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October 22, 2004
Present: Barbara Sauls (Chair), David Baggett, Vanessa Bates (Student Government Representative), Charles Brooks, Derrick Boucher, James Dolhan, Howard Fedrick, Brian Pavlac, Margarita Rose, and Laurie Sterling,
The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. in the Lipo Room, Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center.
I. Dr. Pavlac reported the Academic and Professional Affairs Committee is still exploring modifications to the current governance structure. Based on the Voting Group Discussion Reports, A & P will submit a document to Faculty Council that reflects desired changes and ask Council to discuss this document with the Administration. Faculty Council would then submit a final document to the full faculty for review and approval.
II. Dr. Boucher reported the Curriculum and Teaching Committee will meet before the Faculty Meeting on October 29 to review results of the survey on the CORE curriculum.
III. Dr. Sauls reported on her meeting with the Board of Directors on October 1.
A. The Board approved the policy for stopping the tenure clock that was approved by Faculty Council on March 19, 2004.
B. The Board rejected the proposal to give the Tenure and Promotion Committee access to personnel files, on the grounds that doing so would subject all committee members to liability in the event of litigation by a tenure candidate. It remains the responsibility of the administration to bring relevant personnel issues of concern to the committee before it deliberates.
C. On the issue of extending rolling contracts for faculty in Professional Specialist positions or on Academic Appointments, the Board decided to hold this decision until the review of tenure quotas and alternate faculty positions is completed by FC and the BOD. The reasoning is that if tenure and consequently Academic Appointment is altered in any way this might eliminate the inclusion of AA in the extended rolling contract time periods. Therefore the issue for Prof. Spec. will also be held since the two are tied in the current proposal.
D. The board did approve the policy Faculty Council approved last year to elect two senior Professional Specialists to the Tenure and Promotion Committee when at least one Professional Specialist is applying for Promotion.
E. In response to the request from council for an explanation of the reasoning behind the current system of tenure quotas, the Academic and Professional Affairs Committee of the Board asked Faculty Council to submit a report on “best practices” that compares King’s to its peers. This report should indicate which comparable institutions have tenure quotas and what those quotas are, if they exist.
F. In response to the suggestion that the faculty have a representative on the Board, the Board asked for a written report explaining the rationale for the request, demonstrating what purpose will be served and how the College will benefit from this. Final approval for the composition of the Board rests with the Corporation, comprised of members of the local Holy Cross Community.
IV. To clarify issues surrounding the policy for application of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to faculty members, Faculty Council will invite the Chair of the Faculty Benefits Committee to a future meeting.
V. Council again addressed the question of including “collegiality” among the criteria for review of junior faculty. Dr. Pavlac will draft some modified language for the handbook to address concerns about annual reviews and performance-based evaluation of this criterion.
VI. The Board and Administration responded favorably to the suggestion for a faculty lounge to facilitate more interaction among the members of the faculty. In response to the Administration’s request for a specific proposal for what type and where this lounge should be, Council will administer a survey to the faculty at the October 29 meeting, with electronic follow-up for those not in attendance. Dr. Pavlac will remind the faculty that the CELT lounge is currently available for all faculty members to use.
VII. Dr. Rose asked for clarification of the privacy implications of faculty requests for a written note from a care provider when a student misses class for a medical reason. Dr. Sauls will investigate and report to Council.
VIII. Dr. Sauls announced the dates of the Faculty Meetings for the Spring, 2005 Semester: Feb. 18 and April 8, both in the Snyder Room, Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center.
Council adjourned at 3:20 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Margarita Rose
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