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November 5, 2004
Present: Barbara Sauls (Chair), David Baggett, Vanessa Bates (Student Government Representative), Charles Brooks, Derrick Boucher, James Dolhon, Howard Fedrick, Brian Pavlac, Margarita Rose, and Laurie Sterling
Guests: Barry Williams; Marc Marchese
Report from Faculty Benefits Committee:
1. Barry Williams and Marc Marchese presented items currently under discussion by the Faculty Benefits Committee. The three items currently under discussion are faculty step increases, merit pay (and how it is affected by the lack of step increases); and the tuition exchange program. Both step increases and tuition exchange are also on senior staff’s agenda.
2. In response to council’s request, Dr. Williams and Dr. Marchese also discussed the FMLA act and current policies at King’s relative to FMLA and to short term disability leave and their application to faculty. Short term disability provides for 12 weeks of paid leave, but the college’s semester is generally 16 calendar weeks in duration. This has led to some confusion and worry about inequity. According to Barry Williams, a faculty member who returns to work from 12 weeks of short term disability leave at mid semester cannot me denied full pay. A faculty member who takes a full semester for short term disability will receive 12/16ths of his/her pay. Council noted that the language in the Faculty Handbook is not reflective of this. Council will look at the Public Policies Handbook, and the Faculty Handbook and determine language to amend the Faculty Handbook appropriately.
Announcements:
1. In the council meeting of October 22nd a question arose relative to faculty’s ability to verify a student’s medical excuse from class. According to Janet Mercincavage, Vice President for Student Affairs: The faculty member determines the attendance policy for his/her class and decides what is an excused/unexcused absence. If a student remains in the class past the normal drop/withdrawal deadlines, it implies an acceptance of the “contract” between the student and the faculty member as outlined in the syllabus. Therefore, faculty may ask for a medical note, or can call a medical office to verify that a student has been seen.
2. According to the Registrar’s office, IITs is ready to implement student online registration. The administration and the Registrar’s office, however, have decided not to implement it because it will provide no guarantee that the student has received advisement. Council asked if password protected registration, with passwords given to faculty advisors for each of their advisees, would alleviate this concern. Barb Sauls will pursue this question.
Old Business:
1. The investigation into tenure quota policies at other schools continues.
2. Given the recent announcement that the AAVP is now the AAVP and Dean of Faculty, Council questioned if this affected the ongoing discussion of collegiality and yearly evaluations. Consequently, that discussion was tabled until the following meeting.
3. Results of the survey on a faculty lounge were distributed.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
Next meeting: Friday, November 12th in Sheehy/Farmer 115.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Sterling
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