MINUTES - FACULTY SENATE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR
May 8, 2007
RSC 111, 2:30 pm
CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Einerson at 2:32 pm
Present: Einerson; Jacobs; Cleary; Clark; Notton; Sherman; Sloboda; Kroll; Marciniec; Toivola; Waxman; Hudelson; Beam; Schuldt; Scott; Fujeida; D Nordgren; Reichert; Fletcher; Markwood.
Excused: Holter
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4.17.07. Motion was made to approve the minutes of April 17, 2007 (Clark/Kroll). The minutes were approved unanimously. Senators also received the minutes of the April 24 executive committee meeting.
REPORT OF THE
CHANCELLOR. The Chancellor was not present, but sent the following
updates. Jill Schoer, Tom Berg & the Chancellor
have identified additional potential Foundation gifts of $ 75 -100,000. The
Chancellor also reported conducting discussions with WI Congressional leaders
in hopes of support for earmarked projects, including a
REPORT OF THE PROVOST. Markwood reported he was
delayed while performing an exit interview for 2nd candidate for Dean of
Students. The new Department of World Languages & Cultures will be official
beginning July 1 2007. The faculty have approved
Sloboda as Chair of that department. The Provost reminded faculty of several
opportunities for service & leadership on campus (email). Positions include
Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; Chair, Department
(Office) of General Studies; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; and Associate
Dean for International Education and Programs. He emphasized that this it is
not the intent to create new administrators.
Questions: Faculty expressed concern about giving release time to faculty to perform administrative tasks, and the consequent hire of academic staff or ad hoc to fill faculty teaching roles. Markwood noted that the overall ratio of teaching faculty to faculty administrators remains relatively stable. He agreed that numbers needs to be monitored.
Discussion then moved to the appropriate description of ‘General Studies’. The Provost reported that General Studies would be the functional home for AA degree, not a major. The reason for the designation is the perceived problem with retention of students without a ‘major’ home. The Provost said he would willingly accept other terminology, noting there are other non-academic ‘departments’ on campus. Faculty decided that ‘department’ was acceptable as long as it was clear that the unit was non-academic.
Beam
congratulated the Provost for the 4 excellent initiatives. He expressed concern
that the initiatives would require a total of 2 FTE and 8 courses filled by ad hocs. Since FTE are of chronic concern, he asked where the
positions would be found, and how funded. Markwood said that there was money in
the instructional support budget. The 4 positions arose in response to faculty
requests. Markwood also expressed the hope that passage of a favorable budget would
include support of initiatives. Faculty asked whether data had been collected
to determine the percentage of credit hours generated on campus by ad hoc.
Einerson noted that the Personnel Council had requested a comparison of numbers
of ad hoc and tenure track faculty. Markwood also expressed a desire for
research into what students want and why it takes some students longer to
decide on a major. Hudelson pointed out that it would also be useful to see how
many student change majors.
Faculty asked the status
of the Library move. Markwood said that the library would not move in August
2007, but an official announcement would be forthcoming. Faculty asked for
guidance in reassigning classrooms, and in notifying students of change of
classroom assignments.
REPORTS
Chair.
The Executive Committee met with Human Resources to talk about the
Criminal Background Check policy. The latest draft includes language in section
3.3 with regard to who may be included in decisions regarding “substantial
relationship”. The Provost or designee
may consult with legal representative, HR, Affirmative Action, and either the
Chair of Faculty Senate (in the case of faculty hire) or Chair of the Academic
Staff Senate for a staff position. Einerson stated this would allow the Senate
Chair to consult with the Chair of the Search, but would not require them to do
so. Einerson also reported that HR will perform due diligence to continue
international hires, although there remains concern about the loss of
candidates due to long search periods. Einerson also updated Senators on the Strategic
Plan process. The SPBC is working to integrate the BRC and Senate
recommendations. Lastly, Einerson reported on the 2007-08 theme proposed by the
First Year Experience Action Team. Executive Committee discussed the topic and,
while they felt it worthwhile, they also felt it would be a mistake to rush to implement
a theme after class proposals are in place. Executive recommends that in the
future the Action Team consult students so they feel invested in subsequent
topics.
Secretary. Jacobs
reported the election results. Einerson has been elected Chair of the Faculty
Senate. PRPC members are Marciniec (1 yr ad interim); Wolterstorff;
and Bezroukov (3 years each). New BRC members are Hembd and Reiff (3 years each).
Faculty Representative. The Special
Regent Fringe Benefit Advisory Committee has recommended removal of collegial
coverage. System administration was directed to redraft policies to include the
following language: Teaching
responsibilities not met because of an absence specified in UWS 19.01, Wis.
Adm. Code, must be reported as sick leave, regardless of whether a qualified
instructor covers the aforementioned responsibilities. Teaching
responsibilities include class time preparation, actual classroom instruction,
and scheduled office hours available to students for educational guidance.
The faculty was reminded that they should not report sick leave for conferences
or university business absences.
The faculty representatives voiced their disapproval of the so called “star fund” in the proposed UW budget. Most of this fund would go to UW Madison, and academic staff would get none. A motion was offered (Toivola/Scott) that “The members of the U of W-S Faculty Senate request that the UW System Administration move funds allocated to the UW “Star Fund” over to the General Pay Plan Fund, so that the entire $10 million in the “Star Fund” is equitably distributed to all campuses across the UW System.” Discussion. ‘Equitably distributed’ would probably mean ‘per fte’, and would include the colleges and all campuses. The motion was unanimously approved. Einerson will forward the resolution to System as soon as possible.
Program
Review & Planning Council. Nordgren thanked senators for
electing new counselors. She reported that PRPC will meet one more time this
spring to examine the Math & CSci Department and
CSI Major.
Budget Review Council.
No report
Personnel Council. Einerson reported
receipt of the Department of World Languages and Literature Personnel Rules.
Undergraduate Academic
Affairs Council. Reichert stated that AAC forwarded three items
requiring Senate action: a proposal on cessation of use of ‘DP’ grade; an
Articulation Agreement between Fine Arts and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community
College; and the Department of Lang&Lit proposal
for students to receive credit for Eng 102 if they receive a score of 4 or 5 on
the English Literature and Composition Advanced Placement test. All 3 items
have been approved by AAC. It was moved
(Toivola/Beam) that Senate consider a Consent Agenda for action on three items: the
Fine Arts/Fond du Lac Articulation Agreement; DP Grade; and Advanced Placement.
The first vote was to approve Senate to move forward with a Consent Agenda. The
motion was approved. A further motion
(Clark/Cleary) was made to recommend
approval of all items on the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda was
approved unanimously.
Graduate Council. Marcineic invited all graduate faculty
to a meeting Thursday May 10 at noon in the Danielson Room.
Student Senate. Fletcher reported that the
students raised $20,000 in the Relay for Life, far more than either UMD or St. Scholastica, and $8,000 more than last year. Student
Representatives met with System President Reilly seeking adequate response time
for input on Ch 17 & 18, but met with a tepid response. Faculty Chair
Einerson has sent email asking faculty to help keep pressure up. Fletcher also
noted that Faculty Advisor Packets for student associations are online at the Student
Senate webpage. The faculty was reminded of the fiscal responsibilities of
faculty advisors. Lastly, Fletcher asked that faculty refrain from
picking up student-supplied newspapers unless they are specifically used in
classes.
Academic Staff Senate.
No report
OLD BUSINESS
I. Leave Reporting. A formal response is due no later than May 16. On April 17, Senate voted on section 1: A motion was made that Faculty Senate recommend acceptance of Section I of the Draft document. In addition, it was further moved that faculty be accorded bereavement leave. Senate will now consider changes expressed in Section II.
Section II.
It was moved that Senate approve adoption of section 2 (Clark/Sherman). Discussion ensued. Senators expressed multiple concerns about creating additional rules rather than enforcing rules already in existence. There was concern that abuse could lead to the dismissal of tenured faculty for failure to fill out reports. Senators also expressed frustration with parts a-d, as forms might be lost. Language concerning ‘merit’ also confuses evaluation beyond Research, Service, and Teaching. A hand vote was taken: 5 aye; 7 opposed; 1 abstention. A new motion was made to Approve Section II #1, and #2e only (Toivola/Hudelson). Discussion ensued. A hand vote was taken: 11 approved; 1 opposed; no abstentions.
Section III. As discussed in the Senate Rep report, collegial coverage was slated for discussion next fall, but the deadline for the single topic was moved. President Reilly seeks support Sect III #1; the rest of section III will still be considered in fall. It was moved that UW-Superior supports the continuation of the use of Collegial Coverage in lieu of sick leave (Sloboda/Waxman). Discussion ensued. Legislative Audit Bureau specifically looking at faculty sick leave. Among all state employees, only teaching faculty can work around their schedule. Accumulated sick leave translates into significant benefit at retirement, more than other state employees. On a more pragmatic level, collegial coverage being reported instead of sick leave as long as class is covered. The ability to provide coverage for persons with cancer (for example) is wiped out by this. Person who is covering is producing more hours, so there is no loss to the university, since the University is not paying for a substitute. In effect sick leave is not being used, because hour production is being covered. Senators were unclear why covering for a colleague who is sick is different than providing coverage when they are presenting a paper as part of the job. There is still someone producing hours for the U. A hand vote was taken on the motion: 12 approved; 1 opposed; no abstentions.
ADJOURNMENT. A motion was made to adjourn (Clark/Kroll) at 3:53 pm.
The meeting was reconvened at 3:54 pm.
NEW BUSINESS
I. Seat and welcome
new members. Math/CSci appointed Lynch;
A motion was made to move the time of Senate meetings to 3 –
4:30 pm on Tuesdays in Fall 2007 (Cleary/Clark). A
hand vote was
taken: 5 Aye; 1 opposed; 5 abstentions. The motion passed. Einerson asked that
the minutes show Senate is accommodating a single department.
II. Election of Executive Committee
Members. Einerson opened the floor for nominations for secretary. She
stated that, according to constitution, if no candidate was elected, the Chair
may appointment a secretary subject to approval of senate. Discussion ensued.
Einerson also suggested look at hiring staff for some secretarial duties. As a
point of clarification, Markwood stated that money for ¼ release was provided
to the secretary.
Motion to adjourn(Sloboda/Kroll) at 4:15 pm.