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Governance Minutes ArchiveOctober 10, 1989
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Faculty Senate 10 October 1989 32 Pamplin Hall 7:30 p.m. Present: Senators Arnold, Barker, Batie, Hertel (alternate for Baumgartner), Beyer, Birch, Conn, Crittenden, de Wolf, Dudley, Eng, Farkas, Geller, Geyer, Goss, Hillison, Kingston, Kriz, McDaniels, Hess (alternate for Marriott), Nielsen, Polan, Cook (alternate for Salvaggio), Scanlon, Snoke, Sorrentino, Thompson, Ventre, Walker, Falkingham (alternate for Webster), Wokutch. Absent: Senators Bunce, Canestaro, Dugger, Duke, Eiss, Etgen, Morrill, O'Neil, Saunders. Visitors: Mr. Ken Martin (for Ms. Karen DeBord, representing Extension faculty), Ms. Susan Truelove (Spectrum), Mr. Greg Ritter (Employee Relations), and Ms. Phyllis Volhein (Vocational & Technical Education). 1. Announcements President Scanlon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and welcomed guests. a. Officers have met with Dr. McComos. Topics of discussion included health insurance costs, timing of salary announcements, supplemental grants fund, and the University smoking policy. b. Officers have also met with Mr. Ridenour, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. c. Cabinet met with Mr. Forbes, Mr. Ridenour, and Dr. Smoot regarding the Virginia Tech Foundation and the Campaign for Excellence. d. Officers met with Martin Nemko, author of one of the popular "college guides." e. Senator Morrill will serve on the Task Force on Northern Virginia. f. A memo was received today from the University of Virginia stating that they were proceeding with plans for the Woodrow Wilson College despite the resignation of President O'Neil. g. Dues ($5.00) may be paid to the Secretary after the meeting. 2. Program Dr. Paul Gherman, Director of Libraries, discussed the issue of access vs. ownership. Why do we have to own it, if we have access to it? He stated that the library has the largest space deficit (189,000 sq. ft.) of any unit on campus. There is a possibility of using storage facility like that being used at UVA. We can now order books from Cheds using PROFS. Secretary Finley meet with library directors from across the Commonwealth and told them that they would have to solve their own problems as they related to the increasing costs of serials. Gherman suggested that one factor in the rapid increase in the cost of journals was the fact that faculty were publishing so much more, thus necessitating a need for more journals. Library funding is third on the priority list for increased funding next year. Dr. Gherman discussed the budget, including the $600,000 deficit for the library. He noted the Provost's concern about the deficit. 3. Agenda The agenda was adopted with the addition of a resolution on closing the drillfield to traffic. 4. Minutes The minutes of the Faculty Senate meeting of September 12, 1989 were approved. The minutes of the Faculty Senate Cabinet meeting of October 2, 1989 were accepted. 5. Report from Past President Senator Conn, Immediate Past President of the Faculty Senate, reviewed the past year beginning with his disappointments: failure to approve the Constitution, to obtain a seat on the Board of Visitors, and to convince the administration of the value of shared governance. He cited progress in the areas of the selection of a new provost, a faculty forum and colloquia, becoming more involved in the budgeting process, opening the books on the Foundation, improving relations with alumni, police and athletic department, establishing a faculty ethics committee, and being unbeaten in volleyball. 6. Council, Commission, and Committee Reports UNIVERSITY COUNCIL-Senator Eng- no meeting. COMMISSION ON EXTENSION-Senator Hillison for Marriott-3 Oct 89 A news release was distributed which outlined the reorganization of extension. The plan creates a new vice president's position to provide leadership to the university's land-grant mission of economic development, public service, and continuing education. The Director of the cooperative extension service will be placed under the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A committee was appointed to make recommendations on a redefinition of the role of the Commission. The proposal for an Academy of Extension and Public Service was referred to the Commission of Faculty Affairs for comments. Concerns were expressed that it is not open to all faculty and a broader representation is needed to start the Academy. COMMISSION ON FACULTY AFFAIRS-Senator de Wolf-15 Sept and 6 Oct 89 Salary adjustments in connection with cost-of-living vs. merit raises (only the latter exist at this time) were discussed. The issue of zero or negative raises (if there is any) will be discussed with the Provost. Student evaluation of teaching was felt to be only a part measure of teaching effectiveness, and certainly not well expressed in terms of a single number. D. Hinkle discussed and will distribute the report of a recent task force on evaluation of teaching. The question of establishing an Academy of Extension and/or (Public) Service Excellence was discussed at both meetings. There was some movement to stress service--public or otherwise--more than extension, but there was a general lack of direction in CFA towards any specific action. The modifications of CFA resolution 1988-89C at the September 8 meeting were rescinded at the October 6 meeting. Vice Provost J.M. Perry urged CFA to reconsider the original narrower focus upon Assistant Professors and Instructors, and Provost E.F. Carlisle offered to check similar procedures for extending tenure probation periods at other universities. Resolution 1988-89F concerning the reconciliation committee was still felt to require input from legal counsel concerning its wording. The merits of a second commencement ceremony in December were discussed briefly, but no action was taken. COMMISSION ON GRADUATE STUDIES-Senator Snoke-20 Sept and 1 Oct John Perry spoke about enrollment patterns at the university, concentrating on summer enrollment. It was announced that a long-standing goal had been achieved--4,037 graduate students were on the books as of 11 September, breaking 4,000 for the first time. Perry noted that there will not be a long summer session next summer, and that students on support for both sessions will have to sign for a minimum of three hours for each session rather than for only one session as was the rule for this summer. New procedures regarding the Defending Student "Status" were announced, the most significant change being that the "status" will now be a formal 1-credit course, and a student can qualify if he/she is on campus for any 3-4 weeks, not just at the beginning. At the 4 October meeting, the following occurred: --On 13 Friday at the War Memorial Gym there will be a Graduate Research Symposium; there was a preliminary discussion on establishing policies regarding academic misconduct by graduate students--at the moment there is none, and it was decided there should be; the Course and Program Criteria Committee reported that they had discussed "truth in packaging" regarding the offerings in courses and programs in the graduate catalog and had decided that no action need be taken at this time because the quarter/semester conversion had gotten rid of the untaught courses. COMMISSION ON RESEARCH-Senator Arnold-13 Sept Dr. Gary Hooper updated the Commission on the Waste Policy Institute. The articles of incorporation are now being acted upon. A director, Dean Eyman, has been hired, and he started October 1. He comes from Martin-Marietta and has a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Office space is being rented in the Corporate Research Center. Establishment of committees for the Commission--an Interdisciplinary Research Standing Committee. This committee will include a faculty senator, presumably one of the two senators on the Commission. Dr. Stout reported on the review of research and service centers. The center to be reviewed this year is the Virginia Center for Water Resources Research. Dr. Stout brought the Commission up to date on the Director of Facilities Planning. This person will take on all the management responsibilities for capital projects and the planning involved in renovation projects. The Commission will be reviewing the ethics statement in light of new federal requirements. COMMISSION ON STUDENT AFFAIRS-Senator Geyer-21 Sept The Task Force on Student Judicial Affairs is reviewing the current student judicial system other than the Honor System. The Provost has appointed a committee to revise student orientation. Capital improvements are to include Squires (Fall 1991), one fraternity and six sororities-- Phase II (Fall 1990), rec/fitness center has been presented to BOV and for General Assembly approval (start 1991), gift to add to tennis facilities, opening of non-alcoholic club on Main Street, outdoor pool by golf course. Revision of student Budget Board procedure to cover 12-month expenses. Issue of which student leaders should receive, how much should they receive, and work requirements for summer stipends was discussed and referred to sub-committee. COMMISSION ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES-Senator Dudley for Salvaggio-25 Sept and 9 Oct 89 Courses were approved on first and second readings at each of the meetings. Discussion of section 3.6.1 of the Faculty Handbook was postponed. ATHLETIC COMMITTEE-Senator Nielsen-5 Oct 89 First meeting was a review of events since the last meeting, including reports on the new conference possibilities, finances, NCAA compliance, and student progress. BUILDING COMMITTEE-Senator King-no meeting COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COMMITTEE-Senator Nielsen-no meeting in Sept Comments from last Faculty Senate meeting were forwarded to the committee chair, to become a permanent part of the agenda. He circulated them to the entire committee. COMPUTER COMMITTEE-Senator Birch-3 Oct 89 Dr. Robert Heterick, Vice President for Information Systems, discussed a number of issues including (1) the proposed relationship of the computer Committee to the University Commissions, and (2) the organizational structure of computing, the library, and communications within Information Systems. A big issue for Information Systems now is how we relate to the other computer networks, both throughout the state of Virginia and nationally. For example, a proposal has been sent to NSF to install a "backbone" node at Virginia Tech. This would give Tech direct access to very high speed communication lines and would greatly speed communications between Tech and other sites throughout the country. Currently, there are only approximately 12 such sites in the United States. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE-Senator Thompson-6 Oct 89 Health Care Rate Increase: Doug Martin reiterated the information that has already been made available to all employees and added further information. Specifically, on July 1, 1989, the State of Virginia became self-insured in the area of health care. The rate increase that will be effective on January 1 is a reflection of the state's actual loss history. Wellness Program: The prospects of a wellness program were discussed. Doug Martin will gather information pertaining to cost etc. and report back to the committee at the November meeting. Flexible Spending (Cafeteria) Plan: On July 1, 1990, the plan will be operations for health care only. The major impact of this is that our health insurance contributions will be made from pre-tax dollars. Other items, including dependent care are planned for the program and may be available as soon as January 1, 1991. As an aside, the University will have its child care Reference and Referral Service operational around the first of the year. KeyCare: This program would replace the current Cost Awareness program, BUT the individual would be forced to go to an approved hospital or only recover 70% of the approved charge. The state has assured the University that we will not be forced into this coverage without full input. The problem centers around the fact that Montgomery Regional is not a "Preferred Provider Organization." Negotiations with the State start in January. Peer Institutions Assessment: In an effort to assist in recruiting and retention, the possibility of a broad survey of health benefits at peer institutions has been suggested. Thompson and D. Martin will discuss such a survey with Institutional research. VSRS Topics: (1) Purchase of prior service: this was discussed and tabled until Ken Martin's ability to discuss it with the committee. This topic will be on the agenda of the committee's November meeting. (2) VSRS COLAs: it is the current practice of the VSRS not to adjust retirement pay until the July after the employee has been retired for one full calendar year. Thus, if one retires on February 1, 1990, he/she will not receive a cost of living adjustment until July 1, 1992. It was unanimously agreed that this period should not exceed 18 months. (3) VSRS SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE INSURANCE: That the amount of life insurance paid for by the state erodes after retirement was discussed. The topic was tabled until Ken Martin is available. This topic will be on the agenda of the November meeting (to be held Friday, November 17 in Burruss 400). EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION-no report INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES COMMITTEE-Senator Dudley-meeting postponed LIBRARY COMMITTEE-Senator Duke-4 Oct 89 Discussed the reorganization of the University Governance System with Professor Moore. The annual report was approved. SCHOLARSHIP AND STUDENT AID COMMITTEE-Senator Kingston-no meeting SELF-STUDY MONITORING COMMITTEE-Senator Arnold-no meeting SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS COMMITTEE-Senator Barker-13 Sept 89 Twenty-five awards were made; eight requests were denied, and one was tabled. The maximum award was $900.00. In response to complaints about scheduling, the Committee agreed to meet bi-monthly rather than quarterly. As a consequence, the Committee will be less likely to make retroactive awards in the future. There is evidently some confusion among faculty and administrators on submission procedures. A copy of the Committee's new schedule of meetings, and a set of administrative procedures, was circulated by Gary Hooper on October 3rd. PARKING/TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE-Senator Polan-3 Oct 89 There was a presentation on the new visitor's welcome center to be located on Southgate Drive in the existing white house. This was endorsed by the parking committee. Money will come from maintenance money, parking fees and money for handicapped renovation. TASK FORCE ON ADVISING-Senator Polan for Etgen-no meeting FACULTY SENATE OF VIRGINIA-Senator Conn To meet on Saturday, October 28 at Mary Baldwin College. The agenda will probably include faculty representation on the BOV and health care benefits. Request other agenda items. STUDENT APPEALS COMMITTEE-Senator Dudley- Senator Dudley has represented Faculty Senate since Dr. Carlisle's arrival. He suggested we add the Committee to our normal appointment committee. COMMENCEMENT PLANNING GROUP-Senator Geller Significant difficulties discussed included general rowdiness. Recommendations: no hooding at major commencement; start commencement later in the day; have better speakers; increase faculty and student involvement. 7. OLD BUSINESS CONSTITUTION Senator Arnold moved and it was seconded that the constitution as amended be approved. MOTION CARRIED. 8. NEW BUSINESS CONSTITUTION STRATEGY Senator Dudley will meet with Faculty Senate officers to plan strategy. CLOSING OF DRILLFIELD TO TRAFFIC Senator Geller brought proposal for discussion (See attached). Senator Geller moved and it was seconded to table the proposal until the next meeting. MOTION CARRIED. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary Goss, Secretary ADDENDUM Treasurer's Report 8 November 1989 Balance on hand, 2 October 1989 $182.25 Dues Deposit 10 @ $5.00 50.00 Balance on hand, 8 November 1989 232.25
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