Minutes of the Faculty Senate meeting October 20, 1999 The regular meeting of the 1999-00 Faculty Senate was called to order by Dan Spencer at 3:30 p.m. The following Senators were present for all or part of the meeting: Berry, Cairns, Gillespie, Hariman, Honts, McCrickerd, Parsa, Petersen, Phillips, Pomeroy, Romig, Schneider, Sisk, Spencer, Strentz, Torgerson, Walker, Wright Absent: Brady, Simpson, Stratton Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Upon proper motion and second, the minutes of the September 1999 meeting were approved with two corrections presented by Secretary Geiger. The corrections: a) on the first page, fourth bullet point which begins with Vice President Payseur should say 'she' not 'he'; b) on page three, second paragraph, second sentence delete the word 'although'. Report from Interim Provost Hoag: The Information Technology Task Force subcommittees have submitted their preliminary reports. The reports have identified eight areas, which will now be put into a plan. The task force has utilized in its discussions the previous reports submitted concerning technology issues including the December 1997 IRPI report. The Mac-in-the-Room proposal has gotten Student Senate support with stipulations and requests that Provost Hoag indicated would be included as much as possible. The Deans Council is working on several matters including the status of the faculty transitional leave program and the faculty salary plan for the next budget year. Dean Joe Alber represents Drake on the Des Moines Higher Education Center Committee, which was formerly known as the Downtown Higher Education Commission. The Board of Governors Academic Affairs committee meeting was an informational session that delved into the tenure system and process at Drake. Provost Hoag made the following announcements concerning other departments in his division: The Human Resources Department is working on a revised performance review system, which will be presented to the University community soon. The recent major changes in the benefits program were not without some problems. The Human Resources Department is handling each situation, as they become aware of the errors. Provost Hoag encouraged individuals with questions to contact Human Resources. The Internet connection has had one T1 line recently added and additional high-speed lines will be added, as they are needed. There will be Y2K testing of the administrative system and a personal computer event yet this month. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) has reported an increase in the accommodation requests received this semester. Senator Wright asked if there is information available on possible reasons for the increase in disability accommodation requests. Possible factors mentioned for the increase at the DRC are an increased awareness of the students and their parents of the resources available and/or an increase in various learning disabilities, which have been diagnosed. Report from President Spencer: President Spencer has communicated with each Senate Standing Committee, as per Section 4.22 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty Senate, and reported that each is fully formed and functioning. The Executive Committee met with Jim Romig, General Education Director and David Skidmore, First Year Seminar Director to work on the Drake Curriculum subcommittee proposal that is on today's agenda as new business. The General Education Committee first drafted the proposal presented to the Executive Committee. President Spencer expressed appreciation for the broad faculty participation in the Inaugural events. Also various Board of Governor committee meetings were held during that weekend which had faculty representation. These faculty will be asked to make a report at later Senate meetings. Governor Robert Ray sent an appreciation letter to the Senate for being awarded the Drake Medal of Service Award. The letter was passed around to the senators present. Via campus mail, senators received a set of the approved athletic schedules from the Intercollegiate Athletic Council. The schedules do not require senate action but are provided to individual senators as general information. Unfinished Business: A) A written response was received from the President’s Committee on Commencement. They indicated they met and discussed concerns raised by Faculty Senate concerning the September motion to alter the Guidelines for the construction of the Academic Calendar. The Commencement Committee members present included a student representative, faculty and staff who concluded to not reintroduce a motion nor address the Calendar issue at this time. B) Senator Hariman withdrew his committee formulation motion offered at the September meeting. New Business: Senator Romig moved and Strentz seconded Motion 00-03: Accept the structure of the Drake Curriculum Committees President Spencer noted that the Advisement Subcommittee should have an additional sentence in the membership portion reading: The chair is appointed by the Executive Committee and shall serve on the GEC. Senator Hariman noted that some prior confusion has been resolved with the wording of this motion and the committee structure has been simplified. Senator Strentz asked where would the responsibility be for addressing the resources question for aspects of the Drake Curriculum. Senator Romig noted this is a function of the Outcomes Committee, the GEC and the Administration. The GEC has the responsibility for putting the policy into action. The design and oversight is listed in the charge but comments were made that there is not a plan for when there are not resources to fulfill the expected program outcomes. There was discussion that the committees are not confined to the number of members listed. An Executive Committee could add persons to a committee, as they deemed appropriate. There is not a specific representative from the inter-disciplinary areas on any committee, it was noted. Student Body President John Rosen asked if there would be student involvement again as there had been last year. The present avenue for student voice on a variety of issues is the Joint Committee on Student Concerns, the Student Senate Academic Affairs Committee meeting with EPI and other joint committee/forum gatherings. Senator Romig indicated he considered it a good suggestion to hold a regular meeting with students and the GEC. The question was called and debate ended. The motion passed on a voice vote. Report from President Maxwell: President Maxwell solicited comments and in put concerning Drake’s position on the Polk County sales tax initiative. During the Inaugural forums, Drake was taken to task for not taking a stance on the issue. The Board had discussions on this issue later during that weekend and they requested the topic be brought to campus forums for comment and discussion. This is a critical issue to the Des Moines Schools health and well being, he said. Although there are some concerns as to how to proceed, two specific ideas were advanced. 1) Have an opinion page editorial written for the Des Moines Register and signed by various key campus personnel such as President Spencer or from President Maxwell. 2) Draft and distribute a letter, which anyone could sign and then publish that in the Des Moines Register. Personal monies from the campus community would fund this option. There was discussion favorable to proceeding with both ideas and consider having a university policy developed that would address these kinds of public and community issues. There were concerns about the institution taking a political stance versus individuals expressing their views that are members of the institution. Senator Strentz indicated the real issue is the funding laws of public education in the State of Iowa. Senator Wright indicated that schools should look for ways besides regressive taxes, either property or sales, to support themselves. President Maxwell noted that research shows that higher education needs to be more involved with lower education and we have a good opportunity to do so here in the county. Senator Walker responded favorably to the suggestion of an on campus public forum which would allow for the campus environment to be used for what academia prevails to be which is an arena for open discussion. There was encouragement that both sides of the issue are presented at any such gathering. Guest Jackie Easley spoke to the body and said she was pleased to hear the senators interested in becoming involved in all K-12 issues. President Maxwell summarized that what he had heard was support for President Maxwell to write an editorial for the newspaper and for Senator Walker to circulate a letter for individuals to sign. President Maxwell has had conversation s with Superintendent Witherspoon recently and they hope to expand the collaborations between the schools and Drake. Both search committees have met and Ronda Menke have been added to the Institutional Advancement Vice President committee membership. A few responses have been received to the vision statement and he encouraged all to take a look at the document and send him comments. A summary will be forthcoming for all the symposia. These were certainly exhibits of true quality of thought that Drake and the Community has to offer each other. Senator Petersen asked if he would address the issue of aid being cut for students studying overseas. President Maxwell responded that Drake was doing something unusual by allowing the Drake financial aid to go with the student overseas. The committee recommendation was a compromise that half of the Drake money would be portable. This will be looked at closely the first year and adjustment made as needed. Guest Gretchen Olson added that the changes would not impact the needy student who wished to go overseas, as a fund has been set up for those needs. On proper motion and second the meeting closed at 5:00 p.m. Submitted by, Nancy Geiger, Secretary