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

Absent: J. Rackham.

Visitors: W. Bruce, M. Ghidina, E. Iovacchini, J. Konz, S. Malicote, J. Pitts, S. Robinson, B. Sabo, R. Sensabaugh, A. Shope, M. Walter.

II. Announcements
Administration's response to anti-gay comments/graffiti
Dr. Iovacchini, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, addressed the Senate and distributed a handout outlining the Administration's response to recent anti-gay comments and graffiti on campus. Dr. Iovacchini suspects the students involved in these activities are new students who were unaware of our culture. The Administration's response is attached to the minutes.

The Senate discussed ways to educate students on expectations and behavior required to create a comfortable learning environment for every student. Dr. Iovacchini underscored the need to have class discussions and openness in the curriculum to include gender issues. Part of our mission is to promote and understand differences in culture and differences in opinions and values. In some instances, students felt an insensitivity on the part of faculty in some classes. A list of suggestions prepared by students titled, "To Begin Raising Safety and Awareness on Campus" is also attached to the minutes.

Dr. Cochran stressed the need to address how faculty look at and deal with these matters before raising the issue with others. Senators offered the following suggestions: hold mandatory faculty meetings to discuss all areas of diversity; make appropriate/expected behavior a part of the Honor Code; add to the faculty record an area on how they have promoted, endorsed, or in some way improved the cultural environment on campus; offer programs through the Center for Teaching and Learning; display The Student Affairs Code in public areas; and involve department chairs in these efforts.

Dr. Wilson thanked Dr. Iovacchini for coming and presenting this information to the Senate. Faculty members are not always aware of what is being done on campus, particularly in the dorms, and it is crucial to our existence as a liberal arts institution that students be free in order to engage in classroom discussions.

V. Executive Committee Report
Dr. Caulfield modified the agenda to accommodate Dr. Bruce's meeting schedule.
Post-Tenure Review Revision Committee Recommendations
Dr. William Bruce distributed the recommendations of the Post-Tenure Review Revision Committee and thanked FWDC members David Peifer, Gordon Wilson, and Tracey Rizzo for their work on the committee.

The Committee surveyed the recent higher education literature, surveyed 40 faculty members who have been through Post-Tenure Review at UNCA, reviewed models for PTR at other UNC institutions, consulted with Vice Chancellors Cochran and Pitts and sought guidance from UNC Academic Vice President Gretchen Bataille.

Dr. Caulfield and Dr. Cochran thanked Dr. Bruce, Rick Chess, Lothar Dohse, and Gordon Wilson for their extensive work toward solving this serious problem. Dr. Rizzo moved that this document be considered for First Reading (FWDC 4) under FWDC's report.

III. Approval of minutes
The minutes of October 12, 2000 were approved as written.

IV. Administrative Report
Vice Chancellor Cochran gave the Administrative Report.
NCATE Review
The Education Department recently completed their five-year accreditation review by the NC Department of Public Instruction and the National College Accreditation of Teacher Education. Both the State Department and the national team were highly complimentary of the quality of UNCA's program and the quality of the faculty. One member of the visiting team noted that only 3% of the programs nationally receive the kind of positive feedback that this program received. We can all take credit that we are indeed doing something unique and valuable in the way we prepare teachers. While the education department has the licensing responsibility, nearly every department on campus has some role to play in this, whether it's in a general education course or in a major field of study.

Changes in SACS Leadership
Sandy Malicote has requested to step down as chair of SACS committee at the end of this semester; Marcia Ghidina has agreed to step in as chair of the SACS committee.

Visit from The Office of the President (formerly GA)
Representatives from The Office of the President will visit our campus November 17 to discuss assessment, performance measures, indicators of student success and ways of assessing our success.

Vice Chancellor for Administration & Financial Affairs Search
Chancellor Mullen has recommended Wayne McDevitt for appointment as our new vice chancellor for administration and financial affairs subject to approval by the UNC Board of Governors. 

Start-of-School Project Team
A newly formed start-of-school project team will meet Friday to discuss procedures for bringing in a new class. Particular attention will be paid to the recommendations from the retention task force and incorporating issues coming out of the diversity task force regarding messages/information we need to convey to our students.

Tenure Practices
Dr. Cochran learned during a meeting of the Chief Academic Officers two weeks ago that some aspects of our tenure practices may need to be altered, particularly our practice of promoting faculty one year after receiving tenure. Most of our tenure practices are enlightened compared to some of our sister campuses. However we do have a few areas that are unusual -- most noteworthy is our practice of tenuring our faculty a year prior to the end of their contract and not promoting at the same time we are tenuring. This seems to be a most unusual practice. Colleagues at other schools start out with a four-year contract (as opposed to a three-year contract), and they follow it up with a three-year contract for newly hired assistant professors. By this mechanism everyone would be in their sixth year when they are reviewed for tenure and promotion at the same time. Dr. Cochran will be discussing this with the Tenure Committee.

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

VII. Academic Policies Committee Report
Dr. Cathy Mitchell gave the Academic Policies Committee Report.
First Reading:
APC 3: ESI 101 as a General Education Course
APC 4: Sunsetting Courses

Second Reading:
- Unanimous Votes by APC
Dr. Mitchell reported that in the future all APC documents the committee approves unanimously will be moved for Senate approval as one vote to save time. If anyone wants to discuss a document separately, she will gladly accept a friendly amendment to do so.

APC 1: Recataloging Individual Degrees Under Interdisciplinary Studies.
APC 1 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 0300F.

APC 2: Establishing an IST Concentration: "Ethics and Social Institutions"
APC 2 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 0400F.

VIII. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report
Dr. Bruce Larson gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report.
Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC)
Ms. McClellan reported that the Institutional Effectiveness Committee is reviewing SACS criteria statements and preparing a training manual to assist departments and administrative units with the effectiveness process at UNCA. The manual will be available on the web soon.

IEC recently held a department chairs workshop on assessing student learning; IEC plans to expand into focus groups in staff/administration areas.

UPC Meetings
Dr. Larson reported that IDC/UPC has met three times since the last Senate meeting. Four students associated with "ASHE" -- Asheville Students for a Healthy Environment -- attended a meeting and spoke about their desire to have input into the design of the new math and science building, and more generally with regard to all new buildings on campus so that they might be environmentally informed.

Information Technology Strategy Report
The UPC discussed the Information Technology Strategy report issued last May. UPC strongly supports the computer re-fresh policy for the university. Steve Honeycutt and Tom Cochran will be working to devise a funding strategy.

Strategic Planning Process
The UPC has been engaged in activities associated with the university's overall strategic planning process. They have been discussing the guiding concepts and anticipate having an initial draft available after Thanksgiving.

IX. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report
Dr. Tracey Rizzo gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report.
First Reading:
FWDC 4: Revisions to Post-Tenure Review Policy, Senate Document 0198F

Second Reading:
FWDC 1: Proposal to establish the Adjunct Faculty Committee as a new standing committee.
The Senate discussed committee overload, the role of FWDC, and the logistics of staffing a standing adjunct faculty committee given their tenuous employment. Dr. Rizzo explained that historically FWDC has not been involved in promoting the welfare of adjunct faculty. Adjuncts on campus requested and believe they deserve a separate committee on campus dedicated to promoting their welfare. While FWDC is sensitive to the proliferation of committees on campus, they also believe this is an important symbolic gesture as well as a means to facilitate the welfare of adjuncts across campus. A number of the non-tenure track faculty with one year appointments will likely be the natural leaders of the committee. FWDC 1 passed by a vote of 7 to 3 with two abstentions and became Senate Document 0500F.

FWDC 2: Selection of Honorary Degree recipients.
This document explains that the Chancellor will seek the input of the Senate Executive Committee at some point in the process of selecting honorary degree recipients. FWDC 2 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 0600F.

FWDC 3: Proposal to establish the University Service Council as a new standing committee.
Last spring members of the Senate considered the idea of establishing a University Service Council (USC) to ensure that service is considered along with research and teaching in promotion and tenure decisions and annual awards. With general functions paralleling the UTC and URC, the USC will also interact with the Key Center for Service Learning, make an annual award for distinguished service, and provide a voice for recognition of service in salary, tenure, and promotion decisions. FWDC 3 passed unanimously and became Senate Document 0700F.

Report on Mock Electronic Election
Dr. Peifer reported that FWDC has been working with Administrative Computing to develop procedures, internet software, and webpages to be used to hold UNCA faculty elections over the internet. Last month, FWDC held a campus wide mock election to test UNCA's new electronic voting system. Seventy-five faculty members participated in the mock election. The mock election ran smoothly and the system worked as planned. Beginning next semester, FWDC would like to hold all UNCA faculty elections using this new system. Dr. Peifer highlighted the significant features of the new system. FWDC received several encouraging emails and comments from faculty regarding the electronic voting system. Several faculty mentioned that this was long overdue. FWDC did not receive any comments against using the electronic voting system in the future.

Dr. Peifer thanked the personnel in Administrative Computing who have worked hard to develop and fine tune the webpages and software used to run the election. FWDC thanked all the faculty members who participated in this process.

Report on Survey of Faculty Committee Workloads
In the interest of stopping the proliferation of committees and perhaps combining committees so the workload is lessened and better distributed, FWDC is surveying faculty preference forms from last year to get a good picture of what faculty workloads are like. They are also going to email faculty requesting that they indicate task forces or ad hoc committees they serve on that aren't included on the faculty committee preference form. Please email comments or suggestions to FWDC members.

X. Old Business
In response to a question at the last meeting about the use of social security numbers, Ms. Sensabaugh reported that they are working on a program that would not require using social security numbers to access any of the web products.

XI. New Business
There was no New Business.

XII. Adjournment
Dr. Caulfield adjourned the meeting at 5:08 pm.

Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely
                                                 Tracey Rizzo

FACULTY SENATE
November 9, 2000

• Responses to graffiti/anti gay incidents - Fall Semester 2000
 
• Chancellor Mullen, Brenda Greene and Eric Iovacchini met with residents of Founders Hall.
 
• Students conducted a Diversity Forum bringing together different student organizations presenting various student interests.
 
• Several students charged with a violation of the Code of Conduct related to harassment.
 
• Brenda Greene and Joni Comstock met with athletic coaches.
 
• Diversity programming scheduled for student athletes.
 
• Chancellor Mullen, Brenda Greene and Eric Iovacchini met with 60 resident assistants to solicit their support, ideas and information. (Community Watch)
 
• Housing and Public Safety staff questioned several students regarding graffiti incidents.
 
• An immediate response team of employees and student volunteers commissioned to respond to any graffiti no later than 8:00 a.m. each morning.
 
• Additional diversity training scheduled as a part of our RA Staff Development - (Remembering the Titans).
 
• Tom Cochran, Eric Iovacchini and others will look at the First Year Experience activities, including marketing of the institution and formal orientation program.
 
• Students of UNCA-OUT met with the Chancellors Cabinet.
 
• Additional Public Safety staff added in response to student concerns.
 
• A Unity Forum sponsored by the Key Center along with several student organizations, students affairs and others celebrating unity.
 
• Counseling Center and Health Services scheduled transgender presenters to talk with student affairs staff about transgender issues.
 
• Chancellor Mullen is closely involved with UNCA-OUT organization including hosting an Open House at the residence.
 
• Housing and Residence Life staff met with Student Government Association to solicit input, thoughts and ideas.
 
• Rewards and surveillance cameras considered.
 
• Resident Student Newsletter and Parent Newsletter include the Student Affairs Creed.

The Student Affairs Creed

The University of North Carolina at Asheville
is a community of scholars dedicated to
personal and academic excellence and growth.

In joining this learning community, I commit to a code of civilized behavior.
I will practice personal and academic integrity;
I will respect the dignity of all persons, including myself;
I will respect the rights of others;
I will not condone bigotry;
I will strive for the openness to learn from differences in people,
ideas and opinions;
I will demonstrate concern for others, their feelings,
and their need for conditions which
support their work and development.

Allegiance to these ideals requires me to refrain from behaviors
which threaten the freedom and respect every individual deserves.

We have defined these guidelines to help shape the conduct
of students at the University. If you feel that you have experienced
actions on campus which are not in accordance with
the Student Affairs Creed, please contact the Student Affairs Office.

November 6, 2000

To Begin Raising Safety and Awareness on Campus
1. Inclusion of sexual identity diversity and homophobia, biphobia, transphobia during orientation and first year experience programs.

2. Training for residence life staff and all student resident assistants as well as dorm/floor/hall programs for dorm residents.

3. The integration of sexual identity diversity into campus and multicultural programming from student activities to cultural events, from open and self-identified speakers to workshops on teaching and learning.

4. Include statements about GLBT in all position/philosophical statements about diversity on campus at every opportunity and by every person at every level of the university administration.

5. Self-identified GLBT speaker on campus for the campus - not reinforcing this only for/about GLBT persons.

6. Workshops for student leaders, faculty, staff, security, on sensitivity to homophobia, biphobia, transphobia in the classroom, on campus and in the workplace.

7. Faculty forums on classroom climate and heterosexism and homophobia.

8. Include GLBT concerns in statements and policies relative to harassment and sexual harassment on campus. Train sexual harassment advisors on same-sex harassment.

9. Integration of academic scholarship in class content on relevant issues in departmental course offerings (where relevant) and in general ed. course offerings.

10. Create an actual physical "safe space" on campus (i.e.: a staffed campus GLBT resource office).

11. Include GLBT resources and information in the UNCA health clinic and counseling center (much like in security, it is imperative that the people in these offices are informed, aware, and able to deal sensitively with GLBT issues for the safety, physical and emotional, of UNCA students).

12. Bring in outside group trained in evaluating climate and safety for GLBT students on campuses (i.e.: like the group in Washington State, or GLSEN -Gay, Lesbian, Straight Task Force out of D.C.).

13. Create a time in the year on campus that recognizes and honors GLBT history and the struggle for rights (i.e.: the GLBT rights movement/ social movement in the U.S.).

14. Read and implement the recommendations of the Diversity Taskforce to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees (25 April 2000) -GLBT students are a part of UNCA's diversity.

***15. When the campus speaks, talks, discusses diversity, make sure this issue is included--no matter how high the discomfort level--making people aware of their discomfort is a minimal start..