FACULTY
SENATE MEETING
Minutes,
Senate
Members: L. Atkinson, B.
Butler, R. Booker, L. Cornett, J. Konz, B. Larson, D. Lisnerski, G.
Nallan,
S. Mills, P. Nickless, D. Pierce, B.
Reynolds,
Excused: S. Walters.
Visitors: D. Clarke, T. Glenn, A. Gravely, A. Hantz, E. Katz, L.
Mathews, P. McClellan, C. McKenzie,
T. Rizzo, A. Shope, B. Spellman, K.
Whatley, P. Williams, B. Wilson.
I. Call
to Order and Announcements
Dr. Pamela Nickless
called the meeting to order at
II. Approval
of minutes
The
minutes of
III. Administrative Report
Dr.
Update on Budget
As reported in the Chapel Hill
Herald and the Raleigh News and Observer, the Board of Governors
(BOG) took $97,570 from UNCA’s tuition receipts as a penalty for exceeding the
18% enrollment cap on out-of-state incoming freshman in the fall semester. Chancellor Mullen has accepted responsibility
for exceeding the cap. There were no
budgetary consequences because the money had not been budgeted. It is hard to hit the enrollment target exactly. UNCA will be more conservative for the fall
to ensure that we stay within the enrollment target. UNCA might well deserve to have a different
cap, perhaps closer to 25%.
The
BOG has not permitted any school to increase its in-state undergraduate
tuition. The BOG approved the $600 a
year out-of-state tuition increase and the request to increase student
fees.
As
reported in the Asheville Citizen-Times, all of the UNC system campuses
were asked to project how they would absorb budget cuts up to four percent in
the 2005-06 fiscal year. There is a $1 billion state deficit. A four percent cut for UNCA is
substantial. To date, no budget cut has
been imposed for next year.
The
composite figures for the UNC system:
1% = $19.6M cut
2% = $39M
“
3% = $58M
“
4% = $79M
“ (a
reduction of 908 positions).
Dr. Padilla noted that state funding
of our overall budget is shrinking. When
he came to UNCA, the state funded 50% of our budget -- it is now less than
40%. It is worse in other states. We need to continue to find ways to survive
in a culture that does not value state assistance in higher education as much
as it used to.
Draft 2006-07 and 2007-08 Academic
Calendars
Dr.
Whatley reported that Bulldog Day had been removed from the fall 2006 calendar. This enables classes to start on a Monday,
which was a concern for some faculty.
There have been discussions about having a partial day of service for
freshmen and sophomores during the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Dr.
Rossell expressed concern that Bulldog Day was not being held in the fall and
asked what impact this would have on freshman class bonding, faculty/student
bonding, and the community. Dr. Whatley
replied that in the new ILS program set up, freshman advisors will be placed
with students in their classes – bonding would occur during orientation and the
first week of class.
Dr.
Rossell asked about the impact on the community. Ms. Pat McClellan explained that having a
Monday start date affects orientation and Bulldog Day. We do not want to lose the idea of service in
the community and options are being discussed – such as having an optional
multi-day service opportunity similar to the optional wilderness experience.
Dr.
Padilla stated that he wants to engage the community in a discussion of what
the next generation of service learning would look like. He has heard reports that some of the events
on Bulldog Day have been a bit lackluster.
Other schools are moving toward a sustained campus commitment. This is important, but we might use the fall
semester/early spring to build toward making a significant community impact and
experience bonding through orientation.
The idea is to move service learning forward and make it more important,
not less important.
Dr.
Rossell noted that if we are trying to strengthen service learning and take
away Bulldog Day, students and others might get the impression that service
learning is being de-emphasized. Dr.
Padilla agreed that is the danger.
Dr.
Larson moved that the Faculty Senate approve the draft of the 2006-07 and
2007-08 Academic Calendars. Dr. Reynolds
seconded the motion. Dr. Nickless noted
that while the Senate approves the calendars, ultimately the Chancellor sets
the calendar. Changes may occur, but she
was sure the Senate would be informed of them in a timely fashion. The motion passed unanimously.
IV. Executive
Committee Report
Chancellor Search
Committee Update
Dr. Konz reported that the
Chancellor Search Committee has a strong and diverse pool of candidates and is
adhering to the timetable of having the new Chancellor named in May.
Update from Task Force on Student Rating of
Instruction
Dr. Leah Mathews reported that the Senate
assembled the Task Force on Student Rating of Instruction two years ago in
response to a concern that the student evaluation form, which has been in use
for over 20 years, could benefit from revision.
The Task Force work has included a synthesis of feedback from faculty
regarding the perceptions of the current form, a review of evaluation
instruments used at other universities, and research on student evaluation of
teaching. They spent a substantial
amount of time considering both the type of questions that are meaningful to
ask students about our teaching, as well as how to ask them in a way that
responses will be useful for us to improve our teaching. They drafted an instrument that they believe
is a significant improvement to the existing form and have asked for faculty
feedback before pursuing a pilot test of the instrument.
A section has been added to assess
the progress students have made on various learning objectives. In addition to the closed-ended questions, the
draft will also include a set of open-ended questions to elicit feedback that
is directly useful for the improvement of our teaching.
Faculty participants are being asked
to conduct the pilot test during the last week of class (April 25-May 2) and at
the start of a class session. Depending
upon the results of the pilot test, the Task Force could return in the fall
with a report and recommendations on whether this draft should be adopted by
the university or whether it might be useful to think about further study.
The Senate discussed: (1) having the
pilot test identify whether a course is in the major or not and (2) whether students
would recognize course objectives. Dr.
Nickless thanked Dr. Mathews and members of the Task Force for their continued
hard work. She suggested that the Task
Force present the pilot test results at a faculty forum in the fall. Dr. Mathews agreed this would be a good way
to introduce their ideas -- which the Senate will take up as recommendations.
Report from Task Force to Study Faculty
Salary Distribution
Bruce Larson reported that the Task
Force has been working since January/February 2004. The Final Report has two parts: the Report proper and Attachments. Dr.
Nickless suggested that Dr. Larson give a short report and hold substantive
questions until after Senators have carefully read the report.
Dr. Larson noted that the 18
recommendations addressed equity adjustments, starting salary offers,
compensation for Department Chairs/Program Directors, compensation for faculty
members coming from or partially in administrative positions, and additional
recommendations which they were not asked to make. He outlined the recommendations, the
references, and the statistical analyses that formed the core of the equity
adjustments. He corrected a citation on
page 6.
Dr. Nickless noted that the Task Force
was now dissolved, but may be asked to host a faculty forum in the fall.
New Method of electing officers to the
Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Dr. Nickless reminded Senators that
the recently revised Constitution changes how officers of the Faculty Senate
are elected: “Nominations shall be made
from the floor of the Senate and can be made by any member of the faculty
eligible to vote or serve on the Senate.”
She encouraged interested Senators to self-nominate and let others know
of their interest to serve on the Executive Committee.
Meeting on Space Needs for Conferences
Dr. Nickless reported on a meeting
that addressed space needs for conferences.
As Senate Chair, she received two letters – one from Leah Karpen and one
from Dot Sulock – who expressed their views on
V. Student
Government Association Report
Mr.
Greenfest is underway with a
dumpster dive and alternative fuel vehicles on the quad.
VI. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report
Dr.
Don Lisnerski gave the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report.
First
The following
documents were distributed for First Reading:
FWDC 4: 2005 Revision to the Post-Tenure Review
Process
(Revision
to SD1000F) (Faculty Handbook Section 3.7)
FWDC 5: 2005 Revision to the Guidelines for Awarding of
Reappointment, Tenure and
Promotion
(Revision of SD1092S) (Faculty Handbook 3.5.4.1)
FWDC 6: Revision to the Faculty Handbook Election
Procedures (Section 10.2.1)
Update
on Committee Assignments
The University Service Committee report
was postponed until the April 28th Senate meeting.
VII. Academic
Policies Committee Report
Dr. Jeff Konz reported for the
Academic Policies Committee.
Report
on Plus/Minus Grading
Last fall, the Executive Committee
asked
The most significant conclusion
Last
January, while giving a report to the Senate, Vice Chancellor Massey requested
that the Senate consider changes in commencement. The impetus behind the request was that if
students participate in commencement they are more likely to support the
university financially and otherwise after they graduate.
1) Allow students who can be expected to
graduate in August (because they have one or two courses to complete in the
summer) to walk in May.
2) Have a formal
commencement ceremony in December for fall graduates, so that students who are
finishing up in the fall semester have their own ceremony.
3) Is it necessary for graduates to receive
their diplomas at commencement? Handing
out diplomas lengthens the graduation ceremony.
(This is wrapped in the first question.
If it were decided that students do not receive their diploma at
commencement, it has implications for when senior grades are due, as well as
other issues).
During
discussion, Dr. Konz noted that the fall commencement is much more about
resources than the consideration of whether summer graduates should walk in
May. There are institutional resources
involved in putting on a full commencement that involve space, staff, and
faculty time. The expectation is that if
we have a commencement in December, it would be parallel to the May
commencement and would require an institutional and a faculty commitment.
Dr.
Padilla stated that he thought that
Dr.
Konz clarified that the three proposals were referred to
Proposed development of an internal
template/style sheet
Second
The
following documents were considered for Second Reading:
Change Prerequisites for HIST 390.
VMP 207 and 209.
Declaring a Major in MCOM; Change Requirements for Minor in MCOM.
Addition of New INTS Classes.
Change
Title and Description of BIOL 351.
Changes in Descriptions of BIOL 444 and 455.
Changing
title and description of MGMT 394; adding MGMT 481;
Changing description of ACCT 301, ACCT 302.
IST Special Topics.
for students concentrating in Ethics and Social
Institutions.
Dr. Nickless questioned the impact
statement on resources. Dr. Hantz
explained that the department is growing and the curriculum change is not
intended to preclude requests for additional faculty based on growth.
In
a friendly amendment, the phrase “under exceptional circumstances” was added to
the second paragraph of the Drop/Add Policy.
An editorial correction was also made.
First
The following document was
distributed for First Reading:
Dr. Konz noted that Senators
received this document prior to the meeting; he moved to waive the
Comer Rule
to consider the document. Dr. Pierce
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Dr. Clarke and Dr. Whatley noted
that no students were currently enrolled in the program. Interested students may take courses at UNCA
and transfer to
VIII. Institutional
Development Committee Report
Dr. Irene Rossell reported for the
Institutional Development Committee (IDC).
Update
on Task Force on Enrollment Growth and University Size
The Task Force is completing its
discussions on enrollment growth. Its
report will be posted on the web tomorrow and Dr. Rossell will email the link
to faculty, staff, and students with a request for comments. The final forum to discuss recommendations
will be on April 14th from
Second
The
following document was considered for Second Reading:
IDC 8: Intent to Plan a B.A. in Religious Studies.
Dr. Spellman explained that IDC 8
was a distillation of a Task Force report that recommended the creation of a
complete Religious Studies department with four or five full-time faculty. Task Force representatives met with the
Provost and it was acknowledged that in terms of practicality it was unlikely
that the Office of the President would provide any start-up funds for the
program. There would be incremental
growth; we offer courses now in the minor with faculty from across campus. One possibility is to set aside through the
Position Allocation Committee one position for an individual to be hired in a
traditional department with the clear mandate that a Religious Studies
department would be created over the next three or four years and one or two
more faculty would be added. At that
juncture, that individual would leave the host/traditional department and
become the Chair in a functioning department of two or three faculty
members. The question is a serious one –
if there is no additional outside funding from the state, where do we look for
those additional dollars for positions and space? Dr. Pierce noted that this could be similar
to the Health and Wellness major which was approved in 1998 and is just now
becoming a major.
Dr. Rossell suggested that the
Senate address these issues next year in the Intent to Establish proposal. The Task Force on Enrollment Growth is
releasing its recommendations and that is also something we need to think
about. For example, if UNCA is to grow,
perhaps we need more majors such as Religious Studies to absorb some of the
growth. There are a lot of curricular
planning issues that will come into play in making that kind of decision.
Dr. Nickless questioned the demand
for religious studies among our students.
Many people are very interested in religion and not at all interested in
studying religion. That does not mean
that we should not have the program. But
if that is going to be an argument, we need more documentation in the Intent to
Establish proposal. IDC 8 passed unanimously and became
Senate document 6105S.
IX. Old Business
There
was no Old Business.
X. New Business
There
was no New Business.
XI. Adjourn
Dr.
Nickless adjourned the meeting at
Respectfully
submitted by: Sandra Gravely
Don
Lisnerski