Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes 1-29-16

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

January 29, 2016

 

Members Present: Tom Hiebel, Terri Smith, Andrea Barnett, Timeko McFadden, Lacey Torge, Stacey Frank, Justin Herndon, and Amy Roberts

 

Not in Attendance: Meg Allan, Fran Broome, Gregg Corley, Laura McClain, and Stacy Smith

 

Guests: Della Vanhuss and Lou Ann Martin

 

Meeting began: 1:30PM

 

Stacey introduced Terri Smith as the new adjunct representative from Comprehensive Studies replacing Larry (Kevin) Bell.

 

Tom introduced Della Vanhuss. Della explained the purpose of changing the General Education Outcomes for the college holistically. It was recommended that these changes encompass what employers are looking for in a recently graduated college student and how this would provide a foundation for becoming a well-educated person. Della explained that these would be college-wide and that we would see these changes coming in 2017. Tom asked for us to pass this vote, it was seconded by Amy Roberts. The vote passed unanimously.

 

Old Business:

 

Pay per course/ per hour: It was brought to Senate, that adjunct faculty specifically, were not being paid the same for each course when the courses are offered at different lengths (ie: 6 week versus 7 week versus 14 week). The concern is that if faculty are to teach the same amount of minutes per course regardless of meeting pattern, why are they not being paid the same? The question was then, what about full-time faculty on overload, revisiting an old issue. Was the problem really addressed? Senate will look into this and return with answers for faculty.

 

Another issue that has been brought forward is faculty vacation days. Faculty are allotted by law 23 days within the 9 month calendar and an additional 5 if teaching summer classes. Senate will be looking into this situation with Deans and Department Heads.

 

It was asked of faculty senate to revisit the drop/ add period by the calendar committee. It has been argued that we should follow York Technical College and move forward with no drop/add period. It has also been argued that the drop/ add period should be on the same day. Following this discussion, Senators discussed this and identified an idea that would satisfy all arguments. A proposal will be brought forward to Executive Committee for approval.

 

Revisiting our previous discussions regarding our governance scope, we will continue to research and revisit at a later date.

 

New Business:

 

Lou Ann Martin attended the meeting to ask for suggestions for Starfish. She also collected problems that faculty are having with the workability of Starfish. We provided her with what we know.

 

Title IX was brought up by faculty regarding windows in doors being covered and leaving doors open when students are within. Faculty are concerned that this is not conducive of being able to have private time to get work done, eat, change clothes to go to the gym, etc. This will be followed up by Senate and bring answers back. 

 

There was no time for Committee Reports. We will start with this next meeting.

 

The meeting schedule was not developed due to running out of time.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:50PM.

 

Minutes taken collectively. Submitted by S. Frank 2/1/16