FS Minutes 9/24/18

  1. Faculty Senate President Report: Senate President Joe Moffett reported on the following issues:
  2. Ten self-appointed Faculty are serving on the Academic Reorganization Committee. Dr. Cindy Glass is serving as the committee chair.
  3. Point of Information about other Committees:
  4. There was a question of whether all faculty members truly have Senate representation due to the reorganization of Academic Units that took place after the spring elections.
  5. Faculty were encouraged to load information into InterFolio; this may be time consuming. A non-senator shared that there is an activities distribution tab where files can be uploaded.
  6. Faculty Recognition Committee: there was a question about whether the Whitney Young College vacancy would move to the Business/Computational Sciences since there are no faculty currently in Whitney Young and the fact that B/C S currently has no representation at all. Dr. Avinash Tope also has to be replaced since he has assumed a chair position.
  7. Faculty Appeals Committee: one vacancy
  8. Tenure and Promotion Committee: two vacancies
  9. Faculty Regent Report: Regent Dr. Elgie McFayden welcomed everyone back to Fall Semester. He gave a report from the last Board of Regents meeting, noting the following actions and information items:
  10. 196 potential students were denied admission, as they did not meet all targeted goals. Enrollment is currently at 1750, due to the disallowance of conditional admits.
  11. The Board is concerned to modify the incoming class profile
  12. The Board approved a new food service contract
  13. They elected new Board of Regents officers
  14. They revoked tenure for one faculty member
  15. They approved the creation the CREED Center
  16. They reviewed pending litigation
  17. Action was taken on one lawsuit
  18. A Senator asked about whether the number given for enrollment included dual credit students and what is the incurred cost for dual credit enrollment? The Regent expressed that the figure does not account for dual credit enrollees.
  19. Another Senator asked what other food-service options are going to be available, and whether the students are getting a discount since other options are currently not available. A Senator noted that Faculty cannot use debit/credit cards in the food service area. It was explained that the food option available is what is currently in place and further inspection may be necessary.
  20. Academic Policies Committee – Marlin McKay: Chair McKay reported that APC had reviewed the possibility of adding extra terms throughout the academic year. They concluded that an Extreme Spring Break Term would be very difficult in a week's time. A winter term, a May-mester and two 8 week semesters may be considered and tested through a pilot program. The following were concerns the committee had: lab-based courses and their contact hours, faculty pay structure and contact hours overall for the short terms.

It was suggested that the addition of the shorter terms may allow faculty flexibility with their course loads. It was also suggested that APC review the Quarter System for best practices for structure and even pay. There was also a question about whether pay structure would be based upon enrollment, number of hours or a flat fee. It was then suggested that feedback from the Provost would be best. And it was specified that during summer, 6 students constituted full pay. Deputy Provost Sipes noted that there is interest among some faculty in teaching a Winter Term.