NORTHEASTERN
Minutes
of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, September 14, 2007
A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Craig Clifford in
SL129.
There was ITV access at
Council Members in attendance: Ernst Bekkering (Business & Technology), Ron Cambiano (Education), Jennifer Edwards (Liberal Arts), Harriett Hobbs, (Library), Rhea Johnston (Education), Alan McKee (Optometry), Thomas Salmon (Optometry), Amy Aldridge Sanford (Liberal Arts), Dan Savage (Liberal Arts), Dan Sisk (Science & Health Professions),
Council Members in attendance in
Council Members in attendance in
Council Officers in attendance: Craig Clifford (President), Lallie Scott (Vice President), Linda West (Secretary/Treasurer).
Guests: Terri Baker (Liberal Arts),
Invited Presentations
[Council will set aside time at the first of
each meeting
to visit with President Williams, VP Academic Affairs Bigbee and/or VP
Administration Cherry should they be able to attend.]
VP Bigbee thanked
the Council for serving and observed that we are the backbone of the
University. He addressed the Council
with two initiatives. First, he would
like to see a change of procedure for how faculty are involved in
promotion and
continuing employment decisions. He
would like to see a committee model more like what is used for tenure
decisions. These could be on the
department level or by discipline. These
faculty committees would make a recommendation to the chair. There would be different committees for
promotion and continuing employment. He
would like to see something in place by next year’s cycle.
Faculty Council is charged to discuss the
issues and make recommendations to him.
The question was raised about whether these committees could
also make
recommendations about continuing employment for adjuncts.
The second topic
involves input to the Faculty Handbook.
He would like to see the faculty have move involvement in the
process. He would like names of people
to appoint to the committee that revises the handbook.
There were no changes made this year, so no
new handbook was issued. VP Bigbee
observed that Faculty Council is the appropriate body to look at the
handbook
regularly and suggest any needed changes.
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of 04/13/07
meeting
Minutes of the April meeting were reviewed and a correction was
made. Scott
moved to approve the minutes as corrected, it was seconded by
Bekkering.
The motion passed.
2. Financial Report
The only expenditure so far has been for the telephone.
We started the year with $4,662 and now have
$4,642.
B . New Business
1. Food Service Concerns
Faculty would like to see the Cedar
Room
maintained for faculty dining. It should
at least have drinks and a place to eat as in the past.
The changes in food services make it harder
for faculty to use the room. The
cafeteria is one price and once a person leaves, they have to pay again
to go
back. Clifford will approach the Food
Service manager with our concerns. There
have been student concerns also.
2. Need for use of SS# on forms
Concerns have been raised about some uses of the SS# on parking forms
and other
carbon forms. There is also a problem
with the new system not making donations to TIAA/CREF accounts.
The Council made a
resolution,
motion by Edwards, seconded by
Faculty Council asks
the University
to stop using Social Security numbers as identification numbers for
faculty,
staff and students. Social Security
numbers should only be used for employment and tax purposes.
3. Change in class size limits in
English
The former class size limit was 20-25 and have been raised to 30 without consultation with the faculty. Many classrooms do not have this many chairs. There was discussion of recommendations coming from accreditation and professional organizations. One example is that writing classes should have only 20 students.
Faculty Council passed a resolution. Motion made by Savage and seconded by Louderback.
Faculty Council expresses concern that raising classroom limits in English and other areas could lead to problems with accreditation and sponsorship by professional organizations. We feel this is an important issue. It is recommended that NSU keep enrollment in classes limited to the requirements of accrediting associations whatever they may be for a discipline.
4. Health Care Review
Clifford talked to Interim President Cherry about the issue of health care coverage. There is a system wide panel that is reviewing the issue right now. Gary Wickham has been on this committee and will continue into his retirement. Send any input you have to the process to Gary Wickham.
5. Enrollment, Income and Second
Eight Week
Classes
The
discussion of this issue centered around the stipends that had been
mentioned
in the fall. Enrollment is down, but
second eight week classes could still generate more income. Raises will be impacted by the lower
enrollment this fall.
C. Old Business
1. Administrator Evaluations
The surveys were complete and sent to the administrators. They were not distributed elsewhere.
2. Administrative
Restructuring
Review - Update
This was a Faculty Council
suggestion from last year. To date,
there has been a committee created but it has taken no action. There was discussion that this issue should
wait for the results from the Gen Ed committee.
Clifford will discuss with VP Bigbee.
3. Student Travel
Former President Yeutter compiled policies and procedures for student presenters at conferences. There has been no action taken. Clifford will take these to VP Cherry.
D. Other Business
1. VP Bigbee’s suggestions
Faculty Council will appoint a
subcommittee to
study the question. This a good
opportunity to provide input. Clifford
will ask for volunteers for the committee.
A charge was developed, motion made by Cambiano, seconded by
Bekkering
and passed. The Committee is charged to
review the current state of policies across campus concerning promotion
and
continuing employment decisions.
2. Faculty Welfare issue
There was a concern raised about the distribution of pay increases in the Library. A Library faculty member advised Scott that money was taken from faculty raises and given to staff in the Library. The faculty member asked that, in the future, pay raises or stipends be distributed as intended.
Announcements:
Baker announced an October book signing in the Special Collections area of the Library for the book she co-authored with C. Henson.
E. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:13 p.m.
Submitted by Linda West, Secretary-Treasurer
10/4/07
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