MINUTES
UH Hilo Faculty Congress Meeting
September 18, 2015
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
K 127
Attendance:
Jon Goebel, Jean Ippolito, Tam Vu, Maria Haws, Norbert Furumo, Mary Haraguchi, Donna Ohora, Patricia Jusczak, Kokua
Harman, Chris Frueh, Karen Pellegrin, Judith Steinman, Linda Connelly, Todd Shumway, Alice Davis, Vladi Skorikov,
Yumiko Ohara, Mitchell Anderson, Seri Luangphinith, Doug Mikkelson, Shawon Rahman, Kevin Hopkins, Bobbi Barra,
Faith Mishina, Melinda Alles, Shelby Wong
Absent:
James Beets, Shih--‐Wu Sung, Janet Ray, Ryan Stacks
Faculty Congress Chair Report

2015-16 FC members list and meeting schedule posted on FC website
o URL: http://hilo.hawaii.edu/uhh/congress/members.php
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Faculty course release MOU posted
o URL:
http://hilo.hawaii.edu/uhh/congress/reports.php
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VCAA requests – taken on by standing committees rather than creating new committees.
o Faith Mishina, Bobbi Barra, and Jean Ippolito met with VCAA Platz over summer. Faith will head
the Student Success Committee.
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Student Success Comm. will work on – Advising model
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Long Range Planning Comm. will serve as – Advisory Board
o The committee will become the Long Range Budget Planning and Advisory Board Committee
Committee Reports and Vote to Approve Committee Membership
 Assessment Support, Seri Luangphinith
o
o
o
Report (with membership) posted to website
Discussion followed regarding why such fluctuation in reading scores. Seri noted that we need more
specifics about the students to make conclusions.
Committee membership approved (unanimous vote)

Academic Policy, James Beets
o No report

Student Success and Admissions, Faith Mishina
o Faith has set up Task Forces on Advising and Admissions
o Task Force on Advising membership consists of
 Cheryl Ramos, Chair, SS
 Patrick Hart, NS
 Kekoa Harman, Ka Haku 'Ula
 Terrance Jalbert, COBE
 Chris Lauer, Humanities
 Bruce Mathews, Agriculture
 Jodilyn Kunimoto, Advising (Student Services)
 Faith Mishina - connection to Congress
o
Task Force on Admissions: Group 2
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o
Mahealani Jones, Chair with Admissions experience
Donna Ohora, library
Mary Louise Haraguchi, library
Faith Mishina - connection to Congress
Committee memberships approved (unanimous vote)

Budget Review, Roberta Barra
o Report posted to website

Curriculum Review, Norbert Furumo
o Committee not fully formed yet – call for membership in the next 2 weeks.
o There is a new system coming that will replace Curriculum Central

General Education, Yumiko Ohara
o Committee not fully formed yet – need 1 - 2 more members
o The existing committee has already met to recertify courses

Program Review, Mitchell Anderson
o Report posted to website
o Committee membership approved (unanimous vote)
o Programs under review are listed on VCAA website
Other Committee with Faculty Congress Representation
 Sustainability Committee, Shih-Wu Sung
o Not present – no report

UNIV 101 Analysis Committee, Norbert Furumo
o Committee is active and meeting
o Course is assigned to all freshmen
 Currently there is no repercussion if students drop the class
Liaison Reports
 Curriculum Coordinator, Shelby Wong
o Curriculum Central deadline is Oct 1 for new proposals
o 54 courses (new & mods) proposed
o 15 programs proposed
o Next year, the new Kuali Student Curriculum Management will be in place – which will be used
system-wide

Professional Development, Jan Ray
o Report delivered by Jean Ippolito
o Posted to website

Distance Learning, Jan Ray
o Report delivered by Jean Ippolito
o Posted to website

WASC, Seri Luangphinith
o Need guidelines for evaluating the ALEX internships

Grad Council, Tam Vu
o Policy issue for grad students – need time extensions
o Will help keep enrollment continuous
o Upgrading policies in grad handbook

Research Council, Jim Beets
o Report sent via email - read by Jean Ippolito:

Research Council: Seed Money Grants and Research Relations Awards were reviewed and awarded. The next
announcement will be mailed to all faculty in spring semester. There will be substantially less funding
available for these grants and travel awards due to reduced grant activity.
Faculty Senate Chair Updates
 CAS, Jean Ippolito
o Report read by Jean Ippolito
 Dean search
 Div. Chair election process
 Non-Smoking
 Contract Renewal
o Posted to website

CAFNRM, Maria Haws
o Committee met
 Requested candidate Philippe Binder…hired with tenure for engineering program

CoBE, Tam Vu
o Many faculty suggested recording the meetings
o 5 year review – post promotion (framework under discussion)
o Still need to revise documents

KHUOK, Kokua Harman
o Sept 4 – 5 year review – fine tune criteria
o Sept 11 – Opening for Hawaiian Lang. Students
o Oct 2 – Fine tuning

Pharmacy, Karen Pellegrin
o Interim Dean in place – search for permanent dean in progress
o New strategic plan
o Certificate programs

Library, Mary Haraguchi
o No report
Old Business:
 Faculty Congress ByLaws change to provide for the Faculty Development Standing Committee (2 nd Reading)
o Mitch moved to postpone the voting until the APC Committee Chair could be present to answer
questions, Doug seconded.
 In favor (25)
 Opposed (1)

Charter change to provide for a non-voting Graduate Council Faculty Congress Representative(2 nd Reading)
o Doug moved to postpone, Mitch seconded
 Motion: Table motion until the APC can address concerns why the graduate council
representative is a non-voting vs. voting member.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
o Doug moved to close the debate about the non-voting Graduate Council Faculty Congress Representative.
Alice Seconded.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
New Business
 Items for 2015-16 Faculty Congress
o Classroom recording policy – UHPA agreement pg. 19.
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There was a lecture at UH Manoa about the TMT that a student had recorded, edited, and posted
to YouTube.
Vladi noted that students should have the right to record lectures for personal-educational use
Mitch moved: To have the APC develop a classroom recording policy. Doug Seconded.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
o
Proposed course evaluation system – possible changes – Kelli Okumura
 Tam moved to accept the new format. Judith seconded.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
 Melinda noted that UH Hilo is currently the only paper user for these evaluations.
o
Facilities and classroom technology upgrades
 Marcia Sakai is forming a sub committee to look into this
o
Enforcement of Campus Smoking Policy
Motion for an Update on the Campus-Wide Non-Smoking Plan
Whereas Faculty Congress passed a motion to establish a campus-wide smoking ban on May 10, 2013.
Whereas this motion was presented to Chancellor Straney to consider on September 6, 2013.
Whereas Chancellor Straney asked Vice Chancellor Marcia Sakai to examine the steps necessary to
create and implement a campus-wide non-smoking plan by the end of the fall 2013 term on September
16, 2013.
Whereas, as of September 11, 2015, no plan has been presented (to our knowledge).
Therefore, the CAS Senate/FC would appreciate an update as to the status of the plan.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
o
Discussion about whether to change the deadline date for students to withdraw from a class with a “W”. - Susan Brown
 Mitch: Motion to postpone until Susan Brown can be present or meets with the Executive
Committee. Tam seconded.
 In favor (26)
 Opposed (0)
o
Possible new location for Faculty Lounge – Jan Ray
 Roberta noted that this space was to be used as a CoBE conference room
 Mitch noted that this raises the issue that programs can feel threatened when space is reallocated.
 Jean suggested CoBE get with VCAA for discussion.
o
Motion for Forming an Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Guidelines for Contract Renewal,
Promotion, and Tenure and Update Relative to the 2015-2017 Agreement
Motion:
Whereas UPHA and the BOR of the UH System created a new Agreement (on June 27, 2014).
Whereas this Agreement covers 2015-2017 time period.
Whereas UHH Guidelines for Applying for Contract Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure were approved on
March 11, 2012.
Whereas the Guidelines need to be reviewed to make sure all information within aligns with the new
Agreement.
Therefore, it is recommended that the CAS Senate/Faculty Congress form an Ad Hoc Committee to
review and update the Guidelines, so that they are in alignment with the new Agreement.
• This motion was amended to refer this task to the APC committee rather than forming an
Ad Hoc committee.
 Mitch moved to send motion to the APC. Doug seconded.
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o
In favor (26)
Opposed (0)
Possible changes in CAS organization during change of Dean – should we create a task force?
 It was noted that now would be a strategic time to reorganize CAS
 Faith noted that additional Deans will be cost prohibitive, but this issue should be discussed
 Doug moved to table this discussion until the CAS discussion on October 9. Mitch seconded.
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In favor (26)
Opposed (0)
o
UHHSA Reps election/selection process in bylaws – Melinda Alles
 Melinda pointed out that our charter bylaws state we should have 6 student reps, with one of
them being a voting member.
 Motion made to send to APC: Review the charter’s wording for UHHSA representation
in consultation with UHHSA.
o In favor (26)
o Opposed (0)
o
Mitch moved to adjourn @ 5:04pm
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Goebel
Congress Secretary
Motion 10 (Proposed) – Faculty Congress ByLaws change to provide for the Faculty Development Standing Committee
First Reading - April 17, 2015 Faculty Congress Meeting
Second Reading - May 15, 2015 Faculty Congress Meeting
Whereas, the Faculty Congress Bylaws does not provide for a Faculty Development Standing Committee;
Whereas, a Faculty Development Standing Committee is needed to coordinate and support faculty development
opportunities, including peer-review and feedback on proposals, support for proposal development, etc.;
Whereas, a Faculty Development Standing Committee is needed to organize and conduct the responsibilities of the
Academic Leadership Program, passed by Faculty Congress;
Therefore, the following change to the Faculty Congress ByLaws is proposed to provide for the Faculty Development
Standing Committee.
Proposed Change:
Faculty Congress Bylaws
(revised November 3, 2014)
h. Faculty Development Standing Committee
The Congress will appoint a Faculty Development Standing Committee that should have broad general membership from
across various units. The Congress will appoint a member to serve as Chair of a standing Faculty Development Standing
Committee. The chair will select no fewer than five faculty members to serve on the committee, and their selection will
approved by Congress. If feasible, the Committee should be comprised of at least one representative from each college at
UH Hilo.
The primary responsibilities of the committee will be to coordinate and support faculty development opportunities,
including peer-review and feedback on proposed activities, support for proposed faculty development activities, several as
the evaluation committee, as needed, and coordinate with administration and academic units on faculty development
opportunities. Additionally, the committee will organize and conduct the responsibilities of the Academic Leadership
Program. The Committee chair will have the responsibility of scheduling the Academic Leadership Program activities and
events and providing the schedule to every academic unit and notifying faculty.
Members shall serve for two-year terms. Terms of committee members will overlap to ensure continuity among years. In
recognition of the duties and responsibilities associated with this office, the University shall grant the Chair a course
reduction of not less than one course during the academic year, associated with the Academic Leadership Program
activities.
Motion 11 (Proposed) – Charter change to provide for a non-voting Graduate Council Faculty Congress
Representative
First Reading - April 17, 2015 Faculty Congress Meeting
Second Reading - May 15, 2015 Faculty Congress Meeting
Whereas, the charter does not provide for a Faculty Congress representative from the Graduate Council;
Whereas, a Graduate council representative is needed to ensure effective communication between the Faculty Congress and
the Graduate Council;
Therefore, the following change to the Charter is proposed to provide for a non-voting member from the Graduate Council.
Proposed Change:
Charter
(Revised November 3, 2014)
Article II, Membership
Section 1. Membership: The Congress shall be composed of faculty representatives of all colleges at UH Hilo, the Library,
and the Division of Student Affairs (hereinafter referred to as ‘units’). In addition, one voting member of the Congress shall
be a student, who will be selected from among and by the ex-officio, non-voting student members described in Section 2
below.
In addition, one voting member of the Congress shall be a student, who will be selected from among and by the ex-officio,
non-voting student members described in Section 2 below. A non-voting member will represent the Graduate Council, who
will be selected each year by the Graduate Council.