University of North Carolina at Asheville FACULTY SENATE MEETING Minutes, November 8, 1990 Senate Members: A. Coyne, L. Friedenberg, B. Greenawalt, A. Hantz, J. Heimbach, D. Lisnerski, S. Obergfell, B. Sabo, D. Sulock, D. Van Engelen, A. Wengrow, B. Wilson, L. Wilson Absent: A. Comer, L. Dorr, J. Rackham Visitors: T. Byers, T. Cochran, J. Garrett, C. Goedsche, D. Harmon, M. Johnson (SGA), I. Call to Order The 1990-91 Faculty Senate met on Thursday, November 8, 1990, in the New Classroom Building - Room 005. Lisa Friedenberg, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. Minutes The October 4, 1990 Senate minutes were approved as written (Motion: Heimbach/Coyne). Drs. Lisnerski/Sabo moved to approve the October 11, 1990 minutes. Dr. Sabo made an amendment to insert the following sentence under Old Business: Due to the late hour it was agreed to delay second reading consideration of Dr. Sabo's four resolutions until the November 8, 1990 Senate meeting. The minutes were approved as amended. II. Administrative Report Dr. Larry Wilson (VCAA) gave the Administrative Report. Board of Trustees - Mission Statement The Board of Trustees unanimously approved UNCA's Mission Statement. Dr. Wilson thanked Mr. Wengrow for his efforts on the statement. - 3 Facility Issues The Board of Trustees approved the Real Property and Finance Committee's recommendation to locate a parking lot on the right side of the Highsmith Center driveway, above the creek and across the road from the Botanical Garden. The Board also approved a recommendation to expand the Highsmith Center by constructing a new cafeteria. This will be a separate but attached cafeteria and is a major shift from the original expansion plans for the Highsmith Center. The Board has asked the architects to draw up plans for a new residence hall across from the service road east of Highsmith Center, above the proposed parking lot. The new residence hall would serve 150 students and is an alternative to the plan discussed last Spring. Discussion Discussion followed concerning the UNCA's Mission Statement and the new Senate resolution to classify UNCA as a Liberal Arts University I. Dr. Wilson stated that at this time, GA considers UNCA's official statement to be the one in the UNC Planning Guides. This statement differs from UNCA's statement. UNCA is going to try to influence how it is written, but Dr. Wilson does not know how successful we will be in this endeavor. Mr. Wengrow stated it was important to assess the value of UNCA's $35K Master Plan in conjunction with the self-study. This plan included closing the University Heights loop. Mr. Wengrow felt it was important for UNCA to have a plan and to adhere to it. Examples of inconsistent planning can be seen in UNCA's lighting fixtures, sidewalks, and handrails. Atmospheric Science GA has officially approved the recommendation of the Atmospheric Sciences self-study, approved by the UPC and the Faculty Senate, to convert the Atmospheric Science Program to a Department. Enrollment Comparing current applications to applications last year at this time, the number of Freshman applications for Spring 1991 is unchanged. Transfer applications for Spring 1991 have increased 10%. For Fall 1991, Freshman applications are up 15% despite the smaller number of high school graduates nationwide. Applications from WNC have increased nearly 14%. Out-of-state applications have increased by 6%, applications from the Piedmont by 22%. Dr. Wilson attributed the Piedmont increase to Dr. Brown's trip last year. SATs of applicants are up 50 points; SATs of students accepted for Fall 1991 are 1051 (versus 1004 a year ago). Dr. Wilson emphasized that the current numbers are small and could change. Honors/Undergraduate Fellows Receptions were held Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Asheville, for prospective Honors students, and particularly those who applied for the Undergraduate Fellows & Scholars competition. This was the first time the reception has been held this early in the year and the turnout was good. Changes in Admissions Staff Steve Wilborn has left UNCA to go to the University of Richmond as their minority recruiter, and Derwin Williams left to assume a counseling job at Rosman High School. The two counselor vacancies have been filled by Richard White and Christine Chambers. Richard is a graduate of Asheville High School, was student body president, and a Morehead Scholar. He graduated last Spring and plans to attend law school in a couple of years. Christine Chambers is a recent UNCA graduate and has been working in the Personnel Department. Dr. Wilson reported that Leigh McBride also will be working in Admissions. Faculty Handbook Ms. Martha Marshall has been working on updating the Faculty Handbook since last summer. The new handbook will be in a modular fashion in order to make updating easier. Board of Visitors - $60K Grant Tom Haber, an Asheville native and employee of GLAXO Corporation, has been very influential in helping UNCA obtain a $60K grant for Undergraduate Research. - Teaching Council Peter Seldin, one of UNCA's Board of Visitors working with the Teaching Council, has been invited back to campus for a workshop in early January. The Asheville Institute for General Education UNCA has teamed up with the American Association of Colleges and has formed The Asheville Institute for General Education. The Institute will conduct what is hoped will be an annual General Education celebration beginning this June. The weekend event will consist of two parts. In the first part, UNCA will feature nationally known speakers for teams from approximately 20 institutions, including faculty, chief academic administrators, legislators involved in higher education in their states, or Board of Trustees members. The keynote speakers will include individuals from the corporate, public and academic sectors. After the keynote speakers leave, faculty teams will spend a week working on general education plans for their particular campuses. Hopefully they will be paying their own expenses. This collaboration is due in large part to Dr. Moseley and Joe Johnston from the American Association of Colleges. Through Joe Johnston, UNCA submitted a proposal for $50K to start the Institute to the Exxon Foundation. The American Association of Colleges requested $25K, for a $75K package. Dick Johnson, the program officer for Exxon, has requested that the Institute receive $150K instead of $75K. The Exxon Board has not approved the request at this time, but Dick Johnson believes it will be approved. If the request is approved, it will insure two years of the Institute. Also, money can be spent however we wish for two years and we will receive interest on the money. Dr. Wilson stated that this is one example of the many ways in which Joe Johnston has been influential in helping UNCA. Dr. Wilson also recognized Dr. Obergfell for all of the work she has done with Joe Johnston, and the enormous dividends it has paid. The NC Council for the Liberal Arts The 18 member council will hold its second meeting tomorrow in Chapel Hill. The council is attempting to interest future NC leaders in UNCA through the issue of liberal education. The purpose of the meeting is to continue to nurture this group to become advocates for a liberal education across the state, and to remind them that UNCA is in fact a leader in the state system. Dr. Wilson stated that this was no small task, as none of the members are graduates of a liberal arts college. The main agenda item is an article by David Breneman, formerly the president of Kalamazoo College (a Liberal Arts I College), on the subject of: "Are We Losing Our Liberal Arts Colleges?" An attempt will be made to try to engage this group into talking about: "What are the values that liberal art colleges have that are a little different than other universities, and more importantly, why should people in the state worry about this?" III. Executive Committee Report Dr. Friedenberg reported for the Executive Committee. University Relations Follow Up Report Dr. Friedenberg received a follow up report from Beverly Cutter Modlin in response to questions asked at the October 11, 1990 Senate meeting. The investment return as reported by Wachovia is before (rather than after) fees are paid. Also, Wachovia does have investment options which are "socially responsible." They yield a lower rate of return since investment options are reduced. UNCA's account is not invested in this manner. A copy of this report will be placed on reserve in the Senate file in Ramsey Library. Wachovia's statement on this option is included in the report. Also included in this report is a performance comparison of Wachovia with TIAA-CREF's performance. Dr. Friedenberg will ask Mrs. Cutter Modlin for a list of this year's funding raising priorities. Institutional Research Reports Dr. Archer Gravely sent Dr. Friedenberg two Institutional reports, both of which concern grade distribution relative to grade inflation. These will be placed on reserve in the Senate file in Ramsey Library. Student Government Report No report. IV. Academic Policies Committee Report Dr. Coyne gave the Academic Policies Committee Report. Documents for First Reading Presentation Dr. Coyne distributed the following documents for first reading presentation: APC #7: Replacement of Grade APC #8: Revision of General Education requirements in Natural Science APC #9: Proposal to increase Physical Geology (ENVR 105) from 4 to 5 credits V. Institutional Development Committee Report Dr. Hantz reported for the Institutional Development Committee. Dr. Hantz has received the annual report of the Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Council (URPAC). Faculty who are interested in this report should contact Dr. Hantz. Dr. Hantz reminded Senate that the document creating URP does not require a report to the Senate and suggested this as a future issue for discussion. VI. Faculty Welfare and Development Committee Report Dr. Greenawalt reported for the Faculty Welfare and Development Committee. The Faculty Welfare and Development Committee has met twice since the last Senate meeting. Dr. Greenawalt distributed a memo describing changes in the TIAA-CREF Retirement Options. The alterations were the result of changes in law, in TIAA-CREF's charter, and action by the UNC Board of Governors. A copy of the report will be placed in the Senate reserve file in Ramsey Library. VII. Old Business Documents for Consideration Dr. Sabo moved approval of the following resolutions: Resolution #1: Library completion. Mr. Wengrow seconded the motion. Dr. Sabo stated that he very much wanted to see a statement from the faculty stating that the completion of Ramsey Library should be the highest priority of the university before we consider any other top capital projects. The library is the cornerstone, the symbol, of a liberal arts college. Discussion followed concerning approving a priority statement that only listed one item as a priority. Dr. Hantz felt that the statement should also include at least a second priority (the New Classroom Building) or have a companion resolution regarding the New Classroom Building as the second priority. Dr. Hantz stated that UNCA talks a lot about the Honors Program, yet when honors students and contributors to the program visit the campus, they see a hole for the honors library; they have to wonder how much UNCA really regards the Honors Program if we can't provide the facility. Also, UNCA is squatting in the Graduate Center territory in an era when the university is trying to improve its relationship with the Graduate Center. Mr. Wengrow questioned the meaning of the words "...all energies and resources to secure the funds necessary..." in the document, as it is conceivable that a private donor might be forthcoming to complete the NCB prior to the completion of the library. He also questioned whether the resolution included funds which might be used for scholarships, etc. or only monies that can be secured from the normal legislature channel. Dr. Sabo stated that he purposely worded the document so that it could be interpreted either way, although he preferred to consider all funds rather than state funds. Dr. Sabo stated he would leave it for the Chancellor to interpret. Mr. Wengrow stated that if UNCA used money from a private donor for the library, we would never recoup the money through the legislature. Restricted funds versus nonrestricted funds and possible projects likely to be funded by the legislature were also discussed. Mr. Wengrow made an amendment to remove the second sentence of the resolution. Dr. Heimbach seconded the amendment. The amendment passed. Resolution #1 then passed as amended by a 10-2 vote and became Senate Document #0890F. Resolution #2: Commendation. Dr. Hantz seconded the motion. Dr. Sabo distributed a copy of a substitute resolution. Dr. Greenawalt moved to amend the commendation of Mel Blowers by substituting the new resolution distributed. Dr. Coyne seconded the amendment. Dr. Sabo explained that the first version did not recognize the library staff sufficiently and he reworded the document so that Mel Blowers and the library staff would all be recognized for their efforts. Dr. Sabo stated that ideally Dr. Friedenberg would read the Senate resolution at the grand opening of the library. The amended version passed unanimously. Resolution #2 then passed unanimously and became Senate Document #0990F. Resolution #3: Building maintenance. Dr. Hantz seconded the motion. Mrs. Sulock moved to table the resolution. A description of maintenance's new team approach followed. The motion to table failed for lack of a second. Dr. Larry Wilson stated that at one time maintenance was short nine housekeeping positions and housekeepers had to be rotated around campus. Mr. Efland has talked with the department chairs group; a suggestion was made that perhaps the Senate should invite Mr. Efland to a Senate meeting and find out what the status of things are and what his intentions are concerning maintenance. Dr. Lisnerski moved to table the resolution. Ms. Sulock seconded the motion. Resolution #3 was tabled unanimously. Resolution #4: Parking fees. Dr. Sabo asked that the FWDC look seriously at the parking fee structure, with a particular emphasis on lowering fees for staff to a token amount. Dr. Sabo wanted to make sure that the Senate was interested in this before sending it to the FWDC in order to save the FWDC a considerable amount of work and frustration. Dr. Hantz seconded the motion. The following issues were discussed: making the lower parking lot free for staff; replacing the word "incorporate" with the word "consider"; dividing the resolution into two proposals, one to lower fees for staff, and one to prioritize the parking system, which would significantly reduce revenues; whether allowing dormitory students to have cars on campus was a luxury or a necessity; whether raising parking fees would be in the best interest of the faculty, the group the Senate represents; the likelihood of having fewer residential students on campus if our parking policy was punitive, and the decreased community feeling that would result from having fewer residential students. After further discussion, two motions were made to amend the resolution and were then withdrawn. Mr. Wengrow then moved to delete everything in the resolution after the first paragraph. Dr. Lisnerski seconded the motion. A vote of the amendment passed. Resolution #4 was unanimously approved as amended and became Senate Document #1090F. The Executive Committee will monitor progress on the document. VIII. New Business - Changing Format of Senate Minutes Dr. Friedenberg asked to discuss a proposal to change the format of the Senate minutes in order to eliminate printing costs and the enormous number of minutes currently being distributed. Approximately 25% of the institutions in the UNC system have moved to a dual minutes format. Dr. Friedenberg requested Senate approval to try a new system whereby all faculty on campus would receive an Executive Summary, usually one page in length, that would contain a summary of the major issues discussed and any votes, or actions taken. The traditional minutes would still be distributed to Senators and key administrative personnel. Dr. Friedenberg stated that this was feasible at UNCA because the traditional minutes are entered into the computer system and therefore accessible anywhere on campus on the VAX system. Discussion revealed that the Administrative Report is not circulated to faculty in any other form, and it is of interest to faculty. Other Senators preferred less information on the various reports and more detail of the discussion on the Senate documents. The Senate agreed to try the new format and review it after two or three meetings. - Senate Meeting Dates Dr. Friedenberg stated that the next Senate meeting was scheduled during exam week on December 13th. The Senators agreed to keep this date as scheduled. The January meeting will be held on January 17th. IX. Adjournment Dr. Friedenberg adjourned the meeting at 5:10 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Sandra Gravely Bruce Greenawalt