The sixth regular meeting of the 2000-2001 Faculty Senate was held on Tuesday, 27 February 2001, in

the Mendenhall Student Center Great Room.

Agenda Item I. Call to Order

Bob Morrison (Chemistry), Chair of the Faculty, called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

Agenda Item II. Approval of Minutes

Scott (Academic Library Services) noted a correction to his remarks on page 2, relating to unit codes being reviewed every 7 years. Professor Scott noted that, after speaking with the Unit Code Screening Committee, he realized that he had misspoke and that the unit code reviews would follow the suggested required schedule.

Niswander (Business) noted a correction to the minutes on page 3 referring to the number of faculty on the Research and Creative Activity Grants Committee. The Committee Professor Niswander referred to was the Teaching Grants Committee.

The minutes of 30 January 2001, were then approved as amended.

Agenda Item III. Special Order of the Day

A. Roll Call

Senators absent were: Professors Albright (Allied Health Sciences), Stanley (Biology), Joyner (Education), Gares (Geography), Engel, Fiordalisi, Meredith and Mustafa (Medicine), Bass (Social Work and Criminal Justice Studies), Mooney (Sociology), Interim Vice Chancellor Jobe, Killingsworth (Past Chair of the Faculty) and Rosenberg (Faculty Assembly Delegate).

Alternates present were: Professors Brown for Holbert (Allied Health Sciences), Bell for Smith (Allied Health Sciences), Jones for Taylor (English), DeVita for Boswell (Health and Human Performance), Toppen for Davis (Industry and Technology), Said for Pravica (Mathematics) and Hanrahan for Cox (Medicine).

B. Announcements

1. The Chancellor has approved the following resolutions from the 30 January 2001, Faculty Senate meeting:

2. The Unit Code Screening Committee's report on the revised School of Education Unit Code of Operation was withdrawn from the agenda, pending further deliberation.

C. Chancellor's Report

Chancellor Richard Eakin discussed the state budget deficit, which is somewhere between $750 million and $1 billion. State agencies are having 2% held back this year and the cuts could be more substantial next year. The General Assembly is considering a modified zero-based budgeting plan for next year. Everything new since 1991 is being reviewed for funding; everything is open for budget balancing this year, including $43-48 million from the medical plan. The Chancellor stated that this would be unwise; it will result in larger premiums, and new factors being introduced in health care plans. Dr. Eakin suggested that faculty members make their voices heard on that issue. Dr. Eakin also stated that agencies have been instructed to place the state contribution to state employment retirement in a reserve account rather than in retirement. The Chancellor stated that the $190 million earmarked for construction projects for the next five years should not be affected. Bidding for the Science and Technology building will be opened March 20. Dr. Eakin mentioned the charge for the proposed University budget committee. He realizes that some of the deans have concerns, but he stated that this might be a time in which such a committee is useful and needed, and that the input they provide may be necessary. He also suggested that when Dr. Muse arrives as Chancellor, he may have different views on the budget process, and he urged faculty to allow Dr. Muse the opportunity to install his own ideas about the budget process.

Allred (Psychology) asked about raises. Dr. Eakin stated that he has not heard one way or the other. If there are any raises, they will be modest, and they will come about at the expense of something else.

Karns (Vice Chair/Business) stated that he was nonplused with the prospect of construction going on amidst the current budget situation, and suggested the University consider a cutback on construction. Eakin stated that he did not agree with the idea, that many current facilities are substandard and in some cases unsafe, that the construction needs are for today and tomorrow, and cited the chemistry lab as an example. Karns stated that the plan to use retirement funds to balance the budget would likely result in class action lawsuits. Dr. Eakin agreed.

Schneider (Business) asked how the budget situation would impact expansion plans and about hiring enough faculty to accommodate the expansion. Eakin stated that in the past the state has stepped up and provided for increased faculty lines and salaries when enrollment increases.

Jones (Secretary/Social Work and Criminal Justice Studies) asked about specific ways that faculty could make their voices heard by the General Assembly with respect to the retirement and health insurance situations. Eakin stated that a list of names and pertinent information would be supplied. Morrison (Chair) stated that Stewart Mixon has written an information letter which will be sent to all faculty senators.

D. Vice Chancellor's Report

Tom Feldbush, Vice Chancellor for Research, stated that ECU is having a banner year for external funding submissions and awards. The amount of awards stands at $40 million, up from $16 million when Dr. Feldbush started at ECU. As of January, 2001 there have been 304 submissions, $55 million in requests, 223 awards, and $20.5 million actually received for this year. Dr. Feldbush discussed the graduate school enrollment decline since fall 1999. On campus enrollment is down, but off campus enrollment is up. Overall there has been little change in enrollment since 1999. At the most recent Board of Governors meeting, the Center for Coastal Studies was approved with ECU as the lead institution. The UNC budget will be amended at the next meeting to include the Center. A permission to establish a Nursing Ph.D. program will be presented to EPC this semester.

E. UNC Faculty Assembly Report

Written reports on the past two Faculty Assembly meetings scheduled 17 November 2000, and 16 February 2001 were distributed to the Faculty Senators prior to the meeting. There was no discussion of these reports. (Copies of both reports may be obtained from the Faculty Senate office, 140 Rawl Annex.)

F. SACS Self-Study

Scott Snyder (Geology), a member of the SACS Self-Study Group, discussed the institutional effectiveness portion of the SACS report. The assessment of student learning cycle sheet which senators have came on the heels of strategic planning documents released by individual degree programs. The committee read the documents on planning and culled information about student learning. SACS wants it for every degree program on campus. The committee has 138 (of 147) assessments of degree program in its possession. Departments have been asked to report significant unit actions over past several years. The hope is that the cycle sheet will be useful information for all departments. Ferrell (History) asked where scholarships would fit. Snyder stated that it might fit under unit action, and he welcomed any further suggestions.

G. Election of Faculty Officers Nominating Committee

According to the ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix A, Section VII., the following faculty members were elected to serve on the Faculty Officers Nominating Committee: Mark Taggart (Music), Gene Tranbarger (Nursing), Ginger Woodard (Human Environmental Sciences), John Cope (Psychology), Patch Clark (Theatre and Dance). This Committee will present a slate of 2001-2002 Faculty Officers to the Faculty Senate on 1 May 2001.

Agenda Item IV. Unfinished Business

Committee on Committees

Henry Ferrell (History), Chair of the Committee, presented the final readings of the following Academic Committee Charges: Calendar, Continuing and Career Education, University Budget, University Curriculum, Educational Policies and Planning, Faculty Governance, Faculty Information Technology, Faculty Welfare, Unit Code Screening, Libraries, Research/Creative Activity Grants, Student Scholarships, Fellowships and Financial Aid, Teaching Grants, Academic Awards, Academic Standards, Admission and Retention Policies, and Student Academic Appellate.

L'Esperance (Education) moved that the Research/Creative Activity Policies Committee remain intact as a standing academic committee on its own. His rationale was that the committee as it currently exists is efficient, but that it will be rendered inefficient under the new plan by doubling the membership and increasing workload. Following further discussion, the motion failed. Scott (Academic Library Services) moved to have the chair of the Unit Code Screening Committee placed on the Governance Committee. The motion failed.

Following discussion, the revised 19 Academic Committee charges were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-9 The revised Committee charges will become effective with the beginning of the 2001-2002 Academic Year.

Agenda Item V. Report of Committees

A. Calendar Committee

Mary Farwell (Biology), Secretary of the Committee, presented the proposed Summer 2002, Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 University Calendars. Professor Farwell also distributed a thorough report on the various issues facing the Calendar Committee when formulating the proposed calendars. Allred (Psychology) expressed some concern about the lengthy period of time between the schedule cancellation date and the start of classes in Fall 2002. Jones (Secretary) asked about plans to work with Pitt County schools on coordinating spring break. Professor Farwell stated that communication has been established between ECU and Superintendent Priddy.

Following discussion, the proposed Summer 2002, Fall 2002, and Spring 2003 University Calendars were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-10 (Following approval by the Chancellor, the approved calendars will be available on the Faculty Senate website at: http://www.ecu.edu/fsonline/fscalend.htm.)

B. Faculty Governance Committee

Henry Ferrell (History), Chair of the Committee, presented two interpretations to the ECU Faculty Manual. The first interpretation related to Appendix D and Unit Personnel Committees and read as follows:

Bob Morrison (Chemistry) moved to change the second sentence to read: " However, at the invitation by a majority vote of the membership of the personnel committee, a unit administrator may meet with the committee to discuss initial appointments". He also moved to have the last sentence in the interpretation deleted. The motion passed. Allred (Psychology) stated that this should curb instances of administrators instructing faculty members on how to vote in appointment decisions. Chancellor Eakin stated that any such occurrence should be reported to the Chancellor or appropriate Vice Chancellor.

Following discussion, the interpretation was approved as amended. RESOLUTION #01-11 (Following approval by the Chancellor, this interpretation will be provided with the ECU Faculty Manual, located on the Faculty Senate website at: www.ecu.edu/fsonline/interpretations.htm.

Professor Ferrell then presented the interpretation related to Appendix L and new academic units that read as follows:

There was no discussion and the interpretation was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-12 (Following approval by the Chancellor, this interpretation will be provided with the ECU Faculty Manual, located on the Faculty Senate website at: www.ecu.edu/fsonline/interpretations.htm.

C. General Education Committee

Michele Sharp (English), Chair of the Committee, presented a report relating to three English courses requesting General Education-Humanities credit. She stated that the committee had met to discuss the request from the English Department to have English 2700 ("Introduction to Language Studies"), English 2740 ("Language in the USA"), and English 3750 ("Introductory Linguistics") receive general education humanities credit. The Committee recommended that "Selected Linguistics Courses" be inserted after the item "Philosophy" at the bottom of the section headed "Humanities (GE:HU)" on page 57 of the 2000-2001 University Undergraduate Catalog. Professor Sharp stated that, contingent on adoption of this expanded language in the catalog, the General Education Committee recommended that the three English courses (ENGL 2700, ENGL 2740, ENGL 3750) receive General Education Humanities credit for the purposes of fulfilling General Education requirements for graduation. There was no discussion and the proposed revision to the 2000-2001 University Undergraduate Catalog was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-13

Following this action, the Faculty Senate approved the three English courses (ENGL 2700, ENGL 2740, ENGL 3750) to receive General Education Humanities credit for the purposes of fulfilling General Education requirements for graduation. RESOLUTION #01-14

D. University Curriculum Committee

Rita Reaves (Academic Affairs), Ex-officio member of the Committee, presented the curriculum matters contained in the 8 February 2001, University Curriculum Committee minutes. There was no discussion and the curriculum matters contained in the 8 February 2001, University Curriculum Committee minutes were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-15 (Copies of all Committee minutes are available on the Faculty Senate website at: http://www.ecu.edu/fsonline/cu.htm.)

Agenda Item VI. New Business

Scott (Academic Library Services) offered a brief resolution stating concerns with the plan to oversee the State's budget crisis. Niswander (Business) offered the following substitute resolution: "The Faculty Senate views with alarm the directive to place funds otherwise designated for the State Retirement Plan into a reserve account. The Faculty Senate strongly urges the legislature and the Governor to appropriately fund the State Retirement Plan and not use the funds for other purposes. The Chair of the Faculty is instructed to send this resolution to the appropriate members of the State Legislature and the Governor." Following discussion, the substitute resolution was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-16

Scott (Academic Library Services) then offered the following resolution: "The Faculty Senate expresses concerns with the inadequate funds for the State Employee Health Plan." There was no discussion and the resolution was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #01-17

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.