UFS #7
Approved March 27, 2003.
February 27, Minutes
Indiana
State
University
Faculty
Senate
2002-03
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Place: HMSU, Dede III
Officers: Chairperson F. Bell, Vice Chair P. Hightower, Secretary H. Hudson
Senators: A. Anderson, J. Allen, G. Bierly, J. Buffington, N. Corey, S. Davis, P. Engelbach,
B. Evans, J. Finnie, V. Gregory, M. Hamm, M. Harmon, J. Harper, M. Hayden,
. Hopkins, N. Lawrence, K. Liu, J. Lyman, C. MacDonald, S. Macke, L. Maule,
R. McGiverin, J. McNabb, F. Muyumba, B. Phillips, R. Schneirov, S. Sharp,
V. Sheets, L. Sperry, J. Tenerelli, E. Warner
Absent: R. Goldbort, J. Jakaitis, R. Johnson, M. Ould-Mey, S. Shure
Ex-Officio: Provost Pontius
Deans: T. Foster, R. Green, B. Passmore, R. Williams
Visitors: G. Christiansen, W. Dando, C. Hoffman, S. Lamb, T. Sawyer, T. Tobey
I. Memorials were read and accepted (Bell, Harmon 33-0-0 "Ayes") for Donald Owen, David
Waterman and John H. Williams.
II. Provost Report
Provost Pontius reported:
1) Communication Audit: The complete report has been received; a copy is in the Senate office.
2) Bookstore: He has met with the regional manager; if the Senate desires, she will come to the
April Senate meeting.
3) Budgets: University budget presentations will take place during the next two weeks.
4) Sabbatical leaves: The University Leaves Committee is meeting with deans and will forward
recommendations to him in time for notifications to go out March 15.
5) Responses to January Senate actions: The administration accepted the reorganization of the
Graduate School and noted all other actions, including the Workload Guidelines.
6) Compression: In response to a question about adjustments for retirees, he indicated that those
who were faculty as of July 1 would receive them. In response to a question about the seven-year
in rank cut-off, he indicated that the 2000 compression committee suggested a performance
measure be applied in the second year of adjustments. Senators noted that committee’s concern
for market and exclusion of those with less than four years at ISU, as well as recommendations
from this year’s committee which did not include performance or years in rank and called for
distribution starting from the largest adjustments.
III. Chair Report
Chair Bell reported:
1) Senate elections: Ballots must be received in the Senate office by noon on March 12.
2) Lack of confidence: Executive Committee is responding to the administration’s responses.
These will be distributed to the Senate.
IV. SGA Report
SGA President-elect McManama addressed:
1) New officers: Thomas Bentley is Vice-President Elect. A new Executive Cabinet is being
developed. New officers will be inaugurated March 26.
V. Approval of the Minutes
Approved the January 30, 2003, minutes as amended. (Hopkins, Anderson 32-0-1)
VI. Actions of the Senate
Approved:
1) AAC and FAC recommendation on Campus Bill of Rights (Hopkins, Sheets 18-12-3).
2) AAC recommendation on Reorganization of Lifelong Learning (Hopkins, Harmon 32-0-1).
VII. Fifteen Minute Open Discussion
1) Lack of confidence: The specific issues and responses identified in discussions about the vote
of lack of confidence are indicators of broader and longer standing concerns of many faculty.
These include the discouraging perception that the academic level of their teaching, teaching
loads, and salaries are more in keeping with technical college than university-level performance.
Marketing and recruitment should focus on attracting academically engaged and qualified
students.
2) John Allen made the following statement:
Many faculty members have raised concerns regarding faculty salaries, teaching loads, and
sabbatical leaves. I believe that these concerns are symptomatic of a broader issue; an issue
which has not previously been discussed by the Senate. Many of my colleagues on the faculty at
ISU have begun to feel like instructors at a technical college rather than professors at a
university. At ISU, faculty salaries and teaching loads are much more like those at a technical
college than at a university. Sabbatical leaves are being cut back by the administration at ISU.
Again, this is commensurate with a move toward technical college instructor status for ISU
faculty.
Student recruitment seems not to be directed towards attracting qualified students to ISU. As a
result, Core University programs are struggling to populate courses while other programs similar
to those found at technical colleges which are designed to accommodate poorly prepared
students proliferate. We have a serious image problem here at ISU. This problem has arisen
partly because ISU has done an abysmally poor job at public relations and more importantly
because we admit so many very poorly prepared students, retain them when they should flunk
out, and then turn out many very poorly prepared graduates. This is a terrible disservice to many
well-prepared, hard-working ISU students because it devalues their degrees. I also believe that
this is driving the devolution of ISU from a university to a technical college because we may
soon no longer be able to attract enough well prepared students to keep traditional core programs
afloat.
3) J. Buffington made the following statement:
International students represent a little less than five percent of the student body at
Indiana State. We have much to offer these students, both inside and outside the
classroom, and these opportunities will enrich their lives forever.
Our international students have much to offer us as well. They are an important
economic resource to this University; but more importantly, they have much to teach our
domestic students about our global society. Indiana State has many fine programs which
amplify this important role—most recently African Global Night. In many of our
classrooms, international students find themselves teamed with domestic students to
accomplish a worthy class project. What wonderful opportunities there are for our
students to promote a better understanding of their respective cultures!
Last November, one of our most deserving international students approached me with
a problem. She had been given some bad advice by the International Affairs Center.
Shortly thereafter, our student organization, MISA, had an end-of-semester party at
Moggers. I found myself seated at a table which included some five or six international
students. I mentioned that one of our students had experienced difficulties with the
International Office. To my shock and horror, each of these students had a woeful tale to
relate regarding their experiences with this office.
I asked Jeff Harper to bring these concerns, which he shares, to the Senate. This he
did at the next meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.
At the January Senate meeting, I asked the Provost of his acquaintance with this
problem. To my enormous relief, the Provost was not only aware of the problem, he was
also taking steps to solve the problem.
Our department has placed a high priority on student outcomes assessment. We
survey alumni and employers and we have exit interviews with our graduating seniors.
This feedback has resulted in substantial improvements to our curriculum and to various
departmental policies and procedures. I encourage the Provost to inform this body if any
actions such as assessment or other measures are being taken to help ensure that the
International Affairs Center performs at the highest level.
Finally, there are many individuals on this campus who have implemented, promoted,
and participated in international programs inside and outside the classroom. Job well
done!
4) Verification of military leaves: The Provost will provide feedback.
VIII. Committee Reports
Standing Committee activity since the last Senate meeting:
AAC: AAC has met twice. The Committee passed a resolution related to the IRB, addressed a
change in the International Affairs Office and discussed the 2005-06 Academic Calendar.
Revised information for the administration/faculty count has been received. An electronic
version of the University Travel Report is anticipated.
AEC: Charges have been completed.
CAAC: CAAC has met three times and approved Draft #2 of the Undergraduate Catalog on
Advanced Standing. A subcommittee to review "University Learning Goals and Strategies" has
been formed. The CAAC also considered numerous curricular items.
FAC: FAC has met once. The Committee has worked on the Grievance Policy, Study Week, and
faculty on-line reporting.
FEBC: Next meeting scheduled for next Monday.
Grad Council: No meeting.
SAC: SAC has met twice. The Committee has forwarded to the Executive Committee
recommendations regarding the add policy, new student orientation and Study Week.
URC: Next meeting is planned for tomorrow.
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.