East Carolina University

FACULTY SENATE

FULL MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19, 2008

 

The sixth regular meeting of the 2007-2008 Faculty Senate was held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008, in the Mendenhall Student Center Great Room.

 

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 January 29, 2008, were approved as distributed.

 

Agenda Item III.  Special Order of the Day

A. Roll Call

Senators absent were: Professors Saidel (Anthropology), Zoller (Art and Design), Reisch (Business), Robinson (Mathematics), Gilliland (Medicine), Bunch (Social Work), Killingsworth (Faculty Assembly Delegate), and Niswander (Academic Deans’ Representative).

 

Alternates present were: Professors Painter for Jenkins (Allied Health Sciences), Ballard for Dosser (Child Development and Family Relations), Kerbs for Jones (Criminal Justice), Harer for Hodge (Education), Eble for Sharer (English), and Henze for Deena (English).

 

B. Announcements

1.         Faculty members are reminded to stop using any university forms (drop add, registration, change of major) that have student social security numbers on them.

2.         The annual Teaching Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mendenhall Student Center Great Room.  A reception will follow immediately afterwards.  Faculty awarded for their teaching achievements will be recognized at this event and all faculty are welcome to attend.

3.         The Chancellor has approved the following resolution from the January 29, 2008, Faculty Senate meeting:
08-02  Curriculum matters contained in the minutes of the November 8, 2007 and December 13, 2007, Committee meetings. 

4.         The Chancellor will host a Faculty Senate reception in the Chancellor’s residence on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.  Formal invitations will be forthcoming to all Faculty Senators, Alternates, past Chairs of the Faculty, and their guests.  

5.         NC-AAUP Annual Meeting (Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5; FedEx Global Education Building, Chapel Hill). 
Keynote Address: Higher Learning and Higher Profits: The Privatization of America’s Research Universities - Jennifer Washburn, Fellow, New America Foundation and Author of University Inc.: the Corporate Corruption of Higher Education (7:00 pm, Friday April 4, 2008; reception

following). For more info on the state-wide conference and the keynote address, please visit
http://www.nc-aaup.org/ or http://www.ecu-aaup.org/.

 

Sprague (Physics) moved to change the order of the agenda so that Chancellor Ballard’s report to the Senators would be given when he arrived following his teleconference.  There was no objection and the change in agenda was approved.

 

In the Chancellor’s absence, Interim Provost Marilyn Sheerer provided an overview of the Report on Faculty Employment, to include a longitudinal profile of faculty tenure status and tenure status of permanent and temporary faculty (by unit).  A link to the full report is provided.   There was no discussion on this report.

 

D.        Phyllis Horns, Interim Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences

Interim Vice Chancellor Horns discussed the funding for the Dental School and stated that the planning for the establishment of the new School is underway.  She stated that the Dental School lot will face Highway 43 and McGregor Downs Road.

 

Dr. Horns reported that two dean searches are underway in the Division of Health Sciences, including the Dean of the School of Medicine, chaired by Dr. Dan Moore, with interviews scheduled to begin soon. Dr. Horns stated that the search for the Dean of the Dental School is just beginning and will be somewhat slower than School of Medicine search.

 

Regarding the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM), Dr. Horns discussed joint planning efforts regarding increases in enrollment in medical schools at ECU and UNC-Chapel Hill. This increase in enrollment, Horns reported, is to address a series of shortages of physicians. ECU plans to increase medical school students from 72 to 80, and that in the fall of 2008, the enrollment will increase to 76. Dr. Horns stated that there are serious limitations in enrollments larger than 80 at ECU, primarily due to limitations in facility size.  She reported that there was a planning team to address theses issues.  She stated that BSOM and ECU are strong in the educating minorities and in care of underserved populations.  Dr. Horns also reported that the Colleges of Allied Health Sciences and Nursing are under pressure to educate and produce more healthcare providers in the State.

 

Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) inquired about a possible increase in faculty considering a possible expansion of facilities. Dr. Horns replied that BSOM is looking to increase up to 120 faculty.  She stated that 180 new faculty may have to be added.

 

E.        Dorothy Muller, Interim Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence

Dr. Muller discussed how the Early College High School Project first began in 2004 with implementation approved for a Fall 2008 start. Dr. Muller reported that drop-out rates of high school in NC and Pitt County may be due to economic and academic factors including excessive absences. Dr. Muller stated that the comprehensive high school may “not fit” with all students.  She stated that to meet the needs of students who may not be suited for a traditional high school, the early college/high school movement was founded. She stated that UNC-Greensboro has a virtual early college/high school and that UNC system universities are being encouraged to look at this concept. Information about the Early College High School at East Carolina is provided through this link.

 

Dr. Muller stated that this concept provides another alternative to students who do not seem to fit into the standard model of high school. She stated that at ECU, teacher education will be the focus of the early college high school. This early college high school will be for Grades 9 through 12 and initially will employ four high school teachers, a principal, and a counselor. During the first year, in addition to high school classes, students will take two classes taught by ECU and 2 classes taught by Pitt Community College, with the students having two transcripts (from both ECU and PCC). For the first year, 40 students will be enrolled and they will follow the Standard Course of Study (NC DPI). She stated that in the 9th grade, planning is for the students to take Exercise and Health courses at ECU and in the 10th grade, the students will take English and history courses.

 

Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) inquired as to who will oversee the curriculum and whether the curriculum will be approved by the school district. Dr. Muller responded that the parent will have to agree to the curriculum taught in the Early College/High School (ECHS) and that this school is considered to be an independent high school; as noted above the curriculum will meet the Standard Course of Study.

 

Professor Tovey (English) inquired about the English 1100/1200 courses and whether the 10th graders, with a cohort of 25, would take courses in a section devoted to high school students. Dr. Muller responded that since the classes would be small (25 students or more) in the 10th grade, the English courses would be taught in a cohorted section, but other courses would not be separate and the students would be enrolled with college students.

 

Professor McCammon (Health and Human Performance) inquired about the exercise course in the ninth grade being the only exercise course, considering the incidence of obesity. Dr. Muller replied that the goal was to have more students physically fit and to encourage students to have access to more exercise (like the Student Recreation Center) than many students in comprehensive high schools. Other goals for these students are to encourage them to be better computer users and have better study skills.

 

Professor Sprague (Physics) inquired as to the nature of the curriculum and the limited requirement of only 1 math and 1 science course. Dr. Muller replied that the students would take both math and science high school courses. (The combination of high school and college courses would result in four math and four science courses).

 

Professor Greene (Education) expressed concerns relative to the minors in college classes and whether the faculty will be liable. Dr. Muller responded that the University was aware of the situation with minors on campus, and that the liability issue was addressed in the Memo of Understanding from General Administration (GA).  Muller stated that all students would be monitored on campus.

 

Professor Vail Smith (Health and Human Performance) expressed her concerns relative to the recruitment of 8th graders, who may not pass regular high school, for this early college/high school, with the intent of having them become teachers in public school. Dr. Muller stated that these students would have 60 hours at the college level when they graduate from high school. (They will have to apply to and be admitted to the university just like any other student.)  She stated that this ECHS model, was based on research and that these students have the potential to be the best and the brightest, and may be students who graduate from college with a degree in three years.

 

Professor McFadden (Education) expressed her concern relative to the nature of this recruitment of students, with potential for dropping out of school, and who may be recruited to be future classroom teachers. Dr. Muller explained that often a student might drop out of high school because they did not have a chance. She stated that there appeared to be a middle group of students who were not excelling when they had the ability to excel. She stated that these students might not have the support they need.  Further, Dr. Muller stated that we need more diversity in our teaching population and that these students will have access to 60 hours of free education.

 

Professor Roberts (Philosophy) asked Dr. Muller to quantify the success of this program in North Carolina. He asked how this ECHS program supported the mission of the University. Dr. Muller replied that research is being done (the initiative is early in NC) Initial reports are that these schools are successful; she encouraged the Faculty Senators to look at the New Schools Project site  http://www.newschoolsproject.org/  and the national website http://www.earlycolleges.org/overview.html for research information.

 

Professor McKinnon (Interior Design and Merchandising) inquired as to the location of this early college high school. Dr. Muller responded by stating that this ECHS will have a better ratio of counselor to students, in comparisons to traditional students.  She stated that if the student was not successful, he or she would be counseled back into the regular high school. Regarding space, Dr. Muller replied that this was a good question and that space would need to be located for the EC/HS.

 

Professor Tovey (English) inquired as to the potential interaction of faculty with parents of these children. Dr. Professor Muller replied that this was the job of the counselor and the principal.

 

Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) inquired about the security of these students, with possible problems such as underage drinking and drug-use. Dr. Muller responded that each of the students will have an ID label that identifies them as a student in the program (EC/HS) and they should also have cell phones. She stated that the 9th graders will be cohorted entirely, and that 10th graders will have a gradual cohort for classes and that these students should be more mature than the average college freshman.

 

Professor Jenks (History) asked whether students, who do not like or work well in a school setting, would be able to do well in this new program. He also inquired as to the focus on “education”. Dr. Muller replied that when ECU talked to Pitt County about needs, the issue was supported by Pitt County school administrators.

 

Professor Jesse (Nursing) inquired about how the program will be evaluated and what the plans will be if this program was not a success. Dr. Muller stated that there had been a lot of research regarding the early college/high school. She stated that ECU will have to turn in a research plan and that tuition and fees are paid for by North Carolina residents. When the legislature sees the data, they will decide if this program was successful.

 

Professor McFadden (Education) requested that these students should be chosen because they are “bright candidates for teacher education”, of which the 8th grade scores should be a factor. Professor Schenarts (Medicine) stated that he applauds the spirit of this concept but he was worried about allowing middle grade students into college life. He asked whether the students would be tracked along the way. Dr. Muller responded yes.

 

Professor McKinnon (Interior Design and Merchandising) asked whether the end result was an Associates Degree through Pitt Community College. Dr. Muller responded no.

 

Following the discussion with Dr. Muller, Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) moved to change the order of the agenda and delay the Chair of the Faculty’s report until after Chancellor Ballard arrived.  There was no objection and the change in agenda was approved. 

 

G.        Election of Faculty Officers Nominating Committee

According to ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix A, Section VIII., the following Faculty Senators were elected by acclamation to serve on the Faculty Officers Nominating Committee. Professors Mark Sprague (Physics), Rodney Roberts (Philosophy), Cal Christian (Business), Joy Stapleton (Education) and Hunt McKinnon (Interior Design and Merchandising) will meet soon to begin their work and will provide a slate of Faculty Officer nominees to the Faculty Senate on April 29, 2008.

 

H.       Question Period
Professor Tovey (English) stated that there was a problem with SOIS scores, as addressed in the Faculty Senate Resolution. Professor Tovey inquired about how this problem would be approached. Interim Provost Sheerer asked Chair Taggart whether a group should be formed to look into this issue. Chair Taggart  responded that currently the Academic Standards Committee was discussing this issue and planned a report to the Faculty Senate in March or April.

Professor Sprague (Physics) inquired about Banner and expressed his concern with the lack of assistance when problems with Banner were encountered. Dr. Bailey (Strategic Enrollment Management) volunteered to answer Professor Sprague’s question, since Kevin Seitz was not present at the meeting.  Dr. Bailey suggested that if a Banner question was student related, Angela Anderson should be contacted since she was the Lead for Banner.  Dr. Bailey stated that Angela Anderson would assist in locating a person in ITCS to help with Banner questions. She also stated that Don Sweet could be contacted with Banner questions as well.

John Toler (Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources) added that there had been a second Banner forum and there would be additional training sessions for individuals who wanted to know more about Banner.  Mr. Toler stated that there could also be specific training sections for units, if requested.  Mr. Toler encouraged faculty to contact him if there were problems with Banner, relating to Human Resource issues, and he would also try to assist.

Professor Glascoff (Health and Human Performance) asked if there was a way for key people in a unit to have control in dealing with their own advisees, through Banner, and not have to wait for a paper record to be processed, i.e. declaring a major and printing a senior summary. Dr. Bailey replied that she would investigate that further and encouraged faculty to contact her with questions of this nature.

Professor Glascoff ((Health and Human Performance) spoke as a member of the University Identity Theft Protection Committee and stated that since the University was adhering to a Federal mandate and not using student social security numbers, all paperwork/forms that contain SSN (in files/desks, etc.) should be shredded or the SSN blacked out.

Romack (Chemistry) inquired about how the University was making sure that Banner was implemented successfully. Dr. Bailey stated that she had been at two former institutions that used Banner and that training had been in place for many staff who were working in offices that had the greatest need for Banner use (such as the Cashier’s Office and Financial Aid) and that the University provided adequate support for Banner.

Professor Paul (Business) asked whether there was a committee, consisting of different areas of expertise, who could be consulted on the impact assessment of Banner. Dr. Bailey stated that there had been a University-wide assessment team (5 years ago), computing and advisory committee, and various functional teams established.  She requested that if particular faculty had interest, to let her know because they were always looking for new members.

Professor McKinnon (Interior Design and Merchandising) asked whether there could a template on Sedona, by March to use for the Annual Report. Interim Provost Sheerer stated that there should be a template in place. Professor Eble (English) inquired whether the Sedona template was emailed to unit administrators and not made available directly to faculty members.

Professor Winstead (Academic Library Services) replied that the templates should have already been downloaded into Sedona. Professor Weismiller (Medicine) agreed with Professor Winstead (ALS) and stated that the templates should be present on Sedona.

 

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.        Educational Policies and Planning Committee

Dale Knickerbocker (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Chair of the Committee, presented the approval of the following requests: Department of Economics’ request for intent to plan a Ph.D. program, Department of History’s request to add a new concentration in Atlantic World history to the department’s MA in History, Department of Geography’s request to add a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology, and College of Arts and Sciences’ request for an Interdisciplinary Minor in Leadership Studies.   There was no discussion and the report was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #08-04

 

B.        Unit Code Screening Committee

Garris Conner (Nursing), Chair of the Committee, first stated that both the School of Communication and Department of Psychology’s unit codes were not ready yet for Senate consideration and that they would be considered in March.  Professor Conner then presented the proposed revised Health Sciences Library Unit Code of Operation.  There was no discussion and the unit code was approved as presented.  RESOLUTION #08-05

 

C.        University Curriculum Committee

Jane Manner (Education), a member of the Committee, presented the curriculum matters contained in the minutes of the January 24, 2008, Committee meeting. There was no discussion and the curriculum matters were approved as presented.  RESOLUTION #08-06

 

Return to Agenda Item III.  Special Order of the Day

C.        Steve Ballard, Chancellor

The Chancellor made his comments to the faculty at the end of the Faculty Senate meeting due to a prior engagement. In his remarks, Chancellor Ballard discussed the mini-retreat on February 18, which involved the faculty officers and the administrators.  Chancellor Ballard reported that the mini-retreat outcome was favorable and stated that all felt that their perspectives were voiced.  Chancellor Ballard stated that this discussion was needed and that the overall goal was for better practices.  He stated that nine people committed to continue to work together. The Chancellor stated that with the work of the facilitator, Dr. Judith Wegner, good dialogue resulted and as a result, the substance of the one-page response, distributed to faculty and administration, would provide direction regarding ways to proceed and additional time to determine future directions.

 

No questions were posed to Chancellor Ballard.

 

F.         Mark Taggart, Chair of the Faculty

Professor Taggart stated that on Monday, February 18th, the Faculty Officers, Chair of the Faculty Governance Committee, Chancellor, Academic Council, and guests, Bob Greczyn, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Bob Lucas, member of the BOT and former SGA president met for a mini-retreat, facilitated by Dr. Judith Wegner, former Dean of the UNC Law School from 1989-1999, former Chair of the Faculty at UNC from 2003-06, and current Secretary of the UNC Faculty Assembly. It was a very constructive discussion with many issues including: faculty input on administrative searches, the current Board of Trustee’s Policy on “Appointment and Review of Administrative Officers’ at ECU,” and the implementation of that policy, the ECU Code, diversity in administrative searches, the proposed “University Policies and Procedures” Manual, as well as general discussions related to policy development and shared governance.

 

Professor Taggart stated that the “Joint Statement” provided at everyone’s seat was one result of our mini-retreat.  The joint statement outlines the procedures that we will follow in order to insure faculty input in searches for senior academic officers.  Please note after reviewing the information derived from the compiled “candidate ballot form,” the appointing officer will meet with the assembled faculty of the relevant unit in order to have a candid exchange of views regarding the finalists of the administrative positions.  Further, in regards to the evaluation of senior academic officers, the work that the “Leadership Development Task Force” began will be conducted by the Faculty Governance Committee, which will bring that work to a closure before the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year.  Also, the faculty leaders, the Faculty Governance Committee, and top administrators will work together in order to develop a “University Policies and Procedures” manual that will provide clear guidance on areas in which policies are needed to ensure that ECU operates effectively and transparently.

 

Brown (Psychology) commended the group for the meeting and the Faculty Senate took no action on the Joint Statement presented to the body.

 

Rigsby (Geology) asked that faculty participate in the administrative task force charged with ECU Faculty Manual evaluation and revision and offered the following resolution:

 

Whereas, it has been recognized that faculty must play a critical role in the implementation of academic policies and procedures, and therefore must also be intimately involved in the preparation of those policies and procedures, and

 

Whereas, such procedures and policies are being developed by administrative task forces across campus, and

 

Whereas, if these policies and procedures are to succeed it is critical that they be developed and approved via the established mechanisms of shared governance.

 

Therefore be it resolved, that the Faculty Senate calls upon the ECU administration to work within our established shared governance structure to involve faculty, Faculty Senate committees, and the Faculty Senate in task forces that are charged with evaluating and revising polices currently included in the ECU Faculty Manual.

 

Be it further resolved, that to ensure such involvement, the Faculty Senate requests that 50% of the membership of the task forces be non-administrative faculty, and that the appointment of faculty members to task forces be at the discretion of the Faculty Senate.

 

There was no discussion and the proposed resolution on faculty participation in administrative task forces charged with ECU Faculty Manual evaluation and revision was approved as presented.  RESOLUTION #08-07

 

Agenda Item VI.       New Business

Professor Wilson (Sociology) first commended Professor Michael Poteat, Director of Institutional Effectiveness for the information distributed earlier in the day on the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS). Included in the materials, distributed by Professor Poteat, was a document that demonstrated that the results of the Fall 2007 administration of the SOIS showed little deviation from the result obtained in the Spring of 2007.  Also included was a document that contained all of the resolutions on the SOIS passed either by the Faculty Senate or by a standing academic committees. 

 

Professor Wilson then addressed his motion regarding the use of Fall 2007 SOIS results that read: “Because of a series of transitional problems, the Faculty Senate believes that the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS) results for Fall 2007 are flawed and should not be used for any purpose.”

 

Romack (Chemistry) stated that he thought this motion was too strong and moved to offer a substitute motion that read: “Because of a series of transitional problems, the Faculty Senate believes that the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS) results for Fall 2007 may show greater variability than data from other semesters and should be used with caution taking into account factors such as response rates for individual sections and a careful comparison with other indicators of teaching performance.”

 

Professor Wilson stated his support for the substitute motion and withdrew his motion. 

 

Professor Sprague (Physics) stated that the Academic Standards Committee was discussing this important issue and planned to present a proposed revision to the ECU Faculty Manual in March or April, 2008.

 

Professor McCammon (Health and Human Performance) stated that he would like to hear from Professor Michael Poteat on what he had found out to verify if there were actual flawed data. 

 

Professor Romack (Chemistry) stated that there was greater variability, but outside of the difference in SOIS scores from past semester, no one knows the outcomes yet.  He stated that faculty should look at these scores and note when they are valid and when they are not. Professor Wilson (Sociology) stated that when used with other indicators in the context, faculty recognize that there are problems.

 

Professor Martinez (Foreign Languages) spoke in favor of the substitute motion and the work of the Academic Standards Committee and stated that she looked forward to the report from the Committee.

 

Following discussion, the substitute motion that read: “Because of a series of transitional problems, the Faculty Senate believes that the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS) results for Fall 2007 may show greater variability than data from other semesters and should be used with caution taking into account factors such as response rates for individual sections and a careful comparison with other indicators of teaching performance.” was approved as presented.  RESOLUTION #08-08

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marianna Walker                                                                               Lori Lee

Secretary of the Faculty                                                                    Administrative Officer

College of Allied Health Sciences                                                  Faculty Senate

 

FACULTY SENATE RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THE FEBRUARY 19, 2008, MEETING

 

08-04  Department of Economics’ request for intent to plan a Ph.D. program, Department of History’s request to add a new concentration in Atlantic World history to the department’s MA in History, Department of Geography’s request to add a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology, and College of Arts and Sciences’ request for an Interdisciplinary Minor in Leadership Studies.

            Disposition:   Chancellor

 

08-05  Revised Health Sciences Library Unit Code of Operation.

            Disposition:   Chancellor

 

08-06  Curriculum matters contained in the minutes of the January 24, 2008, Committee meeting

            Disposition:   Chancellor

 

08-07  Resolution on faculty participation in administrative task forces charged with ECU Faculty Manual evaluation and revision that reads as follows:

Whereas, it has been recognized that faculty must play a critical role in the implementation of academic policies and procedures, and therefore must also be intimately involved in the preparation of those policies and procedures, and

Whereas, such procedures and policies are being developed by administrative task forces across campus, and

Whereas, if these policies and procedures are to succeed it is critical that they be developed and approved via the established mechanisms of shared governance.

Therefore be it resolved, that the Faculty Senate calls upon the ECU administration to work within our established shared governance structure to involve faculty, Faculty Senate committees, and the Faculty Senate in task forces that are charged with evaluating and revising polices currently included in the ECU Faculty Manual.

Be it further resolved, that to ensure such involvement, the Faculty Senate requests that 50% of the membership of the task forces be non-administrative faculty, and that the appointment of faculty members to task forces be at the discretion of the Faculty Senate.

            Disposition:   Faculty Senate

 

08-08  Because of a series of transitional problems, the Faculty Senate believes that the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS) results for Fall 2007 may show greater variability than data from other semesters and should be used with caution taking into account factors such as response rates for individual sections and a careful comparison with other indicators of teaching performance.

            Disposition:   Chancellor