REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
October 7, 1991
MINUTES
On Monday, October 7, at 4:00 p.m. Senate President Taggart called to
order the regular meeting of the University Faculty Senate.
Senators not in attendance were: Susan Amert, Reed Geiger, James Hawk,
Lawrence Nees, Raymond Nichols, John
Pikulski
Senators excused were: Edith Anderson, Alexander Doberenz, Bernard Herman,
Frank Murray, Larry Peterson, Leslie Reidel, David P.
Roselle, Christopher Smith, Jack Smith, Janet Smith,
Carolyn Thoroughgood
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The Senate adopted the agenda as published.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The Senate approved the minutes of the September 16th meeting after
amending them to reflect the amendments of the April 22, May 6, and May
13, 1991 minutes, adding the fact that the Senate determined by a small
majority (19 to 17) that it was within the jurisdiction of the AAUP to
decide whether or not we move to a monthly rather than a semi-monthly
payment of salary. In a vote that was simply an opinion poll, the Senate
went on record as opposed (by a vote of 23 to 11, with 6 abstentions) to
changing the present (twice-a-month) manner of payment.
III. REMARKS BY PROVOST PIPES
Provost Pipes discussed five topics: the recommendations of the Health
Science Committee, the budget, the progress of the Program Reduction
Process, on-going campus construction and its sources of funding, and
statistics on tuition and enrollment. According to Provost Pipes, the
Health Science committee made four recommendations: that the College of
Nursing remain a college, but become more efficient; that the Medical
Technology Program be phased out; that Physical Therapy become a
department either in the College of Physical Education, Athletics, and
Recreation or in the College of Arts and Sciences; that the remaining
elements of the School of Life and Health Sciences become the Department
of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The first two
recommendations are being acted upon and the latter two are under
discussion with faculty.
Provost Pipes outlined the budget situation, noting that tuition is up
10%, the State appropriation is up 3%, gifts are up 27%, and sponsored
programs up 20%. These increases, he stated, are commensurate with
increases in expenditures. 1992-93 will see the continuation of budget
constraints as the State has instructed an appropriation request of 98%
of the 1991-92 budget, less 20% for increases in medical costs and 10%
increase in energies. While Provost Pipes expects gifts and sponsored
programs to continue to grow, he estimates that the University must now
save $9.1 million from 1991-92 levels.
As part of the effort to reduce spending, the University will engage in
fewer programs, Provost Pipes announced. Outlining the program reduction
process currently underway, Provost Pipes reported that four programs
are currently under scrutiny. Linguistics and Theatre are both
continuing within the terms of their budgetary reductions. Interior
Design and Medical Technology have been recommended to be phased out,
but those recommendations have not yet been considered by Senate
committees. He also stated that discussion of further program cuts
continues.
Provost Pipes also pointed to the many on-going construction projects on
campus and explained that the funding for these projects has come from
sources limited specifically to those projects. Finally, Provost Pipes
provide statistics on class size and tuition from 1987 to 1991,
revealing a pattern of continued growth on both the undergraduate and
graduate levels.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Senate President Taggart announced the beginning of the University
United Fund Campaign, urging faculty to contribute. He also reported
that the Committee on Committees and Nominations will be reviewing the
procedures of four Senate committees during the year: the Committee on
Faculty Welfare and Privileges, Rules Committees, Committee on Graduate
Studies, and the Committee on Student and Faculty Honors.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Item A was a resolution introduced by Senator Schweizer at the September
meeting that parents be informed that fraternities and sororities are
not supervised by University resident life staff members.
After some discussion and a question about the role of the Greek Life
Task Force currently being formed, the following resolution was defeated
by the Senate:
BE IT RESOLVED, that all of the parents of students who are
members of live-in social organizations be advised, in writing,
that the University does not have Residence Life staff members
residing in social organizations' housing units.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Item A on the Agenda was a set of resolutions offered by the Committee
on Promotions and Tenure (R. Settle, Chairperson), for the provision of
a parental leave policy to be added to the Faculty Handbook under Leave
of Absence, Section III.O., and a policy that enables parents or newly-
born or adopted children to extend the pre-tenure probationary period by
one year per child to a maximum of two years, to be included in the
Faculty Handbook at Section III. L. 4 under Tenure.
After discussion of the history of the proposed policies, the reasons
for omitting other analogous reasons for extending the pre-tenure
probationary period, the issue of equity, and questions of policy
administration, the following resolutions were approved by the Senate:
WHEREAS, many younger faculty find it difficult to meet teaching,
research, and service expectations as new parents, and
WHEREAS, a reasonable solution for some faculty is to allow a
temporary suspension of professional duties, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the Faculty Handbook, Section III. O., page III-0-2,
under Leave of Absence, be revised to include the following
statement: (A copy of the current policy is attached for
your information.)
A faculty member who becomes the parent of a newborn or
newly-adopted child and who wishes time off for child care
purposes, may choose to take a parental leave of absence.
Parental leave may be granted for up to one year for each
child, with a maximum of two years per faculty member.
Parental leave is without pay. Time spent on parental leave
shall not be counted in determining eligibility for
sabbatical leave. This policy is intended to establish a
faculty member's entitlement to a minimum standard, not to
replace other informal or flexible arrangements that may be
worked out between a faculty member and his or her
Department chair. Request for parental leave, when
possible, should be made one semester in advance by written
request to the department chair or program director, Dean of
the College and the Office of the Provost.
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Faculty Handbook, Section III. L. 4, page III-L-1,
under Tenure, be revised to include the following statement:
(A copy of the current policy is attached for your
information.)
An untenured faculty member who becomes the parent of a
newborn or newly-adopted child may choose to take a one-year
extension of the pre-tenure probationary period for each
child, up to a maximum of two years. The extension shall be
granted upon written request to the department chair or
program director, with notification to the Dean of the
College and the Office of the Provost. Faculty who choose
this option must indicate in writing that they have done so
in their dossier.
The Senate adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Roof
Secretary
University Faculty Senate