Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2007
PRESENT: Pat Simpson, Chair, Heather Cannon, Pamela Caughie, Donna Halinski, Gloria Jacobson, Tim O’Connell, Ken Olsen, David Prasse, Peter Schraeder
ABSENT: Harvey Boller.
1. Introductory Matters:
1.1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:00.
1.2. The members introduced themselves, since this is the first meeting
1.3. Tim O’Connell was appointed to keep minutes.
1.4. Chair summarized the items likely to come before the Committee. In addition to items discussed / addressed below, these included:
1.4.1. Revised Faculty Handbook,
1.4.2. an Appeal & Grievance Policy,
1.4.3. A Family Leave Policy,
1.4.4. A Proposal from the School of Business Administration to return to a Departmental Structure.
2. New Business:
2.1. Proposal for a conjoined Department of Fine and Performing Arts (DFPA)
2.1.1. Dean Isiaah Crawford and Dr. Sarah Gabel, currently chair of both the Department of Theatre and the Department of Fine Arts, presented their proposal and answered questions.
2.1.2. In response to a request, they agreed to provide the Committee a brief document detailing the approval of the proposal by the various subsidiary bodies.
2.1.3. The Committee members agreed to review the written material and act on the proposal at the next meeting. And in response to a request from the Dean, agreed to do this as quickly as possible.
2.1.4. The Committee members discussed concerns regarding the staffing of a new proposed Music Minor within the DFPA with a non-tenured full-time faculty line.
2.2. Proposal to modify the Promotion and Tenure Guidelines for the College of Arts and Sciences
2.2.1. Dean Crawford spoke briefly to the proposal, explaining that current Guidelines were recently found to contradict the Faculty Handbook in one particular. This proposal simply brings the College Guidelines into harmony with the Handbook. The text specifies that applications for Full Professor are ordinarily submitted after five years at Associate rank (i.e. in the sixth year), but that applications may, in exceptional cases, be submitted earlier.
2.2.2. After the departure of the Dean, the Committee decided to act upon this proposal immediately;
Resolved that the Faculty Affairs UPC approve and recommend to the Provost the proposed change in the Promotion and Tenure Guidelines of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Moved: Tim O’Connell
Seconded: Ken Johnson
Approved: Unanimously.
2.3. Proposed Document clarifying the Faculty Status of Librarians
2.3.1. Dean Seal presented the document and responded to questions. In particular, it was noted that the document presumes what is likely to be in the Revised Faculty Handbook. Members noted that, when the Handbook is submitted, care will have to be exercised to assure harmony among the provisions.
2.3.2. The Committee members agreed to review the written material and act on the proposal at the next meeting.
2.4. Proposed Revision of the Promotion and Tenure Guidelines for the School of Education
2.4.1. Dean Prasse, a member of the committee, presented the proposal and answered questions. He highlighted that the proposal was completed in December, 2005 and submitted to this Committee at that time. Given the time lag, the few faculty recently applying for Promotion and Tenure have been held to the old Guidelines. At the same time, recent hires have been presented the draft of the New Guidelines and alerted that they will be held to them. Apparently this has been accepted without objection.
2.4.2. Discussion occurred with regard to the composition of the school-wide Faculty Evaluation Committee.
2.4.3. The Committee members agreed to review the written material and act on the proposal at the next meeting.
3. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Timothy E. O’Connell