Faculty Senate Minutes

February 15, 2012 Pellissippi Campus, Faculty/Staff Dining Room

I. Call to Order

Meeting was called to order by Ron Bridges, Faculty Senate President. Senators in attendance: Sally Lighter (BCT), Linda Ellams (BCT), Deanne Michaelson (BCT), John May (Engineering & Media Technology), Sami Ghezawi (Engineering & Media Technology), Trent Eades (English), Keith Norris (English), Lawana Day (English), Joan Easterly (LA), Charles Cardwell (LA), Mike Rose (LA), Jonathan Lamb (Math), Claire Suddeth (Math), Bob Stern (Math), Joan Jackson (NBS), Michael Lusk (NBS), Amy Tankersley (TS), Pam Smith (TS), Beverly Rogers (Nursing); Rick Bower (LS), Robert Baird (Division Street) Ashley Boone (BC), Bob Boyd (Magnolia Avenue Campus), Lara Kajs (Adjunct Faculty) Leigh Moore (Adjunct Faculty), David Meredith (Adjunct Faculty), Brad Rose (Business Officer), Nina McPherson (Secretary), Mark Fuentes (Past President), Ken Swayne (Communications Officer), Donn King (Parliamentarian.) Guests: Marilyn Harper, Nancy Pevey, Dick Smelser, Leigh Ann Touzeau, Patricia Zingg, Kathleen Affholter, Anne Swartzlander, Tyra Barrett.

II. Suspension of Rules

Ron Bridges called for a suspension of rules in order for Leigh Ann Touzeau, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Services and Richard Smelser, Director, Financial Aid, to discuss some aspects of financial aid. Touzeau introduced Smelser as the college’s new Director of Financial Aid. Both stressed the importance of attendance reporting, the Last Date Attending (LDA.) Faculty do not have to change the LDA for a student who stopped attending class but reappears for the last day of class. Faculty should send students who object to this to the Financial Aid office. Smelser stressed the importance of LDA and the college’s default rate. Smelser said that a “faux expunge” will start in fall semester 2012. Class information for online students who are expunged is not totally wiped out of the system; it can be manually reentered. It is a faculty decision as to whether to let a student who has been expunged continue in the course. Smelser stressed that faculty should contact him with questions.

Suspension of Rules continued so that Bridges could make his Officer report because he had to leave the meeting early.

Bridges reported that Interim Academic Vice President Reynolds is investigating the possibility of changing the internal policy of not allowing travel re-imbursement for adjunct travel for travel to teaching sites.

Bridges provided a short synopsis of faculty discussion on the faculty listserv concerning the student perception of faculty process. He thinks that there is a general feeling that the current system has flaws but that there is not a consensus amongst faculty about what changes need to be made to the form or process. Some faculty like the current process and some would like to move to an online process. Sharon Yarbrough, Director/Institutional Effectiveness Research Planning, would like to move to an online format for this survey. President Wise has scheduled a meeting on February 20th with Lois Reynolds, Sharon Yarbrough, Dennis Adams, Jerry Bryan and Ron Bridges to discuss the issues. Bridges will report the outcome of that discussion before the next Faculty Senate meeting.

III. Approval of Minutes: Brad Rose

Minutes of the January 25, 2012, meeting were approved with no changes.

IV. Officer Reports

Secretary: Nina McPherson – no report

Communications: Ken Swayne – no report

TBR Representative: Dave Vinson – no report

President: Ron Bridges

Report given during the Suspension of Rules session.

V. Committee Reports

Adjunct Faculty: William Gwin/Leigh Moore – no report

Student Scholarships: Michael Lusk

Approximately $2,000 has already been raised for the book sale. Claire Suddeth will handle the money this year.

Rules: Donn King

Postponed the report concerning Faculty Senate Constitution changes until the March meeting.

Nominating Committee: Nina McPherson

Reported the results of the election for President Elect. Tyra Barrett did receive more than a simple majority plus one vote of those voting. Barrett was in attendance at the meeting and was congratulated on her election.

Promotion/Tenure: Mark Fuentes

All portfolios, regardless of format, will be available for review February 13 thru March 2. Department meetings for voting will be held March 12 thru March 16. Fuentes reminded faculty to be sure to sign that they have read the portfolios.

Faculty Development: Ron Bridges and Nancy Pevey

Pevey reported that activities are progressing for the QEP.

Fuentes asked faculty to send ideas for fall in-service to him or Bridges. Fuentes announced that an online seminar on how to operate a faculty development program will be presented on February 22, 2012 at 2pm in the ETS training room.

Faculty Lecture Series: Trent Eades and Keith Norris

Norris said the schedule is:

Feb. 21, 12:30 Stem Cells: The Hope of the Future -- Susan McMahan

Feb. 22, 4:30 The Order of Everything -- Dave Vinson (co-sponsored with Gnosis)

March 28, 1p “Women in Film” -- Katie Lovette

March 28, 3:30 “Science vs Religion” -- David Howell (co-sponsored with Gnosis)

April 19, 12:30 “Sexy Shakespeare II: The Further Adventures of the Amorous Bard of Avon: -- Ed Francisco (co-sponsored with Gnosis)

Sept. TBD -- “Economics: The Musical” --Tyra

Advising Issues Ad Hoc Committee: Amy Tankersley

Will provide a report at the March meeting.

Student Behavior Ad hoc – Michael Lusk

Will provide a report at the March meeting.

VI. Unfinished Business

Faculty Hiring Ad hoc – Charles Cardwell

Committee is still working on the evaluation document. He did learn that the form does not have to be given to applicants if they request to review the document.

VII, Discussion

Post Retirement Options

Some faculty want to investigate the possibility of reviving this benefit. Although the previous administration did not want to offer this benefit, the new administration might. Roane State is offering this benefit. Tyra Barrett will chair an ad hoc committee to investigate what TBR colleges are offering this benefit and the costs involved.

Student Perception of Faculty

There was continued discussion about the Student Perception of Faculty process. Charles Cardwell made a motion that was seconded that discussion of this topic be tabled until the next Faculty Senate meeting.

VIII. New Business:

Room Configuration Committee –

Bridges has had several faculty inquire about the mission and membership of the college’s Room Configuration Committee. Faculty have no representation on the committee. Past President Mark Fuentes offered a resolution on behalf of President Ron Bridges reading as follows:

Whereas the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee currently has no faculty representation,

And

Whereas the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee functions to determine the use and configuration of academic space on all college campuses,

And

Whereas the configuration of classrooms has a significant and profound effect on how faculty members are able to perform their teaching functions,

Be it resolved that: The Faculty Senate requests that at least two faculty members be appointed to serve on the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee with full voting rights.

The motion was seconded. Tankersley then made a motion to amend wording in the last paragraph to read “…… at least two faculty members, one of whom is a program coordinator, be appointed to serve ….” The amendment to that paragraph was approved by acclimation vote. Faculty Senate then approved the revised motion. This motion will be forwarded to President Wise. The final motion reads as:

Whereas the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee currently has no faculty representation,

And

Whereas the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee functions to determine the use and configuration of academic space on all college campuses,

And

Whereas the configuration of classrooms has a significant and profound effect on how faculty members are able to perform their teaching functions,

Be it resolved that: The Faculty Senate requests that at least two faculty members, one of whom is a program coordinator, be appointed to serve on the Pellissippi State Room Configuration Committee with full voting rights.

Book Sale at the Blount County Campus

Ashley Boone discussed the dedication to the faculty book sale that has been shown by Brenda Ammons for 20 years. She has promoted and organized the book sale at the Blount County campus since the first book sale. She has even arranged for many of the book donations through the years. Results of her hard work have helped not only the book sale at the Blount County Campus but also the Hardin Valley Campus sale. Ammons has relinguished this responsibility this year. Keith Norris made a motion to present a certificate of appreciation to Ammons at the appropriate employment awards ceremony; motion was seconded and approved by acclimation by the Faculty Senate.

John May – Visiting Artist

Lois Greenefield, a photographer from NYC, will be lecturing Wed night, Feb 22 in the Goins Auditorium @ 7 P.M.

IX. Announcements-Next meeting-Wednesday, March 21, 3:30 PM – Blount County Campus, Room TBD

X. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 5:20pm