NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, December 7, 2001
Members in attendance: Kenny Paris, Alicia Casas, Julie Sawyer, Mimi Bentley, Grant Alexander,
Vanessa Hardbarger, Dan Glasgow, Jackie Schumaker, Carol Choate, Rick Matzen, Michele
Bither, Gary Wickham, John Milbauer, Lallie Scott.
Substitute delegates: John Yeutter for Kin Thompson, Linda West for Charles Veith.
Other faculty in attendance:
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of November 16, 2001 meeting
The minutes of the November 16, 2001 meeting were approved with one amendment;
under B. Old Business, 4. Office Hours, the second sentence was corrected to read, "Rick
Matzen reported that he had discussed the proposed changes with colleagues in the
College of Math, Science and Nursing, and about 85% of the respondents did not support
the changes." Motion: Alexander, Second: Milbauer
2. Treasurer's Report
Secretary-Treasurer Julie Sawyer stated there had been no changes since the last meeting.
3. Welfare Committee Report
Vice President Alicia Casas reported that the Faculty Welfare Committee will be sending
out a survey dealing with quality of life in the workspace. She also reported that a special
project evaluating the food and comfort of the Cedar Room will be done in the spring.
B. Old Business
1. Noel-Levitz Recommendations/Advisement handbook
President Kenny Paris reported that written recommendations from Roxanne DuVivier,
the Noel-Levitz consultant had been received. The text of the recommendations is as
follows:
"Student Advisement
at Northeastern State University
"Best" Recommendations Summarization
As promised, I am providing a summarization of the "best" recommendations which
emerged from the many discussions we had on student advisement.
College Strategies- is an excellent freshman course which has strong likelihood to
positively impact retention.
Recommendation: Customize college strategies for direct application to homogeneous
groups (i.e. undeclared majors need more time allotted for career exploration and career
decision-making). Work closely with professionals in the career development center to
tailor a course for undecided majors.
New faculty are chosen based on departmental selection criteria.
Recommendation: Incorporate qualities necessary for strong performance as an academic
advisor into departmental selection criteria.
New faculty are enthusiastic about their roles and responsibilities at the university.
Recommendation: Provide in-depth service for new faculty on strengths-based
developmental advising.
Recommendation: Develop an advising handbook. Place advising handbook and other
information updates on the web to facilitate ease of access by faculty.
Advising loads are uneven across departmental units. To the extent feasible, balance
advising loads among faculty. Large loads limit faculty to performing schedule
development functions only. To fully implement the Noel-Levitz program of Strengths-Based Developmental Advising loads should be maintained at 20-30 advisees per advisor.
Where circumstances do not allow for significant reduction of advisees, group advising
may be employed.
Special Needs
Many students entering college need emotional support, direction and assistance beyond
the scope of academic advising.
Recommendation: Develop a counseling center formatted as a mini-clinic, staffed by
graduate students in psychology who function as psychology assistants under the
supervision of licensed practitioners. This provides valuable direct experience for students
in training and will assist undergraduate students who need help in order to cope with
mental health concerns.
Some students come to the university academically under-prepared. For these students
assessment of deficiencies and placement into coursework for basic skill development will
be important to future success.
All faculty are not strong advisors and many do not wish to advise.
Recommendation: Develop a menu of areas in which staff may specialize and make their
institutional contribution - i.e. scholarly research and publications, organize student
involvement in research topics and functions, engage in strengths-based developmental
advising with advisees for whom there is accountability for success.
Additional training for academic advisors is needed.
Recommendation: Conduct annual advising in-service programs across the institution in
order to give visibility and importance to the advising function.
Develop a (pre-service) 'Quality Advising Program' for all new faculty to complete.
Identify a lead faculty member in each department to serve as coordinator of advising.
These individuals in concert with their Deans may then keep abreast of the quality of
advising offered at the departmental level and offer suggestions for continuous quality
improvement.
Departmental advising coordinators may serve on a college wide advising council should
one be formed."
Paris also stated that he had asked Jeff Walker about the status of the advising handbook,
and that Walker had been waiting for the recommendations from the consultant.
2. Office Hours Resolution
Paris reported that he had presented the resolution concerning office hours to President
Williams. Williams will forward the resolution to Dr. Pate to review with the college
deans. President Williams will provide a written response to the resolution.
3. Appendix C in Faculty Handbook/Tenure and Promotion Issues
Paris told the council that when Appendix C was added to the faculty handbook, a review
of the effectiveness of the appendix was planned. He and Johnnye Morton have discussed
the review with Vice President Pate. Documents from departments and colleges
concerning scholarly activities will be gathered, and feedback from faculty who have
participated in the tenure/promotion process under Appendix C will be solicited. Tenure
and promotion issues which related to lack of clarity and consistency in the process were
discussed by the council.
4. Textbook Problems (intersession)
President Paris informed that council that he had discussed textbook problems with
Rodney Wallace at the bookstore. Wallace stated that very few faculty members
participate in the pre-semester open houses at which time faculty may view the texts
available. Delegates countered that the open houses are not well advertised. Wallace also
said that there is often a breakdown in communication when new course sections are
added. Paris stated that Craig Clifford, Dean of Math, Science and Nursing, had created a
form that is generated when the number of students enrolled in a course is changed. A
copy of the form is submitted to the bookstore.
5. On-line Survey
Kenny Paris stated that he will soon be emailing the on-line survey on faculty perceptions
of the Faculty Council to the council delegates for review. The survey will be sent to
faculty via email during the Spring 2002 semester.
C. New Business
1. NCA Site Visit/Council's Role
Paris stated that NCA site visit will occur February 11-13, 2002. He complimented Dunn
Faires on including the Faculty Council in the site visit team's agenda. Paris requested
that delegates participate in the breakfast meeting scheduled for the Faculty Council and
the team.
2. Faculty Council Representative for Library Director Search Committee
Paris told the council that a request had been made to appoint a Faculty Council
representative to serve on the search committee for the Library Director. Gary Wickham
expressed an interest in serving on the committee and was elected by the council. Motion:
Hardbarger, Second: Choate.
3. Professional Development Workshop on Peer Observation
The Faculty Council will co-sponsor a workshop on "How to be an Effective Peer
Observer" offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning. The workshop will be held
February 19, 2002 at 3:30 p.m.
4. Appointment of Task Force on Undergraduate Research
President Paris stated that he had received a memo from Dr. Pate informing the council of
the formation of a Special Task Force on Undergraduate Research to be chaired by Paul
Westbrook. The task force will meet prior to the end of the semester and will be
concerned with organizing and institutionalizing undergraduate research at NSU.
D. Other Business
1. Discussions with President Williams
Paris told the council that Vice President Pate informed him that Associate Professors and
Professors will receive a $500 increase in addition to the regular pay raise. The pay raises
average about 3%.
Paris also discussed the seeming inconsistencies in the importance of publications in the
tenure/promotion process. Paris told the President that three faculty members had been
told they must publish in order to apply for tenure and/or promotion. Williams stated in
some of the meetings with the individual colleges that NSU is not a "publish or perish"
institution. Paris said that Williams indicated he would talk to department chairs about the
issue.
E. Adjournment
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be held on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. at a
location to be announced.
Submitted by Julie Sawyer, Secretary-Treasurer
Questions or Comments?
Please e-mail the council
president
or the secretary/treasurer.
