skip to main content Indiana State University University Faculty Senate UFS #6 Approved February 22, 2001 January 25, Minutes Indiana State University Faculty Senate 2000-01 Time: 3:15 p.m. Place: HMSU, Dede III Present: Chairperson F. Bell, Vice Chair P. Hightower, Secretary C. Hoffman Senators: A. Anderson, R. Baker, E. Bermudez, M. Brennan, D. Burger, J. Cerny, G. Christianson, B. Clouse, R. Clouse, A. Cockerham, J. Conant, N. Corey, P. Dutta, B. Frank, D. Gilman, R. Goidel, R. Goldbort, R. Guell, M. Harmon, J. Huber, S. Lamb, N. Lawrence, K. Liu, C. MacDonald, L. Maule, R. McGiverin, J. McNabb, D. Memory, W. Moates, F. Muyumba, D. Prentice, A. Rider, R. Schneirov, S. Sharp, E. Warner, W. Warren Absent: A. Blackshire-Belay Ex-Officio: Interim Provost Hopkins, Vice President Schafer Visitors: P. G. Aaron, L. Bischoff, C. Coleman, R. Easton, R. English, C. Fakouri, E. Fakouri, J. Harper, N. Maloba, T. O'Connor, H. Pleasants, K. Schmid, C. Walker, K. Walker, K. Zucker I. Memorial Resolution B. Clouse read a memorial resolution for Walter Sullins; accepted 38-0-0. II. Administrative Report Interim Provost Hopkins relayed the administrative response to actions taken by the Senate at the December 14, 2000, meeting. The administration noted: the memorial resolution presented for Conrado Alminaque and the Faculty Economic Benefits Committee amended recommendation, "If this year's efforts to address compression and market competitiveness prove inadequate, part of next year's monies available for salaries, but no more than half, should again be set aside to address compression with the remainder allocated to performance-based pay. Additionally, the expected outcomes of the performance-based-pay system will be identified and a systematic method for its evaluation and improvement be established this year." The administration approved replacements to the University Promotions Committee and the University Leaves Committee, D. Barnhart and S. Baker respectively. Interim Provost Hopkins updated the Senate on the special committee to deal with travel budget issues that met with Administrative Affairs Committee members and noted that a second meeting was planned. He relayed enrollment statistics, noting that the number of full-time enrollments increased and part-time enrollments declined. The net result is an increase of 1% in both credit hours and FTE. He further noted a new tracking method implemented for financial aid processing. Chair Bell suggested that Senators forward to the Financial Aid Office any financial aid problem cases of which they became aware. III. Chair Report Chair Bell noted his comments to the Board at its December retreat and updated the Senators on the naming of the new soccer field. The Chair solicited Senators to participate in the Higher Education Day at the state legislature on February 14. # UFS #6, 1/25/01 Page 2 IV. SGA Report SGA President Garing reported that the SGA had lobbied the state legislature last week for textbook tax exemption and noted the upcoming SGA elections. V. Fifteen Minute Open Discussion J. Conant said in response to his inquiry at last month's Senate meeting, he had met with the University's controller, along with Senate Secretary C. Hoffman, and reviewed the travel contract. He noted that he viewed the contract as reasonable and that another meeting was planned. C. Hoffman commented that the cooperation from the administrative unit had been cordial and that he and J. Conant have copies of the travel contract. R. Clouse said he viewed the present travel policy as repugnant and a punitive system. Interim Provost Hopkins noted tentative improvements to the travel procedures. Further discussion ensued. Senators relayed examples of escalated travel costs incurred resulting from the present system and made suggestions for improvement to the policy. J. Cerny noted an item in his Senate liaison report and asked for a response from the Interim Provost--The Dean reported that several concerns have developed regarding sabbatical leaves. Because of the large number of transition leaves related to retirement and issues with covering classes, it will be more difficult to approve non-transition sabbaticals for a few years. In the College this year there were 33 applications for sabbatical leave. Four were not recommended by chairpersons; five were not recommended by the Dean due to weak applications. The Dean stated that some proposed sabbatical plans could be managed on campus by providing released time for the faculty member. He also stated that sabbatical leaves are privileges, not a right of employment. Interim Provost Hopkins responded that the University Leaves Committee would apply current policy. C. Hoffman requested an update on the Provost search. Vice President Schafer relayed that the Provost search committee had met one time and compiled a characteristic checklist and that a standard list of questions would also be compiled. He said the committee was scheduled to meet again on January 31 and will start reviewing applications thereafter. He noted that twenty-one applications had been received. One committee member had been replaced and one alternate remained. VI. Approval of the December 14, 2000 Minutes The minutes were approved as amended: R. Clouse, A. Anderson 38-0-1. VII. CAAC Recommendations Information Technology Proposal Guests were invited to the table (R. Easton, R. English, J. Harper, N. Maloba, K. Schmid): R. Clouse, D. Prentice 38-0-0. Motion to approve: R. Clouse, F. Muyumba. The drafting committee relayed background information on the proposal and responded to questions from Senators--the proposal was a response to a request from the state legislature. It was noted that the CAAC would work to establish a policy in the CAPS manual for approval of this type of integrated program within the schools and the College. Some voiced concerns were: possible effect on existing programs, where the program would be housed, authority for future decisions relevant to the program, omission of course specificity, and the timeline for implementation should the state provide funding. Senators were assured that all of the proposal's curricula would receive the required approval review within each respective unit and the University. R. McGiverin noted that the Dean of Library's signature was omitted from the supporting documents. K. Schmid conveyed that representatives of Information Technology had been involved in drafting the proposal. N. Maloba conveyed the School of Technology's support "in principle" for the proposal. UFS #6, 1/25/01 Page 3 The drafting committee representatives, the Interim Provost, and the Senate all concurred that if state funding is not provided to implement the proposal, the University will enhance existing programs only with available IT funds and will not move forward with implementation of the new proposal. After lengthy discussion, the proposal was approved in "principle", 38-0-1. After discussion of each of the following curricular proposals, they were approved: Philosophy 200 (J. Huber, E. Warner 38-0-0); Music 341 (A. Anderson, K. Liu 38-0-0); Sociology 110 (R. Clouse, D. Prentice 38-0-0); and MS Nursing (K. Liu, E. Bermudez 37-0-0). VIII. FAC/EC Recommendation Evaluation of Teaching Guests were invited to the table: S. Lamb, K. Liu 37-0-0. Moved approval: L. Maule, A. Rider. It was clarified that the Senate was acting only on the first page and that the remaining material was examples. During discussion of the document, S. Sharp made the following statement: "The School of Nursing receives extensive, regular evaluation feedback not only in every nursing course but also in the form of outcome measures of graduating class aggregates. Our most notable outcome measure is the national RN licensing exam with which we competed nationally every year and must meet a stringent standard--all classes must meet or exceed the national average or risk program closure by the state. This exam provides us not only with feedback on passing rates but on performance in specified content areas as well. In addition we have a strict policy as to how student evaluations are administered that protects student anonymity and strengthens the validity of the results. In some courses as many as four summative evaluations are administered, providing detail specific feedback, for course improvement in addition to regular formative evaluation throughout the semester. My point here is that teaching evaluation is not our most pressing need. Rather, our perennial, persistent need is for proper and fundamental teaching recognition. Specifically, the clinical teaching we provide--that is, extra-classroom teaching, teaching that requires as much or more preparation, as much or more after-hours work and that is more intensive and demanding than any classroom teaching--is given only 1/2 the workload credit that classroom teaching is given. It is, therefore, my view that no manner of teaching evaluation, no matter how valid or sophisticated, can possibly provide the "fairness" referred to in this document, until this fundamental problem is corrected." The document was amended: friendly amendment to change "should" to "shall"--R. Guell; friendly amendment to add to end of second paragraph, "Such policies and procedures shall not preclude the submission by individual faculty of additional, self-designed instruments that evaluate their teaching."--R. Goldbort; paragraph three was removed and replaced: "Because the ISU Handbook lists evaluation of teaching as a primary authority of the faculty, the faculty governance body of the college or school will ensure that each department has a departmentally approved evaluation system in place. Administrators (beyond chairs) shall have no role in developing evaluation policies."-- R. Guell, R. McGiverin 28-4-2. Approved as amended: Maule, Rider 26-6-2. # UFS #6, 1/25/01 Page 4 In response to an inquiry from J. Cerny concerning the status of a "resolution," Parliamentarian E. Warner conveyed from Roberts Rules of Order that a permanent resolution is in effect until procedures are taken to remove. The agenda was reordered: R. Clouse, S. Lamb 34-0-0. IX. New Business CAAC Membership A member of the CAAC had resigned and the committee will complete the semester without a replacement. Accepted by consensus. University Promotions Committee Discussion of membership eligibility ensued. R. Ivaturi was nominated to replace K. Rutherford: S. Lamb, R. Guell 34-0-0. Approval of the Committee as stands: R. Clouse, J. Huber 32-0-2. R. Johnson was nominated to replace dele jegede: E. Warner, J. Cerny 34-0-0. FAC Recommendation "Previous recipients of the Caleb Mills Distinguished Teaching Award are not eligible again for that award." Approved: Clouse, Lamb 27-3-0. AAC Recommendation "Given the recent resignation of the Associate Vice President for Information Services and Dean of Library Services, effective February 22, the Administrative Affairs Committee strongly encourages the University Administration to conduct a thorough review and evaluation of the current administrative configuration of Information Services. Specifically, should the Associate Vice President and Dean of Library Services responsibilities continue to reside in one position? It is the hope of the Committee that any such review and evaluation would actively involve current members of the IS staff at all levels, but particularly library faculty members whose faculty expectations of and need for a full-time academic dean warrant special consideration." Approved: R. Clouse, E. Warner 28-0-2. The meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m. # # Last modified: May 20, 2008  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.