MINUTES

Executive Committee

Faculty Senate

March 7, 2006, RSC 111

 

Attending:  Dave Carroll, Martha Einerson, Cecelia Schrenker, Gloria Toivola, Nick Sloboda, Deb Nordgren, Tammi Fanning

 

Absent/Excused: 

 

Minutes from February 7, 2006.  Schrenker/Sloboda moved to approve minutes, which  were unanimously approved.

 

1.  Dismissal Policy - Toivola has sent documents, and scheduled an open forum for Thursday, March 9th for faculty to discuss the draft policy.  Carroll recalled that Sloboda  was going to bring a motion forward regarding the proposed dismissal policy.  Sloboda  discussed that at the Faculty Rep meeting, that Regent Spector announced that there will be a 9th draft of the proposed policy.  He will send us a statement of clarification on the policy, and so he decided to wait a bit after the faculty discussion to draft a resolution.  The drop-dead deadline has softened.  Toivola added that at the State Executive Board meeting for TAUP, the Platteville response rejected the entire document.  Faculty have not been consulted, and faculty have primary responsibility for Personnel Rules.  A draft will be forthcoming after ThursdayÕs discussion. 

 

2.  NCA Implementation Group reports - These are the two most complex reports, and March 14th is our drop-dead deadline to consider them.  Carroll proposed two separate motions:

 

ÒExecutive committee recommends that the Senate consider the First-Year Seminar program separately from the rest of the First-Year Experience Implementation Group Report.Ó 

 

and

 

ÒExecutive Committee recommends that the Senate consider the two language positions and the proposed new academic department separately from the rest of the Global Awareness Implementation Report.Ó

 

Tammi Fanning addressed her concerns that the FYE is a comprehensive report, and that it needs to be addressed in its entirety.  Carroll explained the process of separating items for senate discussion and deliberation, and he plans to make a strong case for why it needs to be separated.  When this last came before Senate (1st yr seminar) a relatively small issue got a lot of discussion, so he believes we need to look at the seminars as stand alone.  His perspective on the package is quite favorable, excepting the 1st year seminar.  Discussion ensued.   Carroll suggests we propose both motions or no motion at all.  Toivola asked that these come from the floor rather than Executive Committee proposing them. 

Carroll reminded us that Senate will likely end up prioritizing all the reports. 

3.  Alternative Assignment for Faculty Senate Chair & Secretary - Carroll discussed this issue with the Provost who would like to see a formal motion to this effect.  Currently a .25% alternative assignment, unfunded exists.  Toivola/Sloboda moved that Executive recommend that full funding be provided to cover .25 release time for both Secretary and Chair. 

Motion was voted with unanimous approval. 

 

4.  PBRC review of Language and Literature - this will be considered at the March 28th, meeting, and we will ask Language & Literature for a response by September 30, 2006.   

 

5.  PBRC response to HHP - (For March 28th agenda.) 

 

6.  Hazing and initiation committee - Carroll is requesting faculty names to serve on this committee.  Xiubin Wang has been appointed, and we still need one more faculty member. 

 

Carroll introduced one more item regarding the Student Handbook ÒGrade Appeal Policy.Ó Dean Platner asked if we should change the wording, so that Òfinal gradeÓ is included.  This is for the March 28 Agenda, and Martha will look up if the Action Memo addresses this as catalog copy, and shouldnÕt this policy match up with the Student Handbook Policy.  (Dave, the original wording is "Grade Appeal Policy."  I believe we need a full Senate vote to consider changing the wording to "Final Grade Policy."  I'm not inclined to vote in favor of changing the wording for one student complaint.  Can we discuss this at our next Exec meeting?)

 

Sloboda brought up the issue of faculty membership on the ÒCompensation Advisory Committee.Ó  Greg Trudeau has represented UW-Superior campus in the past.  This is the only means faculty have to offer input regarding salary considerations.  Toivola suggests we ask Greg to consider serving again, with Toivola as a backup. 

 

Carroll thanked Provost Markwood for joining us, and he asked to talk to us about the Promotions Committee.  The Provost is in discussion with departments and faculty.  There is a constant source of concern regarding the Promotions Committee.  His research turned up no significant documentation on parameters of the committee, and he would like to suspend that committee for the time being, and begin discussion about a secondary level of review regarding tenure and promotion.  Toivola asked if the Provost sees a reason for this type of committee, and he said he does see value in a secondary level of peer review.  Sloboda is happy with the decision to suspend the committee and looks forward to these discussions and review of the process over the summer.  Discussion ensued.  The Provost wants a new system in place at the start of fall 2006, and he looks forward to our input and will ask for help in putting the new system in place. 

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:55p

Respectfully submitted this 20th day of March, 2006.

Martha J. Einerson, Faculty Secretary