COMMITTEE:  Faculty Welfare

 

MEETING DATE:  October 11, 2007

 

PERSON PRESIDING:  B. Southard

 

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:  A. Dralle, A. Hegde, M. Nasea, J. Salstrom

 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:  B. Henze, L. Ingalls, E. Stellwag, J. Toller

 

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:  K. Bonatz

 

ACTIONS OF THE MEETING:

 

Agenda Item:  Approval of minutes

Action Taken: Minutes of the Sept. 13, 2007 meeting were approved as written.

Agenda Item:  Determination of January and March meeting dates

Action Taken: The Faculty Welfare Committee will meet on January 10 and March 6, 2008.

Agenda Item:  Faculty Applicant Verification Guidelines

Discussion:  K. Bonatz sent out information on background checks on ECU students. L. Ingalls distributed information on EPA and SPA background checks at ECU and UNC institutions.

 

K. Bonatz said that ECU will conduct criminal background checks on faculty just before they are offered a job. The checks are only done on new faculty or on current faculty who are applying for a different position. After a background check is conducted, a copy of the results must go to the person who was checked. There is also a statute prohibiting the falsifying of information in order to get a job.

 

J. Toller says there is a line on the current faculty application that says background checks are conducted. The checks are automated and confidential.

 

B. Southard found UNC-CH's faculty criminal background check policy and procedure, which was effective July 1, 2007. The results go to the dean of the hiring school. The dean, in consultation with the provost, decides whether there is a problem and whether to hire the person.

 

In November the Committee will consider procedures for conducting faculty background checks.

 

Additional Assigned Duties:  J. Toller will send the Chapel Hill policy to the Committee.

Agenda Item:  Emeritus Status

Discussion:  Some Committee members were concerned that September's recommended changes to the Faculty Manual deleted the only mention of "ten or more years" of ECU service as being required prior to the recommendation of emeritus status. B. Southard did not submit those revisions to the Agenda Committee.

 

Action Taken:  Henze/Salstrom motioned an addition to the first clause of ECU Faculty Manual Appendix C, Section I.D.4.

Emeritus status

The titles “emeritus” and “emerita” will be conferred upon those retired faculty with ten or more years of service to East Carolina University, including those on Phased Retirement, who have made a significant contribution to the university through a long and distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and/or service.

Motion was approved.

 

Additional Assigned Duties: B. Southard will submit the revisions to ECU Faculty Manual Part VI, Section I.I.1; Part VI, Section I.I.2.b; and Appendix C, Section I.D.4. to the Agenda Committee for inclusion in the next Senate meeting.

Agenda Item:  Healthcare plan satisfaction

Discussion:  Last year J. Toller and J. Salstrom surveyed external peer institutions on healthcare plan satisfaction. The Committee wants to conduct a survey of ECU faculty and staff on healthcare plan satisfaction soon. The survey will include some demographic questions.

 

Additional Assigned Duties: J. Toller will suggest some questions for this survey for the November meeting. He will also talk with the HR Services Committee.

Agenda Item:  Partner Hire Policy

Discussion:  K. Bonatz sent out information on spousal hiring policies at UNC and other institutions.

 

The UNC Policy Manual 300.4.2. on nepotism applies to reporting relationships and not to partner hires. K. Bonatz suggested consulting the EEO and Diversity offices.

 

Action Taken:  Salstrom/Stellwag motioned that ECU develop a partner hire assistance program. The motion was approved

 

Additional Assigned Duties:  B. Southard will report to M. Taggart that the UNC Policy Manual 300.4.2. on nepotism does not preclude ECU from having a partner hire policy. He will include the Committee recommendation, the UNC policies, and information on some UNC partner hiring assistance programs.

Agenda Item:  University Benefits Committee

Discussion:  J. Toller said the University Benefits Committee is an administrative committee with both faculty and staff members. It is required by state statute with the mission of approving or eliminating retirement vendors and making recommendations on health care benefits.

 

J. Toller is a member of the University Benefits Committee and would like it to meet 2-4 times each year. He is concerned about overlap between that Committee and the Faculty Welfare Committee.

 

Additional Assigned Duties:  J. Toller will get the e-mail distribution lists changed so all members of both committees get the e-mailings from both committees.

 

Agenda Item:  Other Committee Business

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 pm.

Next meeting:  November 8, 2007

Items to be discussed:

Faculty Applicant Verification procedures

Healthcare Plan Satisfaction Survey

Phased Retirement

Mentoring

Parking Status of Retired Faculty

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Nasea, acting secretary