1) CALL TO ORDER

              The meeting was called to order by Dennis Rome, Chair, at 11:10 A.M.  Also attending were members Fran Kavenik, Mary Lenard, Greg Mayer, and Anne Statham.  Chris Evans was excused.  Guests were Doug de Vinny, Penny James, Stu Hansen, Faye Akindes, and James Kinchen.  Evelyn Zepp was also present as Secretary of the Faculty.

2) MINUTES

              The minutes of the meeting of April 20, 2007 were approved as distributed.

3) ANNOUNCEMENTS

              There were no announcements.

4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS

              a) Follow-up to Senate meeting with Ann Marie Durso.

                            Ms. Durso was unable to attend.

                           
Members expressed concerns over decisions she makes which concern the whole campus, but for which there is no prior consultation.  The members suggested that the Information Resources Committee should work with Ms. Durso on this.  It was further suggested that the Chair of that committee be invited to the next meeting along with Ms. Durso. Prof. Rome noted that he had spoken with Dean of Students McLaughlin about students not participating in governance; however, PSGA might wish to be involved in this concern.

              b) Next “’First’ Friday” is today in the Galbraith Room.  Nothing else needs to be prepared.

              c) Group to “brainstorm” on Honors Program Prof. Lenard said she had contacted the group and had heard from four of the six people.  Prof. James noted that the Interim Provost had called together a group on this topic.  The two groups should meet together.  Future directions should be comprehensive, including department honors, with different areas of access.

              d) Student code of conduct Prof. Rome reported that System is asking for input on Chapters 17 and 18.  The Wednesday meeting of the Provost’s cabinet on what things we can do at Parkside did not reach any conclusions. Prof. Kavenik noted that teachers in the classroom need a sense of what they can or should do with disruptive students.  Incidents are becoming more egregious and no one else knows about them.  People don’t understand what the parameters are.  Prof. Rome stated that there needs to be a policy the whole university adopts. Prof. Statham noted that people need to know to whom they can talk when they feel threatened. Prof. Kavenik added that female teachers receive differential treatment. Prof. Mayer noted that the communication systems in the various parts of campus are not linked to each other.  An announcement would have to be repeated in each of the multiple locations.

              e) Family Leave Issues Prof. Rome stated that the Faculty Representatives meeting is one week from today.  He should have a lot more information.

              f) Conflicts between UWP Administrative Policies and UWPF and UWS The Affirmative Action Council meeting has been rescheduled for May 7th.

               g) Committee Appointments All nominees have accepted their appointments with one exception. The members approved sending the names of Norm Cloutier and Doug DeVinny to the Chancellor as nominees for Faculty Athletic Representative.

               h) Director of General Education/Co-Director of First-Year Experience Prof. Kavenik reported that she and Prof. Evans had talked to Prof. Allen, who is willing to be the transition person.  The job description will be visited in the Fall.  Prof. DeVinny reported that the Interim Provost is open to creating something more based in administration, with two classes and a substantial salary.  He has spoken with Prof. Allen, but nothing has been settled. Prof. Rome suggested that Prof. Allen and the Interim Provost should continue their conversation and then get back to the U.C.

                i) Administrator Evaluations The U.C. supported the recommendation that Tara Schmidt’s position be returned to half time, since she provides support for General Education and First Year and other areas.  We can ask for some summer money.

             

5) NEW BUSINESS

              a)  “Hiring Committee”

                            This is a task force established by and chaired by the Chancellor, in

response to concerns of inconsistencies brought forth by several faculty members who were engaged in faculty searches.  It is looking at seven issues/concerns:

              --ranked vs. unranked lists of candidates

              --deviation from the standard questions asked of candidates

              --the timing of reference checks

              --composition of the Search Committee

              --the influence the Equity and Diversity officer can have in putting a person into the final pool

--supporting documents, i.e. Teaching Evaluations (departments have been told different things)
--weight given to the credentials of a program/university

The group will meet again on May 14th.

Discussion included people being asked to change position descriptions, the role (if any) of Equity and Diversity in evaluating the qualifications of candidates, the change in the order of administrative review (Equity and Diversity is now before the Dean, instead of after).

Prof. Kinchen, guest, asked whether people not part of the U.C. or this task force would be able to introduce their concerns. Prof. Rome responded that the task force will make recommendations, which will come back to the U.C. and possibly the Senate.  Anyone can send a memo or e-mail to task force members.             

Prof. Akindes, guest, noted that Plan 2008 has as one of its goals to diversify the faculty and staff.  The Provost’s office and the office of Equity and Diversity are accountable for supporting Goal 5--the Equity and Diversity officer is doing his job.  She asked how important is Plan 2008 to faculty and the U.C., who should support its strategies and goals.  Prof. Rome noted that the task force is not resisting diversity, but rather looking at questions of fairness—there have been blatant inconsistencies in policy as presented to faculty.  The task force is charged with seeing that there are clear and consistent policies across the board.  Prof. DeVinny agreed that consistency is essential. 

Prof. Akindes noted a search committee with four white people and stated that the pool would have mirrored the people on the committee without the intervention of the administration.  Prof. Rome added that in a final pool which consisted of two persons of color and two others, the Equity and Diversity officer wanted to add more persons to the pool.

Prof. Kinchen stated that there is not a consistent and uniform view of what the concerns are.  Prof. Rome restated that the Chancellor formed the task force as a result of complaints he had received.  Anyone can forward his or her concerns.  Prof. Kinchen added that we must be divergent in how we look at what we consider as “qualified” in searches.

              b) Election of U.C. Chair and Vice-Chair for 2007-8 (voting by incoming

members James and Hansen)

              Prof. Evans had nominated Prof. Rome as Chair by e-mail.  The nomination was

seconded.  The vote was 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

              Prof. Rome nominated Prof. Kavenik as Vice-Chair.  The nomination was

seconded.  The vote was 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

              c) Spring People of Color Retreat

                            Members had questions about the nature of the “council” mentioned in the invitation to the retreat.

Prof. Kinchen noted that this is an informal organization, which has no

connection to university governance.  He also felt that questions about the organization should be address to Mr. Fujimoto.

Prof. Akindes added that the purpose is to bring together faculty and staff of color, who are isolated in their offices.  The goal is to create a community, to help support Goal 5 of Plan 2008. Prof. Rome stated that his opposition comes from the fact that such groups divide people rather than bring them together and that we further engage in racializing our campus when we plug people into artificially created racial categories.

6) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

              a) Prof. Mayer noted that nominations for the Stella Gray teaching award, with names of students who nominated people, had been posted on the web site.  Jim Robinson had       informed the U.C. before its meeting that this was an error and that the posting had been taken down.  Prof. Mayer also noted that he is uncomfortable with the process of nominees soliciting letters from students.  It would be preferable to announce the nominees and then anyone wanting to write could.

              Prof. Kavenik noted the delay in the awards process.  The Secretary of the

Faculty stated that announcements to the appropriate bodies had gone out in February,

and that there had been reminders afterwards.

              b) The next meeting was set for Friday, May 11th, at 12:00 Noon.

7) ADJOURNMENT

              The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 P.M.

Submitted by Evelyn Zepp, Secretary of the Faculty