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Minutes

Faculty Council Meeting

April 11, 2008

Faculty Council Members Present: Greg Bassham (Chair), Derrick Boucher (Chair-elect), Joan Coffin (A&P Chair-elect), Kristi Concannon (C&T Chair-elect), Sheileen Corbett (At-large Rep), Howard Fedrick (Div. B Rep.), Dan Ghezzi (A&P Chair), Michele McGowan (Division D Rep), Brian Pavlac (C&T Chair), Regan Lance Reitsma (Div. C Rep.), Jeremy Simington (Div. A Rep).

Guests: Nick Holodick, (VPAA), Fr. Tony Grasso (AVPAA), Margarita Rose, Marc Marchese, Erin Savitski

1. Minutes of the April 4, 2008 Faculty Council meeting were approved.

2. Medical Leave Policy: Tony Grasso and HR Director Erin Savitski explained the rationale of the new medical leave policy as it applies to faculty. The policy requires department chairs to report the need of a member of his or her department to take time for a serious condition that exceeds three or more teaching days to the Academic Affairs Office. The policy also requires a physician’s release for a faculty member to return to work following such an extended health-related absence. Fr. Grasso and Ms. Savitski explained that these procedures were necessary to fulfill contractual agreements between the College and its insurance vendors. It was noted that the policies apply only to absences for serious medical conditions, and that no employee confidentiality rights would be breached.

3. C & T Report (Brian Pavlac): Dr. Pavlac reported that C & T is wrapping up work on the new Core. C & T has approved and forwarded to Council a subcommittee report on FYE that recommends, among other things, that FYE be a graded course and that the summer reading assignment be dropped. One member expressed regret about the latter.

4. A & P Report (Dan Ghezzi): Dr. Ghezzi reported that A & P is making good progress on three major remaining items on its agenda: the ETS course evaluations, the academic integrity policy, and senior faculty review. A & P expects to complete work on each of these items before the end of the semester. Two other items of A & P’s agenda—revision of the Faculty Handbook and discipline-specific standards for tenure and promotion—will likely stretch into next year.

5. Social Activities Report (Sheileen Corbett): Prof. Corbett reported on plans for the annual Faculty Celebration (May 14, Betzler Fields, 11:00-4:00). Council thanked the Social Activities Committee for its fine work over the past two years.

6. New Business: Academic Integrity Policy: Council discussed a draft of A & P’s proposed academic policy. Many positives of the policy were noted, and some reservations were expressed. Some members suggested that the Preamble be shorter and more declarative. Concerns were also expressed about the definitions of low-, mid-, and high-level violations, the apparently expanded role of the College Judiciary System, the need for an Academic Integrity Officer, and the “legalization” of the academic integrity process as a whole. The following motion was made and seconded: “An Academic Integrity Officer should be appointed to supervise academic integrity policy.” The motion passed. Dan Ghezzi pledged to report Council’s discussion of these issues to A & P.

7. The meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m.

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