Minutes of the University Committee
for November 12, 2002

The Committee met at 2:05 in D135 MOLN. Members present were John Buenker, Peggy James, James Kinchen, Don Kummings, Greg Mayer, and Gary Wood. Also present were Don Cress and Larry Duetsch.

The Committee discussed/revised a letter that will soon be sent to departments, asking them to clarify their protocols for determining
individual teaching loads. It was agreed that these protocols should include criteria for determining whether scholarly activity is sufficient to warrant reductions of 1-3 credits, as called for under PSF 11/95-96. The protocols should also clearly describe any unusual teaching assignments, service, or other activity that may warrant a further reduction in teaching load beyond the one based on scholarly activity. The departments will be asked to report their protocols by February 1, prior to the deadline for preparation of the Fall 2003 course schedule.

The Committee discussed the process that has been followed by the faculty award committees in determining award criteria/procedures for teaching excellence, research/creative activity, and service. For each award, the Senate has determined the membership of the selection committee but has not determined specific criteria for the award. Instead, the award criteria have evolved from year to year on the basis of the experience of the selection committee(s). It was agreed that this system has worked
well, and that further Senate action is not called for. The Secretary of the Faculty will simply remind the selection committee(s) each year to promulgate their criteria as widely as possible during the nomination process.

The Committee discussed revised drafts of instruments that will be used to survey faculty perceptions of administrative performance. The survey is to be conducted early in the spring semester and will pertain to the performance of the chancellor and the deans, but not the provost (who will not have been in office for a year). Further revisions in the survey instruments were agreed upon and these will be reexamined by the Committee in early December.

The Committee approved that list of December graduates, as it is certified by the office of the Registrar.

The Committee discussed the process that is to be followed in recruiting the next Secretary of the Faculty and authorized announcement of the search.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:25.