than take the issue of Tenure and Promotion to two Board meetings in a row, we opted to address it at one Board meeting.
A Senator stated that we need to look at these standards more carefully from the viewpoint of an expert in the field rather than just focus on graduate work in a particular discipline. In the eyes of a disciplinary expert, a faculty member with a PhD in that discipline is qualified to teach different courses in that department/field. SACS may have their rules, but they need to understand that universities have their own disciplinary experts to determine qualifications. When we are looking at faculty qualifications to teach courses, we should have the resident expert in the field examine the course curriculum and the faculty member's degree to determine the faculty member's qualifications.
Moffett replied that the SACS reviewers have looked at all of our degrees, so essentially the issue is out of our hands. We may not have the opportunity to consult our own experts.
A guest noted that the Chairs filled out the paperwork, and thus they determined whether faculty were qualified to teach the courses they were assigned.
Yates replied that there are exceptions with SACS that one can use, but we haven't used them well. For instance, if a faculty member has published in a particular field, he can be justified to teach in it. The same goes for a renowned performing artist. We tried to justify some faculty to SACS on this basis, but we were unable.
A Senator stated, I graduated with a PhD, and part of my degree included research. I was determined competent to do statistics at the Research-1 University level. I am capable of teaching undergraduate students statistics. Why is it that people who have demonstrable qualifications are deemed not competent?
A Senator stated, I understand that we have to meet SACS requirements moving forward. My concern is that nobody's dossier is being denied because they are now told that they are not qualified to teach what they have been teaching.
A Senator added, from another perspective, this graduate-hours requirement has really stifled education in the sciences because no graduate school yet has courses in these up-and-coming fields.
Sipes replied that this is where the justification by other means comes in.
Yeats agreed.
11. Other Business: none.
12. Adjournment: 4:35pm
- Minutes respectfully submitted by Helen Smith, Faculty Senate Secretary