Faculty
Senate
Minutes
September 16, 2009, 3:30 PM Pellissippi
Campus, Faculty/Staff Dining Room
I. Call to Order Tom Gaddis
The meeting was called to order by Tom Gaddis. Members in attendance: Mark Fuentes (President), Wanda Scarbro (Past President), Dave Vinson (TBR Rep), Rick Barber (BCT), Mae Jean King (BCT), Joe Zitka (BCT), Ken Swayne (EMT), Trent Eades (English), Lawana Day (English), Sydney Gingrow (English), Marilyn Harper (LA), Anita Maddox (LA), David Keys (LA), Ann Preston (Math), Linda Streebeck (Math), Meg Moss (Math), Ron Bridges (NBS), Michael Lusk (NBS), Brad Rose (NBS), Jean Jackson (Library Services), Tom Gaddis (Business Officer/Division Street), Ashey Boone (Blount County), Jane Stribling (Magnolia Avenue), Jonathan Morrell (Adjunct Faculty), William Gwin (Adjunct Faculty). Guests: Mary Monroe Ellis, Keith Norris.
II. Suspension of Rules of Order Mark Fuentes
Rules were suspended for the following:
§ Dr. Anthony Wise
Dr. Wise briefly addressed these topics:
–The final 14th
day headcount was 10,295, a 17.73% increase, the largest since 1991. This increase
strains facilities, including parking. The administration tried to prepare but progress
has been slower than expected on the new parking lots planned for this campus
and
–QEP planning is underway.
–He advised faculty to take advantage of funds available for professional development for the next two years. There will be budget constraints when stimulus funding ends.
In response to a questioner asking if stimulus funds could be used to purchase portables for additional classroom space, he replied that one trailer is being purchased. Space for classrooms, labs, and offices is an issue. Rules for using stimulus funds are complex.
In response to a questioner asking if it might be possible to change some of the parking lots currently designated as open to faculty, he indicated that balancing student and faculty parking is being reviewed.
§ Parliamentarian
Trent Eades has stepped down as parliamentarian in order to more fully represent his department. Donn King has agreed to serve in this office.
The appointment was approved with no objections.
§ Adjunct Faculty Representatives
President Fuentes introduced William Gwin for approval to fill the second adjunct faculty senate seat. Jonathan Morrell is the returning adjunct representative and he is willing to continue to serve.
Senate voted to approve.
§ Tom Gaddis; Business Officer
A document containing rules of order to be followed at senate meetings (see Attachment 1) was distributed with the agenda. Those attending senate meetings should follow these rules so that business can be conducted fairly and efficiently.
III. Approval of Minutes : Tom Gaddis
The previous minutes were approved without objection.
IV. Officer Reports:
Secretary: Jean Jackson – No Report
Communications: Ken Swayne
The Faculty Senate web page (http://www.pstcc.edu/organizations/faculty_council) has been updated and is easily accessible.
TBR Representative: Dave Vinson
A report from the last meeting has not yet been sent out but it was an uneventful meeting.
The next sub-council meeting is scheduled in about 5 weeks. In light of budget concerns and the recent discussion about reorganization, Dave sent a letter to members and TBR staff requesting information. He has received no responses from central staff.
President: Mark Fuentes
–Enrollment Increase: Nothing to add to Dr.Wise’s comments.
–Deadline for Grades: The concern of the Record’s Office staff is that all grades are available when the staff needs to process them. After a brief discussion it was suggested that the email from Records noting that grades have not been received from specific faculty not be sent to faculty until after the deadline for submission of grades has passed.
–QEP: It was noted that this is a very important part of the SACS review and that faculty should cooperate with department representatives when assistance is requested.
–Adjunct Issues:
o Office Space - Space is limited and there is no answer. Try to be flexible.
o Fee Waiver/Reduction - Not allowed for adjuncts by State regulation.
o Mileage Reimbursement – This is not currently being done but there is no regulation against it. President Fuentes will seek further information.
–Extended Closure Statement: A statement must be included on syllabi.
–Reorganization of Higher Education/TUFS Position Paper: A final draft of the document by community college faculty senates was distributed Tuesday, 9/15/09. This topic will be revisited during “Discussion.”
–Blount
County Campus: No summer classes will be scheduled at
–Balloon Festival: Volunteers are needed.
–Stimulus Funds: While this funding is available for the next 2 years the rules for use of the funds are complex.
–From Learning Council:
o Information Services needs to install a new generator. A proposed date for the installation is October 17-20 (weekend preceding and the Mon-Tues of fall break). During the installation, all online services will be unavailable, including locally loaded D2L pages. More information will be made available as decisions are made.
o Renovation is currently underway in GN225 for the “Next Classroom,” a classroom lab that will allow experimentation using the latest technology for teaching and learning. It is expected to be ready in the spring.
o Faculty/Staff Listserv: In April, Senate approved a motion requesting that the college cease moderation of the faculty-staff listserv. President Fuentes reported that he expects the listserv to continue to be moderated. Wanda Scarbro noted that last spring, she individually delivered the motion to President Edwards and the three listserv moderators, Anthony Wise, Peggy Wilson, and Jerry Bryan. She did not receive a response at that time.
If there are instances of messages not being delivered in a timely way, notify President Fuentes.
–From President’s Staff.
o Dr. Edwards is looking into electronic message boards for the CPAC and the current reader board.
o President’s Staff is beginning to explore collective hosting of Banner.
o The new portable will be located near the other portables.
V. Committee Reports:
Adjunct Faculty: Jonathan Morrell – No Report.
Student Scholarships: David Key/Joan Easterly
David reported that dates for the book sales have been scheduled and books are being collected. Boxes are needed; contact Joan Easterly if you can contribute.
Rules: Mark Fuentes
A motion will be presented during New Business.
Nominating Committee: Jean Jackson – No Report.
Promotion/Tenure: Mae Jean King
Laurie Stapleton will co-chair this committee. The committee will have a planning meeting this week.
Faculty Development: Ron Bridges
There was a good turn-out for the networking opportunity during inservice.
Magnolia Avenue also had a program. A questionnaire polling the faculty for desired topics for professional development opportunities will go out soon.
Faculty Emeritus: Mark Fuentes
The revised Faculty Emeritus policy (Policy 06:01:05) was approve by President’s Staff in July and is available in Pellissippi State Policies and Procedures.
Faculty Bill of Rights Ad Hoc: Anita Maddox – No Report.
Budget Ad Hoc: Wanda Scarbro
The revised budget will be available in about 2 weeks.
VI. Unfinished Business: None
VII. Discussion:
Disposal of sensitive material. Mark Fuentes
There have been inquiries about proper disposal of paperwork that might include student information when the volume is too large for a personal shredder. President Fuentes found that Human Resources and Business Services have a contract with the Cintas Company for secure document shredding. Should we pursue a similar contract? Discussion revealed this to be an issue that does affect many faculty members. President Fuentes will further investigate college administrative recommendations and responsibility.
Promotion/Tenure notebooks. Mark
Fuentes
It was suggested that the possibility of submitting promotion/tenure notebooks in electronic format be explored. While there are some logistical problems, this could be possible. President Fuentes discussed it with Dr. Wise and Dr. Edwards. Neither is opposed but they asked that he gather faculty opinion. Discussion elicited diverse views. Security of information is a concern.
Moved to New Business.
Nominations/Election for faculty awards. Mark
Fuentes
President Fuentes reported that the Employee Development Committee has tentatively scheduled the awards ceremony for April 22, 2010, the nomination and voting processes will be conducted online, the committee plans to ask the candidates to write something about themselves to be included with the ballot, and adjunct faculty may neither nominate nor vote on candidates for the outstanding adjunct award. There was once again discussion of various possibilities for “improving” the process but no resolution. A motion regarding adjunct faculty participation will be forthcoming during New Business.
Office hours “rule.”
Mark Fuentes
The office hours rule is a recurring issue. There was no interest in pursuing a change at this time.
Web load hours. Mark
Fuentes
Load hours were set long ago based on physical class sizes. Growth of web classes has complicated the situation. Everyone is aware of the unfairness factor and there is work being done toward evening the numbers. This is possibly an issue to be addressed by Learning Council.
Parking. Mark
Fuentes
Since parking has
been such an issue for everyone this semester, President Fuentes got some
information from Dave Walton regarding current parking at all campus locations (see
Attachment 2) and plans for handling the increasing need for spaces. The new portable
being acquired will go into the O7 lot, decreasing the number of spaces in that
lot. Construction should begin on a new lot across from O7 by December. Land
has been purchased at
Dual Enrollment
(item moved from New Business to Discussion).
President Fuentes was informed that the college is in the process of creating a new position in the Division of Learning to direct the dual enrollment program and cohorts. Creation of this position addresses the concerns expressed about this program.
Cars running in the parking lots. David Key
David Key brought forward a concern expressed by a member of his department about the noticeable number of students (possibly also faculty and staff) who sit in their cars at lunch and throughout the day with the engines running, creating waste and pollution. There was discussion but no solution was suggested.
Dave Ramsey Workshop. Sydney Gingrow
“Some English Department members are concerned about the college’s contract with the Dave Ramsey Lampo Group, Inc./Financial Peace University. Even a cursory review of research confirms that Ramsey’s business interests are irrevocably tied to the Christian right. His group espouses religious principles tied directly to Biblical teachings. Even though the Lampo Group offers seminars entitled “workplace training,” material is replete with Christian imagery and instruction.
While the English Department favors offering financial planning workshops, it would prefer such training be led by state-sponsored groups, for example, TIAA-CREF, TBR, or TCRS. Department members have expressed serious objections to reimbursing participating employees with state funds for attending workshops that so blatantly skew the division of church and state.”
Balloon Festival. Ron Bridges
Volunteers are needed. State employees, not community volunteers must staff gates.
VIII. New Business:
Presentation of Nominating Committee. Mark Fuentes/Jean Jackson
Following are the proposed members of the Nominating Committee:
Wanda Scarbro (Liberal Arts)
Martha Merrill (Engineering and Media Technologies)
Bobby Jackson (Mathematics)
Teresa Fulcher (Natural and Behavioral Sciences)
Alex Fitzner (English)
Appointees were approved without objection.
Constitution
Changes
President Fuentes submitted the following statement regarding the addition of the Faculty Development Committee to the standing committees listed in the Constitution
o During the July 15, 2009 Faculty Senate meeting, the Faculty Senate approved the addition of the Faculty Development Committee, a new standing committee. Since standing committees are listed in the constitution, the Faculty Development Committee will be added as follows:
Article VIII, Section 2, D – Committees established:
Faculty Development Committee will be added to the list
Because the Constitution states that adding new standing committees does not require an amendment to the Constitution, no further Faculty Senate action is required, as per Article VIII, Section 2, B.
President Fuentes submitted (from the Rules Committee) the following proposed amendments and editorial changes to the Faculty Senate Constitution and moved that they be adopted. Action on the proposed amendments and proposed editorial changes will occur at the next scheduled meeting of Faculty Senate.
o Proposed Amendments to the Constitution. Note that changed text and additions are in bold.
Article IV, Section 1, C:
“Terms will begin July 1 and continue through June 30, two years hence.”
Article IV, Section 3, A (last sentence):
“Senators-Elect meet with the outgoing Senate…”
Article IX:
“ARTICLE IX: PROCEDURE FOR CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION”
To be inserted before the current text:
Section 1: Amendment Procedure
To be inserted after the current text:
Section 2: Changes not Requiring an
Amendment
A. Changes of an editorial nature do not
require an amendment to the Faculty Senate Constitution. Editorial changes do
not change the substance of the Constitution.
B. Editorial changes must be presented to
the Senate (as an item on the agenda) at a regular Faculty Senate meeting.
Action on editorial changes will be delayed until the next regular Faculty
Senate meeting after presentation.
C. Editorial changes require only a simple
majority (50 percent plus one) of those present to approve the changes.
D. Editorial changes take effect
immediately upon approval of the Faculty Senate.
o Proposed editorial changes to the Constitution. Note that changed text and additions are in bold.
Heading:
“
Preamble:
“…of
Article II:
“…participate in governance of the College: to formulate and/or review…”
Article II:
“…delegated to it by the faculty of the College and considers…” (capitalize the “c” in college as it is capitalized everywhere else in the document)
Article IV, Section 2, A, 3:
“… made by the Faculty President.” (add a period to the end of the sentence)
Article IV, Section 3, B:
“The appropriate department dean or Vice President of the Division of Learning ensures departmental nominee(s) of …” (deleted “its” before “departmental nominee”)
Article V, Section 2, C:
“…the College or the Vice President of the Division of Learning may call a special meeting…”
Article VII, Section 2, A:
“… the College and the Vice President of the Division of Learning; serves as chief executive officer…”
Article VII, Section 2, C:
“…duties of the President as needed; and serves one year as Immediate Past President …” (deleted redundant “and serves one year”)
Article VII, Section 2, D:
“… Parkway campus library; and serves as chair of the Nominating Committee.”
Article VII, Section 2, E:
“… other relevant documents; prepares and electronically maintains the official membership lists; and serves as administrator of…” (deleted “and” following the first semicolon)
Reorganization
of Higher Education in
President Fuentes made the following motion:
Faculty Senate supports the position stated in the “Tennessee Community College Faculty Senates’ Position on Reorganization of Higher Education in Tennessee and Response to the TUFS Position Paper (see Attachment 3).”
Faculty
presidents from
The motion was approved without opposition.
Adjunct
Faculty/Outstanding Adjunct and Full-time Faculty Awards
The following motion was made by William Gwin and seconded by Trent Eades:
Adjunct faculty members should be allowed to
nominate and vote for candidates for the Outstanding Full-Time and Outstanding
Adjunct Faculty awards.
The motion was approved without opposition.
Submission of Promotion Tenure Notebooks
The following motion was made by Joe Zitka and seconded by Linda Streebeck:
Faculty Senate opposes the submission of promotion
tenure packets in electronic format.
The motion was approved with a vote of 12 for and 3 opposed.
DSP Requirements
President Fuentes made the following motion and it was seconded by Dave Vinson:
Faculty Senate supports the following
resolution:
Resolution
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS, The College has established procedures to ensure that students are accurately placed in their courses; and
WHEREAS, Some students have been given the opportunity to bypass these procedures without the knowledge of Transitional Studies or the relevant academic programs; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Faculty Senate urges that all programs follow established procedures regarding the placement of students; and
RESOLVED, That the Faculty Senate objects to any decisions regarding placement of students that are made without consultation with the appropriate departments.
There was discussion regarding the reason for the resolution. Mary Monroe Ellis spoke to the circumstances, which included the offering of a prep course and a class during the summer that bypassed the procedures and usual approval process for new offerings, and also affected the placement of students. Approval of the resolution would mean that Faculty Senate supports following established procedures.
Dave Vinson made a motion that line four of the resolution be amended to read: “RESOLVED, That the Faculty Senate urges that all programs follow established procedures regarding the placement of every student; and…”
The motion to amend was approved.
The amended motion was approved.
IX. Announcements
– Next meeting: October 21, 2009 – 3:30pm – Division Street (TBA)
– David Key will deliver a lecture entitled In Response to Industrialism on Wednesday, September 23rd. at 10:
50 a.m. in the Goins Auditorium.
X. Adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Attachment 1
September 15, 2009
To: The
Faculty Senate of Pellissippi State
From: Dr. Tom Gaddis, Senate Business Officer
Re: Order of Business at Senate Meetings
A parliamentary body is a group of
equals duly appointed or elected to represent a constituency. In order to ensure fairness, equality, and
all voices being expressed, a strict order of business must be followed.
Please observe the following
rules of order at senate meetings:
1. When officer and committee reports are being presented, it is appropriate to ask questions of the presenter, but discussion is not appropriate. If discussion is warranted, it may be conducted only under the order of a motion, during new business on the agenda.
2. Senators may take the floor and speak, debate, vote, or ask questions. When participating in debate, etc., Senators should wait to be acknowledged and given the floor by the presiding officer (Business Officer) or the Faculty President.
3. When participating in discussion or debating a motion, it is generally not appropriate to speak for a second time until all who wish to have spoken once. It is important that all that desire to speak indeed have that opportunity.
4. With regard to debate and discussion, after all who wish to have spoken twice, it is appropriate to call the question, but not required. Calling the question means you are ready to vote. It does not close debate. Moving the question (closing debate and voting on the motion) requires a second and a 2/3 vote to end debate.
5. Only senators may take the floor and speak, debate, vote, or ask questions. Guests may not vote and may only speak only by recognition of the presiding officer (Business Officer) or the President. If a faculty member (who is not a Senator) wishes to speak at a Senate meeting, that member should contact the Faculty President, the Business Officer, or his/her Senate Representatives prior to the meeting to be added to the agenda.
6. A “Discussions” section is on the agenda before new business. Here, a topic may be freely discussed without a motion on the floor (please observe a five minute limit on each discussion topic, unless it is the will of the Senate to increase the time). No action may be taken during Open Discussion (i.e. no motions may be made), but issues requiring action may be conveyed to the Senate as new business for a subsequent meeting. If you have a discussion topic, contact the Faculty President, the Business Officer, or appropriate department Senate Representatives prior to the meeting to have it added to the agenda.
Attachment 2
|
|
Standard
Parking |
Standard HC
Spaces |
Van Accessible
Spaces |
Notes |
|
O1 |
172 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
O2 |
161 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
O3 |
137 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
O4 |
298 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
O5 |
343 |
6 |
8 |
2
motorcycle parking areas. |
|
O6 |
144 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
O7 |
132 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
O8 |
94 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
O9 |
954 |
0 |
2 |
HC
spaces for Greenway Trail |
|
F1 |
173 |
6 |
2 |
|
|
F2 |
126 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
Visitors |
30 |
7 |
0 |
3
reserved spaces not in total. |
|
SRC
|
34 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
F
bldg. |
0 |
10 |
2 |
|
|
Total |
2798 |
32 |
23 |
|
*
Faculty/Staff parking is 11% of total parking available
*Ratio
of student parking to faculty/staff parking is 9:1
*
Total number of HC accessible spaces required is 37, with 5 van accessible.
PSCC Campus Parking – 5/09
|
Campus |
Standard Parking |
Standard HC Spaces |
Van Accessible Spaces |
Staff Parking Spaces |
Visitor Parking |
Other |
Student to Space Ratio |
Campus Total |
|
Magnolia |
191 |
5 |
2 |
24 (11%) |
3 |
3 state spaces and 26
street side spaces |
3.2:1 |
254 |
|
Blount |
235 |
2 |
6 |
42 (14%) |
4 |
1 motorcycle |
3.2:1 |
289 |
|
Div. St. |
141 |
7 |
2 |
42 (25%) |
3 |
1 state, 1 motorcycle, 1
mail |
7.9:1 |
198 |
|
|
2,798 |
32 |
23 |
299 (11%) |
30 |
10 motorcycle spaces O5, 3
reserved spaces in visitors lot |
2.4:1 |
3,185 |
Attachment 3
The
Where our view differs from that of TUFS is with its
recommendation to establish two separate governing systems, one for community
colleges and technical schools and the other by merging the Tennessee Board of
Regents universities with The University of Tennessee system. It seems clear to Tennessee’s community
college faculty senates that separating the community colleges from the
universities would be detrimental to the interests of a great many students and
communities across the state. As of
August 31, 2009, of the 178,626 students enrolled in TBR universities and
community colleges, more than half of those (90,483) are at community
colleges. While a portion of these
students are enrolled in a variety of allied health and technical two-year
career education programs, more than half of our students intend to transfer to
a university to pursue a baccalaureate degree when they complete their studies
at the community college. To be sure, the community college faculty senates understand
perfectly the importance of a higher education system in which students can
seamlessly transfer from one institution to another because most of the
students in
The state’s community colleges
have much more in common with the universities than with the area technical
schools. The curriculum of the community
colleges and the manner in which students receive instruction and are graded
and awarded credits is the same as in the state universities. While most of our students are in transfer
programs, our career education students are also required to complete general
education core courses in their degree programs that can be transferred to a university
should they decide later (and many of them do) to enroll in a university and
pursue a bachelor’s degree. It is
imperative that those in Tennessee who are currently considering the
reorganization of the higher education system recognize that community colleges
are real colleges offering college-level courses and that the interests and
concerns of the community colleges are, and must remain, compatible with the
state universities.
Both the Governor of Tennessee and
the President of the
In conclusion,
(1) That any process for redesign of higher
education in Tennessee have shared governance as an underlying principle, that
the active participation of all stakeholders is essential if available
expertise is to be fully utilized in the effort to improve system efficiency;
(2) That any higher education reorganization
similarly be based upon shared governance principles;
(3) That the close working relationship
between the Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges and universities
under a single governing board be maintained;
(4) That worthy goals such as seamless
articulation of students from one educational institution to another, a statewide
common general education core curriculum, joint academic programs, better
geographical distribution of academic programs, consolidation of library
resources, interconnected IT systems, centralization of a number of
administrative functions, and the streamlining of higher education
administration suggest that a single governing system for higher education in
Tennessee be considered.
Attachment 4
Position Paper on the
Reorganization of Higher Education in
I. Background
Tennessee University Faculty Senates
(TUFS), an association of the four-year state university Senates founded in
April 2008, represents nearly 10,000 higher education faculty in
As the statewide reorganization of
higher education became a topic of conversation in
II. General Principles Endorsed by
TUFS
As representatives of the faculty of
arrangements, political considerations,
wrangling over resources, and regional or institutional loyalties.
TUFS also holds that higher education
should be frugal with
III. Objectives Endorsed by TUFS
TUFS holds that reorganization of
higher education should achieve the following objectives:
1. More rational and efficient organization. The TBR system, for example, includes
two-year community and technical colleges, a foreign language institute and six
universities, five of which have doctoral programs. Those on the ground in the
TBR system are frequently frustrated by “one-size-fits-all” directives from the
TBR administration. A more rational organization might help avoid this.
2. Faculty and student collaboration and exchange. The breadth and depth of talent and
expertise available in the TBR and UT systems is enormous, but institutional
barriers prevent beneficial collaboration and exchange. Graduate students and
faculty from each institution would benefit greatly from the ability to move
between one campus and the other, but this would be extraordinarily difficult under
current arrangements. Much more along these lines could be accomplished to the
benefit of faculty and students if it were facilitated by a common
administration.
3. Research informs the education process. Beginning in the undergraduate years,
research informs the teaching and learning process. At both the undergraduate
and graduate levels, education and research activities of each university
should fulfill its mission statement and facilitate accreditations. Regional access
to graduate programs is imperative for an educated citizenry and workforce, and
should be maintained.
4. Seamless system-wide access to library resources for
students and faculty. At present, each university
negotiates separate licensing agreements and contracts for library databases
and other resources for their library users. This process duplicates efforts
across institutions, involving libraries, legal affairs, and purchasing
departments on our campuses. Most importantly, it overlooks consortial buying
power,
which allows greater access to library
resources.
5. Better geographical distribution of programs. Academic programs have grown up
around the state for reasons that are often historical or political. The
students of
6. Flattening administration. Higher education in
IV. Recommendations
In order to flatten administrative
systems, better serve students, reduce costs and advance the other objectives
of reorganizing higher education in
1. Whatever administrative structure
emerges from the reorganization ensures the ability of faculty and students
(both graduate and undergraduate) to move easily without institutional barriers
among the various campuses. It should be easy for students to take classes at
more than one campus while respecting prerequisites. There should also be a
visiting faculty consortium that allows faculty to work at other state
campuses. Achieving these goals will require coordination of academic
calendars.
2. With respect to libraries, there
should be a statewide catalog, centralized vendor contract negotiation, and centralized
purchase of library resources, which facilitate broad access.
3. There should be a statewide common
general education core curriculum.
4. Institutions should have
interconnected IT systems.
5. It should be easy to develop joint
academic programs that use resources from multiple state institutions.
6. Application for undergraduate
admission to all state institutions should be centralized, leaving recruitment and
acceptance to individual campuses.
7. Centralization of the following
functions should also be considered:
• Benefits - insurance, medical,
retirement, etc.
• Human resources policies and procedures
• Purchasing
• Research administration.
8. As a further cost-saving measure,
the proportion of campus budgets used for administration should be regularly
examined.
9. There are several good ways to
organize the governance of higher education in