2010-2011 Fall Faculty Convocation

Remarks from Marianna Walker, Chair of the Faculty

Call to Order and Opening Remarks

The 2010/2011 Faculty Convocation at East Carolina University will come to order. Good Morning! Welcome to all faculty, administrators, BOT members, students, and staff, and visitors. I am Marianna Walker and I am honored to serve you as the Chair of the Faculty again this year. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Allied Health Sciences. I welcome you back to begin the 2010/2011 academic year. Thanks to Professor John Tucker, University Historian, for providing this montage of images to celebrate John F. Kennedy’s visit to East Carolina University in 1960. This visual presentation is timely as this is 45^th Anniversary of the Faculty Senate, founded in 1965, which began the formal process for shared governance at our university. To begin the celebration of 45 years of a strong Faculty Senate, I’d like to formally recognize our former Chairs of the Faculty, many of whom are here with us today. As you can see from the Agenda, many of our former Chairs, have passed away. While they are not here with us today, they are certainly with us in sprit and their efforts will never be forgotten. First, I’d like to read you language from UNC Code and ECU Faculty Manual to familiarize you with the role of the Chair of the Faculty and the important role of the faculty senate.

As provided in Section 502D of The Code of UNC, the BOG requires the Chancellor to ensure that there exists in the institution a faculty council or senate, a majority of whose members are elected by and from the members of the faculty. At East Carolina University, the general faculty are the general electorate and the Faculty Senate is the legislative and advisory body representing the general faculty. The Chancellor and the Chair of the Faculty facilitate communication that enables continuing and effective faculty participation in all aspects of the University community.”

You as you see, the Chair of the Faculty has important obligations not only to preside over the Faculty Senate, but to advocate for the faculty in all situations, and to establish a working relationship with the Chancellor and other senior administrators. Thus, the official title for this position is “Chair of the Faculty” and not Chair of the Faculty Senate. This is not always the case at other universities, but at ECU, this role is an advocate for the university faculty as a whole.

And just a few facts relative to the Chairs of the Faculty at East Carolina University. In the past 45 years, there have been 27 Chairs of the Faculty with the majority (25) from Academic Affairs and only 2 from the Health Sciences Division. To summarize, there have been, 5 Faculty Chairs from History (the most represented Unit), 3 from Business, 2 each from Art and Design, Education, English, Chemistry, Mathematics; and only 1 Faculty Chair representing Biology, Music, Health and Human Performance, Philosophy, Physics, Geology, Sociology, Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. The most represented College with 16 is Arts and Sciences. There have been 20 men and 7 women. Eleven are deceased, including our most recent Former Chair of the Faculty (Jan Tovey) preceded by Don Sexauer, Philip Adler, Lloyd Benjamin, Robert Woodside, James McDaniel, Vila Rosenfield, John Davis, Charles Prices, Alton Finch, and James Poindexter.

The majority of these individuals served two-year terms. Of the living Chairs of the Faculty, all have remained at ECU except for one (John Moskop) who is now an endowed Chair in Biomedical Ethics Wake Forest University School of Medicine. What does this say about our university in retention of our faculty “Once you come, you stay!” All have remained active in the university, have continued their commitment to service and in shared governance. I have heard that being “Chair of the Faculty” is a thankless job, but today, we need to recognize and applaud these individuals for their commitment to our university and for all they did during their terms in office for the faculty and the university as a whole. Every time I think about the challenges that I have experienced in the past year in my role, I reflect and often read about the history of the faculty senate and university and remember that each Chair had his/her own challenges that were representative of the times of the nation, state, community, and of our institution. I want to personally thank each of you for all your have done to allow me to follow in your footsteps and for your efforts in preserving the respected role of the Chair of the Faculty, faculty officers, faculty senate, and the faculty. The current state, strength, and process of shared governance have been continued on the foundation of your leadership and advocacy for the faculty.

We’ll begin with the most recent Former Chair of the Faculty who is present with us today.

Past Chair of the Faculty Academic Unit Years of Service Chancellor at the time

Preceeding Jan Tovey (English) was: Mark Taggart (our composer – Thanks Mark for mentoring me in my future role – when I served with you as Secretary of the Faculty)	Music	2006-2008	Steve Ballard
Catherine Rigsby (our geologist and current Vice Chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly, She remains active in the faculty senate and on university committees. Thanks for your advice and mentoring).	Geology	2004-2006	Steve Ballard
Rick Niswander (our current Dean of Business/Dean’s representative on the Faculty Senate and an individual who continues to advocate for faculty and the process of the faculty senate! Thanks Rick!)	Business	2003-2004	Bill Shelton

Robert Morrison (a chemist and triathlete, And although retired, Professor Morrison has continues his service to the faculty senate as a member of the Faculty Manual Steering Committee; Thanks for sharing your wisdom and history with me in the past year)	Chemistry	2000-2003	Richard Eakin and William Muse
Brenda Killingsworth (Brenda currently serves as a Faculty Officer as my Parliamentarian. She has also served as Chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly and has worked in General Administration this past year as a Scholar in Residence, and a consultant to President Bowles). Thanks Brenda for your constant support, wisdom, and insight!	Business	1998-2000	Richard Eakin
Following Brenda Killingsworth was Don Sexauer (Art) who is known for his establishment, along with Henry Ferrell, in the creation of the senate, and then- Patricia Anderson (Patricia is currently a Professor in Curriculum and Instructor and past departmental Chair, Thanks for your support and encouragement in the past few years).	Education	1993-1995	Richard Eakin
Following Patricia Anderson, was John Moskop, and then - James Joyce (a physicist and the Assistant Chair of the Department of Physics)	Physics	1989-1991	Richard Eakin
Conner Atkeson (who was active for years as a faculty senator as well and for his voice in raising public awareness of the of faculty in shared governance, and in policy and decision making).	History	1987-1989	John Howell and Richard Eakin
Kenneth Wilson (A sociologist and a past Parlimentarian of the Faculty Senate, and a member of many committees including the Faculty Senate Steering Committee; I have worked with Ken for a number of years as a faculty officer. He continues provides a rich history, advice, and a calm and reflective perspective to shared governance. Thanks Ken!).	Sociology	1985-1987	John Howell

James LeRoy Smith (a philosopher and past Provost and Senior Academic Vice Chancellor)

Philosophy

1983-1985

John Howell

Caroline Ayers (Thanks for her advocacy for recognition of the Faculty senate involvement and in the campus committee structure as “the best means by which we can work for our own betterment; the faculty must be involved in the affairs that affect them.")	Chemistry	1982-1983	John Howell
Tom Johnson Chancellor (Retired HHP Professor, served as President of the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health,Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NCAAHPERD, County Commissioner for Pitt County and is a member of the HHP Advancement Council).	Health and Human Performance	1979-1982	Thomas Brewer and John Howell
Henry Ferrell, Jr. (Former historian and well-known proponent of shared governance at ECU, state-wide and nationally; His historical perspectives and wisdom have helped shape our current faculty senate into the structure as it currently exists today. Although retired, he continues his interest in our status and frequently corresponds with me. Thanks Henry for all you have done!)	History	1977-1979	Leo Jenkins
Following Henry Ferrell are a number of deceased Faculty Chairs, as you will note on the Agenda, followed by our oldest living Former Chair of the Faculty – John Ellen (John Ellen was the second Chair of the Faculty, following John Poindexter (English). Professor Ellen served when our institution was East Carolina College, which became East Carolina University in 1967, at the end of his term. He was active in changing the institution from a college to a university. In 1971, ECU became part of the UNC system and at that time, the President then became the Chancellor of the university). John’s daughter, Katherine, and his wife, Dot are here today with him. By the way, Dot typed Henry Ferrell’s dissertation for him!) I have spent time with Mrs. Ellen who has shared many stories with me when her husband was Chair of the Faculty.)	History	1966-1967	Leo Jenkins

We are delighted that you are here today.

Thank you so much for all you have done for our university. The importance and actions of the faculty, through its legislative body, the Faculty Senate, are reflected in the history of East Carolina University. Your contributions will never be forgotten and you have helped to shape our university into the place that it is today!

Chair of the Faculty Remarks

Thank you Chancellor Ballard for your remarks. We thank you for your exceptional leadership and commitment to shared governance, to the preservation of the academic core in these tough budget times, and for your never ending support for all of the faculty. We look forward to our work together this year. Thanks also to the Academic Council, for your continued commitment to shared governance and the detailed level of communication that continues with the faculty leadership, faculty senate, and general faculty– Thanks to Provost Sheerer, Vice Chancellor Horn, and Vice Chancellor Deirdre Mageean. We look forward to our continued dialogue with our senior administrators.

I would like to recognize the current faculty leadership team who are all continuing in their roles for a second year. As I said last year, we are a “team” and I can’t overstate this descriptor. These individuals have given endless hours in addressing current faculty and university issues this year.

Let me introduce the faculty leadership team to you.

The Vice Chair of the Faculty, Associate Professor Mark Sprague, Department of Physics, Harriot College of Arts and Sciences; Secretary of the Faculty, Teaching Assistant Professor Hunt McKinnon, Department of Interior Design and Merchandising, College of Human Ecology; and Parlimentarian, Associate Professor Brenda Killingsworth, Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business. I can assure you that your faculty leadership team will represent you well in all venues this year. I cannot function alone in my role as Chair of the Faculty.

And last, but certainly not least, is Ms. Lori Lee, the Faculty Senate Administrative Assistant. She is the rock in the office, the source for all information and matters pertaining to the Faculty Senate. Lori began her role with the faculty senate office 21 years ago and has worked with 11 Chairs of the Faculty. Thank you Lori for all that you do and have done for the faculty on our campus.

We call on each of you, as a faculty member, to establish or renew your sense of faculty roles, rights and responsibilities, to communicate your ideas and to provide a voice on key university issues that will assist the faculty leaders and the faculty senate (including committees), the senior administration, and the Chancellor, in making decisions this year toward common university missions. Last year, we call for a renewed sense of communication and collaboration in the university as we moved forth in accomplishing our endeavors together. I want to thank the faculty for all you have done in communicating your ideas, concerns, and solutions to us and to the university community as a whole. Your roles in advocating for your fellow colleagues, units, disciplines, and for the faculty in general has not gone unrecognized. We have a strong faculty and faculty voice.

Last year, the faculty leaders established a working relationship and met on number of occasions with the SGA Officers, whom are a dedicated group of students who are passionate about their service and communication with both faculty and administration. We have enjoyed the dialogue and input and will continue our interaction with these student leaders who are present today. I would like to have each of them stand and be recognized.

Student Body President – Tremayne Smith

Student Body Vice President – Joshua Martinkovic

Student Body Treasurer – Justin Davis

Student Body Secretary Kristina Dortschy

Student Body Chief of Staff AJ Malicdem

We look forward to our continued communication with this group.

I would now like to recognize the faculty senators and alternates for the 2010-2011 year. Please stand. Thanks to you for service in the past and the work you will do this year. You will be called upon to make important decisions pertaining to faculty roles and responsibilities.

The faculty body is the soul of the university and students are the heart of the university. Faculty need to provide direction and insight not only for our students, but for the administration and Board of Trustees on important academic issues in order to safeguard the well-being of all faculty now and in the future and to maintain the university’s process of shared governance.

During the 2009/2010 academic year, the faculty senate and its university committees have undertaken and succeeded in meeting its charges in many different realms. Foremost, following the Chancellor’s mandate for review and revision of the Faculty Manual, over half of the manual has been successfully reviewed, revised, and reorganized. The university academic committees have worked overtime to complete these reviews of the language, policies, and procedures outlined in the faculty manual. The newly established Faculty Advisors and the Faculty Manual Steering Committee have also contributed to this formal vetting and advice to the faculty senate and Chancellor regarding the review of the Faculty Manual. I cannot say enough about the work that has been devoted to this task in a professional, thoughtful, and productive manner this year. Our work in completing the review of the Faculty Manual will continue this year and as a result will be reorganized into a manual that is user friendly for all stakeholders, less ambiguous, updated, and coherently organized. I want to remind the faculty that the Chancellor advocated last year for the continued existence of our faculty manual during the establishment of a University Policy Manual, which will be a repository of all university policies in a central location.

Other endeavors that have been established and endorsed by the Chancellor in the past academic year, was the inclusion of special provisions for faculty advice and responsibility in the Policy on Policies and in the formal advice from faculty, via the faculty senate, for administrative policies that affect faculty. This past year, formal and productive conversations have taken place between the Chancellor and Chair of the Faculty, the Faculty Officers and the Academic Council, University Committees, Board of Trustees, the University Attorney, and other key constituencies. The university committees and faculty senate are viewed as productive and the primary groups to represent the faculty as a whole. We will continue our work this year on important initiatives including SACS reaffirmation (2013), Retention and Graduation, including a self-study; the newly established Honors College, on-line education definitions and faculty-vetted peer reviews and training guidelines; updating academic integrity procedures, copyright and intellectual properties of the faculty and the university which also relate to issues surrounding Open Access databases, on-line education, and access to course syllabi. Other faculty governance issues regarding updating appellate committee and hearing procedures will be reviewed as well as revision of Appendix C and D (again) with new language about scholarship and newly proposed categories involving Engagement and Innovation. Yes, we have much to do, but with the success of the faculty senate, university committees, collaboration and support from the administration, and serious commitment from the faculty, we can accomplish these endeavors with respect and diligence.

And now for my report on the “State of the Faculty”. I have heard throughout the past year that as a university, we don’t know who we are. Every time I hear this statement, I wonder why this seems to be the sentiment of many individuals at our university. In addition, I have also heard that we feel that we need to “tell our story” better. I would agree with this later observation, but I feel that I must comment on the State of the Faculty. As I said previously, the faculty are the soul and the students are the heart of the university. Undoubtedly, this analogy couldn’t be more true at East Carolina University. As the Commission on Scholarship articulated, we are a community of scholars, which means that while we may not all excel at obtaining NIH or NSF funds, each faculty member has skills and expertise that complement and contribute to the success of the university in educating its students, whether through coursework and design of the curriculum (face to face and online), advising, research mentoring, grantsmanship, creative activities, patient-care, service-learning or the scholarship of engagement, or providing models of service and outreach. We must embrace the diversity of our culturally unique disciplines, and unique roles that faculty members offer in all of these roles. We must be aware of these talents and not try to generalize uniform requirements on how each unit or faculty member should adhere. Each faculty member is unique but common in his/her responsibilities to the university. We must not lose sight of these common differences and similarities. The faculty symbolize cohesion in a culture of diverse disciplines and endeavors. Collaboration is the key and communication is the tool. We must all work together to tell our stories, in a way that promotes the missions of the university. We when are able to articulate and communicate our strengths, the outside communities will understand and tell our stories as well.

I encourage you to think about ways to demonstrate all the skills and endeavors that you undertake in your daily life as a university professor. We have such strength in our academic programs and we must showcase them. Please let me know when you or someone in your department needs to be recognized. We must reward excellence, not only for our students, but for our faculty as well. I encourage you to be involved, to seek collaboration outside your department, and to be innovative in your teaching and scholarship, and giving in your service.

Now, before you go, I’d like to share with you a recent experience with the faculty officers and the Chancellor. These photos (http://author.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/convocation/810convocation.pdf) and music (provided at the ceremony) demonstrate our “Come Together” theme this year which signifies that faculty must “come together” as one body, where all voices are heard in demonstrating our commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service. In addition, “Come Together” demonstrates our commitment to shared governance where administration and faculty work together to strive to meet the university missions. “Come together” also signifies the relationships that faculty, administration, students, and staff have and seek for the common good of one university. On behalf of the faculty officers, thanks to all past and present faculty, Chairs of the Faculty, Faculty Senates, administrators, students, and staff for making East Carolina University The BEST university! We invite you to share in the fun we had in reproducing a historic photo and including the Chancellor in our endeavor. You may remember, or may not, that this photo was a reproduction of a photo from 1969, which is timely as we celebrate the Faculty Senate’s birthday in the mid 1960’s.

Come together….

This concludes the Faculty Convocation for the year. As you leave, I hope you take with you a spirit of unity and pride in being at East Carolina University.