Regular Meeting of the University Faculty Senate

October 7, 1991

Minutes

Senators not in attendance were:

Susan Amert, Reed Geiger, James Hawk, Lawrence Nees, Raymond Nichols, John Pikulski

Senators excused were:

Edith Anderson, Alexander Doberenz, Bernard Herman, Frank Murray, Larry Peterson, Leslie Reidel, David P. Roselle, Christopher Smith, Jack Smith, Janet Smith, Carolyn Thoroughgood

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

   The Senate adopted the agenda as published.

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

   The Senate approved the minutes of the September 16th meeting after amending them to reflect the amendments of the April 22, May 6, and May 13, 1991 minutes, adding the fact that the Senate determined by a small majority (19 to 17) that it was within the jurisdiction of the AAUP to decide whether or not we move to a monthly rather than a semi-monthly payment of salary. In a vote that was simply an opinion poll, the Senate went on record as opposed (by a vote of 23 to 11, with 6 abstentions) to changing the present (twice-a-month) manner of payment.

3. REMARKS BY PROVOST PIPES

   Provost Pipes discussed five topics: the recommendations of the Health Science Committee, the budget, the progress of the Program Reduction Process, on-going campus construction and its sources of funding, and statistics on tuition and enrollment. According to Provost Pipes, the Health Science committee made four recommendations: that the College of Nursing remain a college, but become more efficient; that the Medical Technology Program be phased out; that Physical Therapy become a department either in the College of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation or in the College of Arts and Sciences; that the remaining elements of the School of Life and Health Sciences become the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The first two recommendations are being acted upon and the latter two are under discussion with faculty.

   Provost Pipes outlined the budget situation, noting that tuition is up 10%, the State appropriation is up 3%, gifts are up 27%, and sponsored programs up 20%. These increases, he stated, are commensurate with increases in expenditures. 1992-93 will see the continuation of budget constraints as the State has instructed an appropriation request of 98% of the 1991-92 budget, less 20% for increases in medical costs and 10% increase in energies. While Provost Pipes expects gifts and sponsored programs to continue to grow, he estimates that the University must now save $9.1 million from 1991-92 levels.

   As part of the effort to reduce spending, the University will engage in fewer programs, Provost Pipes announced. Outlining the program reduction process currently underway, Provost Pipes reported that four programs are currently under scrutiny. Linguistics and Theatre are both continuing within the terms of their budgetary reductions. Interior Design and Medical Technology have been recommended to be phased out, but those recommendations have not yet bEen considered by Senate committees. He also stated that discussion of further program cuts continues.

   Provost Pipes also pointed to the many on-going construction projects on campus and explained that the funding for these projects has come from sources limited specifically to those projects. Finally, Provost Pipes provide statistics on class size and tuition from 1987 to 1991, revealing a pattern of continued growth on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS

   Senate President Taggart announced the beginning of the University United Fund Campaign, urging faculty to contribute. He also reported that the Committee on Committees and Nominations will be reviewing the procedures of four Senate committees during the year: the Committee on Faculty Welfare and Privileges, Rules Committees, Committee on Graduate Studies, and the Committee on Student and Faculty Honors.

5. OLD BUSINESS

   1. A resolution introduced by Senator Schweizer at the September meeting that parents be informed that fraternities and sororities are not supervised by University resident life staff members.

      After some discussion and a question about the role of the Greek Life Task Force currently being formed, the following resolution was defeated by the Senate:

      BE IT RESOLVED,

      that all of the parents of students who are members of live-in social organizations be advised, in writing, that the University does not have Residence Life staff members residing in social organizations' housing units.

6. NEW BUSINESS

   1. A set of resolutions offered by the Committee on Promotions and Tenure (R. Settle, Chairperson), for the provision of a parental leave policy to be added to the Faculty Handbook under Leave of Absence, Section III.O., and a policy that enables parents or newly- born or adopted children to extend the pre-tenure probationary period by one year per child to a maximum of two years, to be included in the Faculty Handbook at Section III. L. 4 under Tenure.

      After discussion of the history of the proposed policies, the reasons for omitting other analogous reasons for extending the pre-tenure probationary period, the issue of equity, and questions of policy administration, the following resolutions were approved by the Senate:

      WHEREAS,

      many younger faculty find it difficult to meet teaching, research, and service expectations as new parents, and

      WHEREAS,

      a reasonable solution for some faculty is to allow a temporary suspension of professional duties, be it therefore

      RESOLVED,

      that the Faculty Handbook, Section III. O., page III-0-2, under Leave of Absence, be revised to include the following statement: (A copy of the current policy is attached for your information.)

      A faculty member who becomes the parent of a newborn or newly-adopted child and who wishes time off for child care purposes, may choose to take a parental leave of absence. Parental leave may be granted for up to one year for each child, with a maximum of two years per faculty member. Parental leave is without pay. Time spent on parental leave shall not be counted in determining eligibility for sabbatical leave. This policy is intended to establish a faculty member's entitlement to a minimum standard, not to replace other informal or flexible arrangements that may be worked out between a faculty member and his or her Department chair. Request for parental leave, when possible, should be made one semester in advance by written request to the department chair or program director, Dean of the College and the Office of the Provost.

      and be it further

      RESOLVED,

      that the Faculty Handbook, Section III. L. 4, page III-L-1, under Tenure, be revised to include the following statement: (A copy of the current policy is attached for your information.)

      An untenured faculty member who becomes the parent of a newborn or newly-adopted child may choose to take a one-year extension of the pre-tenure probationary period for each child, up to a maximum of two years. The extension shall be granted upon written request to the department chair or program director, with notification to the Dean of the College and the Office of the Provost. Faculty who choose this option must indicate in writing that they have done so in their dossier.

Respectfully submitted,

Judith Roof
Secretary
University Faculty Senate