NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, November 16, 2001
Members in attendance: Kenny Paris, Alicia Casas, Julie Sawyer, Mimi Bentley, Bruce Kotowich,
Grant Alexander, Charles Veith, Jackie Schumaker, Rick Matzen, Gary Wickham, Kin Thompson,
Vanessa Hardbarger.
Substitute delegates: Michael Rogers for Lallie Scott.
Other faculty in attendance: John Yeutter, Ben Kracht.
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of October 5, 2001 meeting
The minutes of the October 5, 2001 meeting were approved with one amendment;
correction in the date of the minutes of previous meeting to September 7, 2001. Motion:
Veith, Second: Alexander
2. Treasurer's Report
Secretary-Treasurer Julie Sawyer submitted a written report of the Faculty Council
accounts. The estimated total balance is $5,813.50. (See the full report following the
minutes)
3. Welfare Committee Report
Vice President Alicia Casas reported that the Faculty Welfare Committee met and
discussed many topics including environmental and physical plant issues, accessibility
issues, ergonomics and lighting, and food quality. Casas stated that information from the
Internet on setting up a work space was being reviewed. She also reported that a study on
nutrition may be done in the future.
B. Old Business
1. Noel-Levitz Workshop
President Kenny Paris reported the recent Noel-Levitz Workshop was not particularly
successful with only 15 participants for the Saturday session. Paris stated that the sum of
$1,000 will be offered to Vice President Pate as the Faculty Council monetary
contribution to the workshop. It was suggested that internal advising workshops might be
more helpful in the future. Paris was asked by council members to get an update from Jeff
Walker on the status of the in-house advising handbook that was initiated last year.
2. Faculty Council Office
President Paris reported that the new Faculty Council office is ready for use with the
exception of one printer not being hooked up. He stated that chairs are needed which will
be requisitioned in the near future.
3. On-line Survey
Paris reported that revisions to the on-line survey dealing with faculty perceptions of
Faculty Council are almost complete. He will forward a draft of the survey to delegates
for review soon, and plans to conduct the survey during the Spring 2002 semester.
4. Office Hours
Three proposals requesting a change in the university's office hours policy were presented
to the council. 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. Mike Rogers countered by stating that with more emphasis on
research, fewer office hours would provide faculty more opportunity to work on scholarly
activity. Gary Wickham stated that office hours in Optometry were unnecessary due to
the amount of time faculty in the college must spend on campus. Wickham suggested that
a "one size fits all" office hours policy was not appropriate. Rogers moved that
Resolution #2 be considered; Mimi Bentley seconded the motion. Following the
discussion, Wickham moved to amend the motion by substituting the third paragraph from
Resolution #3 for the last paragraph of Resolution #2 to provide more specificity. The
amendment was seconded by Bentley and passed unanimously. The amended resolution
follows:
According to the Faculty Handbook, faculty are expected to maintain at least eight (8)
office hours per week and that these hours must be spread over all five (5) days of the
week. The handbook does allow for exceptions to be made, on a case-by-case basis, by
the College Dean.
The Faculty Council would like to see this policy amended to create more flexibility with
respect to maintaining office hours for three reasons.
1) Technology: With accessibility to computers and cell phones, it has become apparent
that the overwhelming majority of students use email and phone messages to "talk" with
their professors. Student walk-ins during normal office hours have become very minimal
in comparison to computer and phone messages. Also, since the majority of our students
commute to campus, it is not always possible to meet with students during our normal
office hours. Generally, students make individual appointments at their convenience and
the professor's.
2) Satellite campuses: The travel between campuses necessitates holding office hours at
two institutions. Committee meetings, delays or unforeseen circumstances in weather or
traffic require flexibility in office hours.
3) Increased scholarly activity: A growing number of faculty members are engaged in
scholarly activity at NSU. The undertaking of interesting research projects is inhibited
where there is concern for hours of research time off campus.
The Faculty Council asks that the Office Hour Policy be more flexible and that it better
reflect our professional autonomy and responsibility. We propose that faculty can
continue to meet their obligations to students by keeping six office hours per week on any
day or days that fit their professional schedules.
The resolution was passed as amended by a vote of seven in favor and two opposed.
5. Meetings with President Williams
Paris stated that he has received mixed feedback from the faculty concerning the college
meetings with President Williams. Comments by council members included:
- President Williams was more candid about some issues than anticipated;
- Other questions were never actually answered.
- The President reiterated that NSU is a teaching institution; the focus and mission
hasn't changed.
- Issues discussed in the college meetings included on-campus child care, a
counseling center, raises, and tenure and promotion.
In the spring, the council will discuss whether these meetings will be scheduled again.
6. Textbook problems
Kenny Paris stated that he sent out a survey to deans and chairs soliciting input about
problems with textbooks at the bookstore, and received responses from four individuals.
Paris said that problem seemed to be isolated to a few instances. Several council members
indicated that they personally or colleagues in their college had problems with receiving
textbooks on a consistent basis. Concern about texts for winter intersession was
expressed. It was suggested that the issue may be the "for profit" status of the bookstore.
Paris stated he would discuss the issue with President Williams.
C. New Business
1. Tenure/Promotion Eligibility
Paris stated that inconsistencies in eligibility for tenure and/or promotion had been noted.
Council members commented that the requirements are not clear and that some faculty
have been told not to apply even when they become eligible.
2. Appendix C in Faculty Handbook
Paris told the council that a request had been made to review Appendix C of the faculty
handbook. He will gather information from the faculty and from Dr. Pate to help
determine if Appendix C is serving as a good guide for consistency in professional files.
3. Dr. Ben Kracht - CUR Workshop report from October 2001/CUR Conference in
February, 2002
Ben Kracht, team leader for the group that attended the CUR Workshop on
undergraduate research in October, reported to the council that the workshop provided
both valuable information and contacts for increasing undergraduate research. The team
returned with a mission statement, goals and a plan of action. Issues included student
support, the establishment of an on-campus research symposium, and faculty rewards. He
stated that Dr. Pate had appointed a special task force on undergraduate research.
Kenny Paris informed the council that Dr. Pate wishes to send a team to a CUR
conference in February and had requested that the Faculty Council pay to send one of the
three team members. No action was taken.
D. Other Business
E. Adjournment
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be held on Friday, December 7, 2001 at 3:30 p.m. at
a location to be announced.
Treasurer's Full Report
Submitted by Julie Sawyer, Secretary-Treasurer
Questions or Comments?
Please e-mail the council
president
or the secretary/treasurer.
