University of North Carolina at Asheville
FACULTY SENATE MEETING
Minutes, January 18, 2001

Senate
Members: M. Burchard, P. Caulfield, F. Davenport, R. Dunning, C. James, K.Krumpe, J. Kuhlman, B. Larson, H. Lee, P. McClellan, C. Mitchell, P. Nickless, J. Rackham, D. Van Engelen, G. Wilson; T. Cochran.

Visitors: W. Bruce, J. Comstock, S. Gale, E. Katz, D. Millspaugh, D. Peifer, R. Sensabaugh, A. Shope, K. Whatley.

II. Announcements
SACS Update
Dan Millspaugh and Sherry Gale gave a brief report on the compliance and enhancement portions of the SACS alternate self-study. Full reports were given during the recent faculty meeting. The compliance subcommittees researched SACS' 465 "must" statements and the reports will be forwarded to editor Michael Gillum this semester. Dr. Gillum will edit the reports next summer and fall. The compliance portion is on track although they are nearly a month behind in sending the material to Dr. Gillum.

Dr. Gale stated that the compliance portion of the report is running ahead of the enhancement section by design. 125 faculty, staff and students have been organized into eight committees, and they are looking at the development of students from the broadest possible sense. The committees have produced very initial reports. The reports will eventually be placed on the web so everyone can participate in the process. Dr. Gale distributed an outline of the enhancement committee structure, the subcommittees and the areas of student development under consideration.

III. Approval of minutes
The minutes of December 7, 2000 were approved following editorial corrections.

IV. Student representatives on the Task Force of the Honor Code
The Student Government Association appointed Nick Phillips and Melanie Currie to serve on the Task Force of the Honor Code.

V. Executive Committee Report
Dr. Caulfield gave the Executive Committee Report.
- Task Force to Review and Revise the UNCA Tenure and Promotion Guidelines
First Reading:
The following document was distributed for First Reading:
EC 1: Sense of the Senate Resolution to authorize a General Education Review Task Force (GERTF).

Dr. Caulfield explained that the General Education Review Task Force (GERTF) has been meeting since Spring 2000, and has asked the Senate for authorization to continue their work. EC 1 authorizes this request.

Ed Katz, chair of GERTF, reported on the history of GERTF's empanelment, the charge, the connection between SACS and the APC review, and the connection between GERTF's work for SACS and the eventual revision.

This is UNCA's fourth comprehensive review and revision of general education. The last revision was begun in 1981 after a SACS accreditation review. A task force submitted their report, recommending revisions to the general education curriculum, to the Senate and APC in 1984.

In Fall 1999, Dr. Katz was asked to chair the General Education Review Committee by Shirley Browning in Academic Affairs and by Sherry Gale, who is leading the Enhancement effort of the SACS self-study. He agreed to serve if it were a faculty-driven process. Because the SACS effort required so much in terms of faculty time and energy, Dr. Katz worked closely with Dr. Gale to begin putting together a committee that reflected as broadly as possible the range of faculty constituencies involved in or affected by general education at UNCA. As part of their work to put the committee together, they consulted with the Senate Executive Committee (Gregg Kormanik, Claudel McKenzie, Peter Caulfield and William Bruce). They also reported to the full Senate on December 2, 1999.

The key difference between the review about to be undertaken and previous reviews is that this one will be connected to a SACS self-study project. Goals for general education will take shape in the context of our campus-wide re-examination of UNCA's goals for student development. GERTF plans to consider General Education programs in light of the student development goals, which offers an excellent opportunity to understand this curriculum in the context of the student experience we wish to shape for those enrolled at UNCA.

In its role as part of the SACS Self Study effort, GERTF reports to Dr. Gale, the Faculty Senate, and Academic Affairs. The charge can be found on the SACS webpage. It includes a draft Mission Statement and Goals for general education; a set of directive recommendations for future general education reform with a timetable, and recommendations regarding the institutional and fiscal allocation changes necessary to implement general education reform. GERTF will examine assessment implications from the outset and build assessment in to any general education revision.

The committee will study the reports from the Chancellor's Task Forces on Diversity, Retention, and Partnerships, as well as materials coming out of the APC as it reviews the current General Education program. Committee members will look particularly to APC's recommendations for general education reform. In addition, they plan to go out into departments to gather information, concerns, insights and ideas from department chairs and faculty. They plan to have large group forums for faculty and students.

They will also set up a website and will have web discussion forums to solicit responses to documents they will put on the site for faculty and student reaction.

After reviewing our current program on the basis of these extensive resources -- and responding to the interests, needs, and values of our faculty from across the divisions -- GERTF will prepare a revision of the general education curriculum, one that answers to the changing conditions faced by students, faculty and the community. At the end of this process, the committee will forward its plan to APC and to the Senate. The Senate and APC are then charged with acting on the plan. The revised curriculum, if approved, is then forwarded to Academic Affairs for implementation. All stages of the review process are faculty-driven.

The committee was selected to represent a diverse campus. GERTF aimed for diversity in terms of rank, division, discipline, program, gender and race. It also aimed to represent different intellectual, philosophical, and pedagogical constituencies on campus. In addition to faculty serving on the committee, there are three students: Maegan Spencer, Chemistry; Sarah Clere, Classics (Latin) and Literature; and Joseph Wilde-Ramsing, Political Science and Spanish. And there are two alumni, Tracy Proctor, the Alumni Association VP and Ali Lingerfelt-Tait.

Task Force on Tenure and Promotion
At the request of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Executive Committee proposed the formation of a task force of current or former members of the Committee of Tenured Faculty, to review UNCA's procedures for Tenure and Promotion and make recommendations regarding any proposed changes. The following faculty have agreed to serve on the task force:

Pamela Nickless, Social Science, Current Chair of Committee of Tenured Faculty; FWDC member

Lisa Friedenberg, Social Science

Steve Patch, Natural Science

Henry Stern, Humanities

The Task Force charge includes the following:
1) Examine the existing guidelines to discover any inconsistencies.
2) Reflect on UNCA's current mission in relation to existing guidelines.
3) Research the tenure and promotion guidelines on the other UNC campuses.
4) Research the tenure and promotion guidelines of UNCA's peer group.
5) Make recommendations regarding any proposed changes to the Senate by the May 3, 2001, Senate Meeting.

VI. Student Government Association Report
There was no Student Government Association Report.

IV. Administrative Report
Vice Chancellor Cochran gave the Administrative Report.
Tuition Increase/Equity Funding
Dr. Cochran reported on the tuition request, equity funding, and strategies to meet our classroom/ instructional needs. The Board of Trustees formally approved the request for a three-year tuition increase of $200 per year. The Board of Governors will consider campus-initiated tuition increases in March.

The Equity Funding request for $750K is in the biennial budget this year. A concerted effort will be made to ensure an appropriation is made this year, with the balance to follow in the second year of the biennium. The funds would be divided between Academic Affairs ($500K) and Student Services ($250K). Academic Affairs would return most of the faculty funds currently used to pay administrators which would create additional faculty funding. Approximately $100K would be used for operating expenses, including equipment and supplies.

Approximately $200K of the tuition increase would be used for academic instruction/support. This would offset operating expenses that have been used for co-curricular activities, such as First Year Experience, Teaching Fellows Program and Undergraduate Research. This support has come at the expense of academic departments and Foundation funds. $100K would be allocated for equipment replacement and repairs. The tuition increase represents a 15-20% increase in our operating budget in one year -- nearly double our operating budget. This increase would provide funds for student classroom activity, faculty support and venture projects.

There will be slight increase in the enrollment budget next year.

Senators acknowledged the benefits associated with these increases but noted that we continue to lag behind our peer schools. They discussed the importance of having the legislature recognize our special designation in terms of our base budget and not solely in incremental enrollments. UNCA has an official news release page on its webpage; detailed information is available at this site.

VII. Academic Policies Committee Report
Dr. Cathy Mitchell gave the Academic Policies Committee Report.
First Reading:
The following documents were distributed for First Reading:
APC 12: Add an Introductory Course and a Capstone Course to the International Studies Minor.
APC 13: Additional Catalog Changes in Economics.
APC 14: Addition of Undergraduate Research Courses.
APC 15: Modifications of Curriculum Revision in Biology (Senate Document 6500S).
APC 16: New and modified course descriptions for Computer Science courses and modified degree requirements for the Information Systems concentration.
APC 17: New Description of the B.S. in Management, B.S. in Industrial and Engineering Management, B.S. in Accounting, MGMT 300 Legal and Ethical Environment, MGMT 350 Marketing Principles, and ACCT 330 Accounting Applications; Delete Courses in Management; Change in Course Requirement in Managerial Account Emphasis Area.
APC 18: Addition of Legal Studies Minor.

Tabling APC Documents
Dr. Mitchell made a motion to table the following documents until APC discusses trends in teacher licensure with the Education department next week:
APC 5: Addition of Teacher Licensure Track in Earth Science.
APC 8: Education: Allowing EDUC 315 to count for the general education Arts Lab requirement.
APC 9: Education: Allowing EDUC 319 to count as both hours of required Health & Fitness credit.
APC 10: Catalog Changes in Mathematics.

Dr. Krumpe seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 12-2 vote.
Second Reading:
-Unanimous Votes by APC
The following documents were considered for Second Reading:
APC 6: Changes to Philosophy Department Standard Course Offerings.
APC 6 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 1101S.

APC 7: Catalog Changes in Economics.
APC 7 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 1201S.

APC 11: Revision of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Concentrations within both the BA and BS Chemistry degrees.
Mr. Kuhlman supported the Chemistry department's efforts to link lectures and laboratories and its emphasis on undergraduate research. But he wanted senators to be mindful of the limitations of an undergraduate college library as we increase emphasis on independent student activity. Dr. Krumpe agreed but noted that this links back to budget discussions. This is not an issue of undergraduate versus graduate degrees - he argued it is UNCA's funding model versus that of the private schools. In chemistry, the premier liberal arts institutions have chemistry and library resources that rival some of the best graduate programs in the nation. It's a financial issue and goes back to funding we receive relative to our peers. Dr. Caulfield noted this issue could be used as an argument to the legislature. APC 11 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 1301S.

VIII. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report
Dr. Bruce Larson gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report.
Update on UPC Planning
Next week UPC will review comments on the most current draft of Guiding Concepts. A new draft will be placed on the web next week for campus review.

IX. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report
Dr. Gordon Wilson gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report.
Second Reading:
FWDC 5: Procedures Regarding Electronic Elections.
Dr. Wilson thanked Dr. Peifer for his work on this important project. FWDC 5 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 1401S.

Faculty load Issues
FWDC recently met with Kathy Whatley in Academic Affairs to discuss faculty load issues. There are four important resource issues: space, budgets, faculty positions, and time. The bond referendum will ease space concerns and the local tuition increase would increase budgets. Equity funding adjustments might ease staffing needs. FWDC wants to work with academic affairs on the issue of faculty time. Faculty members are requested to send suggestions concerning improving teaching loads to FWDC.

X. Old Business
Interviewing Candidates for Faculty Positions
Dr. Caulfield reminded senators that the Senate passed a resolution last year, "That all members of the Faculty Senate be empowered to visit with candidates for a faculty position at UNCA." In previous years members of FWDC explained benefits to the candidates. This responsibility now falls under the purview of Human Resources. While there is reason for candidates to meet with a Senator -- perhaps to explain the opportunities to participate in faculty governance -- the process needs to be clarified. Senators need to know what to expect when they meet a candidate and also whether or not they are part of the search process. Dr. Caulfield asked FWDC to centralize the process and write a paragraph on what the role of the visit should be. Copies are to be distributed to each senator and a copy placed in the Faculty Handbook. Dr. Cochran will inform Academic Affairs of these changes; Jan Scroggs will notify the search committees of the changes.

XI. New Business
There was no New Business.

XII. Adjournment
Dr. Caulfield adjourned the meeting at 4:20 pm.

Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely
                                        Gordon Wilson