Minutes of the Meeting of the Faculty
for October 22, 2009
PSF 8/09-10

 

The UW-Parkside Faculty met on Thursday, October 22, 2009 in Molinaro Hall room D132.

 

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Chancellor Ford.  Faculty members attending were Rob Barber, Joe Bergeron, Alice Chang, Siegfried Christoph, Patti Cleary, Norm Cloutier, Alvaro Garcia, Laura Gellott, Kate Gillogly, Stu Hansen, David Higgs, Peggy James, Farida Khan, Dennis Kaufman, Jenny Keefe, Shi Hae Kim, Traci Lee, George Li, Alex McNair, Marcelo Milan, William Miller, Sandy Moats, Anita Mysore, Daphne Pham, Ubaldo Quevedo, David Rogers, Carmel Ruffolo, Bob Sasso, Ed Schmitt, Gerhard Schutte, Suzanne Swiderski, Scott Thomson, Adrienne Viramontes, Rich Walasek, John Ward, and Gary Wood.  Others attending the meeting included Regent Mike Falbo, Chancellor Debbie Ford, Interim Provost Jerry Greenfield, Interim Associate Provost Dennis Rome, Vice Chancellor Lenny Klaver, Dean Fred Ebeid, Assistant Union Director Rick Haskey, Assistant registrar Gwen Jones, Teaching and Learning Center Director Jim Robinson, PSG President Ted Ruffalo and students Matty Bieser and Adam Spivey.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of April 2, 2009 were approved by a voice vote.

Old Business

There is no old or unfinished business.

 

New Business

A motion was on the floor to move to a committee of the whole to discuss matters of general interest according to UWPF 1.04(3).  The motion passed on a voice vote.  University Committee Chair Peggy James chaired the meeting from this point on.

Address from Regent Falbo

The Chancellor introduced University of Wisconsin System Regent and special guest Mike Falbo who spoke about his own experience at UW-Parkside, the opportunities it provided for him and his hopes or the future of the institution.  He said that he looks forward to working with the new campus leadership and answered a few questions from faculty members.

Announcements and Updates from Chancellor Ford

Chancellor Ford gave an update on the strategic planning process.  She said she hoped that the groups working on finalizing the six strategic directions will have completed most of their work by the end of the calendar year so that wider campus dialogues can begin.

The Chancellor spoke about the furlough, acknowledged that it is illogical and does affect what faculty do in their classrooms, and said she appreciates how hard faculty work.

She then asked that faculty focus on the future of the institution, meet challenges and embrace the goals of the UW system growth agenda.  She encouraged continued work on interdisciplinary programs, high impact student activities, and realizing student outcomes in general education.

The Chancellor reported that the Vice Chancellors have been asked to study the administrative structure of the university and recommend changes if necessary.

Finally, the Chancellor asked that faculty send her copies of their books and publications so she can show them to community members and others who visit her office.

Update on the Provost search

Laura Gellott, Chair of the Provost Search and Screen Committee, reported that 91 applications have been received.  The committee will meet tomorrow to select 8-10 candidates for telephone interviews.  There will be no “airport” interviews.  They plan to then select 3-4 finalists for campus visits.

College of Arts and Sciences Reorganization

Possible reorganization of the College of Arts and Sciences was discussed.  Some questioned the need for any reorganization at all.  It was noted that discussion of this issue began mainly as a result of the fact that so much of Dean Cress’s time was spent attending to matters in the Teacher Education Department.  Some did not see that as enough reason to engage in wholesale reorganization of the college.

The idea of paying the salaries of additional administrators from a shrinking budget was questioned, as were the timing of this process with respect to a search for a new dean and reaccreditation.

Mention of Teacher Education led to a discussion of creating a new school to house that program, and perhaps some others.

It was also pointed out that there is nothing special about the current structure.  It did not result from any careful planning process.  It was conceived for purely budgetary reasons.  Prior to the current structure, there were four schools and four deans.  Reorganizing to two schools saved the salaries of two deans and of some support staff.

The even older eight divisions model was discussed briefly.

Some guiding principles emerged from the discussion.  If reorganization is to occur, then it should be done in a way that enables us to accomplish things that the current structure makes difficult or inefficient.  Interdisciplinary programs were used as an example.  Many faculty participate in one or more interdisciplinary programs, and the current structure makes it difficult to accurately credit teaching loads and student contact hours.  A new structure should focus on our current strengths, our vision for the future, and better enable us to pursue new initiatives.

Peggy James ended the discussion by asking that faculty continue to send ideas and comments to the University Committee.

Campus Technology Services Reorganization

Laura Gellott asked if the University Committee has received a response from the CTS administration to questions about reorganization in that area.  She questioned turning over requests for technical assistance with office computers to students, and cited a specific problem this caused in her area.  Peggy James reported that the University Committee has not received a response.

Budget

 

Dennis Rome reported that the Chancellors cabinet has been discussing how to bring budget information to faculty and make it understandable.

 

Adjournment

The Committee of the Whole session was ended with no report.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Submitted by,

Gary M. Wood,

Secretary of the Faculty