skip to main content Indiana State University University Faculty Senate UFS#1 Approved. August 31, Minutes Indiana State University Faculty Senate 2006-07 Time: 3:15 p.m. Place: HMSU, Dede III Officers: Chair S. Lamb, Vice Chair B. Evans, Secretary C. Hoffman Senators: S. Allen, C. Amlaner, E. Bermudez, K. Bolinger, E. Brown, J. Buffington, H. Chait, D. Collins, J. Conant, J. Fine, B. Frank, S. Ghosh, A. Halpern, T. Hawkins, P. Hightower, J. Hughes, K. Liu, M. McLean, C. Mehrens, M. Miller, G. Minty, T. Mulkey, L. O’Laughlin, S. Phillips, S. Pontius, J. Powers, S. Shure, T. Steiger, C. Stemmans, G. Stuart, J. Wilson, S. Wolf, D. Yaw, Absent: S. Davis, R. Schneirov, D. Worley, G. Zhang Ex-Officio: Provost Maynard Visitors: M.E. Adams, M. Boyer, A. Di Salvo, E. Hampton, J. Harder, M. Henry, C. MacDonald, M. Shuff, L. Sperry I. Memorials Memorials were read and accepted by acclamation for: Ervan J. Holtmann, Félix G. Ilárraz, Kenneth Uhlhorn and William Van Til. II. Administrative Report Provost Maynard welcomed Senators and reported: 1) Pres. Benjamin is in China seeking external funding and making business contacts. The President's fall address will be Sept. 13 and will be followed by the traditional Fall Reception. 2) A new "Welcome Center," bringing together Admissions and Financial Aid, will be located in Erickson Hall. Facilities should be ready in about one month. Public Service and Community Engagement will also be moving to new quarters. 3) Enrollment: Because of a larger-than-expected freshman class and record graduate enrollments, the number of new students entering the University increased for the first time since 2001, when the University implemented more rigorous admissions standards. First-time freshman enrollment grew by 4 percent to 1,703 this fall. The quality of incoming freshmen who received regular admission also improved, with the class having higher SAT scores and a higher grade-point average despite a nationwide downward trend. In addition, 94% of these freshmen have completed a Core 40 curriculum, compared to 81% in 2005. Graduate enrollments increased again this year to 2,031, the highest graduate enrollment in the institution’s history. This is the third year in a row that the University has had record graduate enrollment. Overall undergraduate enrollment was also stronger than expected as larger classes graduate and the smaller classes of recent years move up. Total enrollment decreased by 1% (- 111 students) to 10,568. The University had anticipated, and budgeted for, a 3% decline. Distance courses account for 13.5% of current enrollment. 4) R. Libler will return to the College of Education on Sep. 1 and will be replaced, on a temporary basis, by K. Snider. It is proposed to create a new vice presidency to oversee Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Communications. This new position will be "revenue neutral." The goal is to hire a high caliber, experienced individual using funds from vacated positions formerly filled by R. Libler and G. Bouse. A preliminary job description has gone to AAC for input. A national search will follow. It may be possible to fill the position before the end of the current academic year. UFS #1, 8/31/06, Page 2 5) The Law School proposal remains under discussion. Recommendations should be made public in 30-45 days. 6) Prioritization information has been released to the campus for comment. Target is to take changes to the Board of Trustees in January or February. 7) The Promising Scholars information has been distributed. Eighteen individuals are included. Distinctive Programs information will be released with the president's fall address. Approximately $ 1M in Lilly funding will be available. 8) The ISU Foundation has become a separate entity from the University by Board of Trustees action in July 2006. Tim O'Neill is serving as interim president of the Foundation and a national search is underway. 9) The Capital Campaign is progressing. III. Chair Report Chair Lamb: “Welcome colleagues, both those of you who are returning to the Senate as well as new members. The last time we met was in the special session called late in the academic year. I appreciated your attendance at that meeting and I appreciated the respect that you gave Board President Alley, and the respect that you gave the issue. All those in the audience were appreciated as well, and I want to thank them for their respectful demeanor. It was a pleasure to see former chairs of the Faculty Senate, Ed Warner, Pete Carino, and Frank Bell in the audience. Harriet Hudson was in a conference out of state, but made every effort to keep apprised. As I am sure you are all aware, I have met this summer with Trustee Board President Mike Alley. I am of the impression that he fully understands the frustration that was expressed at the last special session of the Senate. I have been informed that the President will be going through an evaluation process early in the semester, and that the evaluation will be thorough and will be a determinant of future decisions. I have also had the pleasure of discussing the campus environment with another Board member at some length at a meeting facilitated by Dr. Harper. I was very pleased with the content of each of these discussions. Trustee Alley understands the necessity of resolving campus unrest. He told me that he would keep me informed, and hoped that I would keep the faculty informed as well. We must await further developments. As you know, Tim O'Neil is the new President of the ISU Foundation. I have heard positive comments from those who have talked with him, especially that he is reaching out to various constituencies, including faculty, and is working to rebuild the donor base. I encourage you to do whatever you can to help him. We need to work together for the good of the University. I know that we have had a number of very worthwhile colleagues in both the faculty and the administration leave us for other opportunities this summer. We cannot afford this drain on our intellectual resources. Certainly a healthy pay scale can overcome many an adverse situation, but if we cannot presently have that, then the environment, the leadership, the cohesiveness must be such that there is vigor and viability infused into the institution. I do think that some administrators are stepping forward and attempting to provide this leadership. I ask all academic units to do whatever they can to create an environment that looks within to their core strengths, and to foster an environment that draws upon their individual strengths to lift the spirit of each unit and the University. We will get through this.” UFS #1, 8/31/06, Page 3 IV. SGA Report SGA President Patton welcomed faculty back to campus. V. Fifteen Minute Open Discussion 1) S. Hoffman, “I am Susan Hoffman. This year I am serving as the Advocate for special Purpose and Part-time Faculty. I would like to thank the Senate and especially Rich Schneirov, who has championed our contingency, for giving us a voice on this campus. We are a significant part of the ISU community; last year there were 74 instructors with one-year contracts and 182 semester-to-semester faculty. Most of us teach first-year students and may be their first contact with the academic community. But for the most part we have been unrecognized. Gappa and Leslie (Jossey-Bass, 1993) labeled nontenure track faculty “the invisible faculty.” A study here funded by the Lilly Foundation found that the adjunct faculty at ISU feels isolated, fearful, angry, and bitter. Because of the University financial crisis this year there are fewer of us. Also because of budget cuts some of us have lost pay, rank, and/or benefits, yet we are committed to the University and our students. Your support and recognition could not have come at a more urgent time. Thank you again for making this speaking seat on the Senate and nonvoting membership on FAC a reality. Special purpose and part-time temporary faculty are a little less invisible now.” 2) Unavailability of books ordered by professors at the Bookstore; suggest issuance of a voucher to affected students. 3) Web course (especially Blackboard) difficulties; no control over enrollment; students unable to use presentation software. We may wish to consider establishing prerequisites to enrollment in web courses. VI. Senate Actions 1) Elected A. Halpern Senate Parliamentarian. (Buffington, Hightower - acclamation) 2) Approved Standing Committee slates. (Hightower, Miller 36-0-0) 3) Approved All-University Committee faculty nominations. (Chait, Evans 36-0-0) VII. CAAC recommendations: 1) Reorganization of Departments of Communication Disorders, Counseling, and Educational and School Psychology Name for the newly-formed department: Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology Discussion: -- Effect on promotion and tenure standards: Some common standards will exist, but each unit (former department) will maintain additional separate standards. -- Savings: No immediate $ savings, but savings in faculty time and in better student services will result. -- This is a "friendly realignment," pursued for disciplinary benefits. Some future $ savings may result. Approved. (Frank, Liu 31-0-1) 2) Motor Sports Minor Guests were invited to the table, provided an overview of the proposal, and answered questions. UFS #1, 8/31/06, Page 4 Points: -- This minor is housed in the College of Business, but integrates courses from Management Information Systems (Business), Automotive Technology Management (Technology), and Recreation and Sport Management (HHP). It is appropriate for any major, especially those in Finance, general business, and Technology. -- No comparable interdisciplinary programs exist in the US. ISU will be the first to partner (with the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange in the UK) in an international program. -- We will develop courses, which may be offered through distance education. -- The minor, as currently proposed, is "experimental," though one currently- taught course enrolls 27. -- No new resources are required. We will assess demand before committing future resources. -- In this time of tight funding, the proposal can be justified as contributing to the Indiana Workforce Development Program and the governor's targeting of Motor Sports as important to the Indiana economy. Approved (Frank, Minty 36-0-0). VIII. Old Business None. IX. New Business None. The meeting adjourned at 4:33p.m. Respectfully submitted, C. Hoffman, Secretary Last modified: September 16, 2008  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.