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Governance Minutes ArchiveOctober 20, 1992
The following minutes were officially approved on November 10, 1992. FACULTY SENATE Minutes 20 October 1992 32 Pamplin Hall I. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Leon Geyer. Visitors were introduced: John Ashby (Spectrum) Provost Fred Carlisle, Wanda Dean (Classroom Management), Marvin Foushee (Classroom Management), Peggy Rasnick (Staff Senate Liaison). Later visitor: Larry Bechtel (Campus Recycling) Senators present: Barbeau, Beagle, Brown, Carrig, Clowes, deWolf, Eng, Falkinham, Feret, Ficenec, Foy, Fuller, Geyer, Graham, Hardell, Hasselman, Haugh, Holtzman, Hult, Jones, Lambur, Landgraf, Martin, McDaniels, Miller, Mullins, Murray, Norstedt, Olin, Pierce, Rakes, Scigaj, Sherman, Shumsky, Simmons, Snoke, Sumichrast, Tidemen, Vinson, Wang, Weaver, Webb, Williams Senators absent: Armstrong, Bunce, Fern, Howard, O'Brien, Parsons, Wright II. Classroom Management (Wanda Dean, Marvin Foushee) Dean outlined the objectives of the Classroom Management Program, which has been in effect for about nine months under the aegis of the Registrar's Office. The program is designed to assist instruction by improving the classroom environment and by giving the faculty an opportunity to help with these improvements. The program acts as a clearinghouse for faculty who have specific complaints or concerns about classrooms. An advisory committee is being formed, with representatives from all faculty associations and the Senate, to assist with planning and expediting. In discussing classroom environment problems, Foushee noted that the university has 168 general assignment classrooms (down from 217) and that these rooms have an 85% utilization rate between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00. Although this leaves little time to do renovations or correct problems, the goal is a 24-hour response to reported complaints. While some things, such as temperature and noise control, cannot be corrected by the program, there have been achievements: new blackboards have been installed in several buildings, AV equipment is being installed and/or upgraded, four rooms in Randolph Hall have been airconditioned, and some heavily used classrooms will be carpeted during the Christmas holidays. Classroom Management can be contacted by calling 1-3874 or sending an e-mail message to FOUSHEEM@VTVM1. Discussion: Senator Miller explained how the program had helped him with acquiring the needed AV equipment for a class. Question: If a department desired larger classrooms, could Classroom Management negotiate exchanges of smaller rooms for larger ones? Foushee: Not during prime time. The university has 14 rooms that seat more than 100 students, and some of these are not really classrooms. Question: Isn't there $250,000 available for classroom upgrades? Dean: Yes, and the advisory committee will be deciding how it should be spent. There will be annual reports and periodic reviews of the program. But the $250,000 is a one- time grant. Foushee: In the past, such money has been used to provide additional AV technician support for especially large classrooms. The technicians also work in the evening, which he sees as an incentive for evening classes. Question: Could some classrooms be redesigned by people who actually teach? Foushee: Yes, there will be input from faculty and, possibly, students to be given to Facilities Planning. There are many complications in redesigning existing facilities. Question: Is there a priority structure for deciding what improvements should be made? Senator Miller explained that the equipment he has been using was purchased as a test - if it worked out, it would be available to anyone and more might be purchased. Dean: Last year's faculty committee brought out a list of short- and long-term priorities, based on complaints and suggestions that had been brought forward. Foushee: In some cases, the priorities are mandated by law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Equipment was purchased for visually impaired students and probably will be needed for the hearing impaired as well. Senators Sherman and Sumichrast volunteered to represent the Senate on the Classroom Management Committee. III. Conversation with the Provost Provost Carlisle listed some of his projects and priorities for the coming year: A. Faculty Rewards and Responsibilities Project, headed by Carol Burch-Brown B. Attention to graduation rates, retention, and success rates in various programs. Compared with land-grant institutions nationwide, Tech's graduation rate ranks second; compared with other institutions in Virginia, we do not rank very well. C. Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (Burch- Brown and Larry Harris) D. Advancing international studies programs: the European Studies Center, promoting links with international universities E. Improving campus environment and promoting diversity F. Searches. The Provost's Office currently is involved in five searches. 1. Vice-Provost for University Outreach and International Programs. Preliminary interviews are complete; two or three candidates will be invited to campus in the next few weeks. Appointment is hoped for before the winter holidays. 2. Vice-Provost for Research/Dean of the Graduate School. Have nominees already, will be advertised soon in the Chronicle. The search committee is primarily faculty. The search will be completed in March or April. 3. Vice-President for Information Systems. Recommendations on the search and composition of the search committee will be presented at the next University Council meeting. March or April is the anticipated completion date. 4. Dean of the College of Human Resources. Search committee has been appointed. 5. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This is a resumed search and has not yet been formally announced. G. Defining and working on implementation of phase two of the budget process Discussion: Higher education, the legislature, and the public Question: In view of all the bashing of higher education, does the university have plans for educating the public regarding the university's work and functions? Answer: Believes universities have communicated reasonably well, but we are in a period when people are not interested in hearing what we have to say. Positive examples, however, are the banding together of all university presidents in Virginia with Gordon Davies to develop priorities as to what can be done to help higher education rebuild over the next four to six years, and the excellent promotion of the general obligation bond issue. Question: Wouldn't promoting undergraduate research help promote the image of the university? Answer: It would certainly help. Several hundred undergraduates currently are involved in research. We also need to emphasize the benefits to undergraduates in attending a research university. Question: We were legislated into having a new college. Are there any signs that the legislature will continue to try to run the university? Answer: Not specifically; there is industry concern regarding the reorganization of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The interim dean successfully pointed out to the agribusiness group that the legislature had taken away financial resources, leaving the college with no choice but to realign goals and organizational structure. Hopeful that there will be no further intrusion. Faculty workload Question: Is there sympathy in the legislature to legislate faculty workload? Answer: There is a lot of talk, but SCHEV believes there is still time for the faculty's case to be made. A state-wide committee has been appointed for this purpose. There are better solutions than requiring everyone to teach one more course. Observation and question: Senator Murray pointed out that she is teaching voluntarily an extra hour this semester. Her colleagues' responses to this are quite negative. If this is the response of a peer group, how does this appear to the public? How can the Faculty Rewards and Responsibilities Project educate us in this matter? Devotion to teaching seems to be met with scorn. Response: Hopes the extensive discussions generated by the project might make a difference. If we don't figure out what to do, there might well be legislation that makes the decisions for us. Observation: In those university areas where courses run to three consecutive hours, there is no way that additional courses could be added to the workload. Question: Is there a mechanism for rewarding participation in the governance system? Answer: Secretarial and administrative support will be given. Question: How does public service affect the expectations of faculty? Answer: Budget cuts, especially those experienced by Extension, have slowed the emphasis on public service. Individually, faculty need to think more broadly about the public service mission, but not everyone can perform equally well in all three areas of the mission. Part of this will be addressed by the Faculty Rewards group. We will also be trying to figure how departments can meet the needs of individuals. It is hoped a reward structure can be established. Budget Question: Is it true that the Provost's Office is requesting plans from the departments for budget reductions of 1, 2, and 3%? Answer: There are no specific reduction plans; there are allocation/reallocation guidelines within the university. About 1-2% will be reallocated in each biennium. Each dean will develop a plan for returning the amount. This is almost the only flexibility in the current financial situation. The way the reallocation amount is collected is the responsibility of the deans, not the Provost's Office. Question: What faculty input goes into reallocation? Answer: The Budget and Planning Advisory Council is composed mostly of faculty, including representation from each unit's faculty association and from the Senate. Assumes that the college reallocation proposals are developed with faculty input as well. Registration process Question: Has any consideration been given to modernizing the registration process? Answer: Yes, an integrated Enrollment Services Office is being formed out of several administrative offices. This group will work on converting the system to phone/computer registration - an "ask and answer" system. Observations: An information systems person who is more concerned with instruction than machines and who understands faculty and students would be a help. There has been a great emphasis on advising and greater student contact. The registration process brings students and faculty together. An "efficient" system seems to bypass this concern. Response: The faculty must be included in the development of the system; they know where the controls must be. This is an important point of consideration. Searches Question: What's the envisioned role for the Vice-President for Information Services? Answer: We need a person who knows the importance of instruction. This person should also have an idea of how the Computing Center can alter its methods of providing service in a distributed environment. Should have an understanding of libraries, as well. Question: Could you discuss the role of the Vice-Provost for Outreach and International Affairs? Response: The job includes anything relating to public service activities, including continuing education, and all international projects. Basically, it encompasses anything that begins to leave the campus, including technology transfer. Diversity and the campus environment Question: What's the status of "opportunity hires" campus- wide? Answer: We have 10-12 of these positions available in a year. We have hired 39 women, 19 minorities, and 13 Afro- Americans. The results are rather modest. Question: What controls are in place to ascertain these hires are consistent with department/college goals? Answer: The proposals come from the the departments. Jim Wolfe coordinates this aspect of the program. There is discussion with the deans, and the appointment must meet the goals. Question: Could you expand on the goal of a diverse campus environment? Response: One example is the seminar program on diversity for department heads and above. Student Affairs is also doing a good job with students and parents during orientation. Promoting diversity, however, is a very long- term project. There is a fair amount of insensitivity on the part of the students. A request has also come through for an ombudsman for black students. Off-campus programs Question: Some deans and department heads think that off- campus programs use up resources for the programs at home. Will there be a time when the off-campus programs have their own budgets? Answer: Working on a way to restructure the budget so there is some flexibility and some incentive for off-campus activity. Because off-campus expansion is one of SCHEV's goals, we need to keep promoting our programs and needs with them in our search for funding. Observation: There are more master's degree students in engineering enrolled in off-campus programs than here at Tech. Yet engineering has only four or five faculty members in the off-campus program. What can be done about this? Response: Has been discussing this with Dean Clough, but has no solution yet. A lot depends on cooperating with other institutions, such as UVa. IV. Environmental projects (Larry Bechtel, Virginia Tech Recycling) Bechtel described the campus recycling endeavor, in which the students are already actively involved. The university generates about 488 tons of trash per month, costing $16,000 in dumping fees. Recycling could save a considerable amount of money. He urged that the faculty get involved; departments are encouraged to participate as a unit. Although recycling is not convenient, it is much more convenient than it was. Faculty should act as models for the students. In response to questions, Bechtel indicated that VTR cannot solicit recyclable material from off-campus but they will not ban such donations. About 80% of the 488 tons (the paper) is eligible for recycling. Some trash, such as aluminum and scrap metals, is more valuable than, say, plastic, which is worth nothing. If everyone participates to the fullest, the custodians and trash men will have little to do, so the recycling job can be turned over to them. V. Announcements (President Geyer) A. A volunteer is needed to act as parliamentarian. B. The deans expressed a desire to speak to the Senate again, perhaps every one or two years. It was agreed that this was a good idea. C. Meetings 1. President Geyer and Vice-president de Wolf met with the Foundation Board. Since representatives were there from the alumni and from the athletic donors, this was a good opening for a faculty group, which the Senate representatives proposed. 2. Since the last meeting, the Senate officers have met with the Vice-president for Finance and with the Provost. Topics discussed included following up on the Hotel Roanoke issue. D. All commission chairs have been selected. President Geyer and Larry Moore will meet with the chairs in order to clarify matters relating to the committee system. E. The Senate Cabinet selected the following for the Senate Ethics Committee: John Christman (A&S), Tom Sherman (Ed), Sedki Riad (Eng), Peter Shires (VetMed). [Added in proof: The representative from Human Resources was unable to serve, and Janet Taper was selected to represent that college.] F. President Geyer called attention to some issues included in the handouts distributed at the last meeting: 1. Training sessions for the new governance system. 2. The Board of Visitors gave a very favorable review of President McComas. 3. The BOV expressed concern regarding the lack of accountability on faculty long distance telephone calls. The administration will be looking into the idea of personal access codes. Senator Eng emphasized the importance of monitoring all calls. VI. Agenda and minutes A. The agenda was adopted after discussion. Several senators asked that the roll call be held earlier in the meeting or the agenda be reordered. B. Senate minutes for 22 September 1992 were approved. C. Senate Cabinet minutes for 3 August, 4 September, and 2 October 1992 were accepted. VII. Council, commission, and committee reports A. University Council There was a comment on the emphasis on research expressed in the report. The university seems to be presenting itself in many ways. Perhaps there should be some clarification of exactly who we are. B. Commission on Faculty Affairs (Senator Shumsky) Another revision of the Faculty Handbook is being prepared and should be read carefully by all. CFA is discussing how the handbook should be presented - suggestions are welcome. C. Faculty Senate of Virginia (Senator Eng) SCHEV, as part of its study on the restructuring of higher education, is doing a survey of faculty effectiveness. (See Cabinet minutes of 2 October.) The Virginia Tech consultant to SCHEV in this study is James Robertson of History. A bill will be presented to the next session of the General Assembly to remove the state retirement fund from state jurisdiction to the jurisdiction of a separate corporation. In the discussion that followed, President Geyer mentioned that the Senate probably will discuss the pension issue at one of its winter meetings. D. Advisory Committee on Budget and Planning (President Geyer) Geyer reported on some of the topics discussed at the recent meeting: out-of-state tuition and its effect on enrollment, Virginia's low national ranking in support for higher education (below Alabama and Arkansas). VIII. New business A. Election of a representative to University Council. President Geyer was nominated and elected without opposition. B. Volunteer for Committee on Debit Cards. Senator Beagle volunteered to be the Senate representative on this new committee. IX. There being no further business, the Senate adjourned at 9:25 PM.
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