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Governance Minutes ArchiveOctober 8, 1993
Minutes Commission on Faculty Affairs October 8, 1993 400-D Burruss Hall Present: M. Norstedt, J. Buffer, L. Shumsky, D. Creamer, G. Holtzman, K. Horstman, B. Aliff, P. Hyer. The meeting was called to order at 2:20pm by L. Shumsky. Announcements: Shumsky reported that he recently held a meeting with J. Wolfe, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, P. Hyer, Assistant Provost for Administration, and W. Snizek about roles for UDPs. Buffer reported that he recently met with the Council of Deans about the same issue and that discussion included the possibility of time limitations of appointments to UDP status. Buffer will provide the Commission with his notes from the meeting. Shumsky reported also on a recent meeting with J. Wolfe, P. Hyer, and R. Sorenson, Dean of the College of Business, about extraordinary promotions. No resolutions were reached, but discussion is continuing. Hyer reported that she is working on several suggestions for language changes to the Faculty Handbook and that these items will be on the CFA agenda for its October 22 meeting. Minutes were approved for the September 24 meeting. Holtzman suggested that titles of administrators be included in minutes in the future. The agenda was adopted. Old Business: (a) Commission on Faculty Affairs Resolution 93-94A was presented by Shumsky pertaining to proposed language changes to section 1.4.12.3 of the Faculty Handbook which details the structure and work of the Committee on Faculty Ethics. Discussion centered on specific language change proposed by Faculty Senate President DeWolf and approved by the Faculty Senate. Buffer moved and Hyer seconded that the additional phrase approved by the Senate, "... documenting its findings and reasoning" be expanded to include, "... documenting the process, its findings, and its reasoning." The motion passed. (b) Commission on Faculty Affairs Resolution 93-94B was presented by Shumsky pertaining to section 3.6.1. of the Faculty Handbook which prescribes Syllabus and Performance Expectation and section 3.6.2 which prescribes Class Attendance. Discussion centered on whether attendance should be used in grading and on whether the University Health Services should be involved in providing excuses for students due to illness. After considerable discussion in which a variety of opinions were voiced about the appropriateness of the current policy, Creamer moved and Norstedt seconded a motion to make major changes in the policy leaving only intact four ideas: (a) that faculty and students are expected to attend class, (b) that when faculty are unable to attend class they should inform their department heads so that appropriate measures can be taken, (c) that when students are unable to attend class they should inform their instructors so that appropriate measures can be taken, and (d) that when students are faced with prolonged absence, they may ask their academic deans for assistance to inform their instructors. The motion was passed. (c) Discussion about appointment of A/P faculty to academic rank was initiated by Creamer and Hyer and focused on the issue of procedures to be used by departments or divisions in initial appointments. The primary question was whether departments should employ their P&T committees at the initial appointment. Some confusion resulted from not having the recently approved policies forwarded to Commission members in advance, and further discussion was postponed until the next meeting. New Business: No new business was introduced. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50pm.
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Last modified on: Tuesday, 25-Sep-2001 13:57:17 EDT