UH HILO FACULTY CONGRESS
Minutes of Meeting
November 5, 2004
Members Present: Philippe Binder, Kelly Burke, Iota Cabral, Jerry Calton, Rick
Castberg, Kaleo Dudoit, Robert Fox, Lincoln Gottshalk, Andrew Grabar,
April Komenaka, Michael Marshall, Bruce Mathews, Ipo Melendez, Jim
Mellon, Jene Michaud, Helen Rogers, Marcia Sakai, Sabry Shehata
Meeting was called to order by Chair Jerry Calton at 3:05 pm.
Item 1. Minutes of September 17, 2004 meeting
Approved by acclamation.
Item 2. Minutes of October 20, 2004 meeting
Approved by acclamation.
Item 3. Motion: Appoint Rick Castberg as Congress liaison to UH Hilo's
negotiations on the issue of UH Manoa’s role and authority in relation to UH Hilo
doctoral programs. This appointment will continue for as long as the discussion of the
issue lasts.
Rick Castberg agreed to serve in this role.
Vote: 10 favored, 3 opposed. Motion passed.
Item 4. General Education Committee Report
Chair April Komenaka reported that UH Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert
indicated that all UH campuses need to have the same General Education
hallmarks as UH Manoa. The Committee's approach will be to meet with
the General Education Committee at UH Manoa on November 29 and try to
work out an arrangement that is more equitable. She also reported
that the Committee intends to review and revise the hallmarks and
wants to involve more faculty in the process. One of the questions to
be discussed is whether all UH Hilo colleges need to have the same GE
requirements.
Motion: Approve Anneliese Worster (CAS) as a new member to the
General Education Committee.
Approved by acclamation.
Item 5. Budget Committee Report
Chair Bruce Mathews reported that there is a systemwide meeting next
week. He also reported that Jeffrey Decker has joined the committee.
Motion: Approve Jeffrey Decker (CBE) as a new member to
the Budget Committee.
Vote: 16 favored, 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Item 6. Assessment Support Committee Report
Chair Kelly Burke reported that Nina Buchanan may have a 2-course
off-load next semester. The Committee is working on developing an assessment plan
and plans to move further forward next semester. One program review
is currently under review (Anthropology). The Committee has also had
some preliminary discussions with the Institutional Researcher about
the role of the Institutional Research Office in supporting assessment
efforts.
Item 7. Academic Policy Committee Report
Chair Jene Michaud reported that the Committee had finished working on
the Hiring Handbook for Tenure Track Faculty. The committee reviewed the document,
in consultation with college faculty representative bodies and relevant administrators.
The revision focused on clarifying procedures to speed up the hiring process so that
attractive candidates would not be discouraged by administrative or other delays. One
major change is a return to the previous practice of naming the college dean as the hiring
authority, in consultation with the VCAA, EEO/AA Officer and Human Resources
Director.
Motion: Approve the Hiring Handbook for Tenure Track Faculty.
Friendly Amendment: Approve the Hiring Handbook but strike the step
that requires candidates to have an interview with the Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs.
Vote: 15 favored, 0 opposed. Motion passed.
It was also suggested that the language on page 13 pertaining to blind
reference checks be clarified.
Motion: Department, Division, and Search Committee Chairs should be
copied in employment offer letters.
Vote: 15 favored, 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Item 8. International Applicants for Positions at UH Hilo
Motion: Request the Human Resources Office to develop and distribute written
guidelines to clarify the process for hiring candidates who are non-US citizens (especially
as it pertains to visa requirements).
Vote: 16 favored, 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Mellon
Congress Secretary