Minutes of Faculty Assembly

February 12, 2004

 

  1. R. Serianz called the meeting to order at 3:15 and led the Assembly in a moment of meditation.
  2. R. Serianz reported receiving a concern that the January minutes missed some points of view that were expressed, so a motion was made to accept the January minutes and to add – as a friendly amendment - the minutes that were taken by M. Hustedde.   A. Swift so moved.  D. Hillden seconded. Motion passed.
  3. S. DeVries was unable to attend the meeting to talk about Month of the Young Child.  R. Dye distributed a flyer that talked about ways to volunteer.  Please call the children’s campus if you would like to volunteer or have any ideas.
  4. T. Burns gave an update on Information Technology.   He distributed a handout with the summary.  The new provider for Internet service is Internet Express.  The switchover went smoothly.  Two areas for continued improvement are better information regarding departmental setups/services to make future transitions easier and smoother for all, and additional methods for notification and status updates.  He also discussed the two main items funded:  some night and weekend support and upgrade of Blackboard to the enterprise level.  It was asked if there had been any problems for anyone during the switchover.  It was stated that there had been minimal problems and they were resolved within the week.  M. Hustedde encouraged faculty to check their departmental website email addresses because there department had experienced some problems.
  5. FFC Committee Replacement.  A motion was made to have B. Parsons replace A. Lensing on the FFC Committee for the Spring 2004 semester.  G. Bailey made the motion.  R. Waston seconded.  Motion passed.
  6. R. Serianz read the proposed motion for Themes.   B. Peters and R. Richards proposed the following motion: To request that all members of the faculty assembly with voting privileges vote on the themes proposal by way of a written ballot.  Written ballots will be distributed to all voting members via campus mail and returned to the ballot box in the office of the President.  The chair and chair-elect of the faculty assembly will count the votes.  A vote “yes” indicates that planning for implementation of the current theme proposal will begin immediately with full implementation commencing fall 2005.  A vote “no” indicates that not only will this particular implementation plan fail, but also that the theme concept will be removed from the general education program at St. Ambrose University.  A friendly amendment was made to also include the question if the topic of themes should be dropped completely or if it should be looked at in a different manner.  There was discussion as to whether there should be two separate votes or if both questions could be included on the same ballot.  A friendly amendment was made to include the second question about themes in general and to put both questions on the same ballot.  The friendly amendment was accepted.  P. Koch called the question.  Motion passed.
  7. J. Stauff gave an update on the Faculty Handbook Committee.  He stated that at the last meeting there had been some confusion about how the FHC communicates to staff and other committees.  He stated that they would now be posting changes by email to the faculty and giving them the opportunity to send their comments.  These comments would then be posted on their web page.  This will then be brought to the Faculty Assembly.  This will hopefully help everyone feel that they have an active part.  It was also stated that 2 new members were needed from the College Arts and Science.  Please submit names to R. Serianz.
  8. T. Burns gave an update on the revision of the Academic Support Committee Handbook description.  At a previous meeting a motion had been made to table the motion made by T. Burns.  A motion was made by P. Koch and J. Stauf to bring the motion off the table.  Motion approved.  T. Burns explained that the changes would be sent to the Faculty Handbook Committee.  He stated that the basic description was the same but the changes were made to make the language consistent.  The FDC would then bring back the changes to the Faculty Assembly for their input and then to be voted on.  T. Burns withdrew his previous motion and will send the changes to the FDC.
  9. Faculty Military Leave Policy was presented by G. Bailey.  He stated that the staff had a military leave policy but the faculty did not.  He emphasized that this policy follows federal law.  Below is the text of the proposed policy:

 

4.1.2 MILITARY LEAVE POLICY

 

4.1.2.1

 

It is the policy of the university to grant leaves of absence, which allow faculty who are members of the National Guard or a Reserve Unit to meet their military obligations. This policy will also apply to retired or separated military members who are recalled to active duty. Faculty members should notify their Department Chair, College Dean and the Human Resource Office in writing of any military status, current or pending, that makes them eligible to be called up for active duty.

 

4.1.2.2 

 

For annual training or limited active duty not to exceed 14 days that occurs during the academic year, the faculty member will be paid the difference between their military pay and their regular pay. The faculty member must present a military pay voucher to the university general accounting office to receive this benefit. Health, life insurance, disability and other benefit programs will remain in effect.

 

The academic year will be considered as those dates given in the faculty member's annual SAU contract, excluding the usual University holidays and vacations.

 

4.1.2.3

 

For active duty of more than 14 days during the academic year, the faculty member will be granted a military leave of absence without pay. After one month of active duty, health, life insurance, disability and other benefit programs will be suspended, except for dependent tuition remission, provided that insurance is provided for the member and the member's family by the U. S. government. Faculty dependents will have the option of continuing University insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions, if they so desire.

 

4.1.2.4

 

Upon a faculty member's return from active duty, he/she will be reinstated to the same academic rank, status and pay as if no interruption in employment had occurred,

provided that the following conditions are met:

 

The faculty member has satisfactorily completed the period of active duty.

(Note: A copy of DD214 will be presented to the Human Resource Office as evidence.)

 

The faculty member is qualified to perform the duties of his/her position.

(Note: An employee who sustains a disability during their military service which makes him/her unable to perform the duties of either his/her old or an equivalent position will be offered any other position which is available and for which they are qualified.)

 

The faculty member must reapply for employment within 90 days of the completion of military service.

 

 

4.1.2.5

 

When the faculty member returns to work, the amount of time spent in the service will count toward any cost of living raises, but will not count toward promotion or tenure.

 

4.1.2.6

 

The faculty member's cumulative length of service that causes absence from the University may not exceed a period of five (5) years, unless mandated by Federal law.

 

S. Vordtriede made a motion to accept the policy for the first reading.   K. Kelly seconded.  A special thanks was voiced to the committee for their great work and for all their support for those who were faced with this situation.  The question was called.  Motion approved for the first reading.

 

 

  1. A unanimous move was made to adjourn the meeting.  Meeting adjourned at 4:15.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Renae Harroun, Secretary

Faculty Assembly.