REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
April 6, 1992
MINUTES
On Monday, April 6, 1992 at 4:00 p.m., Senate President Taggart called
the regular meeting of the University Faculty Senate to order.
Senators not in attendance were: Steven Dentel, Larry Peterson, Victor
Spinski
Senators excused were: David Bellamy, Maurice Cope, Costel Denson, Alexander
Doberenz, James Hawk, Robert Knecht, James Magee,
Frank Murray, Debra Norris, Betty Paulanka, John
Pikulski, Leslie Reidel, Peter Roe, Judith Roof, David
P. Roselle, Stuart Sharkey, Jack Smith, Alfred Wedel
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The Senate adopted the Agenda as published.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Senator Robert Knecht was excused from the last meeting rather than
absent. As there were no other changes, the Minutes of the March 2, 1992
meeting were approved as published.
III. REMARKS BY ASSOCIATE PROVOST ANDERSEN
Associate Provost Andersen announced the results of the Middle States
Review. She indicated that the Middle States Committee's report was
positive and that it praised the University's strong leadership, high
campus morale, positive atmosphere for women, and the process for budget
reduction. The report, however, was critical of the University's
minority recruitment and retention and its evaluation of multicultural
offerings and urged further development of electronic technology in
library systems.
Associate Provost Andersen indicated that the President's response to
the Report includes an outline of the University's new initiatives for
minority recruitment and retention in several colleges and a greater
University fundraising enterprise.
Associate Provost Andersen also announced that the final report about
reaccreditation is due in July.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Taggart announced that nominations for honorary degrees are
due June 1 in the President's office. He also noted that because of
Senators' complaints about insufficient and/or inconsistent information
about programs, both the Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees
are working on standard forms to be used in the presentation of programs
to the Senate.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Item A. Susan Brynteson, Director of the Library, gave a report on the
status of the Library in which she discussed the library budget for next
year, the contributions of library staff, the increased demand for
services, budget-driven service cuts, the expenditure of General Support
funds, journal cuts, comparisons with other libraries, the causes of
journal price increases, new electronic resources, better interlibrary
loan, redistribution of the monograph budget to fund journal
subscriptions, and more electronic materials.
Item B. Proposal from the Committee on Committees and Nominations (D.
Smith, Chairperson) for a modification of the membership to the Faculty
Senate Committee on Rules. After a brief discussion, the Senate passed
the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Rules Committee has an important role in reviewing and
formulating changes to the Bylaws, and
WHEREAS, according to its charge, the Committee currently has only
three members, and
WHEREAS, the Committee could benefit from an enlarged membership,
which would bring with it an increased diversity of opinion,
be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the second paragraph of the charge to the Rules
Committee, as it appears in the Faculty Handbook, Section I,
page I-21, be changed to read as follows:
This committee shall consist of the Secretary of the Senate, who shall
be its chairperson, and four other members chosen by the Senate. Of
these four appointed members, no more than two may be from the same
College.
Item C. Proposal from the Committee on Committees and Nominations (D.
Smith, Chairperson) to alter the charge to the Committee on Graduate
Studies. After discussion about the stage--finally approved or
provisionally
approved--to which this would apply, the kinds of changes that qualify
as "minor," whether Senators can bring Graduate Studies Committee
matters to the floor if they feel it necessary, and the necessity to
notify the Senate of all changes made by the Graduate Studies Committee,
the Senate passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Committee on Graduate Studies deals with a number of
minor alterations to graduate programs, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the second paragraph of the charge to the Committee on
Graduate Studies, as it appears in the Faculty Handbook,
Section I, page 1-78, be changed to read as follows:
This committee shall review and consider matters relating to graduate
education and shall receive, and may stimulate and originate, proposals
for its development.
This committee shall formulate, for determination by the Faculty Senate,
the policies for admission to graduate study. It shall have the power to
act on the alteration, addition or deletion of individual graduate
courses recommended by college committees and to delegate this authority
to the individual colleges, Office of the University Registrar, or
Office of Graduate Studies, as it deems appropriate. It shall have the
power to act on minor modifications of approved graduate programs and
shall make recommendation to the Faculty Senate on courses of study
leading to graduate degrees and on matters of policy concerning graduate
study and may employ outside consultants toward this end. The committee
shall have the authority and responsibility for general policies
concerning the judicial system for graduate students. In the absence of
a duly constituted graduate student government, each academic year it
shall appoint the graduate student member of the Committee on Student
Life. (Detailed procedures for instituting or modifying graduate degree
programs are on file in the Senate Office and Office of Graduate
Studies.)
Item D. Proposal from the Committee on Committees and Nominations (D.
Smith, Chairperson) to establish hearing procedures for the Committee on
Faculty Welfare and Privileges. After one change in the proposed
Procedures' language, and questions about possible sanctions, what
changes the procedures institute, the effect of party absences in the
hearing process, the procedures' relation to student grievance
procedures, the Senate passed the following resolution: (The approved
Summary of Procedures is attached.)
WHEREAS, written procedures for the operation of the Committee
on Faculty Welfare and Privileges do not exist, and
WHEREAS, unambiguous written procedures are desirable both for
faculty members with academic complaints as well
as for the members of the Committee as they discharge
their function, and
WHEREAS, the Committee on Committees and Nominations was
instructed to examine the operation of the Committee
on Faculty Welfare and Privileges and to establish
written procedures, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the procedures prepared by the Committee on
Committees and Nominations, in consultation with the
Executive Committee and the Committee on Faculty
Welfare and Privileges, be approved as the operating
instructions for the conduct of the Committee on
Faculty Welfare and Privileges, and that these
procedures be maintained in the Faculty Senate Office
and made available to anyone upon request, and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the summary of these procedures prepared by the
Committee on Committees and Nominations be included in
the Faculty Handbook, Section 111, currently page 111-
0-A, under the heading "Academic Complaint Procedure,"
as a replacement for the paragraph which is currently
in that location in the Faculty Handbook.
Item E. Proposal from the Committee on Committees and Nominations (D.
Smith, Chairperson) to alter the charge to the Committee on Faculty
Welfare and Privileges. After discussion about the relation of the
Senate procedures to the Union procedures, the Senate passed the
following resolution:
WHEREAS, the procedures for the Committee orb Faculty Welfare
and Privileges have been clarified, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the charge to the Committee on Faculty Welfare
and Privileges, as it appears in the Faculty Handbook.
Section I, pages I-17 and I-18, be amended to read as
follows:
This committee is charged to develop and review general policies
in the areas of reappointment, dismissal, faculty evaluation and
appraisal, academic freedom and other areas of personnel policy
and conditions of faculty employment, and to prepare
recommendations concerning such policies for transmission to the
Trustees through the faculty or its Senate, and through the
President of the University, in accordance with Trustee Bylaws.
This committee is charged with jurisdiction over faculty
complaints which are not grievances as defined in the Collective
Bargaining Agreement. Procedures for mediation and hearing of
complaints are detailed in "Mediation and Hearing Procedures"
which was approved by the University Faculty Senate April 6, 1992
and is maintained in the office of the University Faculty Senate.
The committee's decisions on complaints are presented as advisory
opinions to the Provost.
This committee shall consist of seven faculty members, one of whom
shall be designated chair and one of whom shall be an assistant
professor.
Nothing in the charge to this committee shall be interpreted as
overriding the Collective Bargaining Agreement or the laws of the
State of Delaware governing collective bargaining.
Item F. Senator Herman presented the following resolution from the
Professional Staff Council of the College of Urban Affairs and Public
Policy:
WHEREAS, professional staff at the University of Delaware play
significant and important roles in accomplishing the
University's educational, research and public service
mission, and
WHEREAS, professional staff at the University of Delaware are
currently not represented as full voting members on
any University-wide policy making organization dealing
with issues directly related to the interests and
concerns of professionals, be it therefore
RESOLVED, that professional staff of the College of Urban
Affairs and Public Policy shall strongly advocate that
professional staff persons at the University of
Delaware be represented on the University Faculty
Senate as full voting members. The number of voting
professional staff members, as well as the method by
which such members should be chosen, should be
determined through discussions between representatives
of the professional staff and the University Faculty
Senate, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the professional staff of the College of Urban
Affairs and Public Policy believes that this matter
should be pursued as rapidly as possible, and be it
further
RESOLVED, that this resolution be conveyed to both the
University Faculty Senate and to the University's
Professional Advisory Council for their information
and consideration.
President Taggart adjourned the meeting at 5:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Roof
Senate Secretary
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Attachment: Summary of Procedures