College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Council
Fretwell 430C
Meeting Minutes: November 18, 2011
PRESENT:
Tanure Ojaide, Africana Studies
Jian Zhang, Biology
Charles Houck, GIAS
Jaya Bishwal, Mathematics & Statistics
Stephanie Moller, Sociology
Brian Cooper, Chemistry
Ralf Thiede, English
Peter Thorsheim, History
Jeff Killman, Languages & Culture Studies
Tina Botts, Philosophy
John Szmer, Political Science
Charles Brody, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
ABSENT:
Lt. Col. Christopher Rogers, Air Force ROTC
Lt. Col. Robert McCall, Army ROTC
Qingfang Wang, Geography & Earth Sciences
Rick McAnulty, Psychology
Julia Robinson-Harmon, Religious Studies
Nicole Peterson, Anthropology
Cliff Scott, Communications
Shelley Listwan, Criminal Justice & Criminology
Yidirim Aktas, Physics & Optical Science
Meeting was called to order by the Chair at 12:00 p.m. in Fretwell 430C
With no objections noted, the minutes of the meeting of October 28, 2011 were approved.
Online Student Evaluation of Courses
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Response was received with regard to concerns about whether UNCC Opscan services
would continue if student evaluations of courses were online. The response was that the
online student evaluations do not entail a discontinuation of UNCC Opscan services.
While a pilot college may have more control in the development of the matter, it was
recommended that CLAS should not be the pilot college for online student evaluations of
courses, as it may very well be too complex a college for such a study and other colleges
have already volunteered.
Updates –Charlie Brody
Advising
As to the concern of whether funding is being withdrawn from departmental advising, it was
clarified that there were no cutbacks from CLAS. Furthermore, a decentralized approach to
student advising is not being pursued. Rather, there have been instances where some departments
have been instructed by CLAS to have student advising carried out at college level. It was
stressed that CLAS is in favor of good student advising in any case.
Peer Review in Annual Review Process
It was found that most CLAS departments’ bylaws provide for peer review in some form, with
the exception of a few departments. In any case, the exact process of peer review and/or the way
in which it is worded may differ, which is why Chairs are to go back to their departments’
bylaws to ensure they reflect current practices. Though CLAS does not prescribe a uniform
process for peer review, there should be a statement in this regard at college level. This is
because all Faculty ought to have peer review on a transparent and regular basis. The Chair
stated that she would draft this tentatively as a “Faculty Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”,
which will appear on the CLAS Faculty Council’s agenda for the next meeting on December 9,
2011. CLAS Faculty Representatives are to report this development to their departments and are
to ask if any items other than collegiality and peer review ought to be brought up.
Discussion of Research Environment and Sources of Declines in Sponsored Research
A broad view of the research problems UNCC is experiencing may be owing to a lack of
research support, problems concerning post-award support, less available monies, both internal
and external, and less recognition for grants than for other scholarly pursuits, which is significant
in an environment where more work is required to obtain grants than to produce scholarship in
other forms. That is, diminishing availability of grants and inadequate support and recognition
make grant writing less attractive and more cumbersome. Internal money helps to secure external
money and helps to increase the retention of faculty. A possible solution may be administrative
service to support Faculty pursuing grants. Expertise in this area could help Faculty to streamline
grant writing and post-administration, as well as workshops specifically oriented toward grant
writing. Another option could be more collaboration among institutions, although there may be
competition between institutions and hence unwillingness to collaborate.
Discussion of GA Task Force Preliminary Results – Dean Gutierrez
Although still confidential and pending further editing, an interim report on the first charge has
been drafted. Its delay is owing to the Graduate School. Once it has been edited it will be
released to Faculty. The second and third charges are yet to be drafted by the committee.
Updates from the Dean’s Office – Dean Gutierrez: two items
1. The First Year Writing Program has been reorganized as a standalone program. Its director
will report to the Dean and its faculty will remain housed in the Department of English.
Although there are still some tangles of red tape, CLAS no longer has to be take care of
undecided majors.
2. Twelve lines for recruitment have been authorized, on the basis of CLAS money and none
from the Provost. A new order for reallocation determines that as of June 30, 2011 vacant lines
go back to the Provost. But because of persuasive arguments made by the Dean to the Provost,
CLAS has been able extend twelve lines but with its own money. The four criteria of the twelve
lines are (a) leadership crisis, (b) program credibility, (c) enrolment pressures, and (d) faculty
loss. Lines not authorized because a department decides not to promote or tenure are not being
returned this year because of the crisis.
Faculty Roundtable/New Business
No new business was brought up.