Faculty Senate Minutes
Date: 16 October 2013
Location: Fulp 400
Time: 4:07 p.m.
Members Present: Todd Crisp-Simons, Stacey Frank, Doug Allen, Bobby Watt, Kevin Bell, Cheryln Brown, Jeff Christmas, Ron Brown, Mary Geren, Kate Williams, Tom Lawrence, and Chris McFarlin
Members Absent: Marla Roberson, Carol Henry, and Stan
Compton
Others Present: None
Presider: Todd Crisp-Simons
Approval of Minutes: It was motioned that the September 2013 minutes
be approved. The motion was seconded.
The minutes were approved unanimously.
New Business:
1. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Concluding
the Election of Officers
It
was motioned for Chris McFarlin to be nominated as Vice President, seconded,
and was a unanimous vote. It was motioned for Stacey Frank to be nominated as
Secretary, seconded, and was a unanimous vote.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
2. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Department
of Comprehensive Studies’ Faculty Representation
Todd
explained the new transition for Stacey Frank to become Arts and Sciences
Adjunct Representative and Kevin Bell to be moved into the Transitions to
College adjunct representative, as the announcement of the new dean/ division
had taken place. It was requested by the Transitions to College Division only
have one faculty and one adjunct representative on faculty senate. While it is
on their request, it still must be voted on by faculty senate. It was motioned
to allow this modification, seconded, and voted. This change will stand.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
3. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Meeting
Minutes and Constituent Requests to the Agenda
Todd
motioned for our current meeting minutes follow the By-Laws in regards to their
being posted to eTC within seven (7) business days, allowing faculty enough
time to review them prior to the following month’s meeting. Further, Todd
motioned that all requests by senators and their respective constituents to be
included in the following month’s agenda; therefore, all issues should be
relayed to the respective senate members no later than fourteen (14) business
days prior to the next month’s meeting, which allows time for the necessary
steps to take place. The motion was seconded and passed.
4. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Follow-
up on Academic Affairs Concerns and Institutional Effectiveness Concerns
The
Senate has been charged with analyzing our college’s National Benchmark
results. Todd provided all members with these results and reviewed the
statistics provided. There were many statistical and analysis questions asked
by members to identify how this tool should be viewed in relation to our
institution. There were various questions on how this tool demonstrates what
the true results are and how valid these answers are. Others questions arise as
to whether this responsibility is the task of the faculty senate or if this should
be revisited again. It has been requested that more information be provided
prior to further review in order to better understand the statistics presented.
Todd requested that each member compile a list of questions and seek more
information as a whole by Friday, October 25th and communicate this
to him via email so that he can present these questions for answers.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
This
matter will be discussed at a later meeting; once questions have been answered,
the Senate members will make a decision.
5. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Update
on Graduation Fee/ Dates
Todd
met with Scott Harvey and identified that this is not a faculty issue; however,
the idea to move the fee upfront is being taken favorably. Scott will take this
issue to Executive Staff with our support. Scott is looking at this as
potential revenue source by adding this fee upon entrance in addition to their
application fee. Scott explained that going into the 2014-15 school year, the college
will no longer pay for students’ regalia. Jostens will come onto the campus for students
to order their regalia. The idea is that Jostens will be handling all of the
issues that come to pass and taking this off of the school. Further, the date
of graduation applications is necessary to be so far in advance due to the
advising process and students not necessarily taking what their advisor tell
them to take; therefore, the goal is students can file for graduation and then
meet with advisors so that they have enough time to review Degree Works and
ensure that students are on the right path.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
6. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Student
Withdrawal/ Reinstatement: Westlaw 2008 Policy
Chris
brought forth a situation which involves students being withdrawn by student
records due to a declaration of citizenship issue. Students are withdrawn, and
must have the instructor complete a form in order to allow him or her back into
the course. A question arises: if student
records withdraws the student, why does the instructor have to complete the
process to readmit them. The bigger problem identified here was why students
are being accepted to begin their education, without having all of their
documentation completed. Lastly, the instructor should not take on the
adversarial burden for explaining the situation to the student. Todd will
follow up with this issue.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
7. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Smoking
Policy
It
was announced to the college as a whole via eTC on Wednesday, October 16, 2013,
that the as of August 2014, the college will become a non-tobacco institution.
This was addressed in last year’s faculty senate. The consensus was to respect
the right of tobacco users. The question is who approved this? The other
question is how will this be enforced? What is the penalty? Todd will formulate
a statement that will be emailed to all faculty identifying that faculty senate
did not vote for this and are not in support of this, and will include the
meeting minutes from when this issue was discussed.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
8. Issue discussed and major points of
discussion:
Vote
on Faculty Core Competencies for Talent Management
During
the September meeting, Senate members were asked to gather their constituents’
votes on the top three or four core competencies to be used in the Talent
Management system. There were many that were provided and reviewed individually
in order to narrow down to the four with the highest votes. These were viewed
at the macro level, as well as understanding that we will be held accountable
to these, and later at the micro level will be reviewed within the divisions. Those
four competencies voted on and will be forwarded on are Academic Integrity,
Leadership and Professionalism, Excellence in Teaching, and Subject-Matter
Expertise.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
Old Business:
None.
Comments/Concerns:
Starfish
and Early Alert- Lou Anne Martin will be at the November meeting to go over
this.
Next meeting: 20 November 2013 (Fulp 400)
Adjournment
at 6:00 p.m.
Name of Recorder: Stacey Frank
