Minutes of the University Committee
for October 30, 2001

The Committee met at 8:35 in D135 MOLN. Members present were Walter Feldt, Susan Haller, Peggy James, James Kinchen, Don Kummings, and Greg Mayer. Also present were Larry Duetsch and Ken Watters.

Interim Provost Watters said that the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management has asked him to clarify the signatory authority of the deans in regard to grade changes and executive actions. Because the Registrar is charged with enforcement of policies, not their interpretation, the Assistant Vice Chancellor has recommended that the deans approve all grade changes and executive actions to ensure consistency.

Members of the Committee said that the assignment of grades has long been treated as the prerogative of the instructor/department, and that grade changes should not require approval beyond the department chair. On the other hand, executive actions involve exceptions to (or interpretations of) established policies for which responsibility is more broadly shared,
and for that reason the approval of the appropriate dean (or, in the case of university-wide policies, the Director of General Education) is required and the Committee felt this should continue. There was agreement that the Registrar should simply insist on approvals and no real change is needed.

The Interim Provost provided a copy of the proposal that was recently funded by the SC Johnson Fund: "The Transformation of the Education of Teachers." To carry out the proposal, the Interim Provost said that he would soon appoint a committee of faculty members that he would chargewith developing a plan for the transformation of teacher preparation on this campus. He shared a list of likely appointees with the Committee and invited comments. He said that the committee would be chaired by Dean Cress and would be expected to complete its work by Fall 2002, so that required faculty governance approvals could be obtained by Spring 2003.

It was noted that the proposal calls for centering the preparation and continuing education of teachers in the College of Arts and Sciences, and suggests that a College-based committee of faculty designated by various departments will assist the Dean in recommending students for licensure. Members of the Committee indicated that any proposal to significantly shift the responsibility for teacher certification should be sponsored by a suitably constituted faculty group and be approved by the Faculty
Senate.

There was concern that the committee that will be appointed should be mindful of the circumstances of people who hold a degree and are returning to seek certification. There was also concern that the committee should plan to maintain a programmatic strength in preparing teachers for urban multicultural settings. The Interim Provost said he would relay these concerns to Dean Cress.

The Interim Provost thanked the Committee for their input and left the meeting. Dean Cress joined the meeting at this point.

Dean Cress said he had asked to attend the meeting to seek advice about the equitable treatment of workload for supervising internships. He said some departments grant released time for this and others do not, although other rewards are sometimes given. He said he would like the Committee to help him develop a policy that would grant released time on the basis of student credit hours generated, perhaps retroactively.

Committee members expressed a variety of concerns - one being surprise that release is often granted; a second being that supervision of independent study and theses be treated similarly; a third being that credit-bearing internship courses can be particularly labor-intensive; and a fourth being that release should be given at the time the work needs to be done. Dean Cress said he would present data on the extent of credit-bearing internship activity and the Committee agreed to work with him in developing an appropriate workload policy.

Switching topics, members of the Committee asked the Dean to describe the process that departments in the College go through to secure adjunct funding. Concerns were expressed about the adequacy of adjunct funding and undue interference in departmental decision-making regarding the use of adjunct funds. Professor James said that she would discuss the concerns of Committee members with Interim Associate Vice Chancellor Goodman as well. At this point, Dean Cress thanked the Committee and left.

At 10:15, the meeting was recessed until 3:40 in the afternoon.

When they reconvened, the Committee reviewed and approved the wording of a two-part referendum concerning the right of faculty members to engage in collective bargaining. Ballots will be due November 12 and results will be conveyed to the Faculty Senate on November 27.

On behalf of the faculty, the Committee approved the slate of December graduates that are certified by the Registrar.

At the request of the Chancellor, the Committee identified a nominee for the Parking Appeals Committee. Consideration of appointments to the Engaged University Council was deferred, pending further consultation.

Potential agenda items for the November 27 meeting of the Faculty Senate were reviewed. It was agreed that the "Procedure for Planning and Implementing a Certificate Program," developed by the Committee on Academic Planning, does not require Senate action because the guideline does not differ from the procedure that has been followed for some time. (Copies are available from the Secretary of the Faculty.) Similarly, it was agreed the "Criteria for Promotion to Professor," recently amended by the Full Professor Subcommittee of the Personnel Review Committee, does not require Senate action because the statement is not (and never has been) a part of UWPF 6. (The criteria may be found at <http://uwp.edu/staff/gov/faccom/prc/prcfull.cfm>.)

Professor James said that she hoped the Committee would be able to join with employees of other State agencies in the near future to press more effectively for improvements in the range of health insurance coverage that is available in the southeastern portion of the State.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45.