North Georgia College & State University Faculty Senate Meeting:

Minutes for Thursday, November 14, 2002


Call to Order

At 12:31 P.M., C.E.O. Jimmy Woods called the November 14, 2002 meeting of the NGCSU Faculty Senate to order.
Senators in Attendance: Kim Benton, Kaye Biddy, V.P.A.A. Phil Buckhiester, Noel Campbell, Carl Cavalli, Barry Friedman, Robert Fuller, President Nathaniel Hansford, Kristi Hislope, Scott Irwin, Aaron Lu, D. Brian Mann, Georgia Mann, Bud Reiselt, Lindsey Reeves, Harriette Richard, Alice Sampson, Andy Schaffer, Bill Shaw, Ann Stucke, Ann Sumners, Sally Weidmann, C.E.O. Jimmy Woods
Senators Tardy but Excused for Such: Jack Broman
Senators Excused: Dlynn Armstrong-Williams, Elizabeth Combier, Anne Gaillard, Ahmad Ghafarian, C. Michael Powell, Jeff Sommers.
Senators Absent: Dan Thompson
Guests:

October 10, 2002 Minutes

C.E.O. Jimmy Woods submitted the minutes of the October 10th meeting for approval and called for any additions or corrections. Georgia Mann asked to be listed as present, which the Secretary confirmed that she was. Bud Reiselt then moved to accept the minutes. Harriette Richard seconded, and the minutes were approved with no further revisions.

President's Report: Dr. Nathaniel Hansford

The President pointed out that the Strategic Planning Process is well underway, as are the various fora designed to gather input. The key documents have been distributed.  The Mission Statement has not changed, and is essentially a summary of the current mission.  Along with the Core Values document, said Hansford, it and the Strategic Planning documents represent a foundation intended to give direction for the region and our institution.
Once all of the information comes back from the various subcommittees, he explained, the Planning Committee would meet in December and set up about a half-dozen strategic directives.  The individual "units" will go on to develop action plans from these directives.  "What’s a unit?" He then asked rhetorically.  This is part of what has to be decided, he replied, and such will be part of the new plan.  He then went on to give examples of academic units and entities within them that might, for various reasons, merit the title of "unit."  These strategic directives will be available in February, he said, and the units will then consider them and formulate "action plans" during the spring.  These will be due in May, and will be returned to the central committee.
Scott Irwin asked if something important were to be discovered during the process if it would be too late to go back and reconsider it, and Hansford answered that this process is very broad, and there will be ample latitude to make adjustments.
The President then went on to address leadership grants. Apparently, there are lots of proposals coming in, and the committee will soon be prioritizing them and making the grants.  The student committee is already working on this, and according to Hansford, Bob Thomas is particularly excited about the initiative due to the faculty and staff involvement in the round table.  In February, the Governor-to-be will host a leadership discussion at the statehouse, and there are hopes that he will participate in a leadership round table here. Hansford closed the discussion on leadership by mentioning the possibility of having leadership seminars, and describing the “leadershape” initiative.
Finally, the President said, the (current) Governor has announced another 2% budget “withholding” in addition to the 3% already in place. Hansford has no real details, he confessed, but promised that they would be forthcoming. He then said that the Chancellor is optimistic about the outlook – it may not be as bad as it looks.
C.E.O.’s Report: Dr. Jimmy Woods

Woods mentioned that there has been a change in the B.O.R. policy for promotion & tenure, and following Associate V.P.A.A, Linda Roberts-Betsch’s request, we will compare it to current NGCSU policy. He then encouraged faculty participation in the fora for strategic planning, where such things can be discussed.

Nominations and Election for Senator to serve on the C.O.C: Dr. Jimmy Woods

Woods then opened the floor for nominations of senators to replace Donna Gessell on the Committee on Committees. Barry Friedman nominated Sally Wiedmann, and Scott Irwin seconded the nomination. In the absence of discussion, consensus & acclamation were declared, thus precluding the necessity of a vote.

Agenda Item - Biannual Midnight Breakfast: Dr. Barry Friedman

Barry Friedman, explaining that he is the faculty liaison for the S.G.A., said that a recent S.G.A. meeting saw discussion of the so-called Midnight Breakfast. Friedman gave background information on the activity, explaining that it started under Sherman Day. He said that the S.G.A. Chair, commenting that few faculty show up, had asked Friedman to get feedback as to why.

Free-form commentary ensued, and included discussions on the possibility of faculty tutoring in the adjoining rooms and that it might draw students away from the breakfast.

Friedman commented on the difficulty of explaining large amounts of material in such a setting.  C.E.O. Jimmy Woods said that he has attended & often tutors at the table, and Brian Mann, to hoots of disgust, said that he often attends with his laptop & gives students their grades going in to the final.

Sally Wiedmann confessed that she doesn’t come because of the hours. Friedman replied the intent isn’t to get everyone there, just to try to make the event friendlier to faculty.

Robert Fuller commented that he doesn’t like the philosophy behind the event, but admitted that it can be fun. The students appreciate it, he maintained.

Harriette Richard, who lives an hour away, said she could attend for two hours, but that four hours was too much. Noel Campbell then commented that he often sits at a table, but his students either aren’t there or aren’t realistic about what can be accomplished.

Phil Buckhiester mentioned that the official time for the activity is from 10 PM to 12 PM, and that the official procedure is to ask faculty to take one-hour shifts (early & late) based on departmental input.  There used to be more faculty, he said, with less socializing & more questions.  The then explained that students just need a representative of a particular discipline to answer questions, not necessarily their own instructors.  He suggested that S.G.A. might recognize participation by departments and individuals.  Friedman noted the time discrepancy.

Andy Schafer said that he had has been a couple times, and finds that it establishes a rapport with students that represents a long-term benefit; the impression of accessibility.

Sally Weidmann asked if anyone had considered moving it up 24 hours to be the night before Academic Review Day rather than the night before finals, with the idea that faculty who live far away wouldn't have to get up the next day to give an early final. Bill Shaw commented that the original reason for the discussion was how to get faculty to attend, and that he makes an effort to go to this kind of activity if he’s asked.

C.E.O. Woods said that senators should to go back to their departments and make sure the activity is known to faculty, and Friedman asked how many would be more interested in participating if it were held a day sooner. Many were. Friedman then moved for the C.E.O. to send an e-mail to encourage attendance, and Sally Wiedmann seconded. Robert Fuller moved to amend the motion to several e-mails, and, following a vote, the motion carried. Phil Buckhiester closed the discussion by suggesting that recognition could be given on the spot, and that perhaps signs for each discipline could be posted on the tables.

Announcements and Adjournment:

Bill Shaw mentioned that James Corbin, a folk singer, is playing tonight at 8:00 PM. In lieu of further announcements, Woods adjourned the meeting at 1:05 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

D. Brian Mann, Secretary, NGCSU Faculty Senate