Minutes - October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010
Present: Althaus, Christensen, Lauder, Lee-DiStefano, McCollum, Olsen, Sofu, Wang
Review of Handbook Sections: The Chair distributed to the Committee a one-page draft handout from the Ad Hoc Committee that defines and differentiates the terms “policy” and “procedure.” He reported that it appears likely that this approach will be used in the current (and future) revision of the Faculty Handbook. When asked, he expressed his opinion that the Senate should first approve at least this approach, if not the actual draft, before the Handbook revision process gets too far along. Several member of the Committee expressed their wish that a standard template be used by the Ad Hoc Committee and the FS legislative committees as they conduct their Handbook review process.
Handbook Subcommittee on Chapter 2, Section F (Althaus, Lee-DiStefano, Wang): This section includes the Tenure and Promotion Policy. The Chair distributed a copy of Page 78 of the Handbook, which still (incorrectly) describes the charge and membership of the University Promotion and Sabbatical Leave Committee. Under the current (2008) policy, The Committee has a different name, a slightly different charge, and a different membership procedure. The Chair will look into the possibility of using the informal clerical revision method to ask the Documents Committee to correct this section.
The Chair also distributed a copy of the timeline for the tenure and promotion process. Discussion took place about the feasibility and desirability of revising some of those dates. Given the Committee’s consensus view that a faculty member should be able to have the semester break in which to finalize his/her dossier, there appears to be very little room for flexibility in the spring semester dates.
A brief discussion was held over where in the existing policy would be a logical break between a “policy” section and a “procedures” section.
The Chair agreed to transmit to the members of the Committee the bill from the Spring of 2010 that included the Committee’s suggested revisions (“tweaks”) to the Tenure and Promotion Policy.
Handbook Subcommittee on Chapter 4 (Christensen, McCollum, Lauder): Sen. Christensen shared some of his observations about the section. Discussion took place over whether the Board should have to approve the awarding of sabbaticals (as it now does for sabbaticals, promotion, merit, etc.). If the answer is “yes,” then that should be in the policy section, but if the Board would be willing to delegate that responsibility to the President, then it could be in the procedures section. Christensen also pointed out that some of the travel-related provisions of the section are no longer accurate. In discussion, it was suggested that perhaps a link to the relevant section(s) of the Business Policy and Procedure Manual might be incorporated into this section.
Handbook Subcommittee on Chapter 2, Section D (Olsen, Seidu, Thorne): Dr. Olsen shared some of his observations about this section of the Handbook, which includes the various designations of faculty. Discussion took place over whether that should be considered policy or procedure. Discussion also took place over whether the University was still in compliance with the 20% cap on non-tenure-track faculty. The Chair agreed to ask the Provost to provide the relevant information on that matter.
Olsen also suggested that some relatively minor modification could be done to a section on Library faculty that would bring the Handbook into compliance with reality regarding the Library having equivalent status to an academic department, and reporting to a dean.
Minutes: The Committee agreed to approve the previously-sent draft of minutes of the Sept. 22nd meeting without modification.
Next Meeting: FS Chair Scott has called for a meeting of the Senate for October 13th, from 3:00 to 4:00. The Committee members agreed to meet from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Johnson Faculty Center to continue working as Handbook subcommittees. Chair Althaus will not be present.
***