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

Excused: C. Ho, G. Wilson.

Visitors: S. Browning, B. Miller, B. Sensabaugh, K. Skolnik.

II. Announcements
There were no announcements.

III. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of August 30, 2001 were approved as written.

IV. Administrative Report
Vice Chancellor Cochran gave the Administrative Report.
Faculty Workload Report
Dr. Cochran distributed copies of "Proposed Guidelines for 18-Hour Teaching Load" in response to the Senate Executive Committee's request that the university move to an 18-hour teaching load. At a recent meeting that included the Senate Executive Committee, the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Financial Affairs, it was agreed that the VCAA would work with the FWDC to develop a proposal. The assumption underlying the proposal is that individual departments given sufficient latitude could create an 18-hour teaching load within existing resources. Suggested guidelines follow:

1) the academic department must generate the same number of student credit hours as in the past three years on average;

2) the academic unit must maintain the same commitment to General Education (three-year average);

3) no increase in adjuncts will be authorized; and

4) the 18-hour teaching load for the academic unit must demonstrate that the modified curriculum will enhance student learning as stated in the academic unit's student learning goals and be consistent with our guiding concepts.

Dr. Cochran anticipates formally reviewing department proposals in December for the 2002-03 academic year. During discussion Dr. Patch noted that departments with heavy work loads could be at a disadvantage in meeting the guidelines. Dr. Rackham countered that departments who were being innovative or aggressive in pursuing this goal should not be penalized. Dr. Mitchell stated that the route to the 18-hour load has to be curricular reform. Some departments have high enrollment because that is the way one has gotten resources in the past, and they may want to continue that argument rather than address curricular reform. Dr. Nickless added that FWDC has been working with Dr. Whatley in Academic Affairs on the distribution and evaluation of departmental reassigned time that will help with these issues. FWDC plans to send a draft document to department chairs.

Enrollment Report
Dr. Cochran distributed two reports -- a Preliminary Fall 2001 Student Profile to be finalized in November, and a Fall Enrollment Report - Five-Year Trend. The number of transfer students coming in each year continues to increase. Because the retention rate among transfer students tends to be more volatile than other student populations, the Administration has been reviewing our procedures for handling transfers -- the kinds of messages we send them, their needs when they first arrive, and how we can better work with them.

Dr. Cochran reported that Academic Affairs has had fairly intensive conversations with the Minority Affairs Commission regarding minority enrollment. Mr. Bramlett noted that a statewide problem exists in identifying bi-racial, multi-racial, or multi-ethnic students. The state form lists only "other" as a category and the students are counted as such. The current system does not reflect how people identify themselves. Dr. Lee agreed that individuals are currently forced to list themselves as "other." Dr. Nickless asked if there is a blank beside the "other" category for students to fill in which we could use internally. Ms. Sensabaugh replied that the current SIS system does not have a field to code a student as multi-racial.

Dr. Dwight Mullen expressed concern over the low minority enrollment in the new freshman class and asked what the prospects were for next year. Dr. Cochran stated that the numbers in last week's report for next fall are down compared to a similar time period last year. However the data until November or December is notoriously unreliable and fluctuates wildly from year to year. The Chancellor, Mr. McDevitt, and Dr. Cochran met with Dr. Weast and Ms. Barrett to discuss recruitment plans and to ensure we meet our target enrollment of 480 freshmen. The Senate discussed recruiting minority students from Asheville High School.

Budget Shortfall
As a result of the first quarter's drop in revenues and in order to preserve North Carolina's AAA bond rating, there will be a four percent reduction of nearly $1M in UNCA's budget. Fortunately this is a temporary budget reduction rather than a permanent cut. However, this revenue shortfall is in addition to the $500K permanent reduction to UNCA's budget. Funds generated from the tuition increase will be used toward this shortfall. The administration will likely freeze vacant positions for longer periods, conserve utilities, and suspend the acquisition of library books.

Dr. Mitchell revised the agenda to accommodate the SGA representative.

VI. Student Government Association Report
Mr. Kevin Skolnik gave the Student Government Association report in Ms. Shaddix's
absence. Mr. Skolnik, a sophomore senator and sergeant of arms, encouraged senators to approach SGA as an administrative resource. He reported that SGA discussed the plus/minus grading policy approved last year and he found that Dr. Mitchell was a great resource in clarifying the policy. SGA is pleased that the Faculty Senate is dealing with important issues and he advocated bringing the SGA and the Faculty Senate together, making SGA part of the information process. Dr. Mitchell stated that the Executive Committee will discuss the communication issue.

V. Executive Committee Report
Dr. Cathy Mitchell gave the Executive Committee Report.
Tea with the VCs
On September 19 the Faculty Senate and the Chancellor's Staff Advisory Council co-sponsored the first "Tea with the VCs" with Vice Chancellor Wayne McDevitt. Approximately 50 people attended, including six faculty members. People felt it was successful and CSAC has invited Mr. McDevitt to attend another presentation for staff.

Vice Chancellor Iovacchini will host the next "Tea" this Monday, October 22, at 4:30 pm in the Laurel Forum. The idea of the teas is to have more open communication from the vice chancellor level with the university as a whole.

VII. Academic Policies Committee Report
Dr. Jeff Rackham gave the Academic Policies Committee Report.
First Reading:
The following documents were distributed for First Reading:
APC 1: Add Computer Competency to Academic Regulations
APC 2: Change to Environmental Studies Concentration: Earth Science with Teacher Licensure

Honor Code
The APC has reviewed the Honor Code Proposal and has revised it slightly to make it fit an educational model which could improve academics as well as the general culture at UNCA. The proposal will be forwarded to IDC following final APC approval.

VIII. Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report
Dr. Bruce Larson gave the Institutional Development Committee/University Planning Council Report.
First Reading:
The following documents were distributed for First Reading:
IDC 1: Vision Statement
IDC 2: UPC Composition (Revision of SD4201S)
IDC 3: IEC Composition (Revision of SD4301S)
IDC 4: UNCA Goals

IX. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report
Dr. Pamela Nickless gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report in Dr. Wilson's absence. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Ho are attending a medieval studies conference.

Sense of the Senate Resolution
Dr. Nickless distributed a Sense of the Senate Resolution reaffirming the 1985-86 Senate document No 33 calling for recognition of the hard work faculty are already doing. The resolution is not an attempt to increase work load in research or service. Dr. Nickless gave a brief history of the 1985-86 document.

Discussion turned to how the policy would be perceived externally, the teaching load of peer institutions, expectations of junior faculty, guidelines for tenure, the use of administrative reassigned time, and Chancellor Mullen's support of this goal. Dr. Nickless moved to approve the Resolution, which was seconded by Dr. Davenport. Following discussion and several friendly amendments, the Resolution reads: Given that the special mission of a liberal arts university demands frequent, close, and individual work with students and given that FWDC has been charged with working with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to ensure that faculty have the needed time to fulfill this mission, the Faculty Senate reaffirms the 1985-86 Senate document No. 33 to move to a 9/9 teaching load beginning in Fall 2002 as part of the overall work load expectations. This move is recommended to reflect the needs of effective teaching, scholarship, and service at a premier public liberal arts university. The Sense of the Senate Resolution passed by a vote 11 to 0 with one abstention and became Senate Document 0101F.

Policy Concerning Faculty Members and Professional Conduct
FWDC is developing an Institutional Policy Concerning Faculty Members and Professional Conduct as part of SACS. They will submit a formal proposal to the Senate in April after consulting with IDC and seeking faculty input.

Review of Committee Structure
A thorough review of UNCA's committee structure has not found any obvious overlap in committee tasks or any obviously non-functional committees. FWDC's next step is to ask the Chair of each committee to review whether or not its committee matches the composition specified in its enabling document and to suggest possible reductions in the size of the committee.

Faculty Recruitment
FWDC has collected the data on recruitment of faculty and Dr. Whatley is tabulating the data.

X. Old Business
There was no Old Business.

XI. New Business
There was no New Business.

XII. Adjournment
Dr. Mitchell adjourned the meeting at 4:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely
                                       Gordon Wilson