Faculty Assembly
University of North Carolina
Minutes of the Eighty-sixth Meeting
September 17, 1993
The eighty-sixth meeting of the Faculty Assembly of the University of North Carolina was held in the Board Room of the General Administration Building in Chapel Hill on September 17, 1993. The meeting was called to order by the Chair, William Kane at 1:30 PM with 46 delegates in attendance. The delegates were asked to introduce themselves, and the officers and committee chairs were introduced. Kane distributed the following documents to the delegates:
1. A Wall Street Journal Article criticizing the work ethics of college professors;
2. The list of standing committee assignments for the year;
3. A list of delegates and their addresses;
4. The Bylaws of the Faculty Assembly;
5. The Charter of the Faculty Assembly;
6. A list of studies and reports required of the General Administration by the Legislature;
7. "Teaching and Tenure in the University of North Carolina: A Joint Report," submitted to the Board of Governors by the Committee on Personnel and Tenure and the Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs;
8. Page one of Administrative Memorandum Number 331 - Plan to Improve Graduation Rates in the University of North Carolina; and
9. A brochure concerning the November 2 Bond Referendum.
Chair's Comments (William Kane-WCU)
Chairman Kane discussed both the general problems facing the Assembly and specific issues which need to be addressed this year. The complete text of his remarks is attached to these Minutes.
The Plenary Session was adjourned at 2:03 PM.
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SECOND PLENARY SESSION
The second session was called to order at 3:07 PM by Chairman Kane with 46 delegates in attendance.
President Spangler's Report
The first part of the President's Report was devoted to the November 2nd Bond Referendum. President Spangler introduced Samuel Poole, Chair of the Board of Governors, and Thomas Storrs, Chairman for the Bond Campaign. Mr. Spangler explained that the Bond Issue is needed because the traditional source of funding for capital improvements, the non-recurring income available to the General Assembly, has not been present since the State's economy began to decline in 1988. Since that time, the enrollment in the University has increased by approximately 16,000 students while facilities have aged and deteriorated. Mr. Poole pointed out the fact that the University is now in a "catch up" situation, and that if the Issue is not approved, funds will have to be diverted from current programs for essential capital projects. He also mentioned that no new taxes are needed for the projects to be funded by the Bonds. Dr. Storrs encouraged the faculty to support efforts to increase the number of persons voting.
Questions and Answers
Q. P. Hunter(NCA&T). Statistics from the Triad area were not favorable for the 1976 bond issue, even though the voters were close to campuses. Why should voters in areas without campuses support the Issue?
A. Poole. That problem is being considered by consultants. It is also true that community colleges are involved. Storrs. Most of the campuses have a base of support in outlying areas. Spangler. The 14 counties involved represent 40% of registered voters.
Q. P. Cabe(PSU). To what extent will the students be educated about the Issue?
A. Storrs. There is a campaign to get students registered and to get them to the polls, also a program to reach their parents. Spangler. Don't expect us to tell students how to vote! We encourage discussion, but we must respect professional integrity.
Q. D. Caton(ASU). This Issue is a catch-up. What are the prospects for getting back to the non-recurring funds system?
A. Spangler. The economy will have to improve before we can expect a long-term solution.
Q. T. Oldenburg(UNCCH). Some units have made great efforts to supplement their own funding with outside sources. Are the public and the General Assembly aware of this?
A. Spangler. It is true that the bond projects will be supplemented by some $40,000,000 raised by the individual campuses.
Q. J. Johnson(UNCG). The faculty are constrained as to how we can approach students, but not the general public. Is any effort being made to engage the faculty in the campaign?
A. Spangler. People are interested in hearing the faculty, and you are encouraged to get involved. Storrs. Local coordination is being left to the Chancellors. Interested faculty are urged to volunteer to their Chancellors.
Following the discussion on the bond referendum, President Spangler turned the floor over to Vice President William Little for the remainder of the President's report. Dr. Little conveyed the President's remarks concerning the Teaching and Tenure Report and the status of several of the Faculty Assembly's resolutions. The text of those remarks is attached to these Minutes.
Vice President Felix Joyner gave a report on this year's budget. He reported that the tone of the budget discussions was generally positive, and that the base reductions amounted to about 6-7 million out of a total budget of almost one billion.
Due to the lateness of the hour, Vice President Carroll's report on other actions of the General Assembly was postponed to the evening session. The Second Plenary Session was adjourned at 4:20 PM.
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EVENING PLENARY SESSION
The evening session was called to order at 7:05 PM by Chairman Kane. The roll was called by Secretary Paul Duvall.
Vice President Roy Carroll made several comments related to the distributed document, "Selected Studies and Reports Mandated by the 1993 Session of the General Assembly." A copy of the document is attached to these Minutes. He pointed out that the goal of an average of 15 hours taken by full-time students dictated in Section 89(1) does not require that all full-time students enroll in 15 hours, that the surcharge in Section 89(2) would have affected about 8% of the students in the past year, and that the $250,000 per year to be used for faculty awards for excellent teaching was not appropriated, but will come from overhead receipts. Section 101.5(2) raises the issue of changing the FTE formula from 12 to 15 hours. Carroll estimated that this change would reduce the University budget by 7 to 8%. He explained that the other SREB states have a base of 15 hours, but that they also include summer and extension FTE funding, while North Carolina does not.
Q. J. Nicholl(WCU). Concerning the target of an average enrollment of 15 hours, how will students who enroll and later drop be counted?
A. Carroll. We're not certain yet.
Q. T. Oldenburg(UNCCH). How will the $250,000 allocation to teaching awards be levied?
A. Carroll. I understand that it will come from General Administration's overhead receipts.
Q. P. Cabe(PSU). The Legislative Study Commission is to have an interim report by April 15, 1994. That's very soon. Has the Commission been established yet?
A. Carroll. Six members from the Senate have been appointed, no one from the House yet. The study provides an opportunity for the University to work closely with some legislative leaders.
Chairman Kane introduced a Resolution honoring past Chair Ken Wilson. The Resolution(#93-1) passed without dissent.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
Planning and Programs (Peter Petschauer - ASU)
The Committee has begun gathering information on scheduling and will have a report at a later meeting. This year's report will include information on some private institutions. The Committee discussed the features of Roy Carroll's report on legislative activities. The Committee plans to consider faculty work-loads, graduation and retention rates, FTE allocations and the 12-15 hour issue, and enrollment and SAT data. Petschauer's report was followed by some discussion among the delegates concerning the question of work-loads, the fact that most campuses do not seem to have satisfactory definitions of work-load, and the problem of confusing work-load with classroom contact hours.
Faculty Governance (George Bailey - ECU)
The Committee is going to consider a number of issues addressing the general issue of shared governance. These include:
1. improving faculty awareness of UNC and local campus policies and procedures;
2. providing secretarial and other support for faculty senates and councils;
3. providing released time or other compensation to senate and council chairs; and
4. providing incentives for getting qualified faculty to participate in shared governance, especially for getting qualified faculty to serve on grievance committees.
The Committee will also review the charge of the Faculty Governance Committee.
General Administration attorney Dick Robinson explained to the Committee that the GA has established a committee to identify problems in the current procedures used on our campuses. Faculty are included on this committee, including Ken Wilson, past Faculty Assembly Chair.
Faculty Welfare (Etta Gravely - NCA&T)
The Committee agreed that recorder duties will be rotated among the membership. The Committee reviewed the Faculty Assembly bylaws and the Committee's charge, as well as some issues continued from 1992-93, including crime on campus and disruptive animal rights demonstrations. Dave Edwards reviewed several bills considered by the 1993 General Assembly. The Committee received a resolution from the ASU Faculty Senate requesting that the Faculty Assembly work to repeal House Bill 957, which regulates smoking in public places. Dave Edwards informed the Committee that the GA is studying the Bill in conjunction with the Attorney General's Office. Larry Hough(ECU) was elected Vice Chair of the Committee.
The Committee introduced a resolution recommending additional retirement fund investment opportunities under the Optional Retirement Plan. The Resolution (#93-2) passed without dissent.
Professional Development (John Moskop - ECU)
The Committee elected Joseph Johnson (UNCG) Co-Chair, and Harmon Watson (FSU) Secretary. The Committee discussed the possibility of sponsoring a conference on teaching effectiveness and evaluation. Discussion included potential themes, target audience and funding.
The Committee introduced two Resolutions, one on Faculty Representation on the Teaching Awards Committee (#93-3) and one on Faculty Development Funding (#93-4). Both were passed without dissent.
Budget (Patricia Campbell - ECU)
Vice President Felix Joyner presented a copy of the 1993-95 Budget Request Calendar and discussed the budget process with the Committee. The Committee identified three goals for the year:
1. to investigate ways of becoming more involved in the budget process,
2. to explore what procedures are in place on the various campuses for involving faculty in the budget process, and
3. to investigate faculty salaries and benefits across the nation to determine UNC's status.
Academic Freedom and Tenure (John Stevens - UNCA)
The Committee was instructed by a motion from the April meeting to study the issue of teaching assessment. The Committee will be studying three documents: The Report on Teaching and Tenure, a report from the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research on "How Do Universities in the UNC System Identify and Reward Excellent Teaching?", and a talk by R. Edgerton on "The Reexamination of Faculty Priorities."
The Committee plans to bring in experts from the Teaching Centers at WCU and ASU to discuss student evaluations, peer review, and portfolios.
The Committee requests that one or more member of the Faculty Assembly attend the next AAHE conference on Faculty Roles and Awards.
The Committee introduced a Resolution on the Board of Governors Tenure and Teaching Report. After some discussion and editorial changes, the Resolution (#93-5) passed without dissent.
Chairman Kane asked for nominations for a Parliamentarian for the Assembly, and announced that the remaining meetings for the 1993-4 academic year will be held on November 19, February 4, and April 22. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Duvall, Secretary