1) CALL TO ORDER

              The meeting was called to order at 11:11 A.M. by Dennis Rome (Chair).  Also attending were members Chris Evans, Fran Kavenik, Mary Lenard, Greg Mayer (Secretary pro tem), and Anne Statham.  Dean Donald Cress, Dean Steve McLaughlin, and Registrar Rhonda Kimmel were guests.

2) MINUTES

              The minutes of the meeting of February 2, 2007 were approved as distributed.

3) ANNOUNCEMENTS

              There were no announcements.

4) NEW BUSINESS

              In order to accommodate the guests who were already present, the agenda was altered by unanimous consent to take up New Business first.

a) Dean Donald Cress and Dean Steve McLaughlin discussed classroom conduct issues.  UWS 17 provides for student discipline, and UWS 14 provides for cases of academic misconduct, but the issues arising recently seem to have more to do with expectations of the kind of behavior that is appropriate in a university.  There was an attempt at a statement of students’ rights and responsibilities in 1994, but nothing lasting came of it.  There is some coverage of the University’s expectations and values at orientation, but this is apparently insufficient.  Prof. Kavenik, to her evident chagrin, found herself agreeing with Prof. Mayer on the subject. Dean McLaughlin will propose the structure of an ad hoc administrative committee which will have appropriate governance input to consider the issue.

              b) Dean Cress asked what provisions exist for part-time faculty appointments, including both tenured and untenured.  He saw the issue not as a financial one, but as one concerning family leave policies, and that it was especially important for untenured (i.e. younger) faculty.  Prof. Mayer wondered what effect a part-time appointment might have on the tenure clock, as there are provisions in UWS limiting the length of probationary appointments. [After the meeting, it was found that UWS 3.04 explicitly provides for extended probationary appointments for faculty with part-time appointments.] Members of the Committee concurred with Dean Cress that the issue could have an important effect on recruitment and success of faculty. Prof. Rome will consult with the other UW faculty representatives concerning policies at the other campuses.

c) In an e-mail to the Committee, Prof. James McKeever had expressed concern over the early deadline for providing the schedule for the Fall timetable.  Registrar Rhonda Kimmel stated that her office works backward from the published registration dates to determine when they need the schedule from the departments.  She noted that the recent deadlines had been later than usual, not earlier.  On a related matter, Prof. Kavenik urged upon Registrar Kimmel the necessity of maintaining the printed timetable as an essential aid in the advising process.  Registrar Kimmel allowed as she had no plans to eliminate the printed timetable at this time.

              d) The ballot for the University Committee election was approved.

5) UNFINISHED BUSINESS

              a) First Fridays will be held on March 2nd and April 27th.  The times will be from 3:30-5:00 PM.

              b) Difficulties with sending emails to the Governance list were discussed.  While recent changes have taken some workload from the Secretary of the Faculty’s office, and made possible new ways of emailing to lists, they have also made the usual things done with email more difficult.

              c) Continuing the discussion from last meeting about the need to do more for students who excel, it was decided to appoint an ad hoc faculty brainstorming committee to consider revisions to the Honors program.  Profs. Gray Wood, Peggy James, Mary Lenard, Anne Statham, Susan Funkenstein, Alex Mc Nair, Dr. Bryan Lewis, and Dean Tom Schnaubelt will be asked to serve.

              d) Merit for the Secretary of the Faculty was discussed and determined.  Prof. Rome will write the rationale.

              e) In order to achieve a staggering of terms for the First-Year Experience Committee, Prof. Evans will inquire of members as to when they wish their terms to end.  With regard to determining the terms of members, the structure and goals of the committee were discussed.

6) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

              a) Prof. Rome reported on a meeting he had had with Chancellor Keating and Eugene Fujimoto concerning faculty recruitment at which he had the opportunity to explain UWS and UWPF policies to them.  Chancellor Keating said he would form a committee of faculty, led by himself, and including Mr. Fujimoto, to look into recruiting policies.

              b) Draft evaluation forms for administrators should be available at the next Committee meeting.

7) Adjournment

              The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 P.M.