FACULTY SENATE
FULL MINUTES OF JANUARY 29, 2008
The fifth
regular meeting of the 2007-2008
Agenda Item I. Call to Order
Mark Taggart, Chair of the Faculty called the meeting to
order at 2:10 p.m.
Agenda Item II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of December
4, 2007,
were approved as distributed.
Agenda Item III. Special Order of the Day
A. Roll Call
Senators absent were: Professors Weismiller (Medicine),
Grymes (Music),
Alternates present were: Professors Ballard for Dosser
(Child Development and Family Relations), Glass for Greene (Education), Eble
for Sharer (English), Lillian for Tovey (English),
B. Announcements
The Chancellor has approved the
following resolutions from the November 6, 2007,
07-25 Fall 2007 Graduation Roster, including honors program graduates.
07-26 Revisions to the
ECU Faculty Manual, Part VI. relating to emeritus status with the following
amendment (noted in strikethrough and bold).
Part VI. Section I.2.b.
“b. Upon the recommendation of the unit
personnel committee, unit head, and appropriate dean, and the appropriate vice
chancellor, the chancellor may grant the faculty retiree emeritus status (as
defined in Appendix C.) which includes the items listed above under Section
I.I.2.a. and, in addition, the following privileges:
1) Access
to recreational facilities under the same conditions as active faculty.
2) Continuance of eligibility to
march, wearing appropriate regalia, in University commencement exercised and
other University formal processions, as active faculty.”
07-27 Curriculum matters contained in the minutes of the October
11, 2007, University Curriculum Committee meeting.
The
Chancellor has also approved the following resolutions from the December 4,
2007,
07-32 Request to
establish minors in Department of Clinical Laboratory Science,
07-33 Revision
to the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix C. relating to emeritus status.
07-34 Revision
to the ECU Faculty Manual, Part VI.H. Phased Retirement.
07-35 Curriculum
matters contained in the minutes of the October
25, 2007, Committee meeting.
The
Chancellor will host a
There
is no longer a curriculum submission deadline for inclusion in the official ECU
catalog. Faculty are reminded that the official ECU catalog is now the online
catalog. The University Curriculum Committee will continue to meet through
April 2008 to address curriculum matters.
Please direct
any questions to Professor Janice Neil, Chair of the University Curriculum
Committee at cuc@ecu.edu.
Letters concerning unit elections for
the 2008-2009
The Committee on
Committees has been charged to seek volunteers to serve on the various
academic, appellate, administrative, Board of Trustees, and student union
committees. Faculty are strongly
encouraged to participate in this component of shared faculty governance and
complete a volunteer form by February 18, 2008. Committee appointments will be finalized at the April 29,
2008,
Faculty members have two ways to note their preference for service on the various
standing University committees.
1) On OneStop under Employee Section, faculty
members click on “Faculty Committee Volunteer Form” and complete the committee
volunteer preference form.
2)
A faculty member may complete the volunteer preference form that is
available on the
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/committee/callforvolunteers.htm
C. Steve
Ballard, Chancellor
Chancellor Ballard stated that his
staff was not available to prepare the information needed for the longitudinal
profile of faculty tenure status of permanent and temporary faculty; therefore,
he would not be able to report on topic this month.
Chancellor Ballard began his
report to the
Chancellor Ballard continued his
discussion of the UNC Tomorrow report and response by stating that the Board of
Governors is interested in how responsive the university is to the state’s
needs.
Regarding the process of UNC
Tomorrow task force and response, Chancellor Ballard referred to a resolution
of 7-30, which referred to the need of several task forces to complete this
university response, with an initial task force to include 6 faculty members,
with 3 members selected from a list submitted by Professor Taggart (Chair of
the Faculty).
Chancellor Ballard discussed ECU’s
proposed capital projects. He stated
that since 12/19/2007, political strategies have been discussed relative to
five new buildings on campus, with a possibility of six buildings. While these
buildings have been ranked, Chancellor Ballard continued, the priorities may be
misinterpreted. Some of the buildings may be built and others may remain on
list. Some of the proposed buildings are ranked lower than others and that some
of the buildings may be covered by capital funds. He continued his discussion
of the capital projects by stating that the
Chancellor Ballard also reported
that there will be an increase in medical education and that the Brody School
of Medicine will be expanding medical classes from 75 to 110 students.
Professor Cope (Faculty Assembly,
Psychology) inquired about the current plans of the city to consider rerouting
Professor Sprague (Physics) inquired
about the report that was completed in December 2007 regarding multi-year
contracts for fixed term faculty. Professor Sprague questioned the absolute
guideline that an initial multiple-year fixed-year faculty appointment is not
possible. Professor Sprague (Physics) asked the Chancellor about the denial of
a multiyear employment contract to a fixed term faculty when such a position
fills a lengthy grant contract. Interim Provost Sheerer stated that this issue
was discussed with the faculty officers and as a result, these types of
contracts would be considered individually and multi-year contracts would be
considered in such situations.
Professor
Martinez (Foreign Languages) asked Chancellor Ballard to explain a quote
regarding the University Policy Manual Task Force and the possible plans of the
Board of Trustees to rewrite C, D, and L and to bring the ECU Faculty Manual in line with the university policy manual.
Professor Martinez asked Chancellor Ballard to discuss implications for shared
governance considering such activity.
Chancellor Ballard stated that he
did not make a statement of this nature. Chancellor Ballard stated that he has
asked the faculty officers to get together to discuss these issues and stated
further that there was a need to reflect best practices in finding the best
leaders in the university. He stated that there have been both disagreements
and misunderstandings regarding this administrator hiring policy. Chancellor
Ballard stated that he believes that we have made a lot of progress in the
Fall, but believes that we need to work on the end process in administrative
hiring. Chancellor Ballard stated that the BOT feels strongly about this issue
and that the BOT is the policy making body. The Chancellor stated that he has
worked on this with the BOT for over 3 ½ years and he is willing to continue to
work on this issue with the faculty.
Chair Taggart then
recognized Professor Bob Morrison (Chemistry) who made the following statement
to the faculty:
“Shared
governance in an academic setting is a fragile balancing act that takes place
between the administration and its faculty.
It is an attempt by the administration and the faculty to solve problems
and implement policies in a manner that benefits all the constituencies of the
university. Those are the familiar words
of one of the founders of the
Morrison stated that those
of you who know him from his service to the
“In addition to ensuring the establishment of
a council or senate, the chancellor shall ensure the establishment of
appropriate procedures within the institution to provide members of the faculty
the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and
institutional governance, with particular emphasis upon matters of curriculum,
degree requirements, instructional standards, and grading criteria. The procedures for giving advice may be
through the council or senate, standing or special committees or other
consultative means.”
These
appropriate procedures that have been established at
“The
And further, under Functions of
the
“The
Professor
Morrison stated that these matters of academic policy, faculty welfare, and
institutional governance referred to in the UNC Code and in the Faculty
Constitution have been developed over many years both by
He stated that it is
unprecedented to make changes to the Faculty Manual without going to the
Professor
Morrison remarked that the new policy on the Appointment and Review of Administrative Officers was neither reviewed
by the
Professor Morrison stated
that the Chancellor and the Chair of the Faculty, as alluded to in the faculty
constitution, should get together and work out their differences so that the
university can develop policies in a manner that’s compatible with our
constitution and policies outlined in the Faculty Manual. Their conclusions should be reported back to
the
Professor Jones (Criminal Justice)
expressed his concerns relative to an ongoing search committee and Appendix
L. He stated that in reviewing the
interviews, four are acceptable candidates; however, the new BOT policy would
render the search null and void. Professor Jones continued to express his
frustration regarding the new BOT policy and how the policy would affect future
searches for administrators. He stated
that he has read the BOT policy and it does not interfere with Appendix L.
Professor Jones expressed his concerns relative to the finalists for
administrator searches and questioned why all finalists must be provided to the
hiring official. He stated that this issue appears to be connected to possible
problems in diversity representation.
Chancellor Ballard expressed his dissatisfaction with Professor Jones’
comments relative to perceived misinterpretation of the administrative hiring
policy and stated that he would like Professor Taggart (Chair of the Faculty)
and others to work on the implementation of the new policy.
D. Marilyn
Sheerer, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Life
Interim Provost Sheerer began her remarks to the
Professor Corbett (Geology) stated that this new classroom
scheduling policy might affect courses that require both classroom and
fieldwork teaching. He stated that this type of teaching utilizes student
classroom space to look at specimens, etc. even though this type of work has
not been formally scheduled. Professor
Corbett stated that the combination of MWF and TTH class/day combinations may
not be possible for many courses and that many of the field trips take place on
Friday and this new policy may be a problem for this type of academic activity.
Interim Provost Sheerer stated that Angela Anderson
(Registrar) had already met with instructors and that additional concerns need
to be expressed to Mrs. Anderson regarding this policy. Sheerer stated that the
university needs better use of our space and that Ms. Anderson is open to the
needs of any department and can work with the faculty to solve
classroom-scheduling problems. Provost Sheerer stated that the faculty officers
have reported that there are many complaints among the faculty regarding this
policy. Dr. Sheerer stated that Bruce
Flye told her that if the large classrooms were better utilized, there would be
enough classroom space.
Professor Sprague (Physics) inquired about the chair of
committee on university policies and the university policy manual. Professor
Taggart (Chair of the Faculty) stated that this committee will be chaired by
the University Chief of Staff.
Professor Martinez (Foreign Languages and Literatures)
stated that she is happy to know that the guidelines for multiyear fixed-term
faculty contracts have been changed. Professor Martinez asked whether full-time
fixed term faculty would be considered for 5 year contracts in the future.
Interim Provost Sheerer stated that exceptions will be made for initial
fixed-term faculty. Professor Martinez (Foreign Languages and Literatures)
stated that the duties of a fixed-term faculty member should be spelled out in
the contract and should be clear.
Professor Martinez (Foreign Languages and Literatures) stated
that the unit cannot exceed 20% of the faculty in its composition of fixed-term
faculty. She asked what would happen in units that have primarily fixed term
faculty and if this percentage of fixed-term faculty could be changed.
Interim Provost Sheerer stated an older policy stated that
10% of the faculty could be fixed-term faculty and that if for budgetary
reasons someone needed to be “let go”, that it should be the fixed-term faculty
first and not the tenured faculty.
Professor Rigsby (Past Chair of the Faculty, Geology) stated
that BOT approved a policy concerning the hiring process due to several current
Dean searches. She questioned the statement that any policy approved by BOT
supersedes the Faculty Manual. Professor Rigsby quoted Bob Morrison regarding
the Faculty Manual, which is the premiere governance document that involves
both faculty and administration. She continued comments by stating that this
BOT policy, taken without upholding the policies already in place by the
faculty manual, disregards faculty governance.
Professor Robinson (Mathematics) stated that there is no
policy on policies. Policies are made in
the
Professor Rigsby then asked Interim Provost Sheerer about,
how she sees the ECU Faculty Manual,
the
E. Elizabeth
Layman, Member of then UNC Tomorrow Commission
In her remarks,
Professor Layman stated that the process started in
March 2007 with campus visits by President Bowles. In May 2007, 14 Scholars from across the
University system were added to the process.
It was emphasized in many ways that we represented the system – we did
NOT represent our constituent universities.
The Board of Governors charged the Commission to learn what the people
of
Provided here is a link to Final Report on UNC Tomorrow Commission
(12-07).
F. Pat Dunn, Mayor of
Pat Dunn
(Mayor of Greenville) discussed the issues of property, preservation, and
restoration of buildings in the ECU area. The recommendation of the city
council is to provide to provide incentives in specific neighborhoods,
specifically to promote West Greenville and
Professor
McCammon (Health and Human Performance) remarked that this was a great idea and
questioned whether this information can be accessed online. He also asked about issues of crime in these
areas. Professor Dunn stated that the
issue of crime is not unknown, but that crime appears to be down in these
areas. At present, the application is
available from the City Council.
Professor
Zoller (Art) asked whether these homes, in these designated areas, will have or
be eligible for flood insurance. Mayor Dunn replied that these areas are not in
the flood plain.
G. Catherine
Rigsby, Faculty Assembly Delegate
Professor
Rigsby (Geology) discussed activities from the January
2008 Faculty Assembly meeting. In her remarks
she touched on the proposed changes to the UNC Code
603/604/Post-Tenure Review Policies, the UNC Tomorrow Commission, and the
UNC/Community College/K12 Initiatives. No questions were posed to Professor
Rigsby.
H. Mark Taggart,
Chair of the Faculty
Professor
Taggart stated that he would like to briefly focus his
comments on the following matters: the report on faculty employment, including
fixed term faculty, the findings of the UNC Tomorrow Commission, including our
application to become and engaged university”, the formulation of the
University Policy Development Committee, and the work of the administrative
task force on leadership. He stated
that the purpose of his comments were to make a “call for clarity” in
understanding, discussing, and executing these matters
For each January
Further, there have been occasions when faculty have been
assigned and reassigned for part-time fixed term positions without benefits,
but the faculty member had been assigned additional responsibilities. For the purpose of clarity in this matter,
the Task Force on fixed term faculty has made the following
recommendation: “The continuous
reappointment of faculty members in .75FTE per academic year fixed-term
positions without benefits shall occur only if mutually agreed upon by the
faculty member and the unit administrator.”
Chair Taggart reminded Faculty Senators of a letter at
everyone’s seat from our Chancellor regarding the
Chair Taggart stated that the Chancellor has recently formed
a University Policy Development Committee and had asked him to serve on this
committee. The current task of this committee is to “Review the current draft
“Procedure for Formatting, Adopting, and Publishing Policies, Regulations, and
Rules,” and to “develop a final recommendation for a clear and transparent
process for policy development at
And, finally, there has been much discussion on the new
policies drafted by the Task Force on Administrative Leadership recently
approved by the Board of Trustees. The
Task Force is currently engaged in drafting implementation procedures for this
newly approved policy. Chair Taggart
stated that he was thankful for the Chancellor’s offer to meet and work on a
possible resolution to this matter as well. In the spirit of clarity and shared
governance, it is my hope that the appropriate
Professor Taggart stated that he had expressed his concerns
to President Erskine Bowles over how these changes in procedures, mandated by
our Board of Trustees, are unprecedented in the history of ECU. In hopes of clarifying the processes involved
in making these changes, President Bowles asked that Chair Taggart have a
meeting with the Chair of our Board of Trustees in hopes of providing clarification
of our procedures. Chair Taggart stated that it was crucial that our university
develop policies in a manner that is compatible with the current procedures
found in our constitution and Faculty Manual. It was his hope that we can find
clarification and mutual understanding.
It was also his hope that we can move forward with the response to the
UNC Tomorrow Commission, the Strategic Enrollment Task Force, our accreditation
work, and other forward-looking concerns that affect our university and community,
instead of looking backwards over the policies and procedures that have been
approved and in practice for many years at ECU.
No
questions were posed to Professor Taggart.
I. Question
Period
Professor
Zoller (Art and Design) thanked Dean Rick Niswander (Business) and Professor
Patricia Anderson (Education) for the excellent PAD workshop for
administrators. She asked whether these workshops could continue in the future.
Dean Niswander (Business) thanked her and said that it would be fine with him.
Professor
Martinez (Foreign Language and Literatures) asked whether a senator could make
a comment and not a question. Professor
Knickerbocker (Parliamentarian) replied that this was not possible.
Professor
McKinnon inquired as to whether labs were included in the classroom management
plan. Interim Provost Sheerer responded that labs are not included in this
plan.
Professor
Sprague (Physics) discussed the problems with Banner, in relation to hiring of
fixed-term faculty. Professor Sprague stated that in a recent situation, it
took over two weeks to get access to Blackboard. In addition, Professor Sprague stated that
the Banner Help Line is limited and is only accessible from 1 pm to 4 pm. Professor Sprague asked whether anything can
be done about this situation. Interim Provost Sheerer suggested that someone
come to the
Professor
Rigsby (Past Chair of the Faculty, Geology) asked Vice Chancellor Mageean
whether she would be a key-note speaker about the
Professor
Robinson (Mathematics) asked about the ordering of textbooks and whether the mechanism
has changed. He stated that the faculty
must now go through the Student Store to order books. Interim Provost Sheerer stated that she will
need to find out the specifics of this change including the rationale for this
change in the ordering of textbooks. She stated that she will provide an answer
to this question in the future.
Professor
Martinez (Foreign Languages) asked if the administrators would accept her
explanation for the title of the Faculty Evaluation document and would they
offer to meet with the Faculty Officers and Faculty Governance Committee to
discuss any policies in the ECU
Faculty Manual
relating to diversity. Vice Chancellors
Horns and Mageean and Provost Sheerer remarked that they would accept this
explanation.
Professor Jones
(Criminal Justice) asked Vice Chancellor Mageean about student travel policy.
Vice Chancellor Mageean stated that there is a new travel policy on student
travel and that funds appropriated for travel can be used for student travel
and reimbursed at a State rate for university and State business.
Professor
Rigsby (Geology) asked about the administrators’ responsibility to make
appointments and that the process should be a shared responsibility process
that involve faculty in addition to the administrators. She asked Professor
Taggart (Chair of the Faculty), when meeting with the administration, to
represent the entire faculty and to use this opportunity to understand the
differences between policy and the process.
Professor Taggart (Chair of the Faculty) stated that he understands the
appointment of administrators is the responsibility of the administration, that
we all must work together to achieve wonderful things for this university.
Agenda Item IV. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business to come before the body at
this time.
Agenda Item V. Report of Committees
A. Committee on
Committees
Tom Caron (Education), Chair of the
Committee, presented the names of those nominated for the two delegates and two
alternate Faculty Assembly positions which included the following: Andrew
Morehead (Chemistry), Hunt McKinnon (Interior Design and Merchandising), Mark
Taggart (Music), and Ralph Scott (Academic Library Services). Mark Sprague (Physics) was nominated from the
floor.
Following
elections, the following faculty members were elected to the UNC Faculty
Assembly and all will represent
|
Delegates |
Academic Unit |
Term |
Office Location |
Tele # |
|
open |
Elected Chair of the
Faculty* |
2009 |
|
|
|
Sociology |
2009 |
Brewster A-418 |
328-4897 |
|
|
Geology |
2010 |
Graham 203 |
328-4297 |
|
|
Physics |
2011 |
Howell Science E310 |
328-1862 |
|
|
Interior Design and
Merchandising |
2011 |
Rivers 259A |
328-4237 |
*Chair of the Faculty terms begin and end with term
in office.
|
Alternates |
Academic Unit |
Term |
Office Location |
Tele # |
|
Chemistry |
2009 |
Science & Tech 564 |
328-9798 |
|
|
Anthropology |
2010 |
Flanagan 224 |
328-9453 |
|
|
Technology and Computer
Science |
2010 |
Rawl 336 |
328-4139 |
|
|
Academic Library Services |
2011 |
Joyner 4106 |
328-0265 |
|
|
Music |
2011 |
Fletcher 366 |
328-4278 |
B. Educational Policies
and Planning Committee
Dale Knickerbocker
(Foreign Languages and Literatures), Chair of the Committee, presented the
following: 1) Request to establish photography as an area of concentration
within the Master of Fine Arts degree, School of Art and Design, 2) Notice of Intent to Plan Bachelor of
Science in Applied Atmospheric Science and Bachelor of Science in Geographic
Information Science and Technology, Department of Geography, 3) Notice of
Intent to Plan Master of Science in Security Studies, Department of Political
Science, 4) Certificate title change - Department of
English, Graduate Certificate in Multicultural Literatures to Graduate
Certificate in Multicultural and Transnational Literatures, 5) Degree program
title change in the Department of Pharmacology to Department of Pharmacology
and Toxicology and 6) Degree program title change in the Department of
Recreation and Leisure Studies, Management of Recreation Facilities and
Services (MRFS) to Recreation and Park Management (RPM). There was no discussion and the report was
approved as presented. RESOLUTION
#08-01
C. University
Curriculum Committee
Jane Manner (Education), a member of the Committee,
presented the curriculum matters
contained in the minutes of the November 8, 2007 and December
13, 2007. There was no discussion and the curriculum
matters were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #08-02
D. Unit Code Screening Committee
Garris Conner (Nursing), Chair of the Committee, presented
the proposed new Department
of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Unit Code of Operation and the revised College
of Nursing’s Unit Code of Operation.
There was no
discussion and the unit codes were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #08-03
Agenda Item VI. New Business
There was brief discussion of allowing Professor Dorothy
Muller, with the Center for Faculty Excellence, to speak to the group. Sprague (Physics) moved for adjournment. Professor Muller was invited back to speak to
the group in February.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianna Walker Lori
Lee
Secretary of the Faculty Administrative
Officer
College of Allied Health Sciences
FACULTY SENATE
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THE JANUARY 29, 2008, MEETING
08-01 Request to establish photography as an area of concentration within
the Master of Fine Arts degree, School of Art and Design; Notice of Intent to
Plan Bachelor of Science in Applied Atmospheric Science and Bachelor of Science
in Geographic Information Science and Technology, Department of Geography;
Notice of Intent to Plan Master of Science in Security Studies, Department of
Political Science; Certificate title change - Department
of English, Graduate Certificate in Multicultural Literatures to Graduate
Certificate in Multicultural and Transnational Literatures; Degree program
department title change – Department of Pharmacology to Department of
Pharmacology and Toxicology; Degree program title change - Department of
Recreation and Leisure Studies, Management of Recreation Facilities and
Services (MRFS) to Recreation and Park Management (RPM).
Disposition: Chancellor
08-02 Curriculum matters contained in the minutes of
the
November 8, 2007 and
December
13, 2007, Committee meetings.
Disposition: Chancellor
08-03 Proposed new Department
of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Unit Code of Operation and revised
College
of Nursing’s Unit Code of Operation
Disposition: Chancellor