The Faculty Senate of North Georgia College & State University met on September 9, 1999, at 12:30PM in Oaks 019. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Donna Gessell, CEO, with the following Senators present: Anthony, Barnett, Batchelder, Biddy, Corotto, Democko, Gordon, Herbert, Kokkala, Link, Margeson, Patten, Roberts-Betsch, Sisk, Smith, Spraker, Stahl, Szuminski, Temples, Tennis, Thurman, Weinberg, Wiedmann, Woods, and Yonts. President Hansford and Ms. Peggy Inman (Staff Council Representative) were also present. Guests included Dr. John Nardo and Dr. Harriette Richard (Chair, Comm. on Faculty Affairs). Senators Skelly and Carroll-Cobb were excused.
Minutes of the August 16, 1999, Meeting
The minutes of the August 16, 1999, meeting were submitted by CEO Gessell for corrections or additions. There being no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as submitted.
President's Report
President Hansford expressed "sincere appreciation" for the support and advice of COL. Palmer and Acting Vice President Whitaker-Lea regarding the recent, temporary deactivation of the Blue Ridge Rifles. President Hansford invited questions from the Senators regarding the incident. There were none.
President Hansford went on to report that the strategic planning process is moving forward. The Strategic Planning Committee has met twice and has developed core values and basic strategic assumptions. These were forwarded to all university units on 9/9/99 by Dr. Finnegan. The various units are expected to meet and discuss what the strategic directives and goals for their respective units ought to be over the next two years. Units are expected to report their decisions back to the Strategic Planning Committee on or before 10/29/99. The committee will then share the unit goals with the various vice presidents, faculty, etc. in order to form the university's strategic directives. Said directives will then go back to the committee and vice presidents for final development of goals and action plans. The entire process is to be completed by 12/1/99. President Hansford called for questions concerning the process. The only question raised concerned the term 'units'. President Hansford explained that 'units' refers to academic departments and support offices, etc.
Next, President Hansford reported that, due to the fact the university now owns the Moore house, additional changes and moves will be made. Because the Department of Psychology and Sociology needs more space and privacy (for purposes of confidentiality) for the community counseling program, they will be occupying all of the Admissions Building. Further, because the Office of Cadet Recruiting needs a higher profile, and because the Graduate Studies office needs increased space, the Office of Cadet Recruiting will be moved to the Moore house (first floor) while the Graduate Studies office and Admissions will take the space in Price Memorial previously assigned to Cadet Recruiting. The Public Information Office will move from the basement of Price Memorial to the second floor of the Moore house. Human Resources will vacate Dunlap and occupy the space in Price Memorial vacated by Public Information. The basement level of Dunlap will be given over to classrooms, faculty offices, labs, the writing center, and film storage. Such rearrangements should make possible the establishment of a university museum by freeing up the needed space. Finally, because of the moves of certain offices to the Moore house, the process of moving and relocating various departments and offices will be slowed while the Moore house is prepared for occupation.
In conclusion, President Hansford reviewed and explained the decision to close and sod-over the three inside lanes of the track. Since soccer was moved to the track's infield, a number of safety concerns have arisen and a number of complaints have been received. By eliminating the three inside track lanes, the infield area will be sufficiently enlarged to provide a safe margin between the boundaries of the soccer field and the drain and inner-track curbing. The remaining track lanes will all be re-surfaced and re-marked. Additionally, a three mile nature trail will be established in the area of the bus barn for walking and jogging.
CEO's Report
CEO Gessell reported that VP Roberts-Betsch had requested the privilege
to speak, if needed, on behalf of and in the absence of Acting Vice President
Buckhiester. CEO Gessell also reported that the Executive Committee
of the Faculty Senate will be meeting to set charges for various standing
committees. She also announced the faculty membership of the Strategic
Planning Committee as follows:
Sandra Carroll-Cobb
Frank Fearon
Rufus Larkin
Ed Green
Kirk Heriot
Marilyn Lary
Unfinished Business:
Instructional Technology Committee Bylaws Proposal
The following proposal, having been previously submitted to the Faculty Senate, was re-introduced for the purpose of voting acceptance or rejection:
Instructional Technology Committee
Purpose: The purpose of the
Instructional Technology Committee
shall be to review and formulate policy recommendations
related to Instructional Technology issues for the
University.
Composition: The committee shall be composed
of one regular faculty
member from each school of the University (appointed by
the Deans of the schools), one library representative
(appointed by the Director of the Library), a support
staff member from Information Technology (appointed by
the Director of Information Technology), and a student
representative (appointed by the Vice President of
Student Affairs). One of the above committee members
shall be a senator. Each member of this committee
should have demonstrated interest in instructional
technology issues. The outgoing chair of this committee
shall call the first meeting of the new committee for the
purpose of electing a new chair and briefing the
committee on previous results.
Duties: The committee
shall revisit annually the instructional
technology needs of the University and make specific
recommendations for their maintenance and enhancement.
The committee shall review standing policies and proce-
dures regarding the use of instructional technology for
learning and recommend changes to the Senate as needed.
Furthermore, the committee shall maintain and publicize
an updated list of funding sources available to the
faculty and the University to support instructional
technology.
In the subsequent discussion, Senator Roberts-Betsch questioned whether "senator" should be substituted for "outgoing chair" to synchronize with the current, standard procedure. Senator Kokkala explained that it was felt it would be best for the outgoing chair to call the first meeting and brief the new committee for purposes of continuity and clarity regarding work-in-progress. CEO Gessell suggested changing "call" to "attend" and deleting "electing a new chair and." This modification was approved by Senator Kokkala. Senator Sisk questioned why the Director of Information Technology was not included as a non-voting member of the committee. Senator Tennis voiced her support for having the Director of Information Technology as a member of the committee. Senator Kokkala explained that the committee was intended to deal not only with review and revision of standing policies but also to be a source of vision and imaging of new policies and goals. Senator Kokkala stated that the committee was conceived as thinking in terms of the ideal vision of information technology at NGCSU. She went on to explain that the presence of the Director of Information Technology, as a member of the committee, was seen as possibly limiting regarding that ideal vision. Senator Sisk suggested that the Director of Information Technology needs to share the committee's vision and not merely be the recipient of it. Senator Woods pointed out that too much vision on the part of the committee may waste its time and effort. Senator Kokkala responded by pointing out that expectations can, themselves, be self-limiting. While implementation may be subject to certain realities, visioning the future of information technology should begin without self-imposed restrictions and limitations. Senator Woods then suggested that "policy recommendations" be changed to "recommendations." Senator Kokkala accepted this modification. Senator Barnett then voiced concern that only one student representative was called for in the proposal. She suggested changing the proposal to call for one undergraduate student representative and one graduate student representative.
Senator Barnett formally moved to amend the proposal to include both one undergraduate student representative and one graduate student representative on the committee. Senator Stahl seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Senator Roberts-Betsch formally moved to amend the proposal by changing "call" to "attend" and deleting "electing a new chair and." Senator Spraker seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Senator Patten formally moved to strike the word "policy" from the phrase "policy recommendations." Senator Woods seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Senator Sisk formally moved to amend the proposal to include the Director of Information Technology as a non-voting member of the committee. Senator Tennis seconded the motion. The motion was defeated.
Senator Roberts-Betsch then formally moved to accept the amended proposal. Senator Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Committee on Committee Recommendations for Changes:
Senator Sisk submitted the following recommendations on behalf of the
Committee on Committees:
It was recommended that:
Charlene Hancock replace
Jane Garvin (resigned from NGCSU) on the
Athletic Committee.
Rufus Larkin replace Ellen
Milleman's faculty position on the
Health Committee.
Kent Poff continue to serve
as Secretary to the Faculty.
These recommendations were approved. It was further pointed out
that updates concerning committee assignments and memberships are available
on the N:\ drive.
Commencement Ceremony Attendance:
Senator Batchelder introduced the following resolution:
"Resolved, that the faculty senate request that the members of the faculty should never again be dismissed from commencement ceremonies in order to free up some seats for others.
"And resolved, that if the members of the faculty are vulnerable to being dismissed, then they should not be given the mandatory assignment of attending commencement ceremonies."
Senator Batchelder moved that the resolution be accepted as a motion. Senator Barnett seconded the motion.
In the ensuing discussion, Senator Spraker pointed out that this sort of problem happens at all schools. He went on to suggest that graduation is not about the faculty but about the students and their families. Senator Thurman expressed the position that, since faculty are required to attend, just walking in and immediately walking out again seems a trivial exercise. Senator Batchelder pointed out that faculty members are sometimes forced to re-schedule vacations, etc. due to their required attendance. Senator Yonts expressed the point that the senate should not assume that the President will make such a decision capriciously. Senator Roberts-Betsch pointed out that the dismissal of faculty from the commencement ceremony has happened only rarely; it is not a common occurence. She went on to point out that the choice is between dismissing faculty or limiting the number of guests each student may invite. Senator Herbert pointed out that graduating students want the faculty to be present. Senator Weinberg suggested that a different location be considered. Senator Stahl inquired whether or not the number of faculty attending might be decreased in some way. Senator Roberts-Betsch supported the possibility of reducing the number of faculty attending the ceremonies.
Senator Link then called the question. Senator Woods seconded the call. The question was called. The motion was defeated.
New Business:
Senator Spraker moved that the subject of reducing the number of faculty required at commencement be turned over to the Vice President of Academic Affairs in consultation with an ad hoc committee. Committee members are Senators Batchelder, Spraker, Szuminski, and Temples.
There being no other new business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:41PM.
Respectfully submitted,
S.N. Wiedmann, Secretary
NGCSU Faculty Senate