Call to Order
The Faculty Senate of NGCSU met January 11, 2001.  The meeting was called to order by CEO Woods at 12:30 PM.  The following members of the Senate were present:  President Hansford, VPAA Buckhiester, Senators Biddy, Bielec, Campbell, Chastain, Delargy, Friedman, Herbert, Kokkala, Link, McCard, Morris, Sisk, Spraker, Temples, Weinberg, Westerfield, Wiedmann, Woods, and Yeoman.  Present as a guest was Dr. Linda Roberts-Betsch.  Senators O'Neal and Cronic were excused.  Senators Anthony, Barnett, Gannaway, Jones, Larkin, Margeson, and Williams were absent.

Minutes of the November 9, 2000, Meeting
The minutes of the Faculty Senate meeting of November 9, 2000, were submitted for approval by CEO Woods.  He called for any additions or corrections.  There were none.  The motion to approve the minutes as submitted was made and seconded.  The motion carried, and the minutes were approved as submitted.

President's Report
President Hansford acknowledged that he had received the Senate's recommendations regarding the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination.  The Senate's recommendations were accepted by the president, and the administration will now move forward to implement the recommendations.

The President next reported that he had recently had two very nice experiences as a representative of NGCSU.  He recently attended a meeting of the BOR regarding the issue of student retention.  He had the pleasure to report that NGCSU's student retention rate is among the highest within USG.  He stated he was "very proud" about what he could report concerning NGCSU's retention rate.  President Hansford went on to explain that, when asked by another attendee at the meeting how he had been able to get faculty interested in student retention, the President replied that the faculty of NGCSU were interested in their students.  It is this interest in and concern for students on the part of the faculty that, he feels, is a major reason for a high student retention rate.  The President then informed the Senate that Chancellor Portch will soon be attending budget hearings with the state legislature.  The Chancellor plans to take several USG students with him to speak to the legislators.  Among the students who will accompany Chancellor Portch are Josh and Micah Preston of NGCSU.

President Hansford next reported that NGCSU enrollment figures for Spring Semester 2001 have increased about 2%.  Spring Semester 2001 enrollment figures for the state's university system overall, however, are "down substantially."

The President then announced plans to construct a new student parking lot.  The lot will be located behind the university's infirmary.  This lot will significantly augment the student parking area currently located there.

President Hansford then asked if the Senators had any questions.  Senator Friedman pointed out that, in his own experience, the student parking lot currently located behind the infirmary tends to be quite dark and "spooky" in the evening and late afternoon.  Senator Friedman reported that a number of students had expressed to him their reluctance to use the lot for this reason.  President Hansford recommended that Senator Friedman speak with Gerald Lord regarding this safety issue.

A question was also raised whether a traffic control light would be erected at the entrance to the new student lot.  President Hansford explained that the university was waiting for the new Health and Natural Sciences building to be finished before determining the best type and location for such a light.  He assured the Senate, however, that some form of traffic control device was planned.

President Hansford informed the Senate that the Chancellor foresaw a year of budget reductions if the standard funding formula was followed.  Last year, however, the Chancellor and Governor worked out a funding formula to allow for level funding.  This year's funding may be reduced, equal to that of last year (level), or be increased.  President Hansford stated that he expects level funding for the coming year.

The President went on to state that the university had held its internal budget hearings and is in the process of preparing its budget request to the BOR.  The Fiscal Office of the BOR will be on campus Thursday, January 18th, to hear budget presentations from USG institutions in this area.  NGCSU is asking for new funding to cover a number of initiatives, and new faculty positions.  The university will also request a $15.00 increase in the student athletic fee, a $3.00 increase in the student activity fee, and an increase in the student parking fee from the current $12.50/semester to $25.00/semester.  The university's budget request will also include a continuing request for funds for the Plant Operations/Military Center renovation project along with a funding request for a new student activity center or major addition to the current center.

CEO's Report
CEO Woods reminded the Senate that February is Black History Month.  As part of the university's celebration, Dr. Jocelyn Elders, former United States Surgeon General, will be speaking on campus on February 8th at 12:30.  The Faculty Senate, however, is also scheduled to meet at that time.  CEO Woods moved to re-schedule the Faculty Senate meeting from February 8th to February 6th at 12:30.  Senator Wiedmann seconded the motion.  During the ensuing, brief discussion, VPAA Buckhiester suggested to the Senate that the Black History Month Committee likely had little freedom in scheduling Dr. Elders's appearance.  The motion to re-schedule the Senate meeting for February carried unanimously.

CEO Woods informed the Senate that he had received a request from a faculty member that the Senate recommend that the Faculty Dining Room be remodeled.  The CEO then went on to explain that he had been informed that the SGA planned to recommend eliminating the Faculty Dining Room.  When asked if the students' Canteen was really that crowded, President Hansford explained that the SGA hoped to use the space for some other purpose.  Senator Spraker, speaking against the elimination of the space, pointed out that the Faculty Dining Room was one of the few spots on campus where faculty members regularly had an opportunity to see and speak with members from other disciplines.  Senator Wiedmann, also speaking in opposition to eliminating the space, stated that her visits to the Faculty Dining Room always found it in use by a number of other faculty and staff members.  Senator Campbell moved that the Faculty Senate recommend giving the space to the students.  There was no second.

Senator Friedman then made the following motion:

The Faculty Senate advise the university community that there is a faculty interest in maintaining a faculty space in the Student Center.

New Business
Dr. Roberts-Betsch brought to the Faculty Senate a recommendation from the Deans' Council.  The recommendation calls for final grades to be submitted by each instructor within 48 hours of each final exam.  Senator Friedman asked if the Registrar's Office was aware of the recommendation.  Dr. Roberts-Betsch assured him that it was.  Senator Sisk pointed out that such a change would have to be clearly and fully communicated to all members of the faculty.  Senator Friedman pointed out that the Senate's Standing Committee on Faculty Affairs has already formed a sub-committee to look into problems associated with the deadline for reporting final grades.  Senator Friedman suggested that the matter be referred to that committee.  Senator Weinberg pointed out that, if a faculty member found all their final exams scheduled within the first day or two of finals, they might actually have less time to compute and report final grades under the Deans' recommendation than under the current policy.  The question was raised, since the process is now computerized, why can't the deadline fall 48 hours after the end of all final exams.  Senator Friedman reminded the Senate that the problem concerned the time the Registrar's Office requires for clearing and verifying grades for graduating students.  Senator Friedman then moved to commit the matter to the Faculty Affairs Committee.  The motion was seconded and carried.

Senator Campbell presented the following motion to the Senate for its approval:
 

Motion:  In keeping with the letter and spirit of the Georgia Open Records Act, and with the spirit of full and open disclosure in all academic matters and discussion, I move all public records regarding grade distributions, student opinion surveys, faculty annual activities reports, and performance evaluations be placed on a readily, publicly accessible server, accessed by easily located, appropriate links from the University's web site.

In the following discussion, Senator Campbell pointed out that the motion did not propose anything not already required by law.  Senator Sisk, speaking against the motion, stated she would resent the need to gather, collate, and transform the information into a specified electronic format.  This, she stated, would be an entirely additional level of work for a department chair.  Senator Campbell suggested that the university would be better off being pro-active on the issue.  He reiterated the purpose of the motion as seeking to dispell rumors and  feelings of ill-will amongst faculty members.  Speaking against the motion, Senator Wiedmann reported that she had already received negative feedback from a number of faculty members in her department.  These faculty members were concerned that, without additional, explanatory materials to provide a suitable context, such information could be misinterpreted and misunderstood.  She went on to remind the Senators of Prof. Robert Fuller's recent and regrettable internet experience.  Senator Wiedmann suggested that there is a significant difference between, on the one hand, making such information available to those who request it, and, on the other hand, putting the information "out there for the entire world."  She pointed out that even the Faculty Senate Minutes are not linked to the University's homepage.  Senator Spraker, speaking against the motion, pointed out that a person must first ask for the information, and, then, by law, we are required to provide it.  CEO Woods pointed out that the motion would make the information available "to the world" and not just those "authorized" to see it.  Senator Weinberg stated that he would like to see exactly what the law says and requires.  Senator Friedman moved to call the question.  The vote to call the question was 15 for, and 3 against.  The vote on the motion was called, the motion failed.

Announcements
CEO Woods inquired if anyone had any announcements.  Senator Weinberg reminded the Senate that there would be a meeting of the AAUP on January 18th at 12:30 in the Library's Seminar Room.

There being no other announcements, the meeting was adjourned at 1:24 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
 
 
 
 

S.N. Wiedmann, Secretary
NGCSU Faculty Senate