The NGCSU Faculty Senate met on June 22, 2000.  The meeting was called to order at 12:30 PM by CEO Woods.  The following members of the Senate were present:  President Hansford, VPAA Buckhiester, Staff Council Representative Inman, Senators Barnett, Cronic, Friedman, Kokkala, Larkin, Link, B. Morris, Sisk, Skelly, Temples, Tennis, Weinberg, Wiedmann, Williams, and Yeoman.  Senators Anthony, Bielic, Gannaway, McCard, and Spraker were excused.  Senators Biddy, Delargy, Eggers, Herbert, Margeson, Westerfield, and Yonts were absent.  Guests were Dr. Gruenhagen, Dr. Lary, and Dr. Roberts-Betsch.

Minutes of the April 27th Meeting

The minutes of the NGCSU Faculty Senate meeting of April 27, 2000, were presented.  CEO Woods announced two corrections.  On page 4, at the bottom, the phrase "twelve to thirteen" is corrected to read "twelve or thirteen."  On page 6, the phrase "to table" is corrected to read "to postpone."  There being no other corrections or additions, Senator Tennis moved to approve the minutes as corrected.  Senator Barnett seconded.  The minutes as corrected were approved.

President's Report

President Hansford announced that, due to lower than expected utility costs, there was additional money available at the end of the year.  These end-of-year funds were used for, among other things, the purchase of computers, software licensing fees, library furniture.  In addition, the extra moneys were used to increase the budget both for books and periodical subscriptions for Stewart Library.

President Hansford informed the Senate that summer enrollment was down a bit from the expected level.  He suggested this might be due, in part, to the strength of the current economy which enabled more students to obtain good, summer jobs.  He went on to report, however, that enrollment for the fall is still expected to see an increase of two to three percent over last year.  This increase, and the accompanying income from tuition, should offset the loss of tuition income due to the drop in summer enrollment.

The President confirmed that increases in premium costs for the University's health insurance will go into effect July 1, 2000.  He also confirmed that the new PPO plan will become active January 1, 2001, with an open enrollment period in the fall.

President Hansford informed the Senate that the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Dr. Diana Martin, will be taking up her duties beginning July 5, 2000.  VPIA Martin and her family will be residing, at least for a while, in a house on faculty hill.

Regarding construction projects under the University's Master Plan, President Hansford told the Senate that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Health and Natural Sciences Building was held on June 8, 2000, and went very well.  This leaves only one project yet to be undertaken under the Master Plan.  That is the construction of a new Plant Operations Building.  A new Plant Operations Building is designated a minor, rather than a major, project and, as such, could be funded within a year.  Once completed, the current Plant Operations Building would be used for the Cadet Leadership Program.

President Hansford also announced the formation of a new NGCSU Parents' Organization.  By-Laws for the new organization have been prepared.  President Hansford acknowledged the excellent and important efforts of VPSA Bryant in this work.

The President informed the Senate that the concrete patio beside Memorial Hall is to be demolished.  It will be replaced with a grassy, park-like area.  The area will still be available for picnics, lunches, etc.  A volleyball area will also be included.

President Hansford reminded the Senate that Fall Semester will see the implementation of the new Informational Technology Fee.  He went on to point out that the Board of Regents, when approving the fee, stipulated that "students must have substantial input" on how the income from the fees is spent.  To this end, President Hansford announced that he will be appointing members to the Instructional Technology Fee Committee this summer.  By establishing the committee over the summer, the committee will be able to look at needs for the coming fall.

President Hansford invited questions from the Senators.  There being none, he went on to mention that a recent issue of the local paper, The Dahlonega Nugget, had carried the headline "Catholic College Coming to Lumpkin County."  President Hansford announced that he had no information on the matter beyond what the local paper reported.  He could not, therefore, make any solid predictions concerning the impact of such an event on the university.  He did say, though, that he thought there would be no major impact on NGCSU.  It was pointed out by Senator Friedman that the Dawson County newspaper had reported that the new Catholic college would be located in Dawson County.

CEO's Report

CEO Woods reported that Dr. Gruenhagen had requested speaking privileges in the absence of Senator Gannaway.  He also informed the Senate that he had appointed Senator Link as Senate Parliamentarian.

CEO Woods went on to announce a number of current and up-coming changes in the Senate membership.  Senator Eggers is not able to serve as he will be teaching of campus.  The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science will elect a Senator to replace Dr. Eggers on the Faculty Senate, there will be an election to replace Dr. Eggers on the Grievance Committee at the Fall Semester Faculty Meeting, and the Committee on Committees will meet to replace Dr. Eggers on the Discipline Committee.  Dr. Gay Tennis will be retiring from NGCSU before the end of her Senate term.  Because Dr. Tennis is a Senator-at-Large, CEO Woods announced that he will be sending out nomination forms to the faculty as a whole and follow up with ballot forms to elect Dr. Tennis's replacement.  CEO Woods went on to announce that Paul Bielic had been chosen to replace Wayne Morris on the Senate.  CEO Woods further informed the Senate that he has still seeking a replacement for Dr. John Nardo for the By-Laws Committee.

CEO Woods next announced that because the Commencement Ad Hoc Committee had presented its findings but made no specific proposal or recommendation, he has abolishing the committee.  Senator Friedman pointed out that the problem addressed by the committee had not gone away; namely, the scheduling of commencement and the deadline for final grades.  Senator Wiedmann responded that the ad hoc committee had surveyed the faculty only on the question of whether to continue to award actual diplomas or to switch to handing out blank diplomas.  She pointed out that, while the kind of diploma awarded at commencement (actual or blank) plays a role in the scheduling of commencement and the deadline for final grades, it was not the only determinant, as explained by Registrar Tompkins and Asst. Registrar Pruitt at the previous Senate meeting.  Senator Link, as Parliamentarian, pointed out that an ad hoc committee automatically ceases to exist once it makes its final report.  Senator Friedman reiterated his concern regarding the problem and its lack of resolution.  At the CEO's suggestion, Senator Friedman agreed to discuss his concerns with the CEO outside of the Senate.

CEO Woods informed the Senate that he was working on setting up a Faculty Senate Webpage.  When completed and online, the site will contain information regarding upcoming Senate meetings, agendas, e-mail links to Senators, etc.

In closing, the CEO announced that, after reviewing the university's calendar for the coming year, it appeared that the second thursday of the month would serve best as the meeting date for the Senate.  One exception to this is the August Senate meeting which is scheduled for August 31, 2000, in order to avoid conflicts with pre-semester events.  The subsequent meeting dates for the Faculty Senate will be September 14th, October 12th, November 9th, January 11th, February 8th, March 8th, April 12th, and June 14th.  CEO Woods cautioned that the April 2001 meeting date may need to be changed to comply with the By-Laws.  He will investigate this further and report back to the Senate.  In keeping with custom, there will be no Senate meetings in the months of May, July or December.

Unfinished Business

The Senate next took up the issue of a By Laws Proposal establishing an Instructional Technology Committee as a standing committee of the Senate.  This matter had been postponed during the April meeting of the Senate.  The Senators were reminded that, at the time the matter was postponed, the proposal had been amended to include the Chief Information Officer (CIO) as a voting member of the committee.  Senator Barnett asked that the pro's and con's of the amendment be reviewed to refresh the Senators' memories.  CEO Woods responded that, after discussion with his department, it was felt that the CIO should be aware of the committee's activities and be a voting member of the committee.  Senator Kokkala, speaking for the committee which authored the original proposal, explained that the CIO was not included as a member for the following reasons:  The CIO already has direct access to the President of the University.  The Instructional Technology Committee was envisioned as serving, primarily, as the faculty's voice on instructional technology issues.  Because the original proposal includes a member of the I.T. support staff as a voting member, the authoring committee felt that the Office of Instructional Technology was adequately represented in the original proposal.  Further, because the Instructional Technology Committee will report to the Senate, and because the Senate will then report to the President, it is expected that any recommendations, requests, etc. coming from the committee will be reviewed by the President in consultation with the CIO.

Senator Friedman pointed out that the VPSA is a (non-voting) member of the Student Life Committee, and the Commandant of Cadets is a (non-voting) member of the Military Committee.  Senator Friedman inquired as to why the composition of the Instructional Technology Committee should not follow this custom.  In response, Senator Lary reiterated that the I.T. Committee was meant to reflect faculty interests.  She reminded the Senate that the committee would only be able to make recommendations and not decisions.

Senator Sisk offered the opinion that having the CIO as a non-voting member of the committee could and would be useful to the committee members.  The CIO would be able to provide input regarding feasibility questions to the committee which might very well save time and effort.  Senator Kokkala pointed out that such valuable feasibility input would still be available to the members of the committee through the inclusion of a member of the I.T. support staff.  She went on to point out that the CIO makes funding decisions which might influence his or her opinion on feasibility questions.  Senator Sisk pointed out that full communication between concerned parties at the earliest level of discussion is best.

At this point, the amendment to the original proposal was further amended as follows:  the IT support staff member of the committee is replaced by the CIO as a voting member.  In the ensuing discussion, Senator Weinberg asked for an example of a possible problem that might arise if the original proposal was not approved as originally written.  Senator Kokkala, in response, explained once again that the I.T. Committee was intended to serve as the voice of the faculty with regard to I.T. issues, questions, and concerns without the influence of budgetary concerns.  She went on to point out that the committee's meetings, like those of other standing committees, would be open to anyone interested in attending.  Senator Link, as Parliamentarian, pointed out that, by custom, the meetings of standing committees are treated as executive sessions and, thus, open only to members of the committees.  At this time, the vote was called on the amendment.  The amendment failed.

Senator Skelly moved to amend the original proposal to include the CIO as a non-voting member replacing the I.T. support staff member.  Senator Tennis seconded the motion to amend.  The amendment carried.  The vote was then called on the original proposal as amended by Senator Skelly.  The amended proposal carried.

The other piece of unfinished business was a resolution presented to the Senate by Senator Weinberg on behalf of the Library Committee.  The resolution read as follows:
 

WHEREAS, an adequate library is essential to the educational mission of the University.  Library holdings should include the foundational texts and journals necessary for the provision of an appropriate undergraduate and graduate education.

WHEREAS, these works in many cases are not available in an electronic form, nor will be available in the foreseeable future.  Thus, initiatives from the Board of Regents, which focus on electronic alternatives, are insufficient to support the work of the University.

WHEREAS, due to the University's history of neglect of library resources, at the present time the library has a deficit of approximately 60,000 volumes below the recommended holdings for a university of our size and mission.  No single academic discipline has more than thirty-five (35) percent of its recommended canonical texts in the collection.  In fact, some disciplines have merely eight (8) percent of such texts.  This state of affairs is the result of at least twenty (20) years of insufficient funding for print materials.

WHEREAS, we consider this situation to be:

Professionally unacceptable

Damaging to efforts to recruit and retain both students and faculty

Injurious to student morale and to the reputation of the University

Indermining academic rigor

Inhibiting to the growth and expansion of academic programs

Endangering continuing accreditation; and

Counter to the mission and vision of a university

RESOLVED, we call upon NGCSU President Nathaniel Hansford to recognize the integral role of the library to the University's mission, and its present inability to fulfill that role.

RESOLVED, in order to address the weaknesses that exist, the administration must make a continuing ongoing commitment to significantly increase the library's share of the University's annual budget.  Specifically, the University must be prepared to commit $300,000 - $500,000 additional funding per year for the next ten (10) years.  This figure is based on a conservative estimate of $50.00 per book.  This ongoing commitment is necessary due to continually increasing book costs and subscription rates.  It must be recognized that maintaining a flat budget, in reality, represents a reduction in actual library funding.  The sooner the administration addresses this problem, the more cost-effective the solution will be.

In the ensuing discussion, Senator Sisk asked if the Library Committee had any ideas as to where the money would come from.  Senator Wiedmann explained that the Library Committee did not see the appropriation of money, or suggestions concerning such appropriations, as the proper role of the committee.  Allocations of funds are, traditionally, part of the function of the University's administrators.  It was the intent of the committee to formally bring to the attention of the Administration a matter which has been a long-standing concern amongst the members of the faculty.

Senator Tennis expressed the opinion that including specific dollar amounts in the resolution was unwise.  Senator Wiedmann explained that these figures were included to make clear the scope and magnitude of the problem, as well as the scope and magnitude of the effort that will be needed to solve it.

In response to a question about where all the additional books, if they could be purchased, would be placed, Dr. Lary explained that the planned (and approved) extension to the library would provide room for them.

Senator Kokkala expressed concern that the resolution seemed to close the door to electronic alternatives.  Senator Cronic explained that many texts simply are not available in electronic format nor will be any time soon.

Senator Friedman reminded the Senate that there had been a past request made to the student body to support a library fee.  He asked if any of the members knew what the outcome had been.  Dr. Lary reported that the student body had "overwhelmingly" supported the request for a $3.00 per student library fee.  The then-President of the University, however, had seen the fee as an embarrassment to the University.  Consequently, the library's budget was increased by an amount equal to what the fee would have generated (approximately $25,000).

As an added response to Senator Kokkala's concern that the resolution was closing the door on electronic alternatives, Senator Weinberg pointed to the second sentence in the second paragraph of the resolution.  He explained that, while electronic alternatives are fine as far as they go, we must not let the Board of Regents abdicate some responsibility for the current problem.

Senator Tennis reiterated her concerns about including actual dollar figures in the resolution.  Again, Senator Wiedmann explained that the sub-committee which authored the resolution felt that such figures were necessary to make real the magnitude and seriousness of the problem.  Senator Wiedmann went on to explain that, while the majority of the faculty are aware that the library has deficiencies, without specific figures the seriousness of the present state of affairs may not be truly appreciated.  She pointed out that at issue is nothing less than the continuing accreditation of the University.

Dr. Lary added that the NGCSU library is the weakest in the state system, and the state system's libraries are weak in comparison with the rest of the nation.  She went on to explain that, at meetings of the directors of the state's university libraries, the directors had concurred that the Board of Regents was not going to be a source of funding for needed print materials.

Senator Sisk asked if the problem was one of lack of funds or lack of book-purchase suggestions.  Dr. Lary responded that the real problem is one of neglect that has been going on for a long time.

Senator Tennis recommended that the first sentence of the third paragraph of the resolution be changed to read:

WHEREAS, due to the University's history of neglect of library resources, at the present time the library has a deficit of 60,000 volumes (requiring approximately a $3,000,000 investment) below the recommended holdings for a university of our size and mission.

Senator Skelly recommended that the first sentence of the final paragraph be kept as is and the remainder of the paragraph deleted.

This change was approved.

VPAA Buckhiester pointed out that faculty call for increases in periodicals over books.  He also reported that $121,000 of year-end moneys was set aside as additional funding for the library.

The vote on the resolution as changed was called.  The resolution carried.

New Business

CEO Woods reported that no requests had been received to include topics under new business prior to the meeting.  He then asked if there were any new business items to be brought forth from the floor.  There were none.

Announcements

CEO Woods then asked if there were any announcements.  Senator Skelly announced that he would be resigning from the Senate effective immediately.  He explained that, since he had been selected as the new Dean of the College of Business, he did not feel it was appropriate for him to continue to serve in the Faculty Senate.

Senator Sisk pointed out that the present meeting would be the last for Senator Tennis.  Senator Tennis was given a round of applause by the Senators in appreciation for her service.

Staff Council Representative Inman also announced that the present meeting was her last.  The new President of the Staff Council is Lyndll Yawn from the Office of Financial Aid.

There being no further announcements, CEO Woods adjourned the meeting at 1:58 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
 
 
 
 
 

Dr. S.N. Wiedmann, Secretary
NGCSU Faculty Senate