Faculty Senate Minutes, October 1, 1996
I. Called to order by Chair Gail Richard at 2:00 p.m.
Present: G. Foster, F. Fraker, B. Kirk, P. Lenihan, H. Nordin, J. Ozier. G. Richard, J. Schmidt, J. Simpson, J. Tidwell, L. Walker, D. Wolf, A. Zahlan.
Visitors: J. Baker, C. Burke, C. Evans, F. Hohengarten, S. Moore, T. Weidner, S. Wong
II. A motion (Walker/Schmidt) to approve the Minutes of September 17 passed (9-0-2).
Yes: Foster, Kirk, Richard, Schmidt, Simpson, Tidwell, Walker, Wolf, Zahlan
Abstain: Fraker, Ozier
III. Communications
A. Student Senate Minutes from 9/18/96, 2/25/96
B. CAA Minutes from 9/12/96, 9/19/96
C. CGS Minutes from 9/3/96, 9/17/96
D. COEPS Curriculum Committee Minutes 9/16/96
E. Board of Trustees Materials
1. Agenda
2. Minutes of 7/15/96
3. EIU Report to the BOT from 9/23/96
4. Faculty Senate Chair Report to BOT
F. Memo from Dr. Mary Anne Hanner 10/1/96
IV. Old Business
A. Faculty Forum 9/24/96
1. Chair Richard clarified that the matter of the Counseling Center and the University College proposal are two separate and distinct issues.
2. Senator Foster, a member of the Taskforce, commented that the concept of University College and the matter of the Counseling Center evolved quite separately. They seem to have become associated with one another due to an accident of timing.
3. Senator Fraker expressed concern re: "shifts of positions" in the Counseling Center.
4. Dr. Evans replied that two vacancies in the Center are filled at present by temporaries. He emphasized that the formal job descriptions are not completed, including master or doctoral level preparation.
5. Senator Ozier expressed her concern that former faculty positions not be rolled into Academic Support positions.
6. Senator Kirk responded that one problem is that there is no articulated plan on where the Counseling Center is going and suggested a subcommittee of the Senate should work with Dr. Evans to clarify this matter and codify the positions involved.
7. Senator Zahlan agreed with Senator Ozier's concern re: these positions and added her concern that consultation with UPI had not occurred.
8. Senator Walker enumerated several concerns, among them (1) The Counseling Center lies in Academic Affairs. (2) Student Records lies in Student Affairs. Why not flipflop them to solve on organizational problem?
9. Senator Schmidt asked if there is no building in which to house University College, why bother to reorganize?
10. Senator Tidwell clarified that IHOP, the old International House, is not planned to house University College. He added that too many members of the University Community have made too much of minimal changes.
11. Reminding the Senate that the agenda item at hand was
the Faculty Forum, Chair Richard asked if the Senate might wish to take any action or continue to facilitate faculty expression re: this matter.
12. A motion (Walker/Zahlan) follows: Whereas the Faculty Forum held on September 23, 1996 to discuss the proposed University College raised several concerns, including exclusion of the UPI from the planning discussions, the organizational structure of the proposed University College, and the staffing of the Counseling Center in the proposed University College, I move that the Faculty Senate provide the Faculty of Eastern Illinois University the opportunity to express its opinion in a referendum which asks:
I support the proposed University College.
I do not support the proposed University College.
A protracted and wide-ranging discussion followed.
13. Senator Kirk said that there are more productive waysto deal with this matter.
14. Senator Simpson asked what were we all doing at the Faculty Forum if not seeking faculty expression of concern and opinion.
15. Senator Lenihan asserted that we, the Faculty Senate, are the voice of the faculty. If we must resort to a referendum, then we are not doing our job.
16. Senator Foster suggested that rather than staging a referendum, the Senate should use the entire semester "as a process of referendum," the continuing facilitation of the expression of faculty concerns.
17. Senator Zahlan said that a referendum provides more input into the process and reiterated her concern that the UPI had not been consulted.
18. Recognized by the Chair, Dr. Weidner said that the claim that the UPI had not been consulted was not true, that after the Forum Dr. Gosselin had talked with Asst. VPAA Jeanne Simpson re: the positions in the Counseling Center, and that Dr. Gosselin was familiar with this issue. "Ask Laurent."
19. A motion (Zahlan/Walker) to table the motion (Walker/ Zahlan) detailed above failed (4-8-1).
Yes: Nordin, Schmidt, Walker, Zahlan
No: Foster, Fraker, Kirk, Lenihan, Ozier, Simpson, Tidwell, Wolf
Abstain: Richard
20. The motion (Walker/Zahlan) calling for a referendum detailed above failed (3-9-1).
Yes: Nordin, Walker, Zahlan
No: Foster, Fraker, Kirk, Lenihan, Ozier, Richard, Simpson, Tidwell, Wolf
Abstain: Schmidt
21. The Senate returned to University College. Senator Foster asserted that University College is a clearly distinct issue and "an effort to bundle services to students to be more user friendly."
22. Senator Walker repeated that the Counseling Center is in Academic Affairs and Student Records is in Student Affairs. If one pursues this matter, why not shift? He asked what is the position of University College within Strategic Planning. He commented that we have gone from six to four and apparently now to 5 colleges. "We are indeed reversing the trend"
23. In response to concerns, Dr. Evans clarified several matters re: University College. There is to be to be no change in the relationship between faculty and their departments and colleges. The decentralized budget will remain decentralized. Course and CU assignment will be handled by deans and chairs. Departmental budgets will be developed out of deans' offices. Re: space needs, an architectural description report is in process now to be reported to Ted Weidner who will report to Dr. Terry Weidner. The Senate will be informed. Re: the Writing, Math, and Reading Centers, matters pertaining to these centers will remain departmental. University College will be dealt with within Strategic Planning.
24. Finally, after more discussion, a synthesis emerged: Senators Fraker and Kirk will collaborate with Dr. Evans to gather a small taskforce to address the problems re: the Counseling Center productively. Dr. Evans said that he will appoint to this body those people recommended by the Senate. Chair Richard specified that this body will be fact finding to gather information. Senators Fraker and Kirk will report to the Senate. The Senate will report to the campus via web site and Minutes.
B. Committee Reports
1. Nominations -- No report
2. Elections
a. Result of Fall Election
Gail Lockart..............32 votes
Patrick Lenihan...........31 votes
Robert Jorstad............25 votes
Heribert Breidenbach......17 votes
Richard Hummel............17 votes
Howard Price..............7 votes
b. Gail Lockart's class schedule precludes service in the Fall Semester. She can serve only in the Spring. Therefore Patrick Lenihan was seated and will serve through the summer. Gail Lockart will be seated in January and will serve during the Spring. Jayne Ozier will return from her sabbatical after Spring and will resume her seat for the Summer. All the parties involved have agreed. 79 eligible voters participated, about 16%.
3. Faculty-Staff Relations Committee -- No report
4. Faculty-Student Relations Committee -- No report
5. Executive Committee Report
a. Senators Tidwell and Simpson met September 27 at noon with President Jorns and Dr. Weidner. President Jorns said that he agreed with the Senate's motion (Minutes, 9/17/96 IV.A.7. expressing "concern re: the appointment of interim administrative personnel for longer than one year without consultation with the Faculty Senate."
b. Dr. Jorns said that a search committee for a VPAA/Provost will be formed in the Spring and getstarted before going full tilt in the Fall.
c. Re: the Honors Program Abroad approved by theCAA recently, the only additional expense will be the cost of travel to Europe which must be funded by donations from private sources. This cost will not be levied on the students. The program will not be required of presently enrolled honors students.
6. Other Committee Reports
a. Parking -- Senator Walker reported (1) that Chief Larson assured the committee that there was no "parking holiday" and that illegally parked vehicles were ticketed from day one of the semester, and (2) that a "fee structure subcommittee" would meet to adjudicate appropriate policy and fees for the 7 reserved parking places on campus.
b. CUPB -- Senator Simpson substituted for Chair Richard at the 9/20/96 meeting. One major point: funding for approved Fiscal '97 priorities will not be released until ratification of the agreement. Minutes of the meeting will be forthcoming.
c. BOT Meeting -- 9/23/96 -- Chair Richard reported that EIU will host some 60 legislators/staff on campus through the President's Council to observe the condition of the campus physical plant and facilities. She will invite VPAA Olsen and Ms. Chris Merrifield to speak with the Senate on matters on which they reported to the BOT.
V. New Business
A. The University College continues as the main item of the agenda.
B. There was no other new business.
VI. The Senate adjourned punctually at 4:00 p.m.