vote" organization which enables the SGA to offer voter registration education and a mobilizing campaign for the local, regional, state and national candidates. "Rock the Vote" is on MTV and puts political terms and ideas in a focus that students can understand. The SGA cannot endorse any particular candidate. This is SGA's largest project with a cost of $3500. The entire Executive Board of the SGA has put aside their scholarships (stipends) to sponsor this event. The money will pay for bands to play, hopefully to draw students to the area where they can learn more about becoming involved in government. Because voting is an important civil duty and only 30% of eligible college students voted in 1992, the SGA is asking faculty members to donate $5-10 to this important cause. Interested faculty should contact Brandon Bunn or Jonathan Freeze. Dialogue is underway with the Blue Banner to recognize individuals who make donations. John Teeter from PepsiCo has made a sizeable donation, and Domino's Pizza is supporting the SGA this year. The Senate encouraged Mr. Bunn to place a notice about this project in the Monday Morning newsletter. SGA Meetings Mr. Bunn invited faculty to attend meetings held each Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. The SGA encourages faculty and students to become better acquainted. V. Academic Policies Report Dr. Pam Laughon reported for the Academic Policies Committee. First and Second Reading: Dr. Laughon gave a brief history of APC 1: Change in Academic Calendar. Senators received the document earlier because of a pressing deadline. Dr. Laughon moved to waive the Comer Rule in order to consider the document. Dr. Henderson seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 12-1. The document was then considered for Second Reading (Laughon/Henderson.) For several years the NC Legislature has expressed interest in the amount of teaching and length of the academic year in the UNC system. Historically within the 16 campus system there has been a considerable variance in length of a semester, number of class days, and overall length of the academic year. Final examination days are not considered class days by the UNC General Administration. In response to this Legislative interest, President Spangler has directed each campus of the UNC System to submit a proposed calendar containing a minimum of 150 class days exclusive of any final examination period by October 1, 1996. APC 1 was in response to President Spangler's directive. In response to questions, Dr. Laughon and Dr. Sabo explained that the APC felt that starting classes on Monday was preferable to beginning classes in mid or the end of the week. The proposal retains the overall length of the fall semester; all existing holidays, observances, and breaks including Labor Day, fall and spring breaks, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Years, and Martin Luther King birthday. This document adds one week of classes to the spring schedule. Editorial changes suggested by Mr. Tynes were made to the document. APC 1 (Change in Academic Calendar) passed unanimously and became Senate Document 0196F. First Reading: The following document was distributed for First Reading: APC 2: Earth Science Track in Environmental Studies VI. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report Dr. Kathy Whatley gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report. Earth Science Track in Environmental Studies The UPC approved the Earth Science Track in Environmental Studies that was distributed by APC for First Reading. Some concerns were expressed about reductions in offerings of Environmental Studies 105. However, Dr. Maas explained to Dr. Whatley that if the track takes off as expected, Environmental Studies 105 offerings will actually increase because this is the first class in that track. Enrollment Targets 1997-98 The UPC was required by GA to submit a long-range enrollment plan from 1996-97 to 2005-06 under two scenarios. In order to meet the August 30, 1996 deadline a subset of UPC collaborated with members of the administration several times over the summer; Dr. Gravely developed a plan which was approved by the Vice Chancellors group. The plan called for two scenarios. Under scenario 1, UNCA projected the maximum number of students we could enroll with no new capital projects but increased summer funding. Under these assumptions, we projected that we could increase the annual FTE by 10 each year and summer school enrollments by 50%. Under scenario 2, UNCA was to base projections of maximum enrollments on the assumption that we would receive funding for critical capital projects. Given these capital improvements, UNCA projected that we could reach the Guiding Concept target headcount enrollment of 3,500 and double summer school enrollment by 2005-06. UNCA underscored the need for renovation and new facilities in meeting its liberal arts mission. Enrollment Targets for 1997-98 After reviewing the enrollment data for this year, UPC proposed to maintain the current FTE enrollment targets at 2,625 for 1997-98 and increase enrollment by 10 FTE in 1998-99. Management Application for AACSB The Management Department has applied for pre-candidacy status for accreditation with the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). During 1996-97, the Management Department will conduct a study of the resources needed for AACSB accreditation. The Management Department feels strongly that the AACSB accreditation will benefit their students in terms of finding successful employment and entering graduate school; accreditation would also increase the pool of faculty from which the Management Department can recruit. Planning Process UPC's prime focus for this year will be our planning process: how we plan long-range and short-range, and how we assess our planning efforts. Assessment will be vital to our success. The UPC has scheduled a planning retreat with the Board of Trustees in November. Capital Project List Dr. Kormanik stated that he was surprised and disheartened to learn that renovation to Rhodes Hall and the new science building were so far down on the capital project list. He was unable to attend the meeting this summer and asked if a science representative was involved in the process; last year members of the science faculty were involved in discussions concerning safety considerations for students and faculty and attended the Kaleidoscope Planning Workshop. Dr. Whatley reported that science faculty were involved in the meeting last summer. Dr. Cochran was involved in the process and had also attended the Kaleidoscope Planning Workshop. Dr. Whatley stressed that it was very difficult to decide which building needed renovating first. Due to space problems and safety concerns in Rhoades, consideration is being given to housing one or two science departments in the new classroom/administration building until renovations can be made. This will be the first building that is constructed. Dr. Henderson interjected that many items on the capital project list were planned long ago. University officials did not receive expected capital funding from the State this year. Had these items been funded as expected, the new science and administration buildings would have been first and second on the list. UPC Goals for the Year The UPC goals for the 1996-97 include the planning process, the final draft of the Guiding Concepts, and five departmental Self-Studies: Philosophy, Psychology, Classics, Art, and the Master of Liberal Arts. VII. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Ms. Anita White-Carter gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report. First Reading: The following document was distributed for First Reading: FWDC 1: Procedures for Reporting Sexual Harassment Last spring the Faculty Senate passed a revised Sexual Harassment Policy, but did not pass the procedures as they were under review at that time. These procedures accompany the revised policy and also include a role for the sexual harassment policy advisors. University Committee List The Senate made the following committee adjustments to the current University Committee List: Distinguished Scholars and Honorary Degrees Committee: Last year the Senate elected associate professor Robert Spear to the committee. However, the Faculty Handbook states that, "The Senate shall elect four full professors from the faculty at large... " To correct the oversight the Senate elected full professor Lisa Friedenberg to replace Robert Spear. University Teaching Council (UTC): Dr. Sabo requested that he be replaced on the UTC due to other committee obligations. The Senate elected Mr. Keith Bramlett to replace Dr. Sabo. Student Creed The FWDC was asked to consider adopting the Student Creed as an All-University Creed last year. Dr. Iovacchini is in favor of a redraft of the creed. At present the creed addresses student behavior and is strongly focused on tolerance. The FWDC would like to change some wording while maintaining the spirit of the creed. VIII. Old Business There was no Old Business. IX. New Business Announcements Mr. Tynes announced that the Art Department's faculty exhibition will be on display through September 28, 1996. Ms. White-Carter announced that one of the responsibilities of the FWDC Chair is to call the first organizational meeting of the Grievance Committee. The committee met and elected Dr. Alan Hantz Chair of the Grievance Committee. On Dr. Katz's behalf, Dr. Larson encouraged faculty to participate in the Opening Doors Program which focuses on race relations. Dr. Browning announced that the program also deals with homosexuality and gender issues. The first group meeting is scheduled for September 30 at MAHEC and will continue each Monday night through November 18. Contact Dr. Katz via email at EKATZ for further information. X. Adjournment Dr. Larson adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Anita White-Carter