ECSU Faculty Senate Meeting
Feb 18, 2014
Pharmacy Complex Room 104, 3:30pm
3:30pm – 3:35pm
Welcome – Chairperson Faculty Senate
3:35 pm -4:15 pm
Open General Meeting
Chancellor Search Forum
Survey
Open Discussion
4:15pm – 4:20pm
Approval of the minutes of the last meeting
4:21pm – 4:30pm
New Business
Discuss filling the secretary’s position
March Meeting
Minutes of the Last meeting
Key Issues: Strategic Plan Student Government Presentation to Faculty Senate Chancellors Remarks Dr. Arnold Banerji Grants Office Dr. Banerjee’s report from Faculty Assembly Dr. Johnson and University Strategic Planning Strategic planning is future of the university and vision, activities, and mission of the future of the institution over the next 5 years. Darnell Johnson, standing in for Flora Brown, who is traveling It is to give an update Reminder of the University goals, ECSU Vision Statement, ECSU Mission Statement, unsure if has been accepted or not, but presented the current items ECSU Core Values Timeline starting with the end of the spring 2013 semester Faculty is well represented on all committees, a lot of work was done, D. Wade's office assisted. After the Spring 2013 Institute, committee developed the first draft. Draft revised on 1/13/14 which incorporated the feedback received at the AA&PC. The Strategic goals are as follows: Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate students who will contribute to the economic prosperity of the state, the nation, and global communities (six objectives under this goal). Goal 2: Strength academic quality by promoting a climate of intellectual excellence through delivering high quality educational programs (7 objectives). Goal 3: Serve the people of NC, especially those living in our 21-­‐county service area, by promoting a culture of community service, engagement, outreach and support. Goal 4: Strengthen the university's internal controls, operational infrastructure and accountability. The issue of sustainability was raised here. Goal 5: Maintain fiscal stability and systematically strengthen the university's short and long-­‐term financial outlook. Goal 6: Expand educational opportunities through a commitment to a student-­‐centered campus culture and extra-­‐
curricular comments. Dr. Coulson-­‐Clark thanks Dr. Johnson for his presentations Other Businesses What does it take to get the adjacent counties that are in VA to be considered for in-­‐state tuition? Probably will take an act of legislature to get us take on VA. Need to have a certain percentage of in-­‐state, quotas (with 17% cap at ECSU; AP State and WCU have tried-­‐AP state was successful) NC A&T was fined for exceeding the 17% cap ; we need to figure out the exact nature of the pilot done at the UNC GA. -­‐ Will get the details. Do you still fit the requirement of HBCU with student population, faculty, administration? Is the school still make up the core? Are we replicating the norm? Priscilia Azaglo SGA President requested a visit with the Faculty Senate to share the students solutions of bridging the gap between faculty and students and making ECSU into a better institution. At SGA retreat, they brainstormed some ideas and Issue of recruitment -­‐ creating a pep rally for this semester in which high school Seniors will be brought in and recruit them to the campus with tours, performances, etc on February 21st. Students will go the various students of potential majors interested in the program. To get students interested, they are to develop a newsletter of what the department is doing and how they can potentially serve them as future students. Not many campuses are doing this and need to revise it for contact. Let us faculty to find out and get information to SGA. Also, if not, we as a department should discuss whether planning. Is it at night or during day? Concerns over alcohol... It is not in conjunction with Open House because that event is too structured. Wanted to have students to come in a more informal way and getting them hooked into the school. One faculty, from art with glasses, member congratulated Priscilla for marketing and attempted to be ahead of the curve. Dr. Banerjee suggested that SGA comes and provides a regular update in order to keep us informed, and communicate concerns. Dr. Seaman suggested an idea -­‐-­‐have the university link the interested student with an ECSU student to give them tours, take them to the class, and possibly staying in the dorms. It would require a cohort of students. Priscilla recommended that VANS may be able to help out. SGA would like to have a Faculty Appreciation Day and not just staff to show one's support for faculty and even have a Student Appreciation Day. ECSU Viking Day in which everyone wears ECSU gear every last Friday of every month. SGA will communicate before the event. Suggested combined faculty/student forum on a regular basis with the Chancellor. Greetings from Chancellor Chancellor Becton has been in meetings and phone calls about the budget, restructuring and financial resources. New structural changes will be announcement. In terms of enrollment, need to promote efficiency in enrollment as it determines operational uses, etc. Need to stabilize and build enrollment. Need to make necessary changes to restructure and bring efficiency to programs, i. e. aviation sciences. Need to increase use of technology in the classroom and health care initiative in order to build enrollment. Have increased outreach to outlying counties, Coast Guard, Veterans Center, improve processes in regards to admissions. Efforts are underway to better utilize alumni in recruitment. Goal is to have every chapter to recruit 10 students. ECSU has already established an office to assist with transfer students in their transition to ECSU. It is to be the first point of contact for these students. They are to help them manage through the various services. Enrollment affects everything. Nothing is off the table as the university makes these decisions. Classes have been cancelled for tonight. Update of around 8:00pm for tomorrow with a delay or a closure. Teach-­‐out Plan: Timetable is unclear. It is in process. It is forthcoming. Did we discontinue the minors in the last Board meeting? If so, why did it not go through the formal process? He was under the impression that it did. Dr. CC clarified as why should not go through. (They were not brought through the internal processes.) Need to think about budget impact and not just persons. Look at bigger way to look out the money. Dr. Chancellor asked for these details to be sent to him. In terms of restructuring and the report of the inefficiency, ECSU needs to look at non-­‐instructional individuals who increased 6% of the last four years as enrollment increased only 1%. MCC requests the university to look at low cost and big impact. For instance, we may need to have revisit chairs and coordinators and strengthen in terms of coverage, not simply placing junior faculty members in the position, or possibly rotating chairs every 3-­‐5 years. Dr. Becton: Support strong chairs who work full time, keep office hours, post-­‐tenure review, mentoring and monitoring problem students -­‐-­‐-­‐very much consistent with his views and his support. Dr. Johnson's strategic plan, is there anything in his position as chancellor to give in-­‐state tuition to VA counties and outreaching to outer counties? Is there a recruiting plan that can be shared currently? Dr. Becton has spoken to UNC GA for relief of students in 75 miles of the county at least 3 times. Use the ODU admission policy as a model in order to increase of numbers. Some members of GA has acknowledge it but not really open to the idea. Believe that the only goal is to educate North Carolinians and it means that an out of state student did not get in. Some expounded for over 10 minutes; it has really not gained any traction. It is an uphill battle. We have made the argument at as UNCP, WCU, as well as others who border neighboring states. Dr. Becton has traveled to nearby counties with faculty and students in personal meetings. He has had a table at the NHS and Pasquotank game in order to recruit. He has reached all of the community colleges in the surrounding counties. He plans to really tap into the alumni in order to help with recruitment efforts at alumni chapters and personal forums. Is there a recruitment plan to enlist faculty? In other words, is there a recruitment calendar in which faculty actual represent the department? Can we get the recruitment schedule? MCC wants us to make recruitment a priority, have faculty go out with admissions; have chairs receive the schedules from the admissions office so that faculty may accompany admissions persons. Becton: Not sure why they were not sent out. Does not see why it could not be sent out to the faculty. Length of application process: Submitted an application but they still have not heard. Re-­‐emphasized the new admission hires and their efforts to process applications and communicate to students. Dr. Becton acknowledged the efforts of Dr. Khan to protect the academic core. Can ECSU reduce the number of sports in Athletic Programs? We are currently obligated by CIAA to have a certain number of teams and the Athletic Director has already made this suggestion. Need to see about waivers and what can be reduce in order to bring efficiency. Even though in a small conference, we do actually receive some benefits. Dr. Khan had a meeting at 3:30pm and will not here Dr. Banerji will report on Sponsored Programs and Grants. We are shooting for to meet at previous year's target because the pie is shrinking. There are more competition for limited monies and how to motivate more faculty members to write grants. It is a universal process at big schools and small schools and not just ECSU. Jr. Faculty members tend to be most productive programs and at ECSU it is the programs slated for elimination who are the most productive ones. They are trying to get close to about 10M. Need to motivate Sr. faculty. He will present more at a later point. Major concerns between the Jr. and Sr. Faculty about the lack of the support and to ensure that we are successful in obtaining grant monies. Now, they are not established grant writers, that there is a lack of support. Also, the structure of how individuals got and used the money that they were awarded is very cumbersome. Can we get some more support of Pre-­‐Awards department? Banerjee are willing; the expertise is there; willing to hold hands but there is very little support and no time. Dumping more duties/classes on faculty and there is some support. Are we still continuing the payment of mentor/mentee program? Yes but no money. Can we find some money? Stimulate will be great. He will talked to Academic Affairs. Question about Jr. Faculty being more productive: We have overburdened the Jr. faculty with more stressors. Unsure how much more they can do. Dr., Hirendranath Banerjee -­‐ UNC Faculty Assembly delegate reported Report on GA Faculty Assembly There is a procedure to closing down departments or programs -­‐ should be collaboration with other universities to improve before shutting down. If nothing else works, call Susanne Ortega at GA to help you before shutting down. Sexual harassment brought up, specifically at ECSU. He got up and defended, news is just a few bad examples, not university trend as a whole. They are looking at ways to protect students-­‐Clery Act. Shared governance -­‐ he belongs to shared governance council at GA level – we don't have such a piece at ECSU. They have a meeting with Provost Khan and there will be eventually at shared governance group among tenured folks and have some security. Hope to give another update in a future meeting. Members will be elected. In January meeting, discussed the effects the budget cuts and very anxious over ECSU 6M shortfall and how we are handling of it. Is there a plan? We should be informed and our advice Want to end tenure, tenure track at university level as done in K-­‐12 -­‐ need to contact NC legislature. Brainstorm how to make more faculty members to participate in the Senate. HMI council focused on retention, shared governance, and will try to get establish the Shared Governance committee in order to directly interact with administration. Smaller institutions have this and we do not. Need to update bylaws in order to accommodate the Shared Governance committee addition. Need to create and implement the committee and update the by-­‐laws. Restructuring discussion Attended a meeting that discussed the ending of the schools and the return back to the depts. This is a two-­‐edge sword with the 6M shortfall, do not want to eliminate programs and departments, etc. Dr. Gil has met with Dr. Khan as well about the restructuring plan. Thoughts of getting rid of schools and return to the departments? Pros? Cons? Very concern that this might negatively affect their accreditation in Business and Education Department Dr. Coulson-­‐Clark asked about if there any schools with the school structure and what they do. Need to protect accreditation. NCATE accredited us before we had a school but we are unsure about new standards. Business concern: Need to see if it is the school or the program that is accredited. Not sure about business because School of Business program is accredited and not the individual programs. The change may jeopardize that accreditation and maintaining it. We need to place the charge back to the individual departments/programs to look at the actual standard and to defend the decisions. Need to generate evidence in order to defend against this possible restructure. Dr. Seaman brought the experience of CAPE, NCCATe for use of "Unit" to see if our restructuring and to see if there is any leeway with the generic terms. These discussions are connected to real money, jobs, and etc. Need to think about the future of everyone and not just individual programs. Why is it going to affect us as faculty? If department chairperson, trying to understand how if affects us? We have schools because we had projected larger numbers of students. This did not come to fruition. How will affect large programs like Social and Behavioral Sciences? How will we have informed discussion when our voices are not heard? UNC Faculty Assembly has created a Post Tenure Review Committee at the request of BOG in order to create minimum standards and make campus policies more consistent. Core competencies and Instructional Efficiencies (e-­‐Learning) recommendations to be reviewed by Faculty Assembly on February 14 and to be send to BOG on February.