Minutes for the Meeting of the Faculty Assembly

April 10, 2003

 

  1. L. Brown called the meeting to order at 3:12, and R. Serianz led the Assembly in a prayer for peace.

 

  1. L. Brown asked for approval of the minutes from March 27, 2003.  B. Jacobson so moved.  Motion was seconded.  R. Serianz noted correction needed to be made in point 7 of the minutes.  B. Peters did not comment.  Instead, it was B. DuBois. 

 

  1. Votes were cast for 2003-2004 Chair-elect.  R. Dye and D. Bozik were the nominees.

 

  1. L. Brown reported on the APTC (Academic Program Termination Committee).  L. Brown thanked those who shared their input on the committee with her.  The committee will work as a committee of governance with a 2-1-1 structure.  In addition, the committee will consist of an AAUP rep, VP of Finance, VP of Academic Affairs, President of the Student Government, and a student. Concern was expressed over a conflict of interest with the VP of Academic Affairs reviewing the administrative decision, so L. Rodrigues-Fisher withdrew from the committee.  The focus of the committee will be to 1) review the process for terminating academic programs, and 2) make recommendations to the Board on the governance of terminating academic programs.  This committee will be started now and hopefully will have a report by fall 2003.  Should the college structure of the University change over the summer, the representative needs of the committee will not change. 

 

  1. D. Zeimet reported on the new graduation procedures.  Change of the previous procedures were made to 1) reduce length of procession – students will be seated on 2 sides, and 2) make more student-friendly – students will be closer to the stage and have better photo opportunities.  Changes were also made to deal with increased student graduation population – approximately 500 this May.  D. Zeimet stated that this plan would be implemented and then evaluated after graduation to consider using for next year.  D. Zeimet also reminded faculty that they will still be lining up at McMullen Hall, be seated behind the students, and requested that faculty line up in order of seniority. 

 

  1. Ad hoc committee report for college restructuring was presented by R. Wastyn.  R. Wastyn reported the idea of renaming the College of Human Services the College of Education and Health Sciences for next school year.  The proposal went from the Provost to the President, who will be discussing it with the Board.

 

  1. B. Peters asked how the possible restructuring of the University would affect committee membership.  C. Stevens stated that a year of transition off and on new committees would be necessary.  D. Bozik asked for clarification of committee membership for spring elections/appointments.  L. Brown clarified that current election would be done under current University structure until official changes were made.  At that time, L. Brown anticipated readjusting committee membership as required by the restructuring.

 

  1. K. Trujillo reported on behalf of the Faculty Handbook Committee.  The first reading changes were sent to all faculty via email.  R. Serianz moved to accept the proposed changes. W. Oberle seconded the motion.

 

  1. K. Trujillo shared the first motion 2.2.1, removing the word sabbatical from the PTS and adding it to 2.2.2 FDC.  2.2.2.1 was then adjusted to membership election of the FDC.  4.2.4.1 and Appendix J were also changed to reflect changes of 2.2.1. C. Stevens expressed concern with the number of people to be elected to the FDC.  Currently, 4 individuals reviewed 45 grants this year.  C. Stevens stated this workload was do-able by the committee.  She did not support adding more committee members to the FDC.  K. Trujillo stated that the committee would not accept friendly amendments at this time.  N. Schlueter expressed concern over the power of 4 individuals and stated that it would not be robust with only 4 as compared to 8 members.  M. Legg stated that if robust was the goal, then sabbaticals should remain a part of the PTS committee.  R. Richards asked B. Peters if the workload for the FDC would be increasing over time and if they felt they could handle the work with just 4 members.  B. Peters stated they could.  K. Trujillo asked if 4 members could handle such decision-making.  C. Stevens said that they already participate in reviewing faculty grants, thus they are familiar with the political backlash and do not feel as if it would change their decision making process for sabbaticals.  R. Legg asked what percent of time the PTS committee spent on reviewing sabbaticals.  T. Schlabach reminded the assembly that changing sabbatical review from PTS to FDC was not done as a time management issue as it was to align the task with the appropriate committee.  Motion was made to keep the membership of the committee the same – remain as 4-member group with 1 ex officio member from the CTE.  Motion 1 carried for the first reading.

 

  1. K. Trujillo presented motion 2.  2.2.1.2 was changed to a 3-year term on PTS for continuity of the committee.  Motion carried for the first reading.

 

  1. K. Trujillo presented motion 3.  Addition to the end of 2.2.1.2 for PTS membership to last no more than 6 consecutive years with re-election available after 3 years of not serving on the committee.  J. Trapp stated that the motion went against the continuity sought in motion 2.  Four of the current 8 members are new and the board typically has a 50% turnover in membership each year without the rule changes, so she did not see the need for motion 3.  A. Swift stated that he opposed the motion and found it to be undemocratic.  J. Horn said that after 6 years on the committee members were ready for a rest and saw no need to change the current membership rules.  Motion was denied for the first reading.

 

 

  1. K. Trujillo presented motion 4.  3.3.3.1 stated annual progress reports were to be turned in to the PTS committee.  This is no longer required, and so the handbook should reflect the current practice.  3.6.3 concerning the 5-year reviews of tenured faculty was changed so PTS could establish and publish their own schedule of review.  It was also added that faculty were responsible for maintaining their own portfolios.  R. Richards reinforced the idea that the changes were only made to reflect current practice, not change current practice.  C. Stevens asked if all faculty needed to show evidence of completed graduate work.  She then proposed a friendly amendment to have the requirement read, “evidence of completed academic work…”  B. Grant asked why PTS could not just use a definite timetable for reviews.  T. Schlabach stated that PTS needs to determine a timetable that would work.  M. Hustedde expressed concern with not setting a review schedule and supported the 5-year timetable.  A. Swift supported the idea of letting PTS set their timetable and then if it became too vague then the assembly could readdress the issue.  K. Farrell requested that a set timetable be stated.  J. Trapp said the PTS was currently considering a number of ways to change the review timetable, so they could not at this point commit to a specific timeframe.  The Faculty Handbook has left the option in as a courtesy to PTS.  R. Richards stated that giving PTS flexibility was a good thing and that faculty should not assume that PTS would go and do silly things with such flexibility.  The proposed changes were made to give PTS the tools to allow it to function effectively administratively. K. Trujillo reminded the assembly that the PTS review schedule would have to be announced ahead of time, members were not going to show up on your door and ask for your portfolio.  Motion carried for the first reading.  L. Brown reminded the assembly that a second reading of the approved changes would be held next Sept.

 

  1. R. Richards asked for a round of applause for the work of K. Trujillo and the rest of the Faculty Handbook Committee for their difficult work.   T. Burns asked if the committee was going to continue to meet.  R. Richards said yes.

 

  1. L. Brown introduced the year-end reports from the other faculty committees.  J. Barr moved to accept the reports as is.  A. Swift seconded.  Motion carried.

 

  1. L. Brown announced that new committee member nomination sheets were going out to Deans and Dept. Chairs in April and voting would occur by the first week in May.  L. Brown announced that R. Dye was elected Chair-Elect for the 2003-2004 school year.  T. Burn motioned to recognize the outstanding work and service of L. Brown as 2002-2003 Faculty Assembly Chair.  L. Brown thanked the Assembly for their patience and support this school year.  L. Brown also thanked R. Serianz, T. Schuster, and J. Van Speybroeck for their service to the Assembly as well.  L. Brown handed the gavel to R. Serianz.  R. Serianz ended the year with a prayer for peace and stated that she looked forward to serving the Assembly next year.

 

  1. A. Swift moved to adjourn the meeting.  P. Jacobson seconded.  Meeting adjourned 4:10pm. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

T. Schuster