skip to main content Indiana State University University Faculty Senate UFS#4 Approved. November 16, 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, J. Conant, S. Davis, J. Fine, B. Frank, S. Ghosh, A. Halpern, T. Hawkins, P. Hightower, J. Hughes, K. Liu, M. McLean, C. Mehrens, M. Miller, T. Mulkey, L. O’Laughlin, S. Phillips, S. Pontius, J. Powers, R. Schneirov, T. Steiger, C. Stemmans, D. Yaw, G. Zhang Absent: D. Collins, G. Minty, S. Shure, G. Stuart, J. Wilson, S. Wolf, D. Worley Ex-Officio: Assoc.VP English Visitors: J. Gatrell, E. Kinley, R. Perrin, K. Schmid I. Memorials Memorials were read and accepted by acclamation for Chester J. Carpenter and James A. Schellenberg. II. Administrative Report: Associate VP English: 1) A NSSE workshop will occur this week. 2) The Seventh International Education Week is Nov. 13-18. 3) Nominations for faculty awards are now being accepted. 4) CAAC and Graduate Council have completed review of the Program Prioritization Report and submitted their reports; a two-day conference (Dec.18-19), involving deans and academic associate vice presidents, will consider the reports. 5) A forthcoming global announcement will clarify insurance coverage for on-campus accidents. 6) Applications are available for the Experiential Learning and Service awards. 7) Programs of Promise announcements will be forthcoming. III. Chair Report: Chair Lamb: "The 360 review is taking place. Forms have been sent out already to the 50 or so individuals asked to participate. I was asked by Trustee Alley on Wednesday, November 1st to submit five faculty names, including my own, by Friday, November 3rd, and have done so with the help of the other Senate officers. The four faculty selected are highly respected. UFS #4, 11/16/06, Page 2 Chair Report – S. Lamb (continued): Trustee Alley has stated that the evaluation and comments will remain anonymous. The officers have full confidence in that statement for solid researched reasons. The assessment form is returned directly to Trustee Alley and will not be opened by anyone else. The completed assessment form will be viewed by Trustee Alley only, and will not be shared directly with the President. Trustee Alley will compile statistical results, along with applicable comments, to be presented in a Summary Report to the President and the Board of Trustees during an executive session. I am very pleased to report that at the most recent Board meeting Trustee Thyen approached me to ask about the nature of the Writing Center, which I had referenced in my comments. After a brief discussion, Provost Maynard joined the conversation and informed Trustee Thyen that the Center would receive funding, that it was a worthwhile entity, and that it impacted positively upon the education of our students. At the last Executive Committee meeting he attended, Provost Maynard assured the Committee that the Writing Center will receive funding. We would appreciate hearing from those involved that the funding has been delivered. Senator Buffington has raised concerns about declining international enrollments, and is encouraging SAC to investigate. He states that in 1985 international students comprised 9.4 per cent of the student body. Today, that percentage is 4.2 percent. If we had maintained the 9.4 percentage, we would today have 952 international students instead of 448. Total enrollment at ISU would be 11,072 instead of the actual 10,568. The decline in international undergraduate students is especially troubling. In 1985, 9.1 percent of our undergraduates were international; in Fall 2006, only 1.6 percent of our undergraduates are. Prof. Buffington argues that the numbers do not allow us to attribute this decline solely to the events of 9/11 and to SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, both of which have been cited as causes. I am pleased that the administration heard the hue and cry concerning two issues: 1) The Study Abroad Program will not be moved back under the International Affairs Center. The Executive Committee, the Arts and Sciences Chairs Council, as well as scores of others, throughout the University, including Jim Buffington, had serious misgivings concerning that move. Study Abroad will remain positioned as it is, with the Coordinator, Janis Halpern, continuing to run an effective office. I thank the Provost for receiving the input and reconsidering that issue. 2 ) The one-time payment to temporary full-time faculty will be made. It would have been immoral not to include these loyal people in this disbursement of funds. I truly thank the Administration for rethinking that issue. I am still quite saddened, however, by the following situation: Six full-time temporary faculty in the English Department, who have been with that department between 6 and 20 years, were given "Lecturer" appointments this semester in order that they could be reduced to six-month contracts. All were still teaching full-time loads. It is my understanding that all are expected to be rehired full time for the Spring 07 semester. In other words, the expectation was that they would serve full time for the full year. The Chair, however, was not given the necessary budget in Fall 07 to immediately grant full- time, full-year contracts. He felt he was being prudent by not committing funds he had not been allocated. He was going to make the "need case" strongly to the Dean later. Of course the temporary full-time faculty, who had been serving the department loyally for up to 20 years, were hurt that they were cut to six-month employees, but said little. Now they are further penalized by being denied the one-time payment even though they will be renewed. I have heard that a similar situation exists in the Math Department. [sl1] This is not at all just. I appeal to the Provost to reconsider this issue On a final, sad note: Mary Corenflos is retiring at the end of this semester. She will be greatly missed. Frankly, I do not know how we will be able to function without her organizational skills. I think that Mary started working in the Faculty Senate office in August of 1996 after having served the University in other positions for some years. She has mastered our governance system and improved upon it greatly, and has been a tremendous resource for the Faculty Senate. I do not know how many know that Mary obtained an undergraduate degree from ISU while being employed here. We do produce superior products. Mary has wonderful retirement plans with her husband, which include Prince Edward Island. She is excited."” UFS #4, 11/16/06, Page 3 IV. SGA : No Report. V. Fifteen Minute Open Discussion 1) Susan Hoffman, Special Purpose Faculty Advocate: I have two issues I’d like to address today on behalf of the approximately 250 non-tenure-track faculty members on campus. At last month’s Senate meeting you approved the grievance policy, which included special-purpose and part-time temporary faculty for the first time. We deeply appreciate that motion. Every other division of employees has had grievance rights. Until your vote we were the only group without recourse. Now we are afforded equal rights. Thank you. That brings me to another issue of equality. At last month’s meeting, Dr. Maynard repeated the announcement of the one-time $1,100 bonus for faculty and staff. At the time of the initial announcement no temporary faculty were included. As you know from recent news releases, a re-evaluation was made. Forty-three special-purpose faculty will now receive $1,100 each. I would like to thank Chair Lamb, the Executive Committee, and others who have spoken on behalf of special-purpose faculty. Your support is gratifying. However, other temporary employees have unintentionally, I’m sure, been discriminated against in this decision. Some special-purpose faculty lost their year-long contracts this year due to budget constraints. That disqualified them from the one-time payment. In this case they have felt the cost of the University’s hard times twice over. Others have served the University loyally for years upon years, semester by semester. All have, in President Benjamin’s words, "made significant contributions that have enabled us to meet our primary goal of providing a quality educational experience for our students.” Redress may not be possible at this time, but I ask that, in the future, special-purpose and part-time faculty always be given respect and consideration equal to all other teaching faculty at the University. That is the principle affirmed by the Senate. 2) Does ISU belong to the “Study Indiana” state-wide consortium, which focuses on recruitment of international students ? Administration will report back. 3) Program Prioritization: Concern expressed with the short timeline for departmental responses to the Graduate Council regarding Category 4 programs. More time requested; seven calendar days is not enough. 4) Faculty Scholarship: The scholarship is close to being endowed. A letter seeking contributions will go to faculty within the next few weeks. 5) Student Affairs Committee is investigating perceived deficiencies in academic challenge and academic support. SAC needs assistance from faculty who teach first-year students. 6) A series of on-campus Town/Gown lectures is occurring at Cunningham Memorial Library. VI. Minutes of October 26 – APPROVED (Mulkey, Hightower 33-0-0) UFS #2, 9/28/06, Page 3 VII. Action Item: Faculty Affairs Committee – Select Committee Nominations: ACCEPTED (Amlaner, Miller 33-0-0) VIII. Old Business: None. IX. New Business: None. X. Standing Committee Reports – Senators provided updates: -- CAAC is meeting re: TAFFY, and will be forwarding a joint report (with Grad. Council) on Prioritization. -- FEBC is monitoring activity regarding funding of retirement benefits and will meet with G. Floyd. -- SAC has appointed a three-member subcommittee to investigate grade inflation. -- URC has received 14 proposals and will vote on them next week. XI. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m. (Hightower, Hughes – voice vote) Respectfully submitted, C. Hoffman, Secretary [sl1] Last modified: September 16, 2008  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.