FACULTY SENATE MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 28, 1997
(Vol. xxvii, No. 9)
I. CALL TO ORDER BY GAIL RICHARD AT 2:03 P.M.
Present: J. Allison, C. Eberly, G. Foster, N. Furumo, R. Gholson, B. Irwin, G. Lockart, N. Marlow, H. Nordin, G. Richard, J. Schmidt, J. Simpson, J. Tidwell, L. Walker, A. Zahlan. Guests: J. Abell, M. Giles, D. Jorns, J. Kmitch, J. McGrath, J. Nilsen, D. Poole.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 14, 1997.
A motion (Irwin/Tidwell) to approve the minutes of October 14, 1997. Yes - Allison, Eberly, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Richard, Schmidt, Simpson, Tidwell. Abstain - Walker
III. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Letter to Dean Lanham from G. Richard thanking him for attending the Faculty Senate meeting on 10/14/97
B. Letter to F. Fraker and Dean Hine regarding the reappointment of F. Fraker to the Continuing Education Coordination Council
C. E. Mail message from D. Radavich regarding input on academic computing
D. Minutes - Council on Academic Affairs - 10/9/97 & 10/16/97
E. Minutes - COEPS Curriculum Committee - 10/13/97
F. Minutes - Staff Senate - 10/8/97
G. Minutes - Council on Teacher Education - 10/14/97
H. Notes - Environmental Health & Safety Committee-9/30/97, Meeting Agenda-ll/17/97, Bylaws, Building Coordinator List and Handbook
I. Report - Governmental Relations - 10/20/97
J. Memo from R. Gresens to the Faculty of the Dept. of Health Studies regarding the Career Services Orientation Seminar- 10/14/97
K. Letter from W. Whiteside regarding the consolidation of Botany & Zoology
L. Report - Peer Selection Advisory Report - August 1997
M. Interview schedules for Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs
N. EIU-UPI Chapter Notes - 10/20/97
O. Memo from Dean Lanham regarding the selection by the Illinois Library Assoc. of J. Whisler as a recipient of the 1997-98 Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year
IV.OLD BUSINESS
A. Faculty Forum Review - The main topics covered at the Forum were the Graduate School, Library, Benchmarking and Planning. The Forum provided an opportunity for interested faculty to express their opinions and to get information from administrators and individuals directly involved in each of the areas.
B. Institutional Planning Process--J. Nilsen and J. Abell were available to address additional concerns. A document, "Eastern's Progress Towards The Year 2000 was distributed. This document will be distributed campuswide. J. Nilsen briefly discussed the five goals that have been identified as priorities for EIU and discussed how increased funding has supported these goals. Comments by Faculty Senate Members were:
1. Has the number of hours spent on planning been calculated?
2. Is the funding increase in each of these areas a result of planning or as a result of an increase in available funds?
3. Does the material make us look better than we really are and therefore will the funding we receive from the state be affected?
4. Has anyone looked at the Study of Undergraduate Education done in 1989 and compared that report to where we are now?
J. Nilsen reiterated that planning has outlined the priorities for the university as a whole, not just academic areas. The material is an attempt to show that the areas identified as priorities are being funded with the additional monies. Also, an attempt was made to present a realistic picture of the university, not too bleak and not too rosy.
Questions were also raised about capital money - Is the Fine Arts Building on the priority list? It is 3rd on Eastern's FY 98 capital list but it is not on the IBHE list at this time. D. Jorns reported that the predetermined priorities for the student fee monies for Campus Beautification is moving on schedule.
C. Referendum on Constitutional Planning--A motion (Allison/Walker) to request that the Faculty Senate sponsor a faculty referendum in the following form: Mark X to indicate your preference.
___The University should proceed with the institutional planning process, currently known as Constitutional Planning and formerly known as Strategic Planning, without delay.
___ The University should delay the institutional planning process, currently known as Constitutional Planning and formerly known as Strategic Planning, until the process is assessed for costs, benefits, and efficiency.
Reasons for the motion (Allison)
1. Encourage the Senate to sponsor rather than resist referenda related to important activities and initiatives affecting faculty
2. The new planning universe was mandated by the President during the summer and at a time when faculty were not on campus to provide input
3. Follow-up to the forum
4. Suitable thing to offer the faculty
Discussion by Faculty Senate
1. If we don't plan, what is the alternative?
2. A university can't exist without planning.
3. It's better to plan our own destiny rather than to have someone else do it for us.
4. Planning forces us to think clearly and precisely what direction we want to take. We may not like it but it is a requirement in today's society.
5.Planning may be time consuming but it is beneficial for the University.
Yes - Allison, Walker. No - Eberly, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Nordin, Schmidt, Simpson, Tidwell. Abstain - Richard, Zahlan.
D.Webmaster Committee--G. Richard reported that the Webmaster Committee is not a standing committee to which the Faculty Senate provides members so it is the responsibility of the chair of that committee, J. Nilsen, to select members to that committee. Faculty Senate had requested that a faculty member be included on that committee which was acceptable to the committee. J. Tidwell volunteered to serve on the committee but later suggested that B. Poulter serve on the committee as he has expertise in that area. There was a suggestion by some members that this committee be a standing committee of the Senate. A recommendation on the status of this committee would need to come from the committee not the Senate.
E.Committee Reports
1. Nominations - A. Zahlan
a. IBHE Faculty Advisory Committee - alternate 1997-2000-Janet Lambert, Elementary and Jr. High Education
b. Apportionment Board - Alternate 97-98 and member 98-2000, Karl Bridges, Library
c. Campus Recreation Board - Alternate 97-98, member 98-2000-John Weber, Leisure Studies
d. University Union Advisory Board- Alternate 97-98, member 98-2000-Joe Williams, Psychology
A motion (Zahlan/Allison) to accept the report of the Nominations Committee.
Yes- Allison, Eberly, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Nordin, Schmidt, Simpson, Tidwell, Walker, Zahlan. Abstain- Richard
2. Elections Committee - no report
3. Faculty-Student Relations Committee--B. Irwin--Student Senate will try to improve communication regarding tuition and fee increases. The Tuition and Fee Committee will meet in the Spring so that there is more time to inform the students of increases. Student Senate is looking at a change in structure so as to reduce tuition waivers. The Student Senate expressed appreciation in the Faculty Senate taking an interest in their work.
4. Faculty-Staff Relations Committee - next meeting of the Staff Senate is November 12 at 1:15 p.m.
5. Executive Committee
a. IHOP Update - The space in IHOP can be rearranged relatively easy to accommodate the next "tenants" although a decision on who/what will occupy that space has not been determined. There will need to be some renovations to meet ADA requirements.
b. The Rex Darling Tennis Courts are those typically referred to as the Weller Courts. Those were the courts requested to be named and were approved by the naming committee. Historically, names are not moved from one facility to another. (New courts have been constructed south of Lantz Fieldhouse)
c.University Studies receiving part of the technology funding-Those areas not specifically represented in a college (Library, ContinuingEd, University Studies, other areas in VPAA) will need an instructional support specialist to address the needs specific to those areas and to interact with User Services. This group is not getting planning money this year.
d. A taskforce chaired by B. Augustine will look at the mission and scope of graduate school. (R. Carson, M. Leddy, R. Benedict). Another group will look at whether some of the functions of the graduate school should be decentralized (P. Church, J. Johnson, J. Wayland, A. Methven and a student)
e. There are 60 applicants for the VPAA.
f. The chair for the search committee for the President will be named at the January BOT meeting.
7. Library Advisory Board - L. Walker reported the following procedure was reported: Once the budget is finalized by the university administration, those portions of the materials budget reserved for use by the academic departments will be determined by the Dean of Library Services in consultation with Library Faculty and the University Library Advisory Board.
F. Other Old Business - The consolidation of zoology and botany is not a concern with the tenured faculty of those departments. Very few schools in the country have separate departments. The degree in each area remains in tact.
V.NEW BUSINESS
Agenda items - NCA Recommendation to review the number of committees on campus
VI. ADJOURN - Faculty Senate adjourned at 3:30 p.m. to tour Buzzard Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan K. Schmidt, Recorder