ITHACA COLLEGE
FACULTY COUNCIL MINUTES
November 13, 2001
Present: Jim Aguiar, Diane Birr, Joseph Cheng, Carole Dennis, Charis Dimaras,
Harold Emery, Marie Garland, Cathe Gordon, Ron Jude, Ari Kissiloff, Marian
MacCurdy, Winnie Mauser, Steve Peterson, Mary Ann Rishel, John Rosenthal, Stan
Seltzer, Bruce Smith, Robert Sullivan, John Wolohan
Excused: Lee Bailey, Don Lifton, Tim Nord, Jennifer Strickland
Absent: Sabatino Maglione
Guests: Jennifer Blancoí03, Brenna Corbettí03, Steve Mauk, Erica Miller ë05, Jenna
Perkins ë03, Bill Scoones, Michelle Theis ë05
1. Welcome and Announcements
Stan Seltzer, Chair opened the meeting at 7:05 when a quorum was present.
With the departure of Lynnette Hatch, there is a search underway for a new Associate
Registrar. Chris Knauer has asked for faculty volunteers to interview the finalists
when they come to campus. Hal Emery, Marie Garland, and Cathe Gordon agreed to
serve.
Chris Knauer reports that registration worked much better this semester. There seems
to be general satisfaction. Any comments should be directed to Frank Darrow, who
serves as liaison to the on-line registration working group; he will be at the December
meeting to give a brief report.
Stan called the attention of the group to the Tenure for Administrators
Report prepared by Marty Turnbull and attached to the November agenda, stating that
at this point it is for information only. It is expected that there will be a proposal
placed before Faculty Council for consideration at the December meeting.
The Executive Committee would prefer that Nancy Pringle be in attendance when
Faculty Council discusses the plagiarism policy proposed in the Faculty Handbook.
Unfortunately, ICSD board meetings conflict with our November and December
meetings. See the last paragraph of Attachment 01-11-A for proposed changes, based
on discussion in September 2000. Any specific questions to which answers are needed
should be forwarded to Nancy or Stan ahead of time so that responses can be fully
informed.
2. Motions on Faculty Handbook (Attachment 01-11-A)
MOTION 1: Faculty Council recommends approval of Section 4.9.6
Contracts and Contract Policies [on p. 19], as proposed by the Faculty
Handbook Amendment Committee, subject to:
(1) The policy should require that every effort be made to provide
reasonable advance notification of anything before Convocation or
after Commencement.
Mary Ann Rishel found the language "of anything" too vague. She moved to
substitute the language "for faculty responsibilities scheduled." Winnie Mauser
seconded the motion. The amendment was accepted.
The motion was approved as amended.
MOTION 2: Faculty Council recommends approval of Section 4.12.8
Documentation [on p. 33], as proposed by the Faculty Handbook
Amendment Committee, subject to reordering the list so that "Evaluation
by Dean" is lower on the list.
Marie Garland moved to amend the motion by replacing the word "lower" with the
word "last." Bruce Smith seconded the motion. The amendment passed.
The motion was approved as amended.
MOTION 3: Faculty Council recommends approval of Section 4.12.9
Evaluation of Part-Time-Per-Course and Adjunct Faculty [on p. 33], as
proposed by the Faculty Handbook Amendment Committee.
The motion was approved.
MOTION 4: Faculty Council recommends approval of Section 4.13.2 All
College Faculty Tenure and Promotion Committee [on pp. 38-40], as
proposed by the Faculty Handbook Amendment Committee.
The motion was approved.
3. Provostís Report
Bill Scoones announced that the budget process is underway. The Budget Committee
has held its first two meetings.
The Planning and Priorities Committee has begun meeting. President Williams has
asked the committee to re-sort the 55 goals listed under the priorities. People were
asked to rank their top eight goals, with eight points assigned to first choice, seven
points to second choice, etc. Seven of the goals got a lot of votes. Several of last
yearís top goals appear to have come out as top goals again this year, with the number
one goal being resource development. The importance of developing sources of
external funding was closely followed by the importance of fostering diversity.
Regarding the tenure for provost proposal, it appears that a mechanism for providing
this has been created. Nancy Pringle is doing further research. In the meantime,
meetings with some candidates have begun off campus.
A task force has been created from faculties of the four schools which will be
involved in the area of Interdisciplinary Studies, to look at potential impediments to
creating programs that cut across the institution such as staffing them, housing them,
having an administrative officer over them, etc. In addition, representatives from the
Center for Teacher Education, the Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity,
and Gerontology are included on the task force. The charge to the group includes
looking at organizational structure, leadership, joint appointments, and the process for
approving programs. A proposal done in the School of Humanities and Sciences has
been quite helpful. A recommendation for action by the new Provost is to be prepared
by April 15.
The Tenure and Promotion Committee has held its first meeting. Membership
includes Bruce Henderson, Betsy Keller, Janice Levy, Abraham Mulugetta, Hal
Reynolds, Mary Ann Rishel and Greg Woodward.
There are eleven cases under consideration. Reflecting the downsizing of 1994-95,
there are only two tenure promotion decisions at the college this year. (This also
speaks to the continuity of the faculty.)
4. APC Motion Regarding Online Registration
Winnie Mauser moved to endorse the policy recommended by APC. Ari Kissiloff
seconded the motion.
MOTION: Faculty Council endorses the following policy proposed by
APC: Faculty have the option to put a hold on online registration any time
after the first class meeting after which time further enrollment would
require a signature from the instructor.
The motion was approved.
5. Calendar Committee Proposal
Brenna Corbett í03, SGA VP for Academics, presented a proposal from the Calendar
Committee that would prohibit exams or their equivalent during the final week of
classes (Attachment 01-11-B). Cathe Gordon questioned whether this would include
lab exams ó this would be received negatively by her students. Winnie Mauser felt
that feedback from her colleagues would be essential before approving this proposal,
because policy changes on academic issues should be coming not from the Registrar,
but from the Provost. She said she has heard that while students voice the need for
study time unimpeded by examinations they are not willing to stay on campus an
additional two days to incorporate a study period; instead, they are asking that faculty
rearrange their course structure. Marian MacCurdy agreed: setting aside time for
students to study is one thing; asking faculty to alter their classes is another whole
area. Mary Ann Rishel pointed out that while Cornell students have two more days to
study for finals, they only have two days off at Thanksgiving, while IC students have
the entire week, which could be used to prepare ahead of time for finals. Bill Scoones
pointed out that we are already at the bare minimum number of teaching hours
required by the state. He felt that clarification of "examinations or their equivalent"
should be included addressing whether turning in papers during the final week would
or would not be acceptable under the proposed new policy.
He also shared the information that he and a group of members of the Budget
Committee have been instructed to study the possibility of changing the calendar as a
means of saving money for the institution and for students. One scenario would
involve beginning after Labor Day and the semester would be compressed, with only
two days leave at Thanksgiving and exams held after Christmas break. The students
present did not feel this would be a popular choice.
Mary Ann Rishel said she supported the Calendar Committeeís proposal because as
the College continues to raise standards and ask more of students and performance of
a higher quality each year, we owe it to our students to give them time to perform to
those expectations. She felt, however that, while agreeing in principle, there should be
further honing with faculty input. Jim Aguiar commented that accountability should
be built into the policy ó he has had students come to him saying they cannot attend
his class because a final, extending into his scheduled course time, has been scheduled
in another class.
John Rosenthal made a motion, seconded by Cathe Gordon.
MOTION: Faculty Council believes that any policy that restricts
scheduling of examinations and assignments should be processed through
the Academic Policies Committee.
The motion was passed unanimously.
6. Approval of Minutes for October 2, 2001
Diane Birr moved to approve the minutes as presented. Marie Garland seconded. The
minutes for October 2, 2001 were approved.
7. New Business
A. Proposal for TIAA-CREF
John Rosenthal distributed copies of the Joint Benefits Committeeís proposal
recommending an increase in the Collegeís contribution to the TIAA-CREF
retirement plan to 10 percent and requested that discussion of the report be
placed on the December agenda.
B. Unaffiliated Faculty
Stan reported that one person from the Gerontology Program is now on the
Planning and Priorities Committee, but Gerontology and Teacher Education are
still not represented on Faculty Council, and they do not formally appear in the
governance system. He suggested that the Bylaws might be amended to include
representation of this group. Bill Scoones indicated that the Interdisciplinary
Studies Program might solve this problem. His report will be ready by April 15.
Jim Aguiar inquired about inclusion of coaches in the governance system. Stan
indicated that the issue is not as clear-cut and will require further study.
C. Sabbatic Leave for Non-Tenure-Eligible Faculty
Winnie Mauser inquired about the progress of sabbatic leave for non-tenure
eligible faculty. Stan indicated that the Executive Committee has discussed the
issue with Bill Scoones. Bill Scoones indicated that a proposal might be on a
ten-year cycle, following completion of two five-year contracts with approval
for a third. Following discussion of the issues and impacts in different schools,
Stan inquired whether, as this issue is being explored further, there was any
objection from the group. Bill Scoones indicated that if it appeared there might
be a proposal to include sabbatic leave for non-tenure-eligible faculty he would
have to put it in the budget currently being prepared.
John Rosenthal made a motion to gain a sense of the body for the guidance of
the Provost. Winnie Mauser seconded the motion.
MOTION: Faculty Council asks the College to consider a program of paid
professional leave for continuing non-tenure-eligible faculty.
The motion was approved with one abstention, no opposition.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.