Faculty Assembly

University of North Carolina

Minutes of the Ninety-fourth Meeting

September 22, 1995

The ninety-fourth 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 22, 1995. The meeting was called to order by Chair Peter Petschauer at 1:00 with 45 delegates in attendance.

President Spangler's Report.

Mr. Spangler provided an update to the Assembly on relevant actions on the part of General Administration, the Board of Governors and the State Legislature. (A copy of Mr. Spangler's remarks is attached.)

Questions and Answers.

Q. Gordan (WCU): Many students must delay computer classes until their junior year because there are not enough computers available to provide them with the classes. Will the Legislature be providing resources to make it possible for students to take these courses in their freshman or sophomores years?

A. Spangler: The General Administration recognizes the problems of resources for computers and is working to educate the legislature on the needs.

Q. Stavrakas (UNCC): What will be the result of demands for resources being tied to tuition?

A. Spangler: It is apparent that the Federal Government will be cutting student loans, making any tuition increases a direct burden on students and parents.

Q. Hough (ECU): Is the President and General Administration aware that the East Carolina University Faculty Senate has passed a resolution stating that increases in faculty salary should not be tied to tuition increases?

A. Spangler: The General Administration appreciates that sentiment and has tried to convey the dangers of this approach to all parties.

Q. Davis (NCSA): Is it possible that allowing the two universities (the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University) to set tuition at rates higher than the rest of the state turns them into private universities subsidized by the state?

A. Spangler: The median income in North Carolina is $36,000. At present, 75% of student who go on to college enter the public universities. It is contrary to history and policy to increase faculty salary by increasing tuition.

A discussion followed with Dr. Keech supporting the idea that the students who are attending UNCCH come from family's whose income is above the state average. Dr. Spangler then distributed an economic profile sheet to all members of the Assembly.

Vice President William McCoy's Report.

Mr. McCoy gave a report on the financial actions of the General Assembly as they affected the University system. (A copy of Mr. McCoy's remarks is attached.)

Vice President William Little's Report.

Mr.Little reported on the special studies and reviews provided for by the 1995 session of the General Assembly.

(A copy of Mr. Little's remarks is attached.)

Q. Hopper: (UNCC) Has any action been taken to see if the distribution of raises reflects the emphasis on teaching?

A. Spangler: The message is sent to the chancellors of the various universities to support teaching. There is no hard data to tell if merit pay reflects that support.

D. G. Martin's Report.

Mr. Martin discussed the relationships with new and continuing legislators, noting the extra allocation for libraries, the increase in repair and renovation funds and the reduction of reversion rates as areas where faculty might express their appreciation.

Chair's Report.

Dr. Petschauer reported on special interests and concerns of the Board of Governors. He suggested that each committee might look at how its charge might involve issues of tenure. He discussed how recent developments on two of the campuses mandated a review of policies on faculty/student relationships. Tuition increases to cover faculty salaries would also be a topic of discussion.

Copies of the updated roster will be distributed and the address of the Home Page where information relating to the Faculty Assembly will be included on the roster.

Frank Edens was unanimously approved for Chair of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee. Larry Hough was selected to serve as Parliamentarian.

The faculty were requested to review the report from the Legislative Study Commission on the Status of Higher Education.

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EVENING PLENARY SESSION

The session was called to order at 7:20 PM with 39 delegates in attendance.

The minutes of the April 28, 1995 meeting were approved as circulated with the correction that the Minutes and Resolution 94-5 be amended to change references from Kenneth R. Grogan to Kennis R. Grogan.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Planning and Program (Pamela Hunter - NCA&T)

Dan Caton (ASU) is Vice-Chair of the Committee.

1. Due to the time required to prepare planning studies relating to the Legislative Commission on the Quality of Education in the University of North Carolina, the General Assembly does not want revisions to the Long Range Plan until April or May.

2. Campuses are to submit reports to General Administration on Low Productivity Programs by September 20. The Planning Committee of the Board of Governors will act on the report this year and establish which programs can be eliminated.

3. The various institutions will be contacted regarding the 1995-1996 academic calendars and a comparison chart will be prepared and distributed similar to the one prepared last year.

4. The Committee reviewed the three major issues in the Legislative Commission's Report on Education for the UNC System: Undergraduate Quality Assessment, Budget Practices and Teaching and Learning.

Faculty Governance (George Bailey - ECU)

The Committee's priorities include:

1. Developing a statement of principle regarding conflicts of interest arising in faculty-student relationships to be recommended to this body for forwarding to the Board of Governors.

2. Reviewing the by-laws to amend archaic language and identify possible improvements

3. Reviewing the implications of recent Board of Governors documents on the grounds for faculty grievances and the rules governing the appeal of decisions involving these bodies for existing faculty grievance rights (as set forth in the UNC Code).

Q. Hopper-(UNCC): Will the Board of Governors allow preliminary review of policy by Faculty Assembly?

A: Carroll: They will consult with the Chair of the Faculty Assembly or with the appropriate committee chair. They set that precedent when they were working on the policy relating to faculty running for political office.

Academic Freedom and Tenure (Frank Edens - NCSU)

Issues for discussion:

1. A resolution to reaffirm that the Code of the Board of Governors is sufficient to deal with concerns about Academic Freedom and Tenure.

2. Professional ethics, especially as they relate to relationships between faculty and students and between faculty members where one member of the pair may be in an evaluative position. The Committee would like to work with the Governance Committee to present a resolution to the Assembly.

3. Explore whether the pressure to reduce time to degree will result in pressure on faculty to relax academic standards.

Professional Development (Bonnie Kelley - PSU)

1. The Committee will gather information from each campus concerning the establishment of teaching centers and will acquire the action plans submitted as a result of the 1994 Carolina Colloquy. The Committee requests that the delegates from each campus supply the Committee with information describing space, staffing, and source of funding.

2. The Committee will gather information on policies and procedures concerning classroom observation at each institutions.

Faculty Welfare (Jim Nicholl - WCU)

Gyula Pandi (NCSA) is the Vice-Chair.

The Committee considered for future study and action:

1. Health Care Benefits

2. Early retirement incentives

3. Linkage between image and public funding

4. Maintaining/increasing systemwide sense of community

5. Morale survey. The Committee decided not to pursue a survey at this time.

6. Faculty representation on the selection committee for future Presidents of the UNC University System.

7. Means of providing faculty input regarding desirable attributes of future Presidents of the System.

As a result of discussion relating to item number 3, the Committee presented a resolution ( 95-1, copy attached) on Impact Assessment. After discussion the resolution was adopted unanimously.

Budget (David Olson - UNCG)

The Committee heard a detailed report on budget developments that had occurred since the last meeting. An updated version of the document "The UNC Budget Process" will be distributed at the December meeting and will be made available on the Home Page.

Old Business: Roy Carroll provided the Assembly with a review of the legislative action that has been taken as a result of the work of the Legislative Study Commission. The Assembly discussed the implications of those actions.

New Business: George Bailey made a motion that an ad hoc committee of three individuals be appointed by the Assembly to explore means of addressing dramatically escalating library acquisitions increases. Library Directors in the System and those in private institutions that are members of the Council of Libraries would serve in an ex officio capacity. Jim Nicholl seconded the motion. The motion carried.

There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30.

Next meeting: 1:00 December 1, 1995.

Actions requested prior to next meeting:

Assemble and bring

Action Plans generated as a result of the Carolina Colloquy. Descriptions of Teaching Centers including facility, staff and source of funding.

Reports and/or procedures on classroom observation.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda L. Nelms, Secretary