NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, April 5, 2002
Members in attendance: Kenny Paris, Alicia Casas, Julie Sawyer, Grant Alexander, Vanessa
Hardbarger, Carol Choate, Gary Wickham, John Milbauer, Lallie Scott, Mimi Bentley, Bruce
Kotowich, Jackie Schumaker.
Substitute delegates: John Yeutter for Kin Thompson, Randy Snider for Rick Matzen.
Other faculty in attendance: Chuck Ziehr, Ted Legatski, James Alexander
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of March 1, 2002 meeting
The minutes of the March 1, 2002 meeting were approved without amendment. Motion:
Yeutter, Second: Alexander
2. Treasurer's Report
Secretary-Treasurer Julie Sawyer reported that the account balance as of March 6, 2002,
was $3,928.07. The $220.00 credit on the overcharge for the telephones in the Faculty
Council office was posted, and $120.43 was expended in February.
3. Welfare Committee Report
Vice President Alicia Casas stated that the Faculty Welfare Committee met March 25,
2002. A quality of life survey instrument was distributed to committee members for
feedback.
B. Old Business
1. On-line Survey
President Kenny Paris distributed results from the on-line survey on perceptions of the
Faculty Council. For a copy of the statistical results, Click Here. For a copy of the comments, Click Here
The results follow the minutes. Paris stated that he had omitted four
comments from the published results as these comments were potentially slanderous and
three of the four concerned issues not related to the Faculty Council. He commented that
the responses were generally positive while indicating room for improvement.
2. Office Hours Resolution
Paris delivered a letter from President Williams concerning the requested change in the
office hours policy. A new form will be developed to allow faculty to request alternative
office hours scheduling. The requests will be reviewed annually.
3. Faculty Due Process Legislation
Paris reported that Senate Bill 903, concerning faculty due process, was defeated in
committee by a vote of 15 to 22. Chuck Ziehr stated that the Joint Advisory Committee
has been reconvened to reconsider the issue and recommended contacting the Faculty
Advisory Committee. A motion to inform the representatives of the Faculty Advisory
Committee of the resolution passed by the NSU Faculty Council supporting the legislation
was unanimously approved. Motion: Milbauer, Second: Wickham
4. Faculty Teaching Evaluation Instrument
Ted Legatski, who chaired the committee, presented a proposal and a revised evaluation
instrument. The proposal is as follows:
"1) The committee proposes the attached survey, in its approximate form but with the
specific language, be adopted as the campus-wide evaluation instrument. This
instrument is to be used in all courses and sections where students complete
instructor evaluations. Administration of the instrument would follow existing
procedures, and the results would be available to appropriate members of the
administration.
2) The committee proposes the Faculty Council support the creation of individual
evaluation instruments to be administered on a voluntary basis. Individual
instructors would be encouraged to develop custom evaluation instruments that
would address content and pedagogical issues specific to each course of interest.
These instruments would be administered at the same time and in the same manner
as the standardized instrument, but would be handled differently thereafter. These
instruments would be sealed in a separate envelope and held in the office of the
appropriate dean until after grades are submitted. They would then be given,
unopened, to the instructor. The results of these voluntary evaluation instruments
would only be available to others at the consent of the instructor.
3) In order to support the second proposal, the committee proposed the Faculty
Council host a web page providing information, sample instruments, and other
pertinent information to assist instructors in creating custom evaluation
instruments. The committee is willing to help create such a web page."
For a copy of the proposed revised instrument, Click Here.
C. New Business
1. Appellate Committee Election
Paris announced that the election for the Appellate Committee for Dismissal of Tenured
Faculty would be held April 30, 2002. Only tenured faculty are eligible to assist in running
the election. He requested volunteers to serve at the polling booth.
2 2. Concerns Regarding Class Size
John Milbauer stated that James Alexander had requested that the Faculty Council discuss
concerns about very large class sizes. Alexander commented that the administration needs
to be informed that this is a problem, particularly in survey courses. He said that these
large classes are more difficult to manage, quality declines and retention may ultimately
suffer. Chuck Ziehr suggested that a committee should be formed to gather information
and make recommendations about solutions. It was suggested that Dr. Pate be invited to
discuss the issue with the Council.
3. Privacy Task Force
Paris announced the appointment of Kim Drake, Rick Matzen, John Yeutter and Denise
Deason-Toyne to the Privacy Task Force. Yeutter will chair the committee and
recommended adding a representative from Computing and Telecommunications.
D. Other Business
In other business, Grant Alexander announced that the NSU Association of Information
Technology Professionals student group will be holding a Dunk Tank event on May 1 and
2, 2002. The first throw to dunk faculty, staff and administrators will be auctioned.
Alexander asked for volunteers.
Paris announced that three candidates had been asked to campus for interviews in the
search for the Director of Libraries.
Chuck Ziehr stated that he, Craig Clifford and Tom Carment had met with the consultant
and chair of the Regents to discuss issues concerning the search for a new Chancellor.
Ziehr said that the search criteria is expected to be finalized by June.
Paris reminded Council members of the Academic Advisement workshop by Scott Medlin
on "How to Advise Students on Financial Aid" would be presented on April 9 and 10 in
Room 118 in the library. The Faculty Advisement Series is cosponsored by the Faculty
Council.
E. Adjournment
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be held on Friday, May 3, 2002 at 3:00 p.m.
in the Net Tower Room.
Submitted by Julie Sawyer, Secretary-Treasurer
