Minutes of the University Committee
for April 20, 2007
1) CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Dennis Rome, Chair, at 11:05 A.M. Also attending were members Chris Evans, Fran Kavenik, Mary Lenard, Greg Mayer, and Anne Statham. Guest was the Interim Provost Gerald Greenfield. Evelyn Zepp was also present as Secretary of the Faculty.
2) MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of April 13, 2007 were approved unanimously as distributed.
3) ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prof. Rome announced that HR had met with an ad-hoc group after they met with the U.C. That group was also not in favor of the Criminal Background checks. He was, however, concerned that the role and importance of the U.C. not be ignored.
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Next "First Friday"—April 27, 2007—will be announced today. The Galbraith room is reserved, with Union 207 as back-up.
b) Faculty Meeting--Action plan? Follow-up meeting?
Prof. Kavenik mentioned that she would like to see more of our scarce resources go to the “second quintile” of entering students than to the lowest “at-risk” currently being targeted. She suggested that this category of students struggles to succeed, yet has needs, and would perhaps be more likely to succeed if given the opportunity via targeted interventions. Prof. Mayer agreed with Prof. Kavenik. It was suggested that the Committee on Teaching and Learning be asked to follow-up on the issues raised at the Faculty Meeting, particularly since Prof. Statham, who has volunteered to spearhead any action plan, is on that committee.
It was suggested that suggestions from General Education (which will not meet over the summer) and from CoTL and the First-Year Committees (which will be meeting) should be requested, with a report to the U.C. in the Fall. These would be specific recommendations, with funds requested, which the U.C. will then present to the administration.
c) Group to "brainstorm" on Honors Program—news? Prof. Lenard and Prof. Statham will try to get the group together to meet.
Prof. Kavenik mentioned that she had been approached by PASA to support a campus chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, an adult student honor society. She will be its campus sponsor, and both Dean Cress and Dean Ebeid are willing to provide half of the $250 fee for annual dues.
d) Steve McLaughlin committee on student code of conduct—news?
No news has been received. The Secretary of the Faculty will e-mail Mr. McLaughlin.
e) Tenured part-time faculty and family leave issues
Prof. Rome will try to gather information on the policies at other campuses at the Faculty Representatives meeting May 5th.
f) Conflicts between UWP Administrative Policy # 54 (and # 36 and # 51) and UWPF
Chapter 7 and/or UWS.
Prof. Evans will attend the Affirmative Action Council meeting Monday.
g) Domestic Partners (see forwarded e-mail)
The e-mail urges individuals to send messages of support to our local representatives. It was noted, however, that this should not be done on campus letterhead, etc.
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Appointments to Committees
Suggestions were made for appointments to appointive committees. The Secretary of the Faculty will contact these colleagues.
b) Meeting with the Acting Provost--search for Director of Gen. Ed .and Co-Director of First-Year Experience: full-time position?
Interim Provost Gerald Greenfield joined the meeting at 12:10 P.M.
Prof. Kavenik presented the viewpoint of the General Education Committee and Prof. Evans presented the viewpoint of the First-Year Experience Committee.
Interim Provost Greenfield outlined the money issues involved. There could be funds for a full-time position drawn from the $1.2 million growth agenda funds, but these will not come until the second year of the biennium. Some of this money might be available for Spring 08 but not for Fall 07.
It would still be important for the person in this position to teach. The needs of his/her department would have to be met.
There was general agreement on the excellence of the job done by Prof. Lori Allen. It would be desirable to retain her in this position if that can be made to work out.
Interim Provost Greenfield left the meeting.
6) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
a) The “Hiring Committee” meets Monday. Prof. Kavenik noted that job searches for Academic or Classified staff have a very significant impact on the institution. Guidelines drawn up for faculty searches should be shared with these groups.
b) As a follow-up to the Senate meeting, members wished to invite Ms. Ann Marie Durso to the next meeting to address two issues in particular: the access to the faculty of the Secretary of the Faculty, and the overall status of the governance list.
7) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 P.M.
Submitted by Evelyn Zepp, Secretary of the Faculty
