Draft Minutes for January 15, 2008
University Senate Meeting
3 p.m. Broun Hall
Present: David Cicci, Robert Locy, Ann Beth Presley, Richard Penaskovic, Don Large, Debbie Shaw, Stewart Schneller, Drew Clark, John Heilman, Bonnie MacEwan, Wendy Pechman, Marie Folmar, Gary Martin, Norbert Wilson, Sondra Parmer, Christopher McNulty, Anoop Sattineni, Rik Blumenthal, Larry Crowley, Brigitta Brunner, Laura Plexico, Alvin Sek See Lim, Sahyun Suh, James Witte, Scotte Hodel, James Goldstein, Robin Huettel, Claire Crutchley, Allen Davis, Michel Raby, Larry Teeter, Jim Saunders, Mark Fischman, David Carter, Raymond Kessler, Andrew Wohrley, Steve Stuckwisch, Howard Goldstein, Constance Hendricks, Claire Zizza, Jim Wirght, Daniel Parson, Salisa Westrick, James Shelley, Francis Robicheaux, Robert Voitle, Peggy Shippen, Gwen Thomas, R.D. Montgomery
Absent with Substitute: Adele Balmar (Lindsay Stevenson), Barbara Companion (Tim Braden), Brian Gibson (Paul Swamidass), Don-Terry Veal (?), Dan Svyantek (Jackie Michelson), William Shaw (LtC Jon Segars), Tom Williams (Lt Dowel), Carole Zugazaga (L Cochrane)
Absent without Substitute: Royrickers Cook, Dan Bennett, Overton Jenda, Johnny Green, Matt Jenkins, Robert Gross, John Hung, Jim Bradley, Winfred Foster, Charles Mitchell, Kieth Cummins, Charlene LeBleu, Anthony Moss, Timothy McDonald, Ronald Neuman, Carol Centrallo, John Saye, Dan Gropper, Thomas A. Smith, Chris Arnold, Robert Bulfin, Casey Cegielski, Edith Davidson, Bart Prorok, Bernie Olin, Randy Tillery, Scott Phillips
Approval of Minutes of the November 6, 2007 Meeting
Remarks and Announcements
Jay Gogue (President) – I have three things I would like to discuss with you today.
1) Several position have national search in progress--Graduate Dean, and Vice-President of Research. Search committees indicate that good progress is being made. An airport interviews for Vice-President of Research in February. Bob McGinnis will retire at the end of June. We will need to start a search for his position (development officer).
2) Alabama legislature/tax revenues: State will probably implement proration in the current year, but will not have an effect on our budget until the next fiscal year. Our next fiscal year has projected reduced revenues of 2.5%-4.5%. Originally revenues projected were a 6% increase. Long term Alabama should be in good shape with BRAC realignment at Huntsville, Columbus, and Montgomery. Krupp steel mill should also help. Canadian company is coming into North Alabama that makes rail cars. Kia plant in Georgia should also supply jobs for Alabama. However, more jobs will be created in Alabama for suppliers for the Kia plant. Long term outlook is positive, in the short term we will have to wait and see.
3) Thanks for strategic directions process. We will have 60-70 key interesting ideas. No one will agree with all of them. They will be presented as a draft on February 1 at the next Board of Trustees meeting. The goal is to present strategic directions at the April Board of Trustees meeting. Will need help from February 1 through mid-March.
David Cicci (Chair) Importance and benefits of being a Senate officer. Current
President and many of Board of Trustees appreciate shared governance. It is difficult to attract candidates to serve as Senate officers. We are currently seeking candidates for Chair-elect and Secretary-Elect. Job satisfaction is not the only benefit: 1) receive 33% salary supplement for 9 month faculty and 25% for 12 month faculty, 2) 2 semesters leave for chair elect, 1 semester for secretary, 3) funds for reduction in teaching load, 4) travel funds for faculty leadership conference, 5) part-time office assistance. If any are interested in serving the Senate in either of these positions, please contact me (David Cicci).
Action items
Final Exam Schedule
Stan Reeves (Chair, Calendar and Schedules)
A an extra day was added between the end of finals and graduation for the Registrar to process data for graduation. As a result, Reading Days were reduced from two to one to
Accommodate the Registrar’s Office. The final exam schedule shifted by one day.
Proposal: to revise exam time-schedule.
• Schedule prior to Fall '07 had half hour breaks between 5 exams
periods, and one exam covered the usual lunch period. Problem
with late exams (safety). Had 5 exam slots per day - higher
probability of multiple exams per day.
• Schedule in 2007-2008: 9-11:30, 2-4:30, 7-9:30pm, 6 day
schedule. Fixed 30 minute breaks, lunch problem, etc. Problems:
Last period used for both special exams and a regular exam.
Some unpopular class times shared slots. Still have exams
letting out late 9:30pm.
• Proposal to improve: Fall 2008 --. Have four regular periods
and a special exam period. 8-10:30am, 12-2:30pm, 4-6:30pm,
special exams 7-9:30pm. Fixes: separate special exam slot.
Break is 90 minutes. No exams over lunch/dinner. (If have lunch
at 11 and supper after 6:30pm.) Still have some unpopular class
times share slots.
Roy Hartfeld (AeroSpace Engineering) Is the intent to continue with Saturday exams?
Stan Reeves (Chair, Calendar and Schedules) Currently, yes.
Rik Blumenthal (Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry) Only one day between finals and graduation should be sufficient. Historically, the Registrar did need two days for graduation. However, the burden has changed; faculty member spends time typing in names on the computer, not registrar. Registrar may not need two days anymore Extra day - Saturday exams. We start the semester on Tuesdays. Can we buy a day by starting the semester earlier? 7:30pm-9:00pm Saturday exams are ridiculous. The spring schedule looks better. Fall schedule: was enough thought put toward which time slots go into first period, vs last period. More popular class times should have final exams that are not all on Saturday. Putting so many popular class times on Saturday puts an undue burden on faculty and students.
Stan Reeves (Chair, Calendar and Schedules) Please email me those comments.
Francis Robicheaux (Physics) I do not wan to see the number of days between last exams and commencement reduced. Grading can take a lot of time. If there were only one day between the last day of finals and commencement would, often, not have enough time to finish grading exams and papers..
Rich Penaskovic (Immediate Past Chair): What does the Registrar say about 1 day time?
Doyle Bickers (Registrar) Problem is not just the grading itself. Faculty are entering grades, but with the new system have to also process grade changes after grades "roll" into the system. This takes a lot of time. There is a lot of checking done (requirements for graduation, honors, etc.), many late grades also. We really need those two days to reduce errors/problems.
Howard Goldstein (Music) Space is at a premium. We only have one classroom for large intro courses, 8am until evening every day of the week. Three class times sharing the same exam caused many difficulties. This is addressed in part by the proposed schedule.
Doyle Bickers (Registrar) I have sympathy for music; recently learned the magnitude of the problem. My office will work to help fix the problem. Let them know about problems (e.g., need for special technology) so that they can work on it.
Dave Cicci (Chair) Vote --Passed without dissent.
Ombudsman Policy
Rich Penaskovic (Immediate Past Chair)
This proposal has been In process for the last 4 years. The proposal represents shared governance at its best. Dave (Cicci) and I have worked up the proposal. I looked at positions at many schools and tried to glean the best from all. One correction: Title should have "for a two year trial period."
David Cicci (Chair) Call for vote. Passed without dissent.
Information Items
Writing Initiative Task Force
John Heilman (Provost) Marcia Boosinger, Sharon Roberts will serve as co-chairs. The Task Force includes faculty from all colleges and schools and from the student body. We will have an organizational meeting later this week. Included in charge: opportunities to write in courses beyond the core, individualized assistance, and remediation for
freshman. Technical: how do we assess success?
I would like to concur with David Cicci about serving in the Senate leadership. Meet weekly with officers. This is a great opportunity for faculty to participate in shared governance.
James Goldstein (English) Does the Task Force include specialists from English, not just Dept. Head?
John Heilman (Provost) It is a University-wide initiative. Thought it would be cleaner to ask the specialists to act as advisors rather than members.
Professional Improvement Leave Policy
David Cicci (Chair) Last information time for today is the Professional Improvement Leave Policy. Will discuss today as information item, then will have as an action item at the February meeting
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) – Biggest problem with current policy is that it is not often used. The main difference between the old and the new policy is that provisions are made for at least 4% of faculty to participate in a sabbatical/professional improvement leave every year. This may be used to improve the quality of the faculty, e.g., spend 4 months in Europe, here in Auburn, or at a funding agency, to develop ideas. This allows faculty to do a better job of teaching and expand research their research program
Click here for Powerpoint presentation:
• Want to see it exercised (used); problems were (in part)
funding.
• Funds available for 4% of faculty for PIL per year. (Hope to
have more than 1 per 20 years, but that's what our current rate
is.)
• No restrictions on activity to be explicitly a part of the
policy.
• Applies only to tenured faculty members going forward. (Other
schools do not give pre-tenured faculty PIL).
• PIL available after 6 years of full time employment, not 4
years. (Most other schools have 5-6 years).
• No further limits on amount faculty member can earn while on
leave. (Change from current policy, which limits consulting
work.)
• Cumulative leave options eliminated. Hodel Not sure what this
refers to.
• Senate Officer leave has been separated from policy.
David Carter (History) I would offer support for Professional Improvement Leave to include tenure track, not merely tenured faculty. Should improve faculty retention.
Norbert Wilson (Ag Econ & Rural Sociology) Are these changes in policy for leave without pay and with pay?
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) One semester at full page, or two at half pay. There is an option (not part of this policy) for a leave of absence without pay.
Norbert Wilson (Ag Econ & Rural Sociology) So this is for "with pay" or "with partial pay." I also agree with David Carter that young faculty would benefit--speaking from personal experience.
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) In many departments, no one has the opportunity for Professional Improvement Leave. We hope to improve that
Rich Penaskovic (Immediate Past Chair) Would like to see leave for only tenured faculty. We have many faculty who have been here 20-25 years who have never had leave. Tenure-track faculty, often, have reduced teaching loads, so they should not be included.
Rik Blumenthal (Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry) I agree with Dr. Penaskovic on untenured
faculty not being included. For tenure and promotion we are making decisions based on less than 5 years of performance; if faculty are way for one of those years, then it makes the evaluation process even harder. Because of reduced teaching loads, it can be hard to evaluate their teaching.
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) Of the policies we looked at, I believe Auburn is the only one that listed tenure-track faculty as eligible.
Rik Blumenthal (Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry) Cumulative leave should be considered; two semesters should be permitted. Meaning, if someone is here for 14 years and has not take Professional Improvement Leave, then should be permitted to take 2 semesters. Beyond that accumulation, perhaps not. Also: wording is not eligibility precise enough. What does "after 6 years" mean? There should be a defined formula for accumulated sabbatical leave. E.g., for each semester on campus, should accumulate 1/14 semester. Full six years of consecutive service would be a more precise explanation.
Francis Robicheaux (Physics) Where did the 4% come from?
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) It was a good starting point.
Francis Robicheaux (Physics) 25 years for one sabbatical on average – somewhat excessive. We need to find out what comparable Universities give.
Roy Hartfield (Faculty Welfare Committee) We can do more work on that. Policies don't tell us about it. 4% comes to about 40-50 faculty per year; i.e., about $1 million. On one version said "at least 4%" vs. 4%”. Funding can become an issue if we specify a number. We want to jump start the process.
James Goldstein (English) Institution needs to consider our competitive disadvantage with peer institutions for faculty retention. Also, favors change for tenured faculty. There are other ways for junior faculty to get leave time, e.g., in the summer.
Bob Locy (Chair Elect) Cumulative leave policy: will be important to address the issue of being retroactive. This could have a strong impact on senior faculty. What would happen if 4% of senior faculty all took leave the same year? Can the University handle the impact of so many being gone?
John Heilman (Provost) I believe about 25 years ago I had a quarter of leave and it was wonderful. Defining “hardship” may be a problem and needs to be more clearly defined.
Also, it is a question of how rapidly the policy is brought to fruition. 71% of our faculty are tenured, highest in the SEC, so there is some evidence that we have good retention.
Dave Cicci (Chair) Any new business? Any old business? Seeing none, the meeting is adjourned.