MINUTES of the Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, November 3, 2000

Members in Attendance:

A. Committees and Standing Reports

     1.  Minutes of September 1 Meeting, Informal Minutes of October 13 Meeting 
       The minutes were amended to reflect the accurate proceedings and accepted by the group. 
     2.  Treasurer's Report
      The treasurer reported that we had received an annual budget allotment of $4,815. Most of that allotment was committed. We also anticipate a roll-over amount from the previous fiscal year. That roll-over has not yet occurred.

B.  Old Business

     1.  Noel-Levitz Advisement Workshop Update
     2.  Faculty Concerns With NCA 
Three issues were discussed related to the NCA Self study: (1) the time required to complete the tasks being delegated to faculty interfered with value-added activities for serving students, and (2) there appeared to be a bureaucratic micromanagement of faculty, as evidenced by the syllabus and faculty data summary format, and (3) there appeared to be a stealth introduction of Object Based education, without appropriate faculty advise and consent.

The council determined that a private meeting between Dunn Faires and faculty representatives to discuss these issues would be an appropriate response.

    3.  Mentoring & Faculty Input on Promotion Initiatives
K. Paris will be requesting input from faculty regarding this issue, but it was noted that a "mentoring task force" is being developed by VP Pate.

    4.  Restructuring University Committees Initiative 
A task force or "Committee on Committees will be developed

    5.  Faculty Community Service Initiative
L. Ethridge brought information on "service learning" an activity having students do work in the community which meets both the needs of the community and the students' education.

    6.  Disability Insurance Policies & Procedures
K. Medlin was scheduled to appear at the Dec Faculty Council meeting, but it was determined that the issue had been resolved to the satisfaction of those concerned.

    7..  Merit Pay Policies/Procedures Updates
The faculty expressed concern that there was no definition of "merit". Some also expressed concern that the current focus on senior faculty had a negative effect on the morale of those who were being encouraged to produce.

The council determined that it would be appropriate to communicate these concerns to the administration, and to request that criteria be identified for "merit" pay raises.

C.  New Business

      1.  Faculty Workload Issues: this issue was discussed above (B 2)
      2.  Meetings With Vice-President Pate
      3.  Improving Campus Communication: a general faculty meeting to discuss issues was suggested as a means to accomplish this objective

D.  Other Business
G. Alexander reported that on 9/13 a female faculty member received an obscene phone call, which was recorded by her voice mail. This faculty member immediately reported it to campus police, and obtained a recording of the call for evidence. Only after a follow-up call by the faculty member did the campus police on 10/16 view a video tape of the call, and identify the student. The student has asserted that the call was meant as a prank. The office of Student Conduct and Development (Ginny Wilson) has assessed only minor penalties for this crime, and has given only an oral reprimand to the student.

The Faculty council unanimously adopted the following resolution:

The Faculty Council wishes to express its concern and support for Dr. Marianne Bennett in the recent alleged incident of sexual harassment and requests that the NSU President assure the Council that BOROC policies and procedures have been followed appropriately.

Original to: Dr. Larry Williams, NSU President
Copies to:
Dr. Marianne Bennett
Dr. Gene Kozlowski
Dean Penny Dotson
Dr. James Pate
Ms. Ginny Wilson, Director, Student Conduct and Development
Mr. James Vernon Jr., Lieutenant, Campus Police
Dean Ron Cambiano
Mr. Dennis Bearpaw, Director, Personnel


Questions or Comments?


Please e-mail the council president
or the secretary/treasurer.

Last Updated: September 7, 2001 by lhw