Minutes of Faculty Meeting: Friday, October 28, 2005

Report from the Faculty Council Chairman:

            Dr. Fred Sauls reported that the Board of Directors approved a 70% tenure quota based on the faculty as a whole.  The BOD also directed Fr. O’Hara to study the continuing need for the Academic Appointment.  Father O’Hara expects to continue the Academic Appointment safety net for those faculty who were already in the tenure-track system prior to the BOD’s decision.  Additionally, it is Dr. Sauls’ judgment that Academic Appointment will continue to exist for incoming faculty, although it will likely be infrequently utilized.

            The BOD did not approve an extended contract for Professional Specialists.  Faculty Council plans to resubmit the proposal with changes in the suggested length of the extended contract and a clarification of the role the Professional Specialist faculty fill at King’s.

            The Gold Room is being underused.

            The manner for handling Tenure and Promotion Committee elections is under study given that the new constitution was not approved.  The College has a contractual responsibility to follow the text in the Faculty Handbook in the areas of tenure and promotion.

Committee Reports

            Faculty Benefits Committee (Dr. Barry Williams)

            The Committee will ask the Administration to clarify the salary steps so that individuals know where they currently stand.

            A Medical Savings Account program has been discussed.  This differs from the current Medical Spending Account plan in that 1) it is portable with the employee, 2) it requires a deductible, and 3) a certain percentage of the employee’s income must be set aside each year.  However, at this time the College’s insurance carrier, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, does not offer a policy compatible with Medical Savings Accounts.

            It was requested that the language on Medical Spending accounts found in the Employee Handbook be added to the Faculty Handbook.

            Tuition exchange has been put on hold for at least a five-year period.  Tuition exchange is permitted provided that the disparity between the numbers of semesters taken by students leaving King’s to study at other tuition exchange schools and the number of semesters taken by students coming into King’s from those other institutions remains below 60%.  These ratios are calculated in five-year terms, the current term running from 2001 to 2005.  The current ratio is 42:68, exceeding the 60% allowed.   While students currently enrolled in the tuition exchange program will be able to continue, no new tuition exchanges will be permitted until this ratio falls below the 60% allowable disparity.  Discussion ensued about how King’s might address this issue through marketing itself to other tuition exchange institutions.

            The Benefits Committee will request a per diem rate for travel.

            A proposal is underway for a gradual increase in the contribution to the pension plan from 9.5% to 11%.

            The mileage rate for use of personal vehicles has been increased to $0.32/mile.  However, for travel in excess of 300 miles, employees will be required to use a rental vehicle.

            A request was made that a form be created specifically for obtaining funds from Senior Faculty Review accounts.

            A&P (Dr. Marc Marchese)

            This Committee is in the process of defining the roles of Department Chairs and Program Directors and of designing an evaluation form for these positions.

            C&T (Dr. Trent Snider)

            C&T presented a comparison between King’s CORE and that of other institutions.  It was noted that our benchmark of comparison should be other Catholic colleges and universities.  Key issues mentioned included the size of the CORE, the possibility of a replacing Critical Thinking with a First Year Reading Seminar, considering FYE part of the CORE, including writing intensive and diversity intensive courses, educating students about what it means to be part of an academic environment, revision of CORE 270/270X, the guiding principles of the CORE revision, the effect that outside accrediting agencies should have on the structure of the CORE, the number of adjuncts teaching CORE classes and the underutilization of faculty expertise.  Dr. Trent Snider reported that C&T will next meet with Project Team leaders and hopes to have a draft of CORE revisions by Spring 2006.   Dr. Sauls reported that Father O’Hara has promised that no full-time, tenured faculty will lose jobs as a result of CORE revision.  Dr. Sauls will discuss with Father O’Hara whether or not CORE revisions will affect tenure decisions.

The meeting adjourned at 3:45.

Respectfully submitted, Anne Massey.