Faculty Assembly report to UNCW Faculty Senate, by Delegate Kimberly Cook
(other delegates present at FA meeting on April 16, 2010: Raymond Burt, Bruce McKinney and Colleen
Reilly)
April 20, 2010
I.
Resolutions passed by the Faculty Assembly include these two:
1.
To do the following things: GA should work within the General Assembly to prohibit random testing of employees for obesity and tobacco use, provide more incentives rather than punitive measures, and that employees should retain their choice among the coverage plan options. In addition, we urged GA to advocate for the State Health plan to be transferred to the executive branch of government, for transparency and public accountability from our
SHP vendors.
2.
The faculty assembly endorsed the white paper defining and measuring the ‘academic core’ of the University system. And that the academic core of the University system should be protected. It was also endorsed that the Committee to define and measure the academic core continue its work to collect data and monitor expenditures to support the academic core. The full paper is available upon request.
Student Services, Auxiliary Services
(support services, activities, and infrastructure that add to the “life experience” of the university community
Academic and Research
Support Services, Student Housing
(support services and infrastructure that enhance the academic environment)
II.
Classrooms, Laboratories, Libraries, Studios
(physical infrastructure that enhances the learning relationship)
Disciplinary/Interdisciplinary Units
(knowledge and skills advanced through expert-peer-reviewed research and teaching)
Learning Relationship
(student/faculty interaction)
Hannah Gage, Chair of the Board of Governors was with us for about an hour: a.
Presidential Search Update: the BOG is in the process of selecting a consulting firm to assist in the recruitment of candidates for the position. There’s a policy in place that

III.
wasn’t followed for the last search and will be followed closely for this search. There are three committees currently working at different stages: the leadership statement committee (Raymond Burt is a member of this committee); the screening committee
(they are working on screening the consulting firms); and then the search committee
(which will ultimately conduct the search and interview the finalists). BOG is collecting information and feedback now and solicits your input as well. Link to online survey: http://www.northcarolina.edu/2010presidentialsearch/index.htm
b.
She expects that the new president will be identified and begin work early in the fall. c.
Funding from the legislature for the next year with the community colleges and the university working in tandem to encourage better funding and tuition dollars coming back to the university rather than going into the general fund.
Anita Watkins updated us on the legislative priorities from GA. a.
The state is expecting $800million budget shortfall due largely to the sales tax revenues lagging behind projections. Therefore, state agencies may need to cut another 5%; there is already another 2% cut built into the 2010-2011 fiscal year. b.
EB is trying to convince the Governor that tuition dollars should belong to the University system. c.
State employees (including faculty, staff, and administrators in the system) will not be receiving raises this year. But, we’re also not likely to see a furlough this year like we did last year. d.
The state health plan is a “huge disaster” and it really needs to be fixed, but that won’t happen this year. Everyone is aware that when the contract expires, important conversations will happen. e.
We will have to wait and see what the Governor’s budget looks like when it’s released
(should be today: 4/20/10) and then how it will be coordinated with the senate and house budgets. It is expected to be completed by June 30; which is early for NC.
Thanks!