FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

April 26, 2007

Present: Bolter, Boniecki, Bradley, Christman, Esteban, Frederickson, Horton, Johnson, Lichtenstein, McCullough, Mehta, Mosley, Parrack, Powers, Satterfield, Seifert, Wiedmaier, Wilmes, Young,

President Bolter called the meeting to order at 12:45.

Approval of Minutes

On a motion of Frederickson and second by Horton the minutes were approved with a spelling correction.

President’s Report

President Bolter recognized those senators ending three-year terms of service and thanked them for efforts on behalf of faculty: Joe Horton from the College of Business Administration; Mary Mosley from the College of Education; Barbara Satterfield from the College of Fine Arts and Communication; Bill Bandy from the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; Gary Thiher from the College of Liberal Arts; Charles Seifert from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; George Bratton (and of course Francie Bolter) representing At-Large.

President Bolter reported election results for three-year terms 2007-2010 beginning May 1, 2007: College of Business Administration: Jim Bell

College of Education: Terri Hebert

College of Fine Arts & Communication: Jennifer Rospert

College of Health & Behavioral Sciences: Sherrye Craig

College of Liberal Arts: Wendy Castro

College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics: Charles Seifert

At-Large: David Fitzhugh (KPED) and Lisa Ray (Health Sciences)

President Bolter noted that turnout was good for at-large elections but not for college elections. The Faculty Senate may want to revisit some procedures regarding online voting and it will respond to concerns expressed.

Updates

President Bolter gave an update on concurrent enrollment (CE). She reported a discussion that she and Vice President Powers had with the Provost about getting academics more firmly in the loop regarding personnel to be involved and control issues. In speaking to the senate on the issue, Provost Esteban emphasized that the values of concurrent enrollment to the University must always be framed in the context of academic integrity. He expressed his belief that consistent adherence to firm principles emphasizing academic integrity will redound to the University’s benefit. He stated that concurrent enrollment can serve as a bridge between high school and college but that it should not be used merely as a device to increase enrollment. A good job of administering standards should strengthen UCA’s standing. Students and parents will in the long run turn to programs that are known for their quality. He added that while some UCA academic departments have to this point had good internal review and discussion about concurrent enrollment and their response to it, some have not.

There will be an ad hoc committee appointed to monitor and advise on concurrent enrollment issues. The framework within which the committee will function will be similar to previous ad hoc committees dealing with academic issues that the Provost has appointed, including the distance education ad hoc committee and the salary review ad hoc committee. Both of these earlier committees were very successful in addressing the issues for which they were appointed.

Vice President Powers has developed a policy to be proposed regarding the issue of capturing data regarding students enrolled in CE courses.

Information Items.

President Bolter reported that the Academic Planning and Assessment Committee (APAC) has issued a report concerning the use of student evaluations in promotion and tenure applications. Faculty senators may wish to use this report for information to college meetings in the next academic year. It is an attachment to this meeting’s agenda.

The Admissions Committee officially recommended to the President that UCA admissions criteria for CE students be an ACT composite of 21, with a minimum of 19 in each subject area enrolled. Superscoring was acceptable. The ADHE recommendation is a composite of 19, plus a 19 in reading, plus a 19 in any subject area enrolled, that is, English or math. President Hardin has officially accepted the ADHE recommendations, with the caveat that as data become available on performance, UCA will revisit. Provost Esteban added that UCA is also requiring a 3.0 GPA. Students must present ACT scores in order to enroll in CE courses. Senator Christman added that other parts of the Admissions Committee recommendations not in ADHE standards include the following: a maximum of six hours credit per semester; only officially enrolled CE students can be in the class; must be a junior or senior in high school; to continue taking CE, students must have a 2.0 GPA; and students must comply with certain deadlines to be accepted–for example, in some high schools students in fall term CE courses were being accepted as late as November.

Provost Esteban has made a recommendation to the President that the recently-approved departmental personnel committee be titled the Departmental Personnel Advisory Committee. Provost Esteban explained that all academic actions are ultimately advisory to the Board of Trustees, and the titling of the committee was done to emphasize the fact that, as with all other academic recommendations, the function is advisory.

Correspondence

1. Report from the Salary Review Committee (attached to agenda) regarding administrative equivalency and conversion. Senator Parrack is chair of this committee. Motion to adopt the report by Wilmes seconded by Seifert. Passed.

2. Report from the Faculty Handbook Committee to revise language shaping the decision to promote candidates to associate professor rank: specifically, to include the phrase “achievement and promise of continued accomplishment” in the language. Motion to adopt the report by Frederickson seconded by Mosley. Passed.

3. Referral of correspondence supporting the creation of a Lecturer III position, to Faculty Handbook Committee. This item will be considered in 2007-2008.

4. Correspondence from Tricia Smith, president of the Staff Senate, thanking the Faculty Senate for support on “no smoking” signage. The Physical Plant has agreed to take on the task for signage maintenance.

Committee Reports

Executive Committee April 10–President Bolter

Most of the discussion with President Hardin concerned concurrent enrollment. For college presidents the game has become about numbers and potential partners. Academic integrity and control of the curriculum is the concern of faculty and the Academic Division of colleges and universities. This meeting led to the follow-up meeting with the Provost about creating an oversight committee.

Committee on Committees–Vice President Powers

Powers requested a suspension of the rules in order to make an appointment to the Public Art Committee not listed on the agenda. Motion to suspend by Boniecki seconded by Bradley. Passed. Then motion by Powers with second by Bradley to approved Shauna Meador to the CFAC position on the Public Art Committee passed.

Vice President Powers noted that the faculty have responded well to the committee interest lists for the next year, and 150 returns have already arrived. Faculty are encouraged to send them in, even into the fall term, if they have not already done so.

Faculty Affairs I–Louis Young

FA I presented a resolution supporting university academic division oversight of continuing education courses, resolution being attached to agenda. Discussion centered on whether such a resolution was needed in view of the new ad hoc committee charged with that responsibility. It was generally agreed that an expression of Faculty Senate interest and support was well placed, and that the committee would welcome documentation of support for its task. Motion by Bradley to adopt resolution seconded by Mosley. Friendly amendment by Christman (accepted) to make sure that the senate was not merely approving the bare bones ADHE position, and that language (underlined) be added that “ ... at a minimum pre-existing regulations adopted by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board are followed with appropriate faculty oversight,” and that additional stipulations may be made by departments offering concurrent enrollment courses. Motion passed.

Second item from FA I regarding the current wording of the Student Handbook, a recommendation concerning students acting disorderly or being disruptive within classroom, Motion by Young seconded by Mosley. Passed.

Faculty Affairs II–no report

Academic Affairs–Kurt Boniecki

The committee brought a recommendation on a new Academic Misconduct Policy (attached to agenda). The changes are extensive and respond to concerns raised by faculty in the past year. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies and that office would become the principal administrator in implementing this policy. In clarification of the meaning of “suspension” (second offense) and “expulsion” (third offense), it was clarified that suspension can be for a designated time certain, while an expulsion is permanent. In further clarification, while graduate students are subject to academic stipulations of their particular program, all graduate students are bound by the academic standards that apply to undergraduate students, including this policy. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies will have a year to implement the new policy through the appropriate administrative forms and procedures, since this policy if approved will not make it to the board of trustees in time for inclusion in the 2007-2008 Student Handbook. Any reference to the “Dean of Undergraduate Studies” in the policy of course contemplates the office and not the person of the dean; appropriate delegation within that office can be made. With Christman/Parrack motion to call for the question, the Frederickson/Wilmes motion and second for adoption of recommendation passed.

Announcements and Concerns

President Bolter expressed appreciation for the work of Faculty Senate committees and their chairs (applause):

Committee on Committees–Ed Powers

Faculty Affairs I–Louis Young

Faculty Affairs II–Lisa Christman

Academic Affairs–Kurt Boniecki

Bradley expressed concern that the same 25-year parking privilege extended to staff be likewise be extended to faculty. The matter will be placed in committee for 2007-2008.

Mehta stated that the Library Committee would like to point out the important role that Torreyson Library plays in academics and research, and how its capabilities are important for recruitment of new faculty. The Library Committee is very aware of how our library has fallen behind with its budget for holdings and online subscriptions, and it wants to make a strong statement of support for Torreyson Library to the Faculty Senate and to the campus in general.

Vice President Powers stood to present a plaque of appreciation to President Bolter for her dedicated service and hard work during the 2006-2007 academic year as president of the Faculty Senate. Applause. President Bolter in turn thanked Provost Esteban for response to Faculty Senate interests and concerns.

Provost Esteban reported salary surveys that indicate for the first time UCA will pull ahead of ASU in all but the assistant professor category. Both ASU and the U of A system may do only three percent of so in salaries for the next academic year, so further progress is expected. Provost Esteban also announced that he has approved a monetary award of $500 apiece to go to each faculty finalist in the Service Awards ceremony (Teaching, Research and Service). Finally, in recognition of the 25^th anniversary of the Faculty Senate, Provost Esteban presented a gavel with holder to be used by presiding officers at future meetings of the Faculty Senate.

Upon motion by Mosley to adjourn, the meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.