Faculty Congress

FC EC Minutes April 8, 2016

Introduction

Meeting Date: April 8, 2016.

In Attendance: Yumiko, Faith, Jean, Jon, Norbert, Jim, Laz, Chris, Matt P.

Members Absent: Mitch, Seri, Roberta.

Agenda Items:

  • Approval of: Minutes from last FCEC.
    • Vote: (6) approved.
  • Minutes from 3-18 – minor corrections made.

Topic: FC Chair Report

  • Report from Chris Frueh on the Reorganization Task Force models.

    • TF is further along than before, they have the document…wordsmithing and then off to congress early next week. Request: would be better to have this early next week.
    • Chris will present at next week’s FC meeting. Can be posted to the FC list serve along with announcement about the town hall meeting. Will also be posted to the website.
    • Comment on Preface: will it address that this is just an organization of academic units? This should be included. Will TF be participating in the town halls? FC is conducting the meetings. Chris will be there for questions, but the TF will not be leading the meeting.

  • Visit from VCAA Matt Platz on Communications with UHPA.

    • Not a campus issue, it’s a board issue. Austerity next few years. Board will not let us dip into the reserves. Currently have 12m reserve. Board says we need 5-16% operating funds. No credible way to claim retrenchment.
    • Admin will likely submit reorg plan to union before the board. Colleges will be sorted and accounted for. Union and faculty will then discuss and report to administration. Then go the board. Earliest submitted to union will be on duty day.
    • Comment: Motion was proposed for two town hall meetings – April 22, 2016 and fall could be posted after the union discussion.
      • Should VCAA be at these town hall meetings – poll faculty at next FC meeting.
    • Next fall will be last time we do the course evals by paper. Will begin spring 2017.
      • Come up with specific questions that pertain to each department/division, etc.

  • FC Chair’s report from discussion with UHPA – addressing retrenchment concerns and an implementation timeline.

  • Town Hall Meeting in Wentworth 1 on April 22 at 3:00 pm.

    • Structure for the meeting and recording the information. Suggestion: QR code to google doc and write your opinion. This keeps things anonymous. Perhaps Chris could do a quick PPT to overview the reorganization. Then questions can be presented and discussed. Keep the questions and comments to a few minutes so nobody dominates the discussion and we can hear from more people. Be succinct with questions and comments. Perhaps these could be written down and passed forward? Maybe that’s too complicated. Faith and Jon will take minutes and Laz will take cards for questions. Need index cards.

  • Distance Learning motion.

    • Feedback: reads fine, no problems. Will submit with agenda. One reading and vote at FC.

  • Nominations for vacant seats on FC and Standing Committee Chair positions.

    • Sent inquiry to division chairs. Discussion about possibilities.
    • Possible chair: Norbert, vice chair: Jan or Alice, Karen, secretary: Jan or Alice or Karen, APC, CRC, GE (Yumiko), Student Success, Assessment (Mary Louise?), Program Review

  • Renewal of Strategic plan – follow-up discussion to Chancellor’s presentation

    • Plans to convene a committee in the fall to come up with new strategic plan centered around enrollment and retention. Perhaps retention should be emphasized more than enrollment – this is the weaker point. Consulting with politicians to build more resources nearby.

  • Locus of Tenure policy draft – new edits suggested

    • New edits made the document much more clear (Karen P).
    • Attach to chair’s report as an FYI next meeting. It is ready to send back to Matt.

  • Approve agenda for next FC meeting

    • Remove Academic Advising Task Force.
    • Motion for requesting a policy for DL.
    • Add Faculty Development Committee.
    • Request for nominations for new FC officer positions and standing committee positions.

  • Bylaws from UHHSA changed. Caucuses changed. Colleges represented by students for FC votes. At large caucuses – get students onto committees for campus decisions. Building up campus governments. Faculty congress can acknowledge and support these initiatives – acclimation of support (ask chair to acknowledge these bylaws and request the acclimation. Does not have to under new business – include in chair’s report.

Topic: Vox Populi

Report: None.

Action: None.

Topic: Adjournment

Report: None.

Action:

Motion to adjourn: Motion Jim, second Jean at 5:00pm.