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FACULTY MEETING

April 5, 2013
Gannett Auditorium

MINUTES

President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:36 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

President Glotzbach asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held March 1, 2013.  Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Glotzbach reminded everyone that today was the first of this year's Accepted Candidates Day for the Class of 2017 and called everyone's attention to the cover article in the Winter edition of Scope highlighting the SEE-Beyond awards.  He offered his appreciation to the departments that have become involved in this program and thanked Corey Freeman-Gallant, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Academic Policy and Advising, for his work in this tremendous program.

President Glotzbach's report was interrupted by several students who wished to address concerns they had with regard to one of the speakers chosen for commencement, Cynthia Carroll.  President Glotzbach allowed an opportunity for dialogue with several students expressing their concerns.

Thereafter, in response to a question raised at a previous faculty meeting concerning this year's general salary adjustment, Mike West, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, shared a PowerPoint presentation addressing faculty salaries by rank and overall compensation compared with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ's peers based upon preliminary data received from AAUP.  In comparing the general salary adjustments for 2004 through 2013, VP West acknowledged that there were general salary adjustments that were higher than the CPI.  Following VP West's presentation, Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided a summary of the market equity adjustments and gender equity adjustments that were given to faculty during last year's general salary adjustment. 

In concluding his report, President Glotzbach readdressed the issues raised by the students concerning Cynthia Carroll and the process for choosing commencement speakers and sought input from the faculty.

DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT

Due to the unexpected discussion concerning the commencement speaker, there was no report given.

OLD BUSINESS

Faculty Executive Committee

On behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee, Professor Barbara Black read the following Motion that was introduced at the last faculty meeting (see attached):

MOTION: On behalf of the Faculty Development Committee, the Faculty Executive Committee moves that the following new language be added to the Faculty Handbook, PartOne [Faculty Rights and Responsibilities], Article XII [Leaves of Absence], Section A[Sabbatical Leaves of Absence], Subsection 3 [Procedures], Subpart a [Application],Number iv:

OLD LANGUAGE

Applications must be received by the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than January 15th of the academic year preceding the desired leave. The Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs’ Office will transmit one copy to the Chair of the Faculty Development Committee.

NEW LANGUAGE

For full-year sabbatical leaves, applications must be received by the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than October 15th of the academic year preceding the desired leave. For one-semester sabbatical leaves, applications must be received by January 15^th of the academic year preceding the desired leave.  The Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs’ Office will transmit one copy to the Chair of the Faculty Development Committee.

Also, in light of this change, two new pieces of language for Subpart b [Consideration], Number i and Number iii, are necessary (here in bold):

b.i.: On or before either October 15^th or January 15^th (whichever date pertains) of the year preceding the intended leave…

b.iii.: Applicants and their departmental Chairs will be notified by November 15^th or March 1^st (whichever date pertains) of the academic year preceding the leave.

There was no discussion, and the Motion was voted on and passed by majority vote. 

Committee on Educational Policies and Planning

On behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, Associate Professor Michael Arnush provided an update on the new Student Rating form that was approved at the last faculty meeting. CEPP informed the faculty at the March 1 meeting, after the faculty approved the new Student Rating Form, that it would explore the possibility of including student and/or faculty demographic data on the form as requested. Conversations with the form provider (Scantron) indicated that, while the form can include any questions, the company cannot provide a mechanism to analyze the data produced. In addition, the Banner system cannot combine the demographic information compiled from Admissions (e.g., the Common Application) with the Student Rating Form to allow for data analysis, such as cross-tabulating student responses to the substantive questions with either student or faculty demographics. Therefore, CEPP has decided that it will not propose to include additional questions on the form at this juncture, but will ask CEPP to return to this issue in 3+ years to see if the situation has changed.  

Thereafter, Associate Professor Arnush provided an update to the culture-centered inquiry requirement.   After reviewing the potential courses that would qualify for the Considering Difference component of the requirement, it appears there are not sufficient courses that meet this designation.  CEPP has, therefore, decided not to bring a motion for a requirement that cannot be implemented.  CEPP has decided that it would take a broader and deeper view of this requirement and the all college curriculum as well.  CEPP intends to discuss this at their year-end retreat, and it will be the focus of their discussions during the next academic year.  Brief discussion was held concerning the process to date and the steps that will be taken going forward. 

NEW BUSINESS

Curriculum Committee

On behalf of Curriculum Committee, Assistant Professor Sylvia McDevitt introduced the following Motion (see attached):

MOTION:  The Curriculum Committee moves to eliminate the Government-History interdepartmental major.

There being no discussion, Assistant Professor McDevitt made a motion to waive the layover period.  The motion to waive the layover period was objected to on behalf of CEPP.  After discussions between the chairs of Curriculum Committee and CEPP, CEPP's objection to the waiver of the layover period was withdrawn.  Thereupon, the Motion was voted on and passed by majority vote.

Institutional Policy and Planning Committee

On behalf of the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC), Associate Professor Erica Bastress-Dukehart introduced the following Motion (see attached):

MOTION:  The Institutional Policy and Planning Committee is asking the Faculty to endorse the Standards of Business Conduct, the Conflict of Interest, and the Conflict of Commitment policies.

Associate Professor Bastress-Dukehart noted that the Motion will lie over until the next faculty meeting; during the layover period, IPPC will host an open forum for the community to discuss the policies.   In response to questioning, Associate Professor Bastress-Dukehart noted that drafts of these policies have been circulating since 2010 and have been substantially revised based upon concerns raised after review by various committees and department chairs and program directors. 

Other

Professor Mehmet Odekon inquired about the practice of background checks being performed for junior faculty coming up for reappointment.  Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, advised that this new policy implemented by Human Resources wherein a background check is done for all new employees, including those being reappointed who have not already had a background check performed.   Brief discussion was held concerning the necessity of background checks for new employees given events that have occurred at other colleges and universities.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

On behalf of FEC, Professor Barbara Black announced that the Committee of the Whole discussion on Faculty Governance will be held at another date so as to allow sufficient time to discuss Faculty Governance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Professor Roy Rotheim announced that Paula Wagner will be giving the annual F. William Harder lecture tonight at 6:00 p.m.
• Professor Roy Rotheim invited everyone to attend the final representations of the Kenneth Freirich Business Plan Competition scheduled for April 12, 2013 in the Payne Room of the Tang.
• Professor Mary Odekon announced that the book chosen for this year's FYE summer reading is "The Other Wes Moore."
• Darren Drabek announced that he will be sending an email shortly concerning the winner of the Davis Projects for Peace.
• Assistant Professor Jackie Murray announced that the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding will be sending out a student climate survey shortly. 
• Michael West, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, invited everyone to attend a reception immediately following the faculty meeting in Murray Aikins.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,