Faculty Senate
Full Minutes of 1 February 2000
The sixth regular meeting of the 1999-2000 Faculty Senate
was held on Tuesday, 1 February 2000, in the Mendenhall
Student Center Great Room. This meeting was rescheduled
due to snow from the original meeting date of Tuesday, 25
January 2000.
Agenda Item I. Call to Order
Chair Brenda Killingsworth called the meeting to order at
2:10 p.m.
Agenda Item II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of 7 December 1999, were approved as
distributed.
Agenda Item III. Special Order of the Day
A. Roll Call
Senators absent were: Professors Hutchinson
(Anthropology), Stanley (Biology), Godbold
(Communication), Schumacher (Economics), Boswell and
McGhee (Health and Human Performance), Lyandres
(History), Nida (Human Environmental Sciences), Friend
(Industry and Technology), Engel, Fiordalisi, Gilliland,
Meredith, Metzger, and Mustafa (Medicine), Theurer and
Ulffers (Music), Frisch (Political Science), Pozzuto (Social
Work and Criminal Justice Studies), Chancellor Eakin, and
Vice Chancellor Hallock.
Alternates present were: Professors Warren for Joyner and
Rees for Kester (Education), Wang for Gares (Geography),
Ciesielski for Davis (Industry and Technology), Hanrahan for
Cox and Jendrasiak for Lannin (Medicine), and Everett for
Droes (Nursing).
B. Announcements
1. The Chancellor has approved the following
resolutions from 16 November 1999, and
7 December 1999, Faculty Senate meetings:
#99-25 Fall 1999 Graduation Roster.
#99-26 Curriculum matters contained in the 23
September 1999, and 14 October 1999,
meeting minutes.
#99-28 ECU Faculty Manual interpretation of
Appendix D., Section IV.I.
#99-29 Curriculum matters contained in the 28
October 1999, and 11 November 1999,
meeting minutes.
2. The Chancellor and Mrs. Eakin will host a reception
in their home honoring the Faculty Senate on
Wednesday, 22 March 2000, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. A formal invitation will be mailed to Faculty
Senators and their guests in February.
3. Faculty interested in periodically receiving back
copies of "The Chronicle of Higher Education" are
asked to call the Faculty Senate office and place their
name on a list for distribution.
4. The next Faculty Assembly meeting is scheduled for
Friday, 18 February 2000, at 10:00 a.m. in Chapel
Hill. A report on the meeting activities will be
presented to the Faculty Senate at the 22 February
2000, meeting.
5. The next Board of Trustee meeting is scheduled for
Friday, 17 March 2000, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the
Mendenhall Student Center. A copy of the meeting
agenda will be available for review in the Faculty
Senate office.
6. The Committee on Committees has been charged to
seek volunteers to serve on the various academic,
appellate, administrative, Board of Trustee, and
student union committees. Volunteer information,
with brief descriptions of these University committees,
have been mailed to all faculty. Faculty are strongly
encouraged to participate in this component of
shared faculty governance.
7. Letters concerning unit elections for the 2000-2001
Faculty Senate representation were mailed to unit
code administrators last week. In accordance with
the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix A, elections are
to be held during the month of February. Please call
the Faculty Senate office if you have any questions.
8. A special thanks was extended to JoAnn Jones,
Alternate in the Department of English, and John
Sibert, Alternate in the Department of Chemistry, for
agreeing to serve as tellers during the meeting.
9. Highlights of the Academic Committees' activities
thus far this year were compiled by the Vice Chair of
the Faculty and distributed to Faculty Senators. A
copy of this report is available in the Faculty Senate
office.
10. Carroll Varner, Director of Academic Library Services,
was recognized as the new Administrative Council
Representative, replacing Gary Lowe.
11. A memorandum was distributed to Faculty Senators
from the Chair of the Teaching Effectiveness
Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Note
Selling, on a recent issue relating to "internet use of
classroom notes for financial gain". A copy of this
correspondence can be obtained in the Faculty Senate
office.
C. Richard Eakin, Chancellor
Chancellor Eakin was not present at the Faculty Senate
meeting. He was attending a preliminary accreditation site
visit at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
D. Vice Chancellor's Report
Richard Ringeisen, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
stated that the University Board of Governors recently met.
No information was provided relative to possible tuition
increases at East Carolina. No consensus emerged with
respect to tuition increases within the UNC system. The
matter was tabled until the next Board of Governors
meeting. The Board granted permission to plan degree
programs in Master of Public Health, and Industry and
Technology degree programs. The ECU Board of Trustees
and Chancellor Eakin recently met in a retreat setting with a
facilitator to discuss the proper role of the Board. Vice
Chancellor Ringeisen stated that admission requests for the
fall look good, and are up. Applications from African-
American applicants are up as well, meeting the University's
joint goals of increasing enrollment and maintaining quality
of applicants. The Vice Chancellor discussed concerns over
students who are being paid to take class notes and sell
them over the internet.
Sexauer (Immediate Past Chair) asked about academic
trouble reports, and the seemingly high rates of troubled
students he is teaching. Professor Sexauer asked is this
was an aberration or if it was widespread. The Vice
Chancellor stated that data will be forthcoming in response
to that question. Allred (Psychology) expressed concern
that a strong message was being sent that service is not
being considered part of unit productivity, that service is not
being properly recognized, and that faculty are in effect
being penalized for doing service. The Vice Chancellor
stated that faculty are rewarded for service and that it does
count toward faculty productivity as does teaching and
scholarship. Vice Chancellor Ringeisen stated that he has
heard this message before, and that teaching is not the only
thing measured anymore. Professor Allred asked if the
message could be sent that service does matter. The Vice
Chancellor stated that it would in his next meeting with the
Deans. Hanrahan (Medicine) asked about the proposed
tuition fee increase. Vice Chancellor Ringeisen stated that
the number of out-of-state admissions must remain below
18%. Clark (Theater and Dance) asked if this was true for
fall and spring. Vice Chancellor Ringeisen stated that it was
just for fall, as that is the "census" date for such matters.
Vice Chancellor Thomas Feldbush discussed graduate
programs. In April 1998, two new doctoral programs were
approved, Coastal Resource Management and
Biomedicalphysics. The Physics Department has hired 2
new faculty members as a result. The Coastal Resource
Management program took longer to get started. Professor
King was hired to run the program. Recently a 4th
concentration, in Maritime Studies, was added. Fourteen
students have been admitted, representing a variety of
ages. Several practitioners were enrolled as well. A joint
hire for Biogeochemist is anticipated. In October 1999,
General Administration approved a Doctoral program in
Bioenergetics and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice.
Both programs will admit their first students in fall 2000.
The Bioenergetics program will fill four faculty slots. Vice
Chancellor Feldbush discussed the new formula based
funding. The Legislature is providing less money for new
graduate programs now, and getting doctoral programs may
prove especially difficult to get. Vice Chancellor Feldbush
discussed the upcoming Phi Kappa Phi lectureship. It will
be held on March 7, and will feature Haynes Johnson of the
Washington Post. A series of debates is scheduled to begin
on February 9. The first will focus on genetically modified
foods, featuring Ron Sedderoff of North Carolina State
University, and Dennis Cooley of the ECU Philosophy
Department. All faculty members were encouraged to
attend, and more lectures will be coming.
Tilley (History) asked about rumors that the Academic
Transition Program (ATP) might be abolished in light of
ECU's changing classification in the Carnegie system. Vice
Chancellor Ringeisen stated that there are no plans to
abolish ATP. Ferrell (Faculty Assembly) asked about bi-
departmental faculty appointments -who promotes and
evaluates- and associated grievance issues. The Vice
chancellor stated that such faculty are assigned to one unit
for purposes of evaluation and promotion. Tabrizi
(Mathematics) stated that more tuition waivers for out-of-
state and foreign students are needed to fill the void for
computer science majors. The Vice chancellor stated that
the base rate for stipends increased to $6500 this year. If
new positions come with enrollment expansions and
Doctoral II status, the base stipend will be raised to at least
$7500. The number of out-of-state waiver has increased
from last year to 148 from 63. Vice chancellor Feldbush has
requested an additional $500,000 in waivers, but the
General Assembly will have to approve the request. He
stated that indirect cost dollars must be used for tuition
remissions, and that must increase stipend is the best way
to help with tuition, but increased stipends mean increased
tax liabilities for students.
E. Dr. G. Jack Allen, Associate Executive Director,
Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools
Dr. Allen was unable to attend the meeting. He will be
invited to attend a future meeting of the Faculty Senate.
F. Brenda Killingsworth, ECU's SACS Self Study
Director
Professor Killingsworth reported that a SACS web page has
been prepared, www.ecu.edu/pir/sacs, and it will include all
relevant information on the SACS study. Professor
Killingsworth asked faculty to let her know if they wanted
additional information posted on the web page. Worth
Worthington (Medicine) will serve as Assistant Director for
the SACS study, and he is looking for people to serve on the
SACS study committee.
G. David Santa Ana, Chair of the Administrative Parking
and Traffic Policy Committee
Copies of his written comments are available in the Faculty
Senate office.
Cope (Psychology) asked about the parking survey. He
wondered how many people participated, and stated that
one reason for non-participation was that faculty members
do not know their pin numbers. As a result the survey might
not have reflected true faculty representation. Mr. Santa
Ana stated that a greater number of surveys came from
faculty than other sources. Professor Cope expressed
appreciation for loading zones, which facilitate moving
supplies to and from offices. Pravica (Mathematics) asked if
the survey distinguished between faculty and staff, and was
informed that it did. Allred (Psychology) expressed concern
about disability parking spaces being poorly marked and
that illegal parking if often the result. Mr. Santa Ana stated
that the law is regularly enforced but that the spaces might
need to be remarked. Cali (Education) asked if any faculty
attend the meeting on February 2 to discuss parking issues
with paid consultants. Mr. Santa Ana stated yes, but that
seating is limited. Sibert (Chemistry) stated that the current
shuttle service is not efficient for faculty in the Flanagan
Building who do not work 9-5. He also expressed concern
for behalf of the housekeeping staff who work late at night.
Niswander (Business) stated that the times of shuttle
operation are not conducive to faculty needs, and that he
would like to see the survey results released. Professor
Niswander asked if other funds could be used for parking.
Santa Ana stated that by statute, parking funds must be
funded from fees and fines. What other universities do will
be addressed by the consultants. Sexauer (Immediate Past
Chair) stated that student spaces should be studied for
possible elimination. Santa Ana stated that all
constituencies must be considered, including student
housing. Allred (Psychology) asked about compensation
during and after construction that impacts parking. Mr.
Santa Ana stated that Traffic and Parking are not
compensated for construction lost. Sargent (Chemistry)
asked about how the violation rate was figured, and what
happens to students who violate. Mr. Santa Ana stated that
supervisors go behind the enforcement staff, and monitor
the capture rate of violators. Most violators are students.
Tabrizi (Mathematics) asked about a parking deck. Santa
Ana stated that decks are expensive and should be a last
resort, but that campus plans include the possibility of
parking decks, which may or may not be imminent. Ferrell
(Faculty Assembly) stated that decks have been proposed
before, and that a better transit system is needed. Cope
(Psychology) stated that the 9-5 problem exists for all
faculty, not just those in Flanagan. He also stated that
private lots should be studies for elimination. Sibert
(Chemistry) suggested that spaces near Flanagan should be
returned to faculty and taken away from students, some of
who drive from the top of the hill to Flanagan.
Agenda Item IV. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business to come before the
Faculty Senate at this time.
Agenda Item V. Report of Committees
A. Committee on Committees
Henry Ferrell (History), Chair of the Committee, presented
the list of nominees for the 2000-2001 Faculty Assembly
Delegation.
It was announced that Rita Reaves (Industry and
Technology) had graciously resigned as Delegate due to the
additional interim responsibilities she had been given in the
Division of Academic Affairs. Following elections, the
following faculty members were elected to the 2000-2001
Faculty Assembly Delegation:
Bob Morrison (Chemistry) to complete the 2-year vacant (by
Rita Reaves) delegate term.
Allan Rosenberg (Medicine) and Ralph Scott (Academic
Library Services) to fill the two 3-year delegate terms.
Lou Everett (Nursing) to fill the 3-year alternate term.
Ron Cortright (Health and Human Performance) to fill the1-
year vacant (by Bob Morrison) alternate term.
B. Credits Committee
Doug Schneider (Business), Chair of the Committee,
presented proposed revisions to both the ECU
Undergraduate Catalog and the ECU Faculty Manual.
Following discussion the proposed revisions to the ECU
Undergraduate Catalog were approved as presented.
RESOLUTION #00-1 (Please refer to the end of this report
for the complete revisions.)
Professor Schneider withdrew the first proposed revision to
the ECU Faculty Manual, in light of discussions with the Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the need for further
review by the University Attorneys. Joyce (Physics) asked
why grade records should be kept for one full year even if
there is no appeal at the beginning of the semester following
the one in which the grade was given.
The second proposed revision to the ECU Faculty Manual
was approved as amended. RESOLUTION #00-2 (Please
refer to the end of this report for the complete revision.)
It was also noted that this editorial amendment adding "by the
registrar" should be added to the text in the University
Undergraduate Catalog.
C. Faculty Governance Committee
Henry Ferrell (History), Chair of the Committee, presented
the proposed interpretations of the ECU Faculty Manual,
Appendix L.
Chamberlain (Art) asked about what happens when fixed
term faculty move to tenure track during the 12-month
period. Sexauer (Immediate Past Chair) stated that they
could because they have been in place at least 12 months.
Chamberlain (Art) asked whether assistant and associate
deans could vote on School Deans. Professor Sexauer
stated that the issue has not been resolved, and that the
Vice chancellor for Academic Affairs has not been consulted
on this.
Varner (Administrative Council) spoke against the motion,
wanting more explanation about voting faculty members,
and why fixed term faculty should be excluded from
discussion about the vote on deans. Professor Sexauer
stated that personnel actions are not public, and that fixed
term faculty members are not part of the voting constituency.
Tilley (History) stated that since tenure track faculty have a
stronger voice in hiring deans, they should be the ones
voting on reappointment, but that others can be discuss this
with faculty members.
The proposed interpretations of the ECU Faculty Manual,
Appendix L were approved as presented. RESOLUTION
#00-3 (Please refer to the end of this report for the
complete interpretations.) Following action by the
Chancellor, these interpretations, if approved, will be noted
on the ECU Faculty Manual website
http://www.ecu.edu/fsonline/contents.htm.
D. University Curriculum Committee
Jim Smith (Business), Chair of the Committee, presented the
curriculum matters contained in the 9 December 1999,
meeting minutes. There was no discussion and the
curriculum matters were approved as presented.
RESOLUTION #00-4
Agenda Item VI. New Business
Bob Morrison (Chemistry) Vice Chair of the Faculty,
presented a resolution on Capital Funding and Faculty
Salaries for consideration by the Faculty Senate. Following
discussion, the resolution was approved as amended.
RESOLUTION #00-5
(Please refer to the end of this report for the complete
resolution.)
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE 1 FEBRUARY 2000,
FACULTY SENATE MEETING.
#00-1
Revise University Undergraduate Catalog (page 47 of 1999-
2000 edition), moving paragraph titled "CHANGE OF
GRADE" before the paragraph titled "GRADE APPEALS".
Revise Undergraduate Catalog (page 49 of 1999-2000
edition)rewording two items under DEGREES OF
DISTINCTION to read:
(second paragraph, pertaining to transfer students)
"3. The student must have a cumulative average which
meets the requirements for the appropriate degree with
distinction on all work attempted (all ECU and transfer
work)."
(third paragraph, pertaining to second undergraduate
degrees)
"2. The student must have a minimum g.p.a. of 3.5 on
course work for the second degree and a cumulative
average which meets the requirement for the degree with
distinction on all course work attempted for the first degree
as well as for the second degree."
Disposition: Chancellor
#00-2
Revise ECU Faculty Manual, Part V, Academic Information,
I. Academic Procedures and Policies, N. Posting Grades to
read:
"As soon as they are determined at the end of each
semester or summer term, grades are posted electronically
by the Registrar and a report of grades is sent to the student
at his or her permanent home address. Students may also
secure their grades using the automated voice response
system and via the World Wide Web, using their pin
numbers. Questions about final examination grades should
be directed to the instructor who determined the grade."
It was also noted that this editorial amendment adding "by
the registrar" should be added to the text in the University
Undergraduate Catalog (page 47 of 1999-2000 edition).
Disposition: Chancellor
#003
Interpretations of the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix L.
(Following action by the Chancellor, these interpretations, if
approved, will be noted on the ECU Faculty Manual website
(http://www.ecu.edu/fsonline/contents.htm).
Would the 12 month consecutive calendar month of
appointment status (excluding intervening summer months)
apply to faculty re-appointed to a position or appointed to a
different position because there would not have been a
lapse in employment at ECU?
Interpretation - The definition of a voting faculty member in
Appendix L requires that the faculty member have "regular
academic faculty rank" at the time of voting. It does not
place any restrictions on the type of faculty appointment
when requiring that a faculty member be "in at least the
twelfth consecutive calendar month of appointment
(counting all intervening summer months, if any) to the
faculty of the unit in which the voting is to occur...."
Appendix D, II.A.1 lists the categories of faculty
appointments.
Who can attend the quadrennial Unit Administrator
Evaluation meeting per Appendix L.F.1.?
Interpretation - The voting faculty of each unit shall vote on
the effectiveness of the unit administrator. During
September of the unit administrator's fourth year of
appointment and every fourth year thereafter, the voting
faculty shall discuss and vote by secret ballot on the
effectiveness of the unit administrator. Given that the above
procedure refers to "voting faculty shall discuss" and given
that the procedure involves personnel matters, only voting
faculty members should be in attendance during the
discussion.
Disposition: Chancellor
#00-4
Curriculum matters contained in the 9 December 1999,
University Curriculum Committee meeting minutes.
Disposition: Chancellor
#005
Resolution on Capital Funding and Faculty Salaries as
follows:
WHEREAS, low-cost education in North Carolina has proven to be
an engine of progress, and
WHEREAS, Article IX. Section 9 of the North Carolina
Constitution states "The General Assembly shall provide
that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and
other public institutions of higher education, as far as
practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of
expense.", and
WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina's share of the
overall State budget has shown a decline from 17.4% in the
mid 1980's to 13.3% for 1999-2000, and
WHEREAS, the UNC General Administration has identified
over 6 billion dollars of needed capital improvements in the
University system, and a General Administration study of
faculty salaries indicates that average faculty salaries of the
UNC system are not competitive with peer institutions, and
WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina expects an
enrollment increase of 40,000 students during the next
decade with an anticipated increase of 12% for ECU by
2003; applications at some institutions are already up 10-
20% over those received by this time last year for the Fall of
1999, and
WHEREAS, tuition increases may deprive some qualified
students access to higher education; East Carolina
University serves an economically deprived region of the
State where many citizens are in the poor or lower-middle
income brackets, and
WHEREAS, we should be encouraging more North Carolina
students to seek higher education, not fewer - our
economy today demands more education beyond high
school,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we the Faculty
Senate of East Carolina University
- Urge our representatives in the General Assembly to
exercise their constitutional responsibility to support the
University system by allocating funds for capital
improvements, 6 billion dollars as recommended by the
Klein Report, and sufficient faculty salary increases to make
the constituent members of the UNC system competitive
with peer institutions in other states, and
- Urge President Broad to support the tuition increases for
faculty salary increases and increased need-based student
financial aid for ECU, UNC-Wilmington, and UNC-Charlotte
in the same manner she has supported those tuition
increases for UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University, and
- Urge the University to implement and monitor safeguards
to ensure that tuition increases don't have the effect of
denying access to higher education for those qualified North
Carolina students.
Disposition: Chancellor
