University Faculty Senate

Membership:  Brian Ceh, Rocco Gennaro, Betsy Hine  (Secretary), Larry Kunes, (alternate, first semester), (Sala Wong, alternate, second semester), Rich Schneirov  (Vice Chairperson), Linda Sperry (Chair).

 Ex-officio Members:  Susan Hoffman  (Special Purpose Faculty Liaison), Bob English (Administrative Affairs Liaison),  Arthur Halpern  (Executive Committee Liaison).   

Brian Ceh (abs. 6),  Rocco Gennaro (abs. 3),  Jeff Harper (abs. 9), Betsy Hine (abs. 2),  Richard Kjonaas (abs. 6), Larry Kunes (abs. 3),  Dale Ann O’Neal (abs. 1), Richard Schneirov (first semester only, abs. 1),  Linda Sperry (abs. 0), Sala Wong (second semester only, abs. 7). 

 VI. Charges from Executive Committee with FAC Actions

 #1  Criminal Background Checks--By Sept 30, receive and review proposed procedures for Faculty Background Checks [carry over from last year]. Harriet Hudson [one of the drafters of this document] has asked me to forward her willingness to speak to you on this matter.

List of Objections plus Procedures passed by FAC on 11-08-07 [4, 1, 1]; Exec. Committee reviewed on 11-20-07; Revised policy and procedures distributed to FAC on 1-09-08.

 #2  Affiliate Faculty--Receive and evaluate proposal from Academic Affairs for Affiliate Faculty Status.

 Document was distributed and discussed on 1-16-08.  Proposal passed with changes on 1-30-08 [6, 0, 0]; Distributed to Exec. Committee on 2-1-08; Passed by Exec. Committee on 2-12-08.

 #3  Faculty Awards--Receive and evaluate revised proposal from Academic Affairs regarding faculty awards (carry-over from last year).

             Requested revised proposal from Faculty Senate Office 1-14-08. Did not receive.

 #4  Handbook Language for Special Elections in Senate--Develop recommendations (and handbook/constitution language) as appropriate to clarify the appropriateness and process for holding of special elections when there is no available alternate who may be seated on the senate (Constitution, Article III, section 3, page II-4).

 Voted to recommend no change in handbook language [6, 0, 0] on 2-20-08; Recommendation distributed to Faculty Senate and Exec. Committee on 2-28-08.

 #5  Caleb Mills Handbook Language--Evaluate Caleb Mills Committee recommendations regarding changes to handbook language guiding selection of Distinguished Teaching Award winners (per memo from Academic Affairs).

 Document was distributed and discussed on 11-29-07 and 1-16-08.  Handbook language was voted on 1-23-08. Recommendation distributed to Exec. Committee on 2-1-08.  Recommendation accepted by Exec. Committee on 2-12-08.

 #6  Selection for Faculty Award Committee--Make faculty nominations to select committees: Caleb Mills, Theodore Dreiser, and Service Award Selection Committees.

 Committee accomplished work on 1-09-08. Recommendations delivered to Exec. Committee on 1-10-08.

 #7  Replenish Grievance Pool—Replenish the Grievance Pool.

 Requested information from Faculty Senate Office 1-14-08.  Did not receive.

 #8  Course Evaluations—Investigate and make recommendations regarding on-line instruments and procedures for evaluation of teaching, including but not limited to distance-delivery courses.

 FAC 2006 document was distributed and discussed on 11-29-07, 1-16-08, 1-23-08, and 2-6-08; motion to accept tabled recommendation at 2-6-08 meeting; presentation made by Ken Janz at 2-20-08 meeting. Demo on Banner evaluation shell to be scheduled by OIT in Fall 2008. Ed Kinley commented on 4-23-08 that there are three “show stoppers” with regard to a university-wide online course evaluation form: (a) security, (b) confidentiality, and (c) functionality.

 #9  Policy on Minus Grades—Work with SAC to investigate support for and implementation process necessary to create minus grades. Respond to issues raised in 1995 motion on this issue. Prepare a feasibility report with recommendation regarding creation of minus grades (carry-over from last year).

Report of advantages and disadvantages of plus-minus grading system was accepted by FAC 2-6-08; Motion to recommend that ISU move to a plus-minus grading system was passed (5, 0, 0) at 2-6-08 meeting. Recommendation forwarded to Exec. Committee on

2-8-08. Exec Committee tabled motion on 2-12-08 until they hear from SAC.

 #10  Study Week vs. Study Days--Work with SAC to re-evaluate the value of retaining “Study Week” during which classes are in Session versus adding “Study Days” at the end of the semester during which no classes are in session. Some examination of non-compliance rates is appropriate.

Five options for recommendations were provided by the subcommittee. After discussion, FAC voted to recommend option 3 (6, 0, 0) at 3-3-08 meeting.  Option 3: Leave the study week policy as is in place, but attempt to increase faculty compliance by the following actions.  Have Academic Affairs send an email to faculty before each semester and to faculty and students near the end of each semester reminding them of the current policy of No Exams Week, namely, That courses are expected to meet, but that no quiz or exam worth more than 4% of the grade should be given. Motion forwarded to Exec Committee on 4-11-08.

 #11  Intercession and Retention of First-Year Students--Work with SAC to investigate the value of extending winter break, including the possibility of moving the 3-week summer “intercession” into January. Particular attention to its possible impact on retention of first year students should be examined.

 Motion to advise against the charge of the possibility of moving the 3-week summer “intercession” into January.  Motion passed (6, 0, 0) at 3-3-08 meeting. Motion forwarded to Exec. Committee on 4-11-08.

 #12  Four-Day Week for Classes—Work with SAC to evaluate the feasibility of migrating toward a schedule that would reserve one day a week for labs/internships for students and committee/research for faculty.

 Motion to recommend that there be no consideration of migrating toward a schedule that would reserve one day a week for labs/internships for students and committee/research for faculty.  Discussion centered on the impossibility of scheduling all professional or community engagement placements on a single day of the week combined with the impossibility of having faculty supervise such placements on the day specified for their committee work or research. Motion passed (6, 0, 0) at 3-3-08 meeting. Motion forwarded to Exec. Committee on 4-11-08.

 #13  New Faculty Orientation--Receive and review evaluation report for new faculty orientation (Spring).

 Edward Kinley, Kenneth Janz, Kelly Wilkinson, and four first-year faculty participants presented their views on the 2007-08 New Faculty Orientation class to FAC on 4-23-08. Review forwarded to Exec. Committee on 7-3-08.

#14  NHHS Governance and Tenure/Promotion Policies--Receive and review documents pertaining to governance and tenure & promotion from the College of Nursing, Health, & Human Services to assure consistency with university policies.

NHHS member of FAC reported that college documents pertaining to governance and tenure and promotion were not completed in time for review this academic year.

 #15 Academic Advising--Coordinate with UACC and SAC to formulate and evaluate recommendations related to improvement of academic advising.

Requested recommendations from Faculty Senate Office 1-14-08; 2006 FAC recommendations distributed to committee on 1-30-08; more discussion of 2006 FAC recommendations on 2-20-08; changes recommended and tabled on 2-20-08; Salatha Willis, Director of First Year Programs, was invited to meeting on 3-19-08. FAC discussed creation of heuristic for Students and Academic Advisors at meeting on 4-2-08; Heuristic was adjusted and approved at meeting on 4-9-08. Recommendation forwarded to Exec. Committee on 4-11-08.

 V.  Charges for 2008-09 FAC   

1.      Replenish Grievance Pool

2.      Upon provision of information from OIT regarding an online instrument for course evaluation, return to the FAC 2008 Recommendations Regarding Online Evaluation of Courses and finalize a recommendation for Executive Committee.

3.      Receive and review documents pertaining to governance and tenure & promotion from the College of Nursing, Health, & Human Services to assure consistency with university policies.

 4.      Receive and review evaluation report for new faculty orientation (Spring). Make recommendation on appropriateness of inclusion of special purpose and affiliate faculty in the new faculty orientation.