MINUTES OF THE FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
February 23, 2007
Present: Gregory Bassham (Faculty Chair-Elect), Charles Brooks (Division B Rep.), Joan Coffin (Division A Rep.), Sheileen Corbett (at large), Howard Fedrick (Faculty Council Chair), Dan Ghezzi (A&P Chair-elect), Claire Gilmore (Division D Rep.), Jayne Klenner-Moore (A&P Chair), Fr. Tom Looney (AVPAA), Jennifer McClinton-Temple (C&T Chair), Brian Pavlac (C&T Chair-Elect), Regan Lance Reitsma (Division C Rep.), Christopher Sutzko (Director, Career Planning and Placement).
The meeting was called to order at 2:05 pm in the Lipo Room.
Presentation: Christopher Sutzko, Director, Career Planning and Placement
Chris discussed his plans, as the new Director, to expand the Career Development across the Curriculum Program to cover all programs at King’s. He also hopes to attract larger companies to recruit at King’s for a wide variety of fields. Chris noted that Career Services plans to move toward greater student responsibility for employment files. Brian Pavlac inquired whether there might be a place in career planning for personal finance. Chris responded that a session is planned for March 27 and that it might be possible to develop a one-credit course. Suggestions from Council members for developing student contacts included: a blog, links to departments, cooperation with clubs.
Report of the Chair
Howard announced that there were two nominations for Faculty Council chair-elect. Divisional meetings should be held for election purposes by March 31, 2007.
Report of the A&P Committee
Jayne Klenner-Moore circulated A&P’s agreed procedure for conversion of professional specialist to faculty tenure-track positions. Howard noted that in 2000 the Board of Directors approved the policy of applications for tenure-track positions but that no procedure had been specified. Father Looney informed the Council that he had consulted with professional specialist faculty. A sizeable proportion had indicated a lack of interest in applying for tenure-track positions, but some faculty were interested. The professional specialist faculty need to provide input on what is considered a terminal degree, and other specific standards would need to be established for the process. Howard suggested that discussion be postponed until the next Council meeting; in the interim questions and comments could be addressed to Jayne.
Jayne stated that the academic integrity policy was being worked on and that the A&P committee should complete the policy at its next meeting. A working draft was expected be ready for the next Faculty Council meeting.
Concerning the development of requirements to be included in the Faculty Handbook for the teaching/scholarly activity/ service functions of faculty, Dan Ghezzi reported that 16 of 22 departments had sent in comments which were currently being compiled. A draft is expected for consideration by A&P at its March 23 meeting with regard to the criteria but not for the weights within the triad. Responding to a question by Father Looney, Dan noted that A&P would provide a broad-stroke balance of the three activities and that individual departments would then be able to provide a specific balance within the three.
With respect to the travel policy, Howard pointed out that the policy had been adopted by Faculty Council.
Report of the C&T Committee
Jennifer McClinton-Temple reported that she and Brian had met with Student Government and answered several questions about the proposed core. Jennifer will discuss the possible need for a second meeting with the Student Government leadership.
Jennifer noted that C&T will recommend to Academic Affairs and to the administration that courses in the two interdisciplinary areas be fairly apportioned out. She stated that macroeconomics will not be in the core but that A&P had voted unanimously that it would fulfill the requirement in American studies. Exemptions are granted on a course-by-course basis. The Business Ethics course would be on the agenda for C&T’s February 27 meeting.
Howard pointed out that the proposed core curriculum will be the first item on the agenda for the next meeting of Faculty Council.
Special Announcements
The deadline for faculty scholarship applications had been extended to February 28, 2007.
On March 1 the McGowan School will host the “roving social” at 3:30 pm.
Old Business
Howard noted that the minutes have been approved.
New Business
Father Looney reported that IPARC had voted to recommend that independent study payments should be made at the end of the semester in which the activity occurs. There will be an automatic dispersion covering future independent study courses, as of this semester. As far as past independent study remuneration is concerned, Father Looney noted that payments frequently had not been requested by faculty. This matter needs to be resolved.
The meeting adjourned at 3:27 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Claire G. Gilmore