4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes January 20, 2012
Highlights: Guest, Jett Johnson, Student Assembly President -Jett Johnson, who is president of the Student Assembly visited the Senate and provided an oral report on its activities. -President's Report: Provost approved and funded all FDGs; seven Sabbaticals awarded; concerns about the amended finals schedule from the fall semester (Hurricane Irene); Concern by Deans over the minutes from November regarding annual and tenure reviews; Virginia State Bill 104 which, if passed by the general assembly and approved by the governor would provide University Faculty state-wide with a 50% tuition reduction for dependent children. -Arts and Humanities chairs: some concerns over the budget outlook for the coming academic year and were asked to prepare for departmental reductions -Virginia has altered the way that it pays for equipment by eliminating the equipment trust -concerns regarding the FRC in cases where department members were evaluated negatively by the FRC on matters of promotion without explanation; concern that the FRC lacked the expertise to critique discipline-specific professional development and scholarship; Some Senators supported the idea of having external letters become a standard feature of dossiers; concern about the lack of expertise in the external to the department member of the DRC who may not have sufficient knowledge of the discipline to assess scholarship; Senators from Luter pointed out that in Business, there is a point system that has been established to rate publications to address the issue of substance; concerns about the finality of decisions and lack of appeal procedures;On the reporting issue which was a feature of the fall review cycle Senators discussed several possible solutions -University Assessment and Evaluation Committee training for using an electronic reporting system -Undergraduate Admissions Committee report: discussion of the reorganization of the admissions process under new Dean of Admissions -Music faculty were concerned about the electronic IDEA from the fall -Discussion of Fall IDEA surveys -Teaching Portfolio Development was discussed -Digital Measures were discussed -Dossier organization -discussion of the spring experience with Follet and book ordering -New Language for 2 and 4 year successful reviews -Child care on-campus: programs that are most successful at other universities charge market rates which vary widely but can be quite expensive for full-day care/school at around $1000 per month; need to do an do an interest survey of faculty to determine the needs of the faculty but also the extent to which something like this would have active enrollment from faculty; there is no space in the current building plans for a daycare/school on campus -faculty life survey in February -proposal to create a new university standing committee on faculty development -Changing the college representation in the Senate to a minimum of 5 departments -The Senate handbook committee proposed a change to the description and responsibilities of the FRC -The Senate then moved to consider the problem of the Student Handbook updates which then sometimes by default change the University Handbook thus opening a limited thought potent backdoor that appears to supersede regular faculty and Senate governance -Elections in February -IDEA Feedback for Administrators Survey Tool -currently soliciting applications for the faculty teaching award from department chairs -President Trible has put together a task force on the honor code and judicial process for the University
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4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, November 18, 2011
Highlights: -concerns that the FRC (Faculty Review Committee) or the deans of the three colleges did not provide rationale when they differed from the DRC (Department Review Committee) report -Senate discussed concerns that the fall reviews may be flawed because they did not follow administrative guidelines and expected process -President Pollard discussed briefly the recent decision by President Trible to provide a bonus to all full-time faculty employed prior to June 30, 2009 -International Studies Advisory Committee is engaged with a thorough review to organize and categorize the study abroad options offered through CNU by its faculty -Program Review Committee reviewing Interdisciplinary Studies, Fine Art and Art History, and Chemistry -Expect a University survey in the early spring semester, probably in January -some departments in Arts and Humanities that are not represented on the Senate continue to feel underrepresented -The English department reported that it has completed its curricular review -The film concentration will be eliminated as will the Journalism concentration -The Senate discussed the revised statement on Academic Freedom and Responsibility -University Handbook discussed -Dossier Organization: Administrative Response -The response made no mention of the electronic dossier which, now that the institution uses Digital Measures for annual reviews, should be part of every discussion we have on dossier construction -it is now unclear who administers Digital Measures for the University and if there are support staff who might be able to manage the electronic dossier -Some senators objected to any move towards an electronic dossier noting that Digital Measures seems unnecessarily cumbersome and unreliable -in the administrative response, there was no place to include relevant service materials -Others commented on the limitations placed on some more prolific faculty who might need additional space to include scholarly production than one binder would allow -The SEC is committed to revisit the issue of dossier content and will draft a counterproposal expressing faculty concerns. -The Senate also made the case that the administrative response seems to focus on only one kind of teaching evaluation material, the IDEA student surveys -The Senate discussed the prospect of inviting Peter Seldin, author of numerous books on teaching assessment at the University level, to campus. -3-3 Transition application process underway -3-year contract: faculty who have worked for the University for years on annual contracts see the potential for a longer term contract as a net benefit -no space is available on campus for a child care facility even if an external entity might be able to run such a program -cost of child care -Adjunct Pay: Motion to raise adjunct pay -Standing Committee on Faculty Development discussion -role of a Chapel on a public University campus -discussion of allowing restricted faculty to serve on the Senate -Faculty Development Grants -Sabbatical applications -New paragraph in successful 2 and 4-year review notices -New proposed penalty for unsatisfactory performance in scholarship -Accelerated Committee Elections -Electronic IDEA -IDEA Conference Report -the all faculty meeting is scheduled for 1 December
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, October 21, 2011
Highlights: -At the Board of Visitors meeting, the Academic Affairs subcommittee passed the policy on Academic Freedom proposed by the 10-11 Faculty Senate, but it is still under review by the full Board -Chief Brown offered a series of sessions on Emergency Management Training for faculty and staff -information on the incoming class demographics -Common Application Consortium was discussed -information on Financial Aid awards -information on the retention rate and graduation rate -distinction between "early action" and "early decision" is that "early decision" students applied only to CNU -University Advancement plan for the future focused around a comprehensive giving plan -updates on STEM hiring -Faculty Workload Plan -new Academic Freedom and Responsibility policy for the University Handbook -discussion of Follett's poor performance thus far regarding online textbook adoptions -The six year plan is a benchmark document based upon state mandated assumptions and is exclusively for planning purposes -Motion in support of the new statement of Academic Freedom and Responsibility -On-Campus Child Care -ideas for enhancements to faculty life -Restricted Faculty Representation -Chairs‟ Summer Stipend/Adjunct Pay -University will implement changes to catering policies -Religious Tolerance and chapel -Accelerated Committee Elections -Senate to consider implementing the new weights for teaching, research and service proposed in August -evening time slots and MAT program -Dossier Organization -Environmental Studies Major and Minor -President Pollard will attend the Faculty Senate of Virginia (FSVA) meeting in October -concerns about administering the IDEAs electronically -faculty survey
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, September 9, 2011
Highlights: -The Faculty Senate Convened in advance of its meeting with President Trible and Provost Padilla to consider two issues, the BAC Memo 2011-12, and the Faculty Senate Goals Memo 2011-12.
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, September 2, 2011
Highlights: -Guest: Jessie Hutchenson -meeting, originally schedule for 26 August, was postponed until today due to the school closure occasioned by Hurricane Irene -Faculty Senate Photograph was taken -August 17 all-faculty meeting: high attendance and useful information -Professor Josipa Roksa has agreed to speak to CNU faculty -Deceased Students‟ grade reporting: no policy - circumstances are handled flexibly on a case-by-case basis -faculty concerns of amendments to the Fall 2011 academic calendar -concerns over the campus notification system -Provost‟s memo to request a handbook change -Deactivate Priority Advisory Committee (PAC) -University Committee on Faculty Development -Faculty Senate Philosophy -Faculty Senate Goals 2011-2012 -dates for BOV meetings given -Legislative Master plan for 2011-12
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, August 15, 2011
Highlights: -the president updated the senate on the activities he worked on during the summer -website is now up -preparations for the Faculty Senate gathering planned for Wednesday 17 August with the whole faculty -SEC meeting with the Provost on Friday, 12 August -focus on STEM, the four new STEM programs under development, restricted faculty multiyear contracts, and the transition to the 3/3 -new changes in assessment weighting which will go with each of the 5 possible teaching loads -coming review of the curriculum -Senate should work on faculty development projects; the senate to think about proposing a University Standing Committee for Faculty Development -IDEA interpretation tools needed by faculty -Advising: treated as teaching or service? -faculty on restricted contracts -The BOV discussed the upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations -University remained on secure financial footing -the issue of hiring and recruiting minority faculty was of concern for the board -funding metrics, tuition increases -issue of encouraging out of state enrollment has been contentious -faculty and staff salary stagnation -Faculty recognition site considered -Meeting schedule -Appointment to Standing Subcommittees -motion that the Faculty Senate invite professor Josipa Roksa, a professor at the University of Virginia and author of the book Academically Adrift, to talk to faculty about development and undergraduate education -Faculty Development Grant Schedule -Sabbatical Application Deadlines -Resolution to excuse Kip Redick from senate dues for fall -University Committee on Faculty Development formation considered -Procedure for all-faculty meeting on 17 August -faculty might be concerned about anonymity -Issues with University Catering -is there a university policy regarding students who pass away during an academic semester?
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, April 15, 2011
Highlights: -Guests: Tony Reidl (Liberal Learning Council), Stephanie Bardwell (arrives at 3:14 p.m.), Jamie Martin (leaves at 4:45), Dali Wang, Edward Weiss (leaves at 4:45), George Zestos (arrives at 4:30; leaves at 4:45) -President's Report includes: information on the 3-3 Load; the Faculty Meeting on April 20th; the AAUP Report on the Recession's Impact on Faculty; and the IDEA Change for AY 11-12 -NBS: Does a professor have the right to fail a student for the course if the student chooses not to complete selected assignments on the syllabus? -Discussion of IDEAs -final report on dossiers -Spring 2011 survey was completed -Senate proposed new faculty awards for Teaching, Service and Scholarship in the fall -The committee is currently considering a request to add more awards to those already proposed -The faculty recognition sites, which will commemorate retired faculty with a minimum of ten years of service to the University, will be in the new academic buildings and will be organized by college -11-12 Senate conducts officer elections -Some departments reported failed searches -Math will be short three faculty in Fall 2011, and the search for an external chair failed -Faculty are concerned about the conversion to online IDEAs -Division of BCES: Junior faculty believe that they did not have a sufficient voice in the discussions with the administration regarding the split -Faculty in Psychology will be in need of research space when Wingfield Hall comes down -The Department of Communication Studies is now the Department of Communications Studies -Resolution on Faculty Hiring Practices -Chairs' Compensation package -Liberal Learning Emphasis -The Senate had tabled discussion of the Scholars Associates program in the fall -Emerita Resolution for Tracey Schwarze -Handbook Change #17 -outlines updates to administrative positions and responsibilities -Transition to 3-3 Course Load -Faculty Development Grants -University Eval-4 -University Handbook and Student Handbook -Spring 2012 Exam Schedule -Some faculty have reported that CHECS appears to privilege the institutional efficiency over student rights, which may result in decreased alumni giving by affected students and their friends -Deans' Evaluations were not conducted this year because of the Senate Assessment -President Carlson expressed his appreciate to the Senate for their hard work throughout the year, and the Senate thanked President Carlson for his strong leadership
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, February 18, 2011
Highlights: -Guests : Jean Filetti, Associate Professor of English; Carolyn Ericson, Associate Professor of Social Work; Marion Manton, Associate Professor of Sociology; Ross Snare, Student Assembly -Faculty Mentoring Committee Update report presented -Proposal for B.A. in Social Work -Approval of January Meeting Minutes -President’s Report includes: information on the move to the 33 load; new task forces on STEM initiatives and the Student Scholar Associate Proposal; a Senate working group charged with clarifying the tenure process; the Senate assessment; faculty elections; and study abroad. -Discussion of STEM Task Force -feedback no later than the first week of March on dossiers -survey students to assess the Core Advising Program, and Core Advisors will be individually evaluated -removing faculty representation on certain University Committee on Student Discipline hearing panels and staffing those panels with students selected by CHECS -The Student Assembly supports the creation of panels that are entirely student run provided that the Student Assembly has the right to choose the student representatives -possible elimination or reconfiguration of the Liberal Learning Emphasis -Internships/Community Service/Independent Studies draft motion presented -Distinguished Professor Calendar -Change to Overload Policy -draft motion for a faculty-driven academic standing committee on instructional development that would focus on IDEA -Handbook Changes: Family and Medical Leave; Lecturers; The Graduate Faculty; Graduate Programs Council; Calendar for Distinguished Professor; Steps for Peer Review; FIG Grants; Academic Freedom; Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct; The Honor System; Academic Standing Committees; Faculty Senate Constitution and ByLaws; Faculty Review Procedures; Uniform Command Team/Emergency Policy Group-Emerita Status for Prof. Betty Anglin -Institutional Referral Forms
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes, January 21, 2011
Highlights: -Guests: Ronnie Cohen; Bob Midgett, Bob Olson; Lisa Duncan Raines; George Webb -Registration Issues -A committee is working to address problems concerning course availability -Deans think that faculty may not fully understand the concept of schedule adjustment -Student sometimes claim that they cannot get into the class they want, but the actual problem is that they cannot get into the section they want -perception among parents and some students that the University has an obligation to give students whatever classes they want -Chairs will be more available during registration week in order to assist students with issues -Supersize classes may also help reduce problems with availability -Can we open registration before 8:00 a.m. so that students will not skip early classes to register? -Online Book Orders Academic Freedom Policy -Senate proposes to clarify the University's statement on Academic Freedom. -Senate requested clarification of the phrase "on matters of public concern." -"Public concern" includes anything that has public import, such as the use of state funds, etc. -Approval of November Meeting Minutes -President's Report: includes information on the ongoing assessment of the Senate, the proposed Scholars' Associates Program, the commemoration of retired faculty, Handbook changes and the new online system for book orders -Some faculty members have wondered whether the 3-3 course load given to certain faculty in the Luter School as part of AASCB accreditation impacted course size in other departments -Dossier discussion -NBS: information on faculty searches, a new program in computational and applied mathematics, the new science building and faculty concerns regarding the IDEA -Handbook Changes -faculty has expressed some concerns about the tenure review process -Honor Code Violations and CHECS Policies -Changes to the Virginia Retirement System -11-12 Committee Elections -Faculty Development Grant Spring Schedule given -The Luter School of Business will be reconfigured in AY 11-12 -The Provost has approved six sabbaticals for AY 11-12
4.3 B Faculty Senate Minutes November 19, 2010
Highlights: -See president's report for updates on Faculty Development Grants, Shared Governance, and information from the October 22 meeting of the Faculty Senate, Provost and President -Report and discussion on dossiers items -proposal and discussion on the implementation of several new faculty awards -virtual teaching center questions -goals of a more robust summer semester -lowering caps on courses -Super sections (100+ students) will be required in all three of the colleges -Annual Evaluation process -spring enrollment and course cap adjustments -low enrolled classes; buying forward a class -concern about where the money was coming to pay for the increased summer stipend -FRC SHOULD give a reason for their dissenting decisions when they have one and CSS chairs were surprised the FRC was not doing this -The 22 course load for chairs appears to remain static as the teaching load for all faculty goes down, thereby reducing the chairs' overall compensation package. -Senate created a Committee on Chairs' Compensation and Teaching Loads -The best graduate programs in some disciplines are not included in the lists that the University currently uses as guidelines for hiring -At what point does a scholar "outlive" his or her educational record? -Senate formed a subcommittee to address hiring procedures -Faculty Development Grants -Sabbaticals -ATAC Report on IDEAs -Senate appointed a subcommittee comprising Kennedy (Chair), Puaca and Velkey to investigate this issue further -Train the Trainer for IDEA -Curricular Efficiencies and Class Size: concerns about supersized courses; Some disciplines do not lend themselves to supersizing; difficult to maintain high standards for performance; supersized major courses that were originally intended to be writing-driven classes no longer serve their original purpose in the major -Internships/Community Service/Independent Studies - significant differences among departments regarding compensation -The University will offer courses during an extended spring term and two summer sessions -Core Advisors concerns: Serving as an Core Advisor requires a significant investment of time; many students did not honor their scheduled appointments for advising, the advising period essentially lasted most of the semester; courses filled very quickly at all levels before the freshmen registered; technological difficulties prevented some students from registering in a timely fashion -Senate will request that ATAC review Banner and make recommendations for improvements -FRC Recommendations -Some faculty have requested that the Provost publish minutes from Provost-Faculty meetings for those who can not attend -General Faculty Meeting 12/2 -The Senate will review the current policies on Academic Freedom at the January meeting -constitutional changes to Senate may be necessary - to be presented in January meeting -Students perceive that they are being pressured to sanitize the sex column in the student newspaper