Minutes
Faculty Advisory Council
HAL Hall of Honor
Time:
Members
Present: Ms. Betty Chancellor, Library
Dr. Judy Dye, Education
Dr. Jeanne Wright, Education
Ms. Harriett Pullen, Arts & Sciences
Dr. Steven Taylor, Arts & Sciences
Dr. James Elithorp, Arts & Sciences
Dr. James Day, Arts & Sciences
Dr. Victor Ortloff, Arts & Sciences
Dr. David Dye, Communication & Fine Arts
Mr. John Patton, Communication & Fine Arts
Dr. Suzanne Stokes, Health & Human Services
Dr. Edith Smith, Health & Human Services
Ms. Cassaundra Henderson for Ms. Jean Pate, Health & Human Services
Dr. Jerome Bibbins, Business
Dr. Ben Mason,
Dr. Iris Saltiel,
Absent with
Notice: Dr. Catherine Strickland, Education
Dr. Catherine Allard, Communication & Fine Arts
Dr. Ed Pappanastos, Business
Dr. Jim Hoyt, Business
Other
Attendees: Mr. Fred Davis, Provost
Dr. Ed Roach, Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs
Dr. Doug Patterson, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Dianne Barron, Dean,
Dr. Don Jeffrey, Dean, Health & Human Services
Prior
to the meeting, Dr. and Mrs. Jack Hawkins hosted a luncheon for the 2003-2004
Faculty Advisory Council. Chancellor Hawkins
made his State of the Institution remarks at the luncheon. The Chancellor noted
that the attendance at the Rally with Governor Riley yesterday, August 26, was extraordinary with about 5,000 people
attending. The Chancellor said the
Governor was appreciative of the support by
The
TSU SEAL Project prompted the Governor to start thinking about Distance
Learning before he was elected. In
addressing the Council of University Presidents, the Governor used the example
of
The Chancellor shared with the Council a miniature version of the Trojan sculpture that will rest in the middle of a 30-foot wading pool at the center of the completed Quad. The Quad project is a $1.6 million privately-funded project.
Following the luncheon in the Chancellor’s home, the Council reconvened in the Hall of Honor. The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Dr. Suzanne Stokes.
1. Roll was called by the secretary, Jo Williamson.
2. Approval of Minutes from
There being no amendments to the
3. Old Business
a. Times and Dates of Meetings for AY 2003-2004
There was some discussion as to why the meeting dates alternate between Wednesday and Thursday. Due to the semester system, a Wednesday/Thursday format has been used to allow more faculty an opportunity to attend the meetings. It was agreed to accept the following proposed dates for the 2003-2004 academic year:
Thursday, October 23,
Wednesday, January 21,
Thursday, March 11,
Wednesday, June 16,
b. Status of the Faculty Council Constitution: Dr. Stokes
Dr.
Stokes reported that on
On November 18, Dr. Allard forwarded the constitution to the Chancellor to be presented to the Board of Trustees.
Prior to the October 29 vote, the Chancellor outlined the process that would occur if a majority of eligible faculty endorsed the proposition.
1. The Provost and the Faculty Personnel Advisory Committee, of which three members are from the Faculty Advisory Council (Dr. Bibbins, Dr. Dye, and Dr. Pappanastos), will review the document and provide an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, or concerns for the Chancellor to incorporate in his administrative review. Specific areas of review are:
§ Standing committee structure of the University
§ Duplication of effort and responsibility in committee assignments
§ Procedural protocol
§ Budgetary implications
§ Consonance with the Faculty Handbook
§ Legal ramifications and issues
2. Upon conclusion of this review which is in progress, the Chancellor would communicate to the FAC concerns, if any, and if necessary, suggestions for improvement of the document and acceptability of the document.
3. After the Chancellor communicates back to the FAC, we would share with the faculty-at-large the results of the administrative review and solicit other suggestions for improvement.
4. Following incorporation of improvements, the revised constitution would be submitted to the Chancellor for a final review.
5. Once all differences or discrepancies that might exist have been ironed out with representatives of the FAC and the Provost’s review committee, the Constitution will be presented to the Board of Trustees.
A
question was asked about how the constitution would be changed or altered by
2005 when TSU becomes
Dr.
Patterson was granted the floor to respond to this question, and said the
target date for
It was suggested that the three documents be compared among the three campuses.
Dr.
Roach then addressed the Council and noted that there was a system-wide
committee that looked at the respective faculty handbooks and developed a draft
of a single Faculty Handbook that was presented to him as Chair of the
Academic Coordinating Council; that Council will meet to review the draft
again. The farther along we go the more
we see that there are nested issues.
Each campus will have the opportunity to review the Handbook. As we move forward, some of these questions
are beginning to be answered, but we can’t go there all at once; we are having to kind of feel our way. The Handbook will be completed well
before
Dr.
Patterson said that after
Dr. Dye noted that there is a need to refine the existing document (constitution) approved in October before meeting with the other campuses. We need to be sure we have a document we are pleased with and one that can hold up to any legal conflicts. There is no campus with a Board approved constitution and our deliberation right now is to refine our document so it can be presented to the Board of Trustees. But if we are thinking about 2005, obviously it would be good for us to have a document that could have been presented, and would be one to take to the discussion with the other campuses as we think about putting together one constitution for the System’s faculty as a whole.
The committee that will be refining the document is made up of the Faculty Personnel Advisory Board and the Provost, and their suggestions will go back to the Chancellor to be merged with his suggestions and then come back to the Faculty Council.
Mr. Davis addressed the Council and said that, as familiar as he is with the Faculty Handbook, it would be instructive to all FAC members to realize how much a role members already play in the governance of this institution as we go through the Constitution review process, and note every Faculty Handbook reference to this Council in everything from due process to financial exigency. He noted that as we work through this document he has the advantage of working through the new Faculty Handbook, and hopes his confidence in the committee will be proven in that that we will develop a document that will be so good and so competent that it will just be a matter of deciding on campus representation.
Dr. Stokes asked if, with the collective comments, the Council agreed to continue with the process to refine this document and work through the process as outlined earlier and take an active role in making sure that a constitution that is representative of this group is one of which we are going to be proud. A positive response was indicated.
4. New Business
a. Council Membership List Accuracy Check: Dr. Stokes
Any errors in titles, addresses, etc., should be forwarded to Jo Williamson. All communications regarding this Council will be made through email.
b. Appointments to Standing Committees: Dr. Stokes
The FAC has two standing committees, Academic Affairs Committee and Faculty Welfare Committee. Each FAC member has been assigned to one of these committees. Each committee will meet before adjourning for members to elect committee chairs.
Academic Affairs Committee: Faculty Welfare Committee:
Dr. Catherine Allard Ms. Betty Chancellor
Dr. James Day Dr. Judy Dye
Dr. Jim Hoyt Dr. James Elithorp
Dr. Ben Mason Dr. Victor Ortloff
Ms. Harriet Pullen Ms. Jean Pate/
Dr. Iris Saltiel Ms. Cassaundra Henderson
Dr. Edith Smith Mr. John Patton
Dr.
Dr. Jeanne Wright
Dr. Jerome Bibbins is the representative for the Athletic Policy Committee. The same three representatives to the Faculty Personnel Advisory Committee (Dr. Bibbins, Dr. Dye, and Dr. Pappanastos) will be kept because they are in the midst of the Constitution review process.
c. Council’s Charge for AY 2003-2004: Dr. Stokes – please see Attachment A
d. Chancellor’s Luncheons: Dr. Stokes
The Chancellor will host a fall luncheon
with faculty on Wednesday, October 22.
The Deans will be asked to select faculty who have been on board for 2-3
years but are not tenured to attend these luncheons. Since Faculty Advisory Council members had
lunch with the Chancellor today, Council members should not attend the
Luncheons with the Chancellor series. A
spring semester luncheon will be scheduled at a later date, and a luncheon with
e. TSU Construction Projects: Dr. Catherine Allard
Dr. Stokes reported that Dr. Allard was unable to be here today, and Dr. Strickland was to present the report for Dr. Allard but she also was unable to attend. Dr. Allard will be asked if this item should be added to the agenda for the October meeting.
f. University Health Insurance Pool: Dr. Jim Elithorp
Dr. Elithorp said several Arts & Sciences faculty have approached him concerning whether the pool of employees at TSU is large enough to handle potential claims for medical/health insurance. The University is self-insured retaining Blue-Cross Blue-Shield to process claims. One concern in the design of an insurance program is the size of the pool over which claims are to be distributed. The question is, is the TSU pool large enough to handle a health crisis such as a natural disaster, terrorism, or a virus outbreak such as SARS?
Mr. Davis pointed out that TSU is already pooled with the employees of the TSU System.
Dr. Stokes suggested that the Faculty Welfare Committee ask Mr. Lee Vardaman to address this issue at the next meeting, and present a list of questions to Mr. Vardaman prior to the meeting.
g. Student Numbers and Resource Allocation: Dr. Jim Elithorp:
The management problem of knowing the number of students in courses in advance for the allocation of resources has been problematic. It appears to be a fact of academic life that many undecided students are searching for the best-fit program of study. This is a complex problem with many factors including the add/drop period. Concern was expressed that the limited period for add/drops just before the beginning of the semester frustrates obtaining desired course management information.
Dr. Stokes explained that the cut off dates for drop/add are scheduled as they are because Datatel does not handle automated billing. However, class rosters are updated daily during registration and are available for faculty to view through Trojan Web Express.
Sometimes the problem with an accurate count is student procrastination but sometimes the numbers change because students are dropped from the rosters because of non-payment of fees.
h. Faculty Representation at University Events: Dr. Stokes
A motion was made to ask Mr. Barron to invite the Chair of the Faculty Advisory Council to represent faculty at University ceremonial events. In the event the Chair could not attend, the Chair would name a faculty representative from the Council membership. Dr. Dye seconded the motion; motion was passed unanimously.
i. Other New Business
Dr. Stokes announced that Dr. Allard asked that a Proposal for a Resolution to Support the Plan for Progress be presented to this council as follows:
I
move that the Faculty Council join the Alabama Council of University Faculty
Presidents and others of her sister
Dr. Day seconded the proposal; the proposal was unanimously approved to be forwarded.
5. Brief Meetings of Academic Affairs and Faculty Welfare Standing Committees to Elect
Committee Chairs, Followed by Report to Council
Dr. Steven Taylor was elected Chair of the Faculty Welfare Committee. Chair for the Academic Affairs Committee will be announced later since three people assigned to this committee were absent.
6. Adjourn
Dr. Day made a motion to adjourn; Dr.
Bibbins seconded. The meeting was
adjourned at
Next meeting will be
Appendix A: Charge to the Faculty Advisory Council, 2003-2004
This Council is a formal body for the collective input of the faculty on appropriate matters of the University.
§
Consider carefully and professionally matters
which promote the general welfare of the University; 1
§ Be concerned with short-range and long-range planning, faculty evaluation, and outcomes assessment; 1
§ Perform work necessary to render constructive service to the University; 1
§ Review all University Standing Committees annually, and not later than April 15 of each year; 2
§ Work with the Provost, Academic Deans, and Schools/Colleges/Departments in selection of faculty representatives to all University Standing Committees; 3
§ In times of financial exigency, evaluate program reduction proposals submitted by the Academic Council, Graduate Council, Faculty Personnel Advisory Committee, Institutional Effectiveness Committee, and the concerned departments or divisions and related areas of academic concentration on the short-term and long-term viability of the proposed program reductions, and tender recommendations to the Chancellor; 4
§ Selected members serve as a sub-committee to determine criteria for identifying individuals whose appointments are to be terminated; 4
§ Selected members serve as a panel and/or sub-committee to conduct hearings in cases involving the termination of faculty members due to financial exigency or changes in programs, or dismissal of faculty members, and submit recommendations to the Chancellor regarding faculty termination and dismissal; 1,4
§ Selected members serve as an ad hoc committee to review evidence and render final binding decisions on grade appeals. 5
§ Academic Affairs Committee: This committee will review University Standing Committees, completing the review by the March, 2004 meeting. Issues related to faculty loads, faculty compensation, University programs, and financial and physical resources of the University as they relate to the development of a quality educational program are assigned to this committee. Other work will be assigned as appropriiate.
§
Faculty Welfare Committee: Issues concerning policies (except those
specifically reserved to other committees, sub-committees, or panels) such as
qualifications for promotion, rank, tenure, academic freedom, research,
extracurricular assignments, leaves of absence and sabbatical leaves, travel,
and all related policies which affect faculty welfare and morale are assigned
to this committee. Other work will be
assigned as appropriate.
1 Standing Committees of
Troy State University, 2003-2004, pp. 14-15
2 Faculty Handbook, p. 28
3 Faculty Handbook, p. 29
4 Faculty Handbook pp.
52-55 – please review these pages since the statements above are only brief
summaries
5 Faculty Handbook, p. 61