EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE
FULL MINUTES OF MARCH 30, 2004
The seventh regular meeting of the 2003-2004 Faculty Senate was held on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, in
the Mendenhall Student Center Great Room.
Agenda Item I. Call to Order
Rick Niswander (Business), Chair of the Faculty, called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
Agenda Item II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of February 24, 2004, were approved as presented.
Agenda Item III. Special Order of the Day
A. Roll Call
Senators absent were: Professors Twarog (Art), Reisch, Business, Toppen (Industry and Technology), Kovacs (Medicine) and Vice Chancellor Lehman.
Alternates present were: Professors Knickerbocker (Foreign Languages), Robinson (Math), and Pokorny (Nursing).
B. Announcements
1. The Chancellor has approved the following resolutions from the February 24, 2004, Faculty Senate meeting:
04-01 Curriculum matters contained in the University Curriculum Committee minutes of the December 11, 2003, and January 22, 2004, meetings.
04-02 Recommendations concerning the “official” University Undergraduate Catalog.
04-03 Revised Annual Lifetime and Five-Year University Research/Creative Activity Award Procedures.
04-04 Resolution on Non-Tenure Track Faculty.
04-08 Revised Department of Economics’ Unit Code of Operation and School of Nursing’s Unit Code of Operation.
04-10 Resolution on the Status of Faculty Salaries at ECU.
2. The following Faculty Senate resolutions were forwarded to the appropriate parties.
04-06 Reduced Health Insurance Costs – UNC Faculty Assembly, Constituent Faculty Senate and Staff Senate Leaders
04-09 Commendation for Dr. Tom Feldbush – President of the Board of Governors
04-10Status of Faculty Salaries – Faculty Welfare Committee
3. Interim Chancellor Bill Shelton will host a Faculty Senate reception in the Chancellor’s residence on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Formal invitations will be forthcoming to all Faculty Senators, Alternates, and their guests.
4. The annual Teaching Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, 2004, 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. All faculty are welcome to attend.
5. Academic Committee Chairs are reminded that Committee Annual Reports are due in the Faculty Senate office by Monday, May 3, 2004.
6. Faculty members are reminded that April 1 Interim Chancellor Shelton will call for candidates for the prestigious 2004/2005 Max O. Gardner award. A copy of the University’s nomination procedures was provided to the group.
7. In an effort to keep faculty members informed of campus activities, future Board of Trustees’ meeting agendas and schedules will be distributed electronically to Faculty Senators and Alternates. Faculty are encouraged to attend these open meetings.
C. Chancellor's Report
Interim Chancellor Bill Shelton stated that he had signed earlier today a letter for the Oliver Max Gardner Award, which will go out shortly. He explained that this award is a prestigious one in the system and hoped that faculty would nominate worthy individuals. Shelton continued that he had tried to create a transition process for Chancellor Ballard and will provide information to him from a variety of sources, including updates on the vacant positions in administration. Many of these were purposely left vacant so that the new chancellor would have a voice in those hires. He also announced that Jeff Huskamp was leaving in late May to take a position in Maryland and he is working on a plan for transition in that office also and would make an announcement in the next few weeks.
No questions were expressed to Interim Chancellor Shelton at this time.
D. Vice Chancellor's Report
Michael Lewis, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences discussed the fact that the Learning Village process was on track to relocate the school of Allied Health and Nursing to the West Campus along with the addition of a new Library complex. Funding is already available from an earlier bond referendum; property (150 acres) has been acquired. Groundbreaking ceremony took place during Founders Day Celebration with construction to begin in May and a projected occupancy date of summer 2006. Lewis stated that moving Allied Health and Nursing programs to the medical campus was important for a major teaching hospital. In addition the new medical campus would feature a new library. School of Nursing reported a record enrollment this semester. PhD program in Nursing now has 10 students, 145 students in Masters program in a variety of tracks, a new RN program, and a Masters program with in emphasis in Nursing Education. In Allied Health, the Speech Easy program has been very successful. Congressman Waters was here recently to film 2 Congressional aides with severe stuttering problems as they received their Speech Easy devices and she would take the film to Congress in order to seek legislation for mandated funding for this device.
Recent acquisition of a country doctor museum located in Bailey houses a collection of historical artifacts of the practice of medicine from the time of the civil war. Reopening ceremony has been scheduled for April 14. We have also acquired a collection of historical books and materials that include the collections of the doctor credited with the modern abdominal surgery.
Lewis also discussed the Cardiovascular Institute, including materials distributed to Senators at their desks. These items provided an overview and fact sheet that showed the 29 counties of Eastern North Carolina have the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease in the state. Lewis noted this project has been a collaborative one between the Hospital and health sciences division. While some of the monies must come from the legislature, a significant portion has already been funded by the hospital. The Center would have departments dedicated to research and prevention.
Scott (Academic Library Services) questioned the impact of the School of Nursing’s enrollment demographics in RN and BSN with a change in focus and the location of students. Lewis reported that this strategy allowed nurses to continue to work in the community and complete their degrees.
Sprague (Physics) mentioned the trouble that students currently have traveling from one location to the next within the allotted 10 minutes between classes. He questioned how this would be handled once the Learning Village was complete. Lewis stated that the access/egress of students is part of the planning process and agreed that this was an issue and he would work on it with the university.
McMillen (Medicine) questioned if there would be a new student recreation lounge and other support services for students once the new village was completed. Lewis replied that as the Learning Village is constructed and the library moves, there would be room for support services.
Robinson (Math) asked about the partnerships being formed to bring services to the various communities, particularly in terms of the Cardiovascular Institute. He also asked about the environmental impact of new parking lots on west campus in regards to water run-off. Lewis responded that consideration of the wetlands near Arlington was a part of the planning process and there had been 150 acres purchased. Linking medical services to other communities was part of the mission of the hospital. He stated that he expects the telemedicine program to expand and real time video may be used to link to hospitals for heart catherization processes. Also, the medical school has attempted to get students out into the communities for educational purposes.
Hall (Psychology) questioned how the School of Medicine might work jointly with the proposed new University Child Care Center for diabetes prevention and education. Lewis stated that the cooperation occurred and looked forward to increased opportunities to provide education and prevention for the communities.
Pravica (Math) questioned the University’s rural health and screening activities. Lewis responded that the primary mission of the medical school was to provide primary care doctors and they had not deviated from that mission in their pursuit of the Cardiovascular Institute. He added that 70% of the primary care doctors stay in North Carolina. The screening clinics operated by medical students as well as those in Allied Health and Nursing continued.
Eribo (Communication) asked how long before the Cardiovascular Institute would be profitable. Lewis stated that while they are interested in a for profit model, the school lacks facilities, and they have continued to accept charity cases. With more modern facilities, Lewis stated that, in perhaps, 2-3 years from the time that the Cardiovascular Center is completed, they could break even.
E. Jim Talton, Chair of the Chancellor Search Committee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chair Niswander noted that a called Athletics Director Search Committee meeting prohibited Mr. Talton from attending the Senate meeting. He noted that Mr. Talton had graciously agreed to come to campus on April 1 to discuss various issues with interested faculty members. An announcement giving the details of the informal meeting would be distributed via email to the Faculty Senators and Alternates.
F. Rick Niswander, Chair of the Faculty
Chair Niswander noted the Board of Governors approved campus initiated tuition increases of $225, not the $300 requested, some increases for school of medicine, and student fee adjustments for fiscal year 2004-2005. Senators had a report at their desks. For the first time the BOG has micro-managed the campus increase requests, and also restricted how funds could be used. This situation would affect how ECU would use their monies. Niswander urged Senators to take action by talking to legislators and expressing concern about the lack of salary increases over the last 3 years, since the budget problems do not seem to be as severe as in the recent past. Niswander has discussed this with legislators he has met recently and would be sending letters to all representatives in the East with the health care cost resolution and the faculty salary resolutions passed by the Senate in February along with his comments about their significance to ECU and the system. He also asked Senators to report any incidents of which they have personal knowledge of 1> faculty members who had left the university predominantly due to salary and benefits issues and 2> individuals who we could not hire because of salary and benefits. The Board of Governors elected Steve Ballard to the ECU Chancellor position and approved the Engineering Bachelor’s degree program.
The Board of Trustees included the groundbreaking ceremonies. Dr. Lyons spoke to them about the International Program and was urged by the Board to increase his efforts to get more international students and to send more of our students and faculty abroad. They also discussed the new recreation complex on 264 east of town. Progress reports of various constructions projects included the new dining center scheduled to be completed in October 2004, Rivers in May 2004, Flanagan in November 2004, and Learning Village to start in May. ECU student transit was used by the First Flight Centennial organization during the celebration at Kitty Hawk in December—providing good public relations for the university. A number of requests for copies of the Founders Week speeches by Dr. Shelton and Mr. Jarvis have been received and an attempt is being made to have those made available electronically.
Faculty Governance Committee has completed changes to Appendices D (Promotion and Tenure) and Y (Grievance) and those would probably be on the agenda for the April 20th meeting. He announced that informational sessions would be offered the week of April 12th.
Niswander reported that the faculty did have a voice on the Chancellor Search committee with open and frank discussions and he was impressed with the lack of close-minded thinking. He reiterated his disappointment that the search was not completely open and made that clear to the search committee but felt that the adjustment made at the end was reasonable. Niswander also stated that Ballard would be good for ECU and we all have a responsibility to ensure the success of the new chancellor and the university.
Knickerbocker (Foreign Languages) thanked the faculty for their work and representation on the search committee and felt the need to review the process. He expressed disappointment in our hiring of the same consultant and the lack of faculty participation in the choice of faculty members and in the search process. He questioned the need to include such individuals as the Mayor of Greenville. He was also disappointed in the series of PR embarrassments with the leaks to the media that made the university look silly, and questioned the culture of secrecy in the university. He then asked if new Chancellor Steve Ballard was agreeable to an open search.
Niswander responded that he doesn’t know the answer to that question because he didn’t ask. He agreed that the faculty must be more proactive. He added that the UNC system is peculiar in that the President selects chancellors in the strong centralized system under which we operate; most systems are more autonomous at the campus level. Niswander expressed his belief that these three groups listed in the code were not meant to be exclusive, but allowed for other constituencies to be represented. With respect to Dean Fouke’s comments, Niswander stated that she was entitled to her opinion but thought they were misguided. Regarding the odd system of chancellor selection, Niswander maintained that it is the only position in the university that tends to be chosen through a closed search, while most administrators’ report inside the university, the chancellor reports outside.
Pravica (Math), in response to Professor Niswander’s request for information on how low salaries may have prevented a faculty member from accepting a position at ECU, asked if ECU could measure changes in the morale due to low salaries. Niswander stated that the morale issue is an important one and some faculty may not be doing their share of service and asked for help in discovering that.
Hall (Psychology) asked if there was anyone that could provide information on the average time for faculty searches. She stated that delaying searches for key administrative positions was seen as a lack of attractiveness to faculty candidates who would not know who they would be working for if they accepted ECU’s offer. Niswander replied that this could also indicate a lack of attractiveness and would discuss this with Bob Thompson to see if numbers are available.
Gares (Geography) asked for a clarification on the “provost search” and had the provost model been accepted. Niswander replied that it is not definitive, but that’s the model we have.
Knickerbocker (Foreign Languages) questioned if multi-year contracts for fixed-term faculty, referenced by the Faculty Welfare Committee, was a Board of Governor’s recommendation or actual policy. Niswander responded that at the point he thought they were only recommendations. He asked Bob Morrison to comment. Morrison (chemistry) explained that they are policy and campus must determine ways to implement.
G. Spring 2004 Graduation Roster
Kalmus (Biology) moved the approval of the Spring 2004 Graduation Roster, including honors program graduates, subject to the completion of degree requirements. The motion carried. RESOLUTION #04-11
I. Question Period
Faculty are encouraged to participate in the Question Period of the Faculty Senate meeting. This period allows faculty an opportunity to ask questions of administrators and others present relating to activities of the administration or Faculty Senate committees.
Knickerbocker (Foreign Languages) asked if the 16-page auditing report was going to be made public. Smith responded that he felt that for personnel reasons that was not appropriate. Irons (University Attorney) also stated that the report contained materials from several personnel files and that had confidentiality requirements of the law, which we must honor.
Professor Knickerbocker asked if the audit was first an internal audit that was taken over by the administration. Smith explained the audit was conducted for Personnel Flexibility Management issues and had not yet been completed. Also last fall semester, because of the rumors about improper hiring practices, Bob Thompson, Mary Ann Rose and Harvey Lineberry were asked to look into the hiring practices and auditor Stacey Tronto was added for her investigative skills. Tronto felt that it was inappropriate for her to sign off on a management report.
Tabrizi (Computer Science) asked Vice Chancellor Lewis about preventive medicine plans for the smaller centers within the neighborhoods. Lewis replied that the complex procedures would have to be done at the Cardiovascular Center, but a program of education and prevention in all communities of the East would be important to lower the incidents of heart problems and need for the procedures. Telemedicine has been expensive and if costs decrease this can be used effectively with outlying communities. Lewis also reported on the development of a one-year fellowship for primary care physicians focusing on diabetes education and prevention.
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. University Curriculum Committee
Tim Hudson (Math), Chair of the Committee, presented the curriculum matters contained in the February 12, 2004, and February 26, 2004, University Curriculum Committee minutes. He noted that the February 12, 2004, Committee minutes contained curriculum action discussed last year by the Senate (FS Resolution 03-18). There was no discussion and the curriculum matters contained in the February 12, 2004, and February 26, 2004, University Curriculum Committee minutes
were approved as presented. RESOLUTION #04-12.
B. Calendar Committee
Jeff Phipps (Theatre and Dance) presented the proposed change to the common exam schedule for the 2004-2005 University Calendar and the proposed 2005-2006 University Calendar. He provided a written report on the proposed changes to the upcoming calendar relative to earlier approved calendars.
Gares (Geography) questioned the early spring start date and asked if it could be pushed back by one week. Phipps recognized Angela Anderson who responded that there was concern for additional time after spring semester before summer programs begin. Phipps agreed to take the request back to the committee.
Estes (Health and Human Performance) asked if the spring schedule matched with Pitt County schools. Phipps replied that the attempt was made but were unable to work this out because of requirements for contact hours and make up days.
Scott (Academic Library Services) asked if committee considered changing the date of fall commencement so that it occurred after all final exams. Angela Anderson responded that they consulted Austin Bunch who expressed concern about a lower turnout for ceremony because the date would be so close to Christmas. Scott stated that you could probably make the same argument for an early spring graduation, to ensure a larger student/ faculty turnout.
Ciesielski (Technology and Computer Science) asked if there had been a study to see what other colleges do and if the date makes a difference. He pointed out that commencement should be the last thing we do. Anderson (University Registrar) responded that it was a good idea to do a study and that she would report back to Austin Bunch with inquiry to that. Niswander asked her to report back the results of that inquiry to the Senate.
Jones (Social Work) asked if we had a resolution to change the date. Niswander responded that the Calendar Committee would probably prefer to have the report returned to them for discussion since it’s an intricately related document.
Phipps suggested that it would be difficult to change now given the different individuals and groups that need to be consulted. Jones asked that we consider making the change in order to discover what problems may actually arise. Niswander suggested that we ask the Calendar committee to come back at the April 20th meeting with a response to the question of whether or not the date of fall commencement should be moved and the issues associated with it.
Pravica (Math) suggested that it could be difficult to make such changes to a document that is interrelated with so many others.
Christian (Business) moved that the Calendar Committee move the date of fall commencement from December 10, 2005, to December 17, 2005. The motion was accepted. Ciesielski (Technology and Computer Science) spoke in favor of the motion to put everything into a logical order.
Scott (Academic Library Services) commented that he believed that our constituent universities held commencement following exams and offered a substitute motion to table the Calendar committee report until the Committee could find out what constituent universities did. Christian (Business) commented that he doesn’t believe that it really matters what other institutions do but that he is concerned about the exams given after commencement.
Sprague (Physics) stated that he was opposed to the motion to table and that the Senate should go on and approve the calendars, and pass a motion to change the commencement date since this was already on the agenda and would be a better use of our time. Scott (Academic Library Services) spoke for the motion to table and supported a study to discover what others do.
Morrison (Chemistry) spoke against the motion to table the entire report. Sugar (Education) spoke against the motion to table saying that the Senate should do it today and change the date. It should be sequenced correctly.
Ciesielski (Industry and Technology) agreed with Sugar, that we should not table the whole report but should accept all by the commencement date. The motion to table the Calendar Committee’s report failed.
Wolfe (Anthropology) stated that it might be a mistake to change the commencement date to later. She felt that it was way too late and that no one would be on campus. Perhaps a move to midweek would be more appropriate. Jones (Social Work) stated that we wouldn’t know if it’s a mistake unless we try it.
Scott (Academic Library Services) pointed out that the last exams are scheduled for Friday, Dec 16th and people should be able to stay over. Sugar (Education) added that graduation is a ceremony of completion and should be sequenced as such. Gares (Geography) added that department ceremonies would most likely be on Friday making it easier for people to stay one night and participate in university commencement. Scott (Academic Library Services) commented that the weekend date is more convenient than a midweek date.
Following a lengthy discussion on changing the date of Fall 2005 Commencement from December 10 to December 17, the motion was made and approved to move the commencement date one week later. Following this motion, the change to the 2004-2005 University Calendar’s common exam schedule and amended 2005-2006 University Calendar was approved. RESOLUTION #04-13
C. Educational Policies and Planning Committee
John Cope (Psychology) a member of the Committee first presented, for information only, the request to create a general business concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Program and a request to establish a new degree program (MAEd) in Birth-Kindergarten Education. There was no discussion on this report.
Professor Cope then presented the request from the School of Art to change the name to the School of Art and Design. Scott (Academic Library Services) asked if this name change had been approved by a majority of the tenured faculty within the School. Cope (Psychology) stated yes.
Following a brief discussion and the name change was approved as presented.
RESOLUTION #04-14
D. Faculty Welfare Committee
David Lawrence (Geology), Chair of the Committee, presented a resolution in support of a University Childcare Facility. Hanrahan (Medicine) asked for a clarification of “inadequate facilities” and suggested that we should be careful to consider before we go into direct competition with private facilities. Lawrence responded that there is no accreditation process for childcare facilities.
Willson (Medicine) asked about the size and number of children in the center and how “adequate” was defined. Lawrence replied that the new center could not solve the problem for all faculty and students but would certainly help to some extent. Nan Lee (Human Ecology), a member of the study group, stated that some 20% of children in day care are in facilities deemed inadequate. In their responses to the survey, faculty, staff, and students expressed a need for a childcare facility on campus.
Ciesielski (Technology and Computer Science) replied that a childcare center was a good idea because of the convenience for the faculty members, students and staff. In response to the competition, he stated that this new center would serve the University community first and not take families from other centers in the marketplace.
Robinson (Math) stated that he thought it was appropriate for ECU to have a childcare center on campus and that it was beneficial to all. Engelke (Nursing) spoke in favor of the proposed childcare facility, stating that it would provide new opportunities within the various academic fields, such as nursing, child development, and education. .
Brown (Education) asked if this facility would include after school programs. Lee (Human Ecology) responded that yes up to age 12 years old. Lawrence responded that it was hoped that this center would fill some of the gap in community centers by having centers open when faculty require the service.
Scott (Academic Library Services) asked how the Committee came up with the number “500” in the first “whereas.” Lee (Human Ecology) responded that 500 was based on the number of people on the list for the Human Ecology Child Development Lab.
Ulffers (Music) stated that childcare decisions are very stressful for a family given the number of facilities with long waiting lists. He asked about the current situation with ½ day childcare at the Human Ecology Child Development Lab and how this would solve the problem for childcare and how the move would affect the department. Lee (Human Ecology) stated that the Human Ecology Child Development Lab is only a ½ day program due to the Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education Program accreditation. She stated that there had been many collaborative ideas within the Lab and within the study group. The proposed project is not part of the current child development lab program.
Willson (Medicine) stated that this proposed childcare facility would be a great relief for the junior faculty members and their families. He asked what the charge rates would be to run the center and stay in line and balance with the other centers in the area.
Estes (Health and Human Performance) stated that there were 3 issues that faculty asked about when recruiting: salary, teaching load, and available good daycare. He thought that this proposed facility would be faculty-friendly and thought the faculty would support it.
Robinson (Math) spoke of a conversation he had with a housekeeper in Austin that could not afford health coverage for the children. Robinson wanted to make sure that the staff would also be able to use this facility.
Sprague (Physics) called the question. The debate ceased. The resolution in support of a University Childcare Facility was approved as presented. RESOLUTION #04-15
Agenda Item VI. New Business
There being no further business to come before the body at this time. The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Tovey Lori Lee
Secretary of the Faculty Faculty Senate office
Department of English
