Faculty Senate Meeting
15 November 2007
4:30 – 6:45 pm
Continuing Education
Multipurpose Room
Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting
15
November 2007
Present: Abdelmajid Kassem(Natural Sciences),
Chet Dilday(Social Work), Michelle Darnell(Govt. & Hist.), Cary
Adkinson(Criminal Justice), Michael DeValve(Criminal Justice-guest),
Cevdet Akbay(Natural Science), Shubo Han(Natural Science), Daniel
Autry(Natural Science), Clara B. Jones(Psychology), Jonathan
Breitzer(Natural Science), Steve Gill(Psychology), Radoslave
Nickolav(Math & Comp. Science), Donatus Okhomina(Management), Soni
Martin(Perf. & Fine Arts), Gloria Elliott(Phys. Ed. & Health),
Michael O’Shea(English & For. Lang.), Socorro Hernandez-Hinek(Perf.
& Fine Arts), Jane Peacock(Eng. & For. Lang.), Maurice Mongkuo(Govt.
& Hist.), Thomas Williams(Management & Econ.), Akbar
Aghajanian(Sociology), Richard Ellis(Marketing & Business), Dean
Swinford(Eng. & For. Lang.), Dianne White-Oyler(Govt. & Hist.),
Maria Orban(Eng. & For. Lang.), Juliette Bell(Provost), Albert
Chan(Math & Comp. Science), Garistine D. Simmons(Accounting),
Raphael Okojie(Math & Comp. Science), and Dothang Truong(Management).
I.
Call to order
Chair John Mattox called the meeting to order and asked for a motion
to approve the agenda. The motion was made by
Richard Ellis and
second by Soni Martin.
II.
Adoption of agenda
Discussion: Akbar Aghajanian raised question
regarding the wording of item #6 -- Faculty Forum on Shared
Governance -- suggesting the deletion of -- on Shared Governance.
Maurice Mongkuo also had the same question. Jonathan Breitzer also
concurred. It was agreed that the wording – on Shared Governance
should be removed from item #6. For item #4 the word reinstatement
– of textbook rental … was corrected with the addition of the
wording Consideration of reinstatement – of textbook rental..
The agenda was adopted. (Agenda attached)
Chair Mattox also raised the question counting
of absentions votes. Soni Martin also concurred with counting of
absention votes Parlimentary, Breitzer read from Roberts Rule of
Order pointing out that it is not appropriate to count abstentions
except in a roll-call vote. The discussion was deferred to the next
general faculty senate meeting (January 2008).
III.
Approval of 10/25/07 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
Chair Mattox shared several edits to the
minutes which were discussed and verified by Ellis and Breitzer.
With acceptance of the edits, the motion to approve the minutes was
given by Diane White-Oyler with a second by Michelle Darnell. The
minutes were unanimously approved.
IV.
Remarks from Provost Bell
1. Consideration of reinstatement of textbook
rental includes two possibilities – textbook buy back or rental. We
are limited by time for the current academic year. The buy back
would consist of 50% of the cost of the book. At the same time we
would revisit reinstatement of a textbook rental policy of 2008-09.
There is a committee currently reviewing options. Provost Bell
requested feedback from the faculty senate on the textbook matter.
Discussion: Items to be considered include the
length of the rental term and paper vs hard cover text. Dean
Swinford expressed the concern that the textbook rental implies for
the culture of our students that they do not need to purchase
textbooks. Soni Martin expressed whether it is possible to utilize
a combination of rental and purchase – rental for 100 and 200 level
courses and purchase for 300 and 400 level courses. Jane Peacock
expressed whether it is possible to include text written by our
faculty. Provost Bell noted her receptiveness to have these
suggestions related to the current book policy committee noted
above. Mattox requested that Jane Peacock represent the Faculty
Senate on the University textbook committee which she accepted.
2.
On the topic of enrollment management, Provost Bell related
that a general faculty meeting is scheduled for November 28, 2007
from 2-4 pm to discuss enrollment, retention/graduation and new
system wide enrollment requirements. The meeting will also include
a mini workshop by Human Resources on sexual harassment. She
requested the faculty senate to present any other possible items for
inclusion at this General Faculty meeting. She related that there
is currently an Enrollment Management Committee considering the
specifics of FSU’s response to the University wide minimum
requirements. The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to
the Board of Trustees December 13, 2007.
Question: Will the faculty senate have input
in this work? Provost Bell, yes – there are subcommittees (Chair
Mattox is currently serving on one of the subcommittees) who will
present their recommendations to the full committee (i.e. the
Enrollment Management Committee) who will then submit their
recommendations to the Chancellor who will then submit them to the
Board of Trustees. The recommendations will be presented to the
faculty at the November 28, 2007 meeting.
V.
Enrollment Management Committee – 2nd faculty
appointment
Discussion: Jon
Young shared the importance of this committee for the faculty. The
number of faculty is driven by the enrollment. The enrollment
requirements are related to students’ ability to complete the work
and successful graduation. The forthcoming University wide
enrollment requirements could affect the number of faculty at FSU.
Chair Mattox related that he is only able to attend some of the
meeting due to his teaching (lab) schedule. The committee meets
every other Tuesday. The floor was opened by Jane Peacock for
nominations of faculty and second by Maurice Mongkuo for nominations
of senators to represent the 2nd faculty appointment.
Michelle Darnell and David Gray were nominated and Blanche Radford
Curry moved to close the nomination which was second by Maurice
Mongkuo. Gray declined due to class conflict. Darnell related her
teaching of Phil 110 courses that provided her with substantial
insight about students’ abilities during their first and second year
along with her willingness to work with other committee members.
Darnell selected by acclamation to be the 2nd faculty to
represent the faculty senate on this committee.
VI.
Plans for a Faculty Forum
Chair informed senate of Chancellor Hackley’s
acceptance to forum with faculty scheduled for November 29, 2007
from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm. and opened the floor for
suggestion of specific topics and questions to
be proposed.
Discussion: Chair Mattox related that the
agenda would be finalized Monday prior to November 29th.
Raphael Okojie related that the forum should avoid confrontatio and
making demands. Dean Swinford asked whether there are any best
practices of faculty senates? Akbar Aghajanian related that it is
the responsibility of the faculty senate to advise the
administration on various matters just as the faculty assembly
advises the the Board of Governance. Blanche Radford Curry noted:
(1) the Minimum Shared Governance document of April 2005 prepared by
the Faculty Assembly Governance Committee and accepted by the
Faculty Assembly members and (2) consideration of shared governance
as a topic for the planned faculty senate workshop.
VII.
Plans for a Faculty Senate Workshop, January 2008.
Chair Mattox will meet with Provost Bell to
plan faculty senate workshop around mid year conference with the
goal of a full day workshop.
VIII.
Committee Reports
Committee on Committees
The Committee on Committees met on November 13,
2007 at 3:00 pm in the Faculty Senate Office. Present: Drs.
Mongkuo, Aghajanian, and Radford-Curry. Committee members focused
responsibilities of senators and committees for a more effective
senate. Four recommendations were proposed: (1) Each senator must
serve on at least two committees. (2) Committee on Committees
currently needs at least two additional members. (3) Each
committee is expected to meet regularly regarding its 2007-2008
goals and provide a status report at the Senate meeting along with a
written report to the secretary. (4) Each committee should have a
2/3 majority of representation of senators in particular Academic
Affairs in order that more senators are substantially more familiar
with proposals. The committee adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Discussion: Recommendations one, two and three
were approved by the senate, while four was not. Academic Affairs
Committee Chair, White Oyler objected that senators were not willing
to serve and noted concern about intimidation of senators – most of
the committee member (non-senators) are tenured and thus less
subject to intimidation. Objections also noted by Darnell and
Dilday that 2/3 requirement was too much. Mongkuo and Aghajanian
spoke in support of 2/3 requirement noting that having more senators
on the Academic Affairs Committee would provide greater in depth
knowledge of proposals by senators, as well as underscoring that the
committee’s work is indeed being done by senators. The chair called
for a vote, resulting in a tie for and against acceptance of item
four. The chair resolved the tie, voting against acceptance of item
four. Each committee had additional senators to join, including
Academic Affairs. Committee on Committees will provide: update of
status of senators’ committee service per letter provided to each
senator regarding the responsibilities of a senator and other items
at January 2008 Faculty Senate meeting.
Student Affairs
The Student Affairs Committee met on Tuesday,
October 23, 2007 in Rosenthal Gallery/Rosenthal Building at 4:00 pm.
AGENDA
1. Elect a Chair – or – Co-chairs.
2. Elect a secretary.
3. Discussion of the “charge” of the
committee. (Faculty Senator, Jonathan Breitzer has forwarded an
example of the type of issues which our committee might consider
addressing).
Student Affairs Committee
Duties of this committee are:
1) To monitor and recommend guiding policies and
procedures related to: student recruitment, financial aid, academic
scholarships, registration, admission of freshmen and transfer
students, evaluation of transfer students, transcripts, student
advisement, retention of students, and athletic programs
2) To advise administrative officers and committees
on issues pertaining to student affairs that may be of interest or
concern to the faculty.
The Committee discussed the option of electing
“Co-chairs”. Michelle Darnell and S. Hernandez-Hinek were voted to
serve and share the task of Co-chairs and Angela Taylor was elected
to serve as Secretary of the committee for the 2007-08 year.
The Committee reviewed the charge as stated in
the bylaws.
Members raised one recent development which
directly impacts students at FSU and discussed during the mid-year
conference. Specifically, the new admission policy of the
University related to minimum G.P.A. and SAT standards. Members
agreed that in order to gain a wider understanding of what the
current student are more fact finding would be necessary on behalf
of the committee members.
Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Governance
The Faculty Senate Governance Committee met on
November 13, 2007. Present were Drs. Breitzer, Okhomina, Mongkuo,
Van Cantfort, and Radford-Curry.
The object of the meeting was to consider
changes to the faculty governance document and in the bylaws. The
“faculty governance document”, adopted in 1990, serves as our
constitution. It contains items, such as about committees, that
belong in the bylaws. Tom Van Cantfort presented a “cleaned-up”
version that he entitled “Charter of Shared Governance”. A motion to
change this to “Charter of the Faculty Senate” passed.
Some concern was expressed in regards to the
changes in what constituted a voting faculty member. The current
governance document includes all full-time faculty. The Charter of
Shared Governance includes only tenured or tenure-track faculty. The
two sides of the issue were as follows:
- Historically,
non-tenure-track faculty have been overrepresented in department
governance; and if they are similarly overrepresented in the
Senate, there will be two problems: the particular interests of
tenure-track faculty will not receive adequate consideration, and
a body composed of too many faculty hired year-to-year will lack
sufficient independence from the Administration.
- Depriving
non-tenure-track faculty of representation in the Senate will give
them no representation at all. Additionally, the Code (502 D (2),
second paragraph) states the following:
“The chancellor shall
be responsible for ensuring 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. The general faculty,
however, which shall include at least all full-time faculty and
appropriate administrators, may function as the council or senate.
[…]”
This seems to imply
that the faculty, for purposes of representation, comprises all
full-time faculty, tenure-track or otherwise, as well as
administrators who hold faculty appointments.
Although no resolution was arrived on this
issue, the sense of the committee was that the Code should be the
primary guide for designing a new Charter; and if the committee
feels that parts of the Code should be changed, that should be a
separate issue.
Jonathan Breitzer
Budget & Planning
Thursday, November 15, 2007 Faculty Senate
Budget & Planning Committee Report
The Faculty Senate Budget & Planning Committee
consists of six members of the senate who volunteered to serve on
the committee. The members are Daniel Autrey, Assistant Professor,
Natural Sciences; Akbar Aghajanian, Professor of Sociology,
Sociology; Michelle Darnell, Assistant Professor, Government &
History; Blanche Radford-Curry, Associate Professor, Government &
History; Dothang Troung, Assistant Professor, Department of
Management; and Thomas Williams, Associate Professor of Finance,
Department of Managerial Economics & Finance. The committee had its
first meeting on October 9, 2007 with five members present, and
elected Thomas Williams to serve as the committee chair and Michelle
Darnell to serve as the secretary. The duties assigned to the
committee are as follows:
1)
To convey to appropriate administrative officials, through
the Faculty Senate, concerns of faculty members regarding the
budget.
2)
To review the budget-making process, and the budgetary
support of various academic programs, and to recommend changes, when
deemed necessary, in specific components of the above.
3)
To review and make recommendations regarding the policies
governing the awarding of faculty salary increases.
At the meeting the committee members agreed
that we should establish a Blackboard platform to be used to conduct
the affairs of committee. We now have a functioning Blackboard
platform open to the members of committee to share information and
engage in dialogue regarding the affairs of the committee.
The members felt that the committee can only
effectively carry out its mandate if it had the relevant information
to review and make constructive recommendations. Therefore, our
first order of business it to make request for:
i.
The publication of budgets (dean, department chair, and
senate)
ii.
Information that will provide an understanding of the
budget-making process
iii.
Information that explains how merit based pay increases are
determined
iv.
Clarification of how salary increases are determined across
disciplines.
With the information being requested, we will
have a more enlightened faculty, who can then make more constructive
recommendations to improve the allocation of resources within the
university to better serve its constituents.
Publication of budgets: The information should
be published to the university community.
The merit-based component of the salary
increase should be less than currently obtains. One approach may be
to require that the fixed component of the salary increase at least
covers inflation for all faculty members; this is assuming the
salary increase exceeds the inflation rate.
There is also a concern about salary
increases for comparable accomplishments across disciplines. Some
members of the committee are of the opinion that using a percentage
increase puts faculty members with lower base salaries at a
disadvantage and suggest fixed dollar amounts. However, faculty
members with higher base salaries could also make a similar claim if
fixed dollar amounts are used instead of percentages.
This issue of merit pay and compensation
of comparable accomplishments across disciplines may have to be put
to the full faculty before we formulate any kind of recommendation
to the administration.
Faculty Welfare
The Faculty Welfare Committee met October 30, 2007
Present: Soni Martin, María Orban, Jane
Peacock, and Peter Valenti
- The meeting was convened at 1:00 p.m. in the
office of Professor Soni Martin at which time Professor Martin
located the charge for this committee and found that we are to
review and make recommendations concerning fringe benefits,
retirement, salaries, working conditions, communication
strategies, and other factors which contribute to the professional
satisfaction of the working conditions on this campus.
- This committee requests faculty input on the
phased retirement policies that are in place and it recommends
that the two year phased retirement be changed to a three year
phased retirement, putting our campus on the same page as most
other campuses in the UNC system.
- The Welfare Committee also requests that
there be more time allowed in the planning of the Faculty Senate
meetings for reflection and discussion. If and when an
administrator attends our meetings and delivers a speech or
proclamation, the Senators need to be allowed a chance to debate
among themselves and then with the administrator to clarify mutual
understanding.
- Dr. Jane Peacock was elected chair of this
committee.
- The Committee agrees that a good university
has a good communication system. The Foundations of Excellence
might be a way of achieving a better working situation for faculty
by encouraging faculty empowerment, improving morale, and
promoting a feeling of enfranchisement.
- The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
Faculty Evaluation and Development
Faculty Evaluation and Development Committee of
the Faculty Senate Fayetteville State University Minutes of the
October 23, 2007 Meeting 5:00 p.m. Rosenthal Gallery
Faculty in attendance: Dr. Cevdet Akbay, Dr.
Shubo Han, Ms. Soni Martin, Dr. Maurice Mongkuo, Dr. Maria Orban,
Dr. Jane Peacock, and Dr. Linda Wilson-Jones (Dr. Kassem Abdelmajid
was not informed of the meeting)
Ms. Soni Martin convened at the October 23,
2007 meeting of the Faculty Evaluation and Development Committee. A
Chair for the committee was elected: Dr. Maria Orban.
The committee members discussed the purpose of
the committee and voiced the need for each member to have a copy of
the Senate’s description of the duties of the committee. Dr. Orban
and Ms. Martin volunteered to obtain the information.
Committee members discussed their concern at
the inconsistency of mentorship for new faculty on the campus since
some schools or colleges have more rigorous mentoring programs in
place than others. After Dr. Wilson-Jones, Dr. Akbay and Dr. Han
discussed the mentorship in their respective school/college, it was
obvious to the committee members that an inconsistency in the type
of mentoring existed at the university. The committee has an
interest in pursing the development of a university wide mentoring
system for all new faculty each academic year. An approach to this
would be considered and addressed at the next meeting.
Members of the committee also discussed the
possibility of Teaching Enhancement Workshops be required for new
faculty and optional for existing faculty during the summer. Dr.
Mongkuo spoke highly of his experiences with that particular type of
workshop.
Members of the committee discussed the
limitations of the Title III funds and felt further discussion was
needed.
Members agreed to the 5:00 Tuesday or Thursday
meeting time for future meetings.
The committee completed its business by 6:00
p.m.
Academic Affairs
Each of the proposals below was discussed at
the faculty senate along with questions and acceptable responses in
some instances. The Senate approved each proposal. Minutes of the
Academic Affairs committee discussion of the proposals follows
listing of proposals voted on below followed by discussion of
Petition to Re-Establish MA Program in History.
Academic Affairs Committee met Friday, November
09, 2007.
I.
Call to Order.
The meeting was
called to order at 2:20 p.m. by Dr. Dianne White-Oyler, Academic
Affairs Chair.
II.
Organization.
The meeting started
with the adoption of the agenda as set. Members present for the
quorum included, Dr. White-Oyler, Dr. Heckert, Dr. Yew, Dr. Lari,
Dr. Okhomina, Dr. Hargrove and Dr. Gillis-Olion.
III.
Items for Discussion and Vote
1.
Revision: Concentration in Applied Mathematics.
Dr. Zhang began by
thanking the Academic Affairs Committee for its’ support and input
in this process. He presented the information on revisions to a
Concentration in Applied Mathematics adding that the program would
offer many advantages to students at Fayetteville State University
as well as the University itself. A suggestion was made to change
wording to Business Mathematics or Financial Mathematics. Further
discussion was held and it will remain the same so it can be
associated with the Department from which it came. After group
discussion a vote was taken and the item was approved unanimously.
2.
Revision: Implementation Strategies for Student Outcomes.
Dr. Brooks presented
the committee with information pertaining to suggestions by the
University Advisory Board to implement strategies for student
outcomes. The committee had questions in regards to carrying the
program forward and how to make sure it doesn’t duplicate or overlap
the assessments already in place. Dr. Brooks agrees to confer with
Dr. Charles and attend the next Faculty Senate Meeting to answer any
questions about the program that may arise. After group discussion
the item was approved unanimously.
3.
Intent to Plan a BS in Physical Science Education.
Dr. Singletary
presented for the department. He stressed the need for more
students graduating universities with a BS in Physical Science
Education. There was shown to be a need for more High School
teachers possessing a Physical Science Education. Dr. Singletary
explained the structure of the proposed program and the different
tracts or concentration areas. The committee had questions in
regards to changes in taking the Praxis and it was decided that this
would not be a problem. After group discussion the item was
approved unanimously.
4.
Minor in Intelligent Studies.
Dr. David Gray
presented the committee with information in regards to offering a
Minor in Intelligent Studies at Fayetteville State University.
Dr. Gray discussed
the program as linking with Psychology, History, Criminal Justice,
Political Science and Foreign Language disciplines. Committee
members expressed concern over program objectives and the rewording
of the credit hour expectations in foundation courses. It was
suggested that this be closely regarded. The committee also had
concerns with students needing security clearances, need for
additional faculty and what pre-requisites would there be for
classes? Dr. Gray explained that this would give the student an
opportunity to concentrate in another area not currently offered at
Fayetteville State University. The pre-requisites would only apply
to the upper level course. After additional group discussion the
item was approved unanimously.
5.
Authorization to Establish: Online Completion Program for
General
Business
Administration.
Dr. Lightner gave
the presentation and explained the need for just such a program.
The program would complement the Community Collage System’s Business
Administration courses. Committee members had questions over credit
hour costs which will be determined by the University. This program
would serve as a means for persons serving in the military to
continue their course-work while deployed or in transfer to other
bases. After suggesting clerical improvements to the proposal the
committee discussed the program further and approved the item
unanimously.
6.
MIS 211/MIS212
Dr. Lari presented
the information to the committee. Questions over courses added were
addressed. Courses added to technical knowledge to enhance the
program. Discussion was held over commercial software needed and it
was agreed that a change in wording be made to refer to this as
Business software. After group discussion both items were approved
by a vote of 5. Dr. Lari abstained.
7.
Petition to Establish BS in Health and Leisure.
Dr. White-Oyler
presented the information in Dr. Elliott’s absence. Changes had
been made to the proposal per the committee’s recommendations last
month. After group discussion the item was approved unanimously.
8.
Petition to Re-Establish MA in History.
Dr. White-Oyler
presented the information to the committee to re-establish the MA in
History. Questions regarding the productivity criteria for general
administration arose. Discussion was held briefly about the
reasoning behind the revoking of the MA in History. Dr. Hargrove,
previous Faculty Senate Chair shared with the committee that Dr.
Bryant told him that she regretted revoking the MA in History and if
she had known that the Academic Affairs Committee had not voted to
dissolve the MA in History, she wouldn’t have revoked it. Questions
arose over the budget and Dr. Hargrove told the committee there was
no budget before.
After additional
group discussion the item was approved with a vote of 4 in favor and
two committee members abstaining.
9.
Authorization to Establish MA in International Studies.
Dr. Kamalu presented
the information to the committee. Questions from the committee were
asked about the pre-requisites for the program, consulting of
Foreign Language Department before now and students entering the
program with an established competency. These items were discussed
and it was agreed by the committee that the English and Foreign
Language Department be consulted and appropriate documentation
gained before moving forward with the program. A vote was taken and
the item was approved unanimously with the condition that suggested
consulting and documentation garnered a forehand.
IV.
Adjourn.
With no further
business, Dr. White-Oyler adjourned the meeting at 5:05 p.m.
The next scheduled
meeting of the Academic Affairs Committee is scheduled for January
25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the conference room of the JSK Building.
LeAnn B. Blackmon, Recording Secretary
Discussion: Petition to Re-Establish MA
Program in History presented by White-Oyler requesting Chancellor to
petition GA for re-establishment of the Program (in lieu of her
understanding in conversation with GA). She related that the MAT in
History required a MA in History. Provost Bell asked about the
format of the petition to which White-Oyler responded that it was a
resolution and that Appendix A was not available, only part C.
Provost Bell related that inorder to reconsider this request
background support was needed. White-Oyler related that surveys (as
requested by the Chancellor) were being completed to document the
high number of graduates. The question was raised as to whether the
petition would be stronger with the results of the requested
surveys.
IX.
New Business
Discussion:
Radford-Curry asked for status of Chancellor search from senate
representatives John Mattox and Clara Jones. Mattox related that
the search was proceeding as schedule and that updated reports
(minutes of meetings) from Board of Trustee’s Chair, Ben Brown could
be reviewed on our web.
X.
Announcements
Provost Bell related that three Dean positions
would be posted: Arts & Sciences, Business and Economics and
Graduate Studies
Adjournment 6:45 pm
