EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Present:          Alloway, Beck, Bolin, Flowers, Ledder, Moeller, Scholz, Zimmers

 

Absent:           Alexander, Bradford, Hachtmann, Rapkin, Stock

           

Date:               Wednesday, July 26, 2006

 

Location:        201 Canfield Administration Building

 

Note:   These are not verbatim minutes.  They are a summary of the discussions at the Executive Committee meeting as corrected by those participating.

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1.0       Call to Order

            Moeller called the meeting to order at 2:36 p.m.

 

2.0       Chancellor Perlman/VC Owens

2.1       Child Care

Chancellor Perlman stated that there is no additional news to the recent announcement of the cancellation of the plans to put a day care facility into the north side of the Whittier building.  He pointed out that the idea all along has been that the university could make a limited contribution to creating an on-campus day care facility.  He noted that the intent was to create a facility that would attract a private supplier that could possibly offer day care at prices below the market since the supplier would not have to pay rent. 

 

He reported that the search for a suitable location and building identified the north side of the Whittier building because it would be able to provide an outdoor facility and drop off and pick up location.  He stated that people in the Facilities department thought the renovation of the building could be done for $1.7 million.  A committee was then formed to work on developing a child care facility and an RFP was submitted to the market.  The RFT envisioned a high-end day care facility but it was actually more of a child development facility.  He reported that only two bidders could meet the requirement of the RFP and negotiations took place with both bidders.  He stated that there was some concern that the price of using the facility would be at the high end of the market.  He noted that a consultant came in and worked with one of the bidders to design a facility.

 

Chancellor Perlman reported that two things happened.  Facilities Management grossly under estimated the cost of renovating the building and the design of the facility was changed to meet the demands for a high end child development facility.  When everything was reconfigured the actual cost was up to $3.1 million which the university does not have. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that the $1.7 million is still available and won’t go any place.  He pointed out that efforts to create an on campus facility have not stopped but a question has arisen as to whether we should be shooting for such a high-end day care facility.  Ledder asked if the administration envisioned the facility being used by families with each parent being a professor who can afford a high-end facility or will the facility be for staff as well who cannot afford such high prices.  Chancellor Perlman stated that this is part of the issue.  He noted that during the last stage of the recent planning process the university wanted to negotiate a sliding fee scale but even still the cost would have been expensive.  He stated that most of the staff would not have been able to afford the facility and he worried that there were some lower-paid faculty members who could not afford it as well. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that he is a little perplexed about where to proceed.  He stated that he would like to get broader input from the campus about what they think is the best thing to do.  He pointed out that the kind of day care will depend on the goals and objectives of having an on-campus day care facility.  He noted that recruiting and retaining faculty members is one of the goals and another goal is to make life easier for all employees.  He stated that faculty members typically have more resources so they want a high-end day care center.  He pointed out that the university does have a day care center at the YWCA.  He noted that it comes close to being accredited, in part because it has good leadership and most of the employees have college degrees. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that it might be possible to outfit the north side of Whittier for less than $3.1 million if restrooms are not centralized but the cost would still be more than the $1.7 million that is available. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that it would be most helpful to him if the Senate could conduct a survey on what kind of child care facility would be needed in order to achieve the objective of faculty recruitment.  He pointed out that high end child care is available in Lincoln but having a facility on campus would have its advantages. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that the issue has not been dropped and the administration will continue to push forward on it. 

 

Moeller suggested surveying faculty members who have been hired in the past five years to get their opinion on the need for on-campus child care.  Chancellor Perlman stated that the faculty should be surveyed to see what factors matter most in a child care facility.  He wondered whether there could be a balance between a top of the line facility or the next tier. 

 

Scholz asked if the students fit into the equation in terms of use.  Chancellor Perlman stated that the current day care program at the YWCA does have some student use.  He noted that there are approximately 20 slots available for students through a grant from the federal government but the government’s payment does not cover much of the cost. 

 

Moeller stated that the most outspoken need for child care came from the staff.  She pointed out that their financial situation is tighter and the working hours of the staff are more restrictive.  Ledder noted that there are two distinct clientele groups for the day care with little overlap between what they can afford and want.

           

Scholz asked if child care facilities at other institutions have been looked at.  Moeller stated that they have and some have outstanding child care programs.  Scholz noted that financing appears to be the big issue and he wondered what models other institutions have used to make child care centers work on their campus. 

 

Chancellor Perlman noted that we do have a top of the line child care development program with the Ruth Staples Child Development Laboratory.  However, there is a waiting list to get your child into the program and the laboratory has limited hours. 

 

Zimmers asked if the facility would be used more by the faculty or the staff.  Chancellor Perlman stated that he believes that this will depend on what we do with the child care program.  He noted that probably more staff members need the facility and more staff use the child care at the YWCA. 

 

2.2       Faculty Club

Moeller stated that some faculty members have been asking about starting a faculty club again.  She noted that Associate to the Chancellor Howe informed the Senate Executive Committee that there is approximately $8,000 that can be used for a club.  She stated that there has been some limited discussion on the subject but junior faculty members appear to be engaged in 80 hour work weeks and do not want to interact with colleagues where as more senior faculty members are interested in collegiality.  She stated that it would be nice to have something like other institutions have where the faculty club is an environment for more conducive thinking.  She stated that the Committee is considering asking the faculty how interested they would be in creating a faculty club. 

 

Moeller asked the Chancellor if he thinks a faculty club is something that the Senate should pursue or if he can think of some place for the faculty to have a meeting place.  Chancellor Perlman stated that he remembers the faculty club that used to be on campus.  He stated that it was very nice and meals could be purchased there but he did not think that it functioned very well.  He stated that he is skeptical about a faculty club but this is based on the limited participation of faculty attending the Faculty at Five events or the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectures program. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that a room at the Student Union could be reserved every Wednesday or some other time and faculty could be invited to come.  He suggested that the Senate could try this to see if it would work.  Ledder stated that interest in faculty members socializing might be different in other disciplines but in his department there is not much interest in socializing. 

 

            2.3       Budget Update

Moeller asked if there was any new information regarding the budget.  Chancellor Perlman stated that there is nothing new at this time.  He noted that he just received an email message from Central Administration regarding the allocation of money for UNL but he has not had a chance to review it with Vice Chancellor Jackson yet. 

 

Moeller asked if the funding for the cleanup at Mead is an issue.  Chancellor Perlman stated that this has been basically taken care of.  He noted that the utility bills have been paid for last year but not for this year and there will be a shortfall. 

 

2.4       Fall Enrollment

Chancellor Perlman stated that everything looks good but we will not know for sure until the students actually come to campus in August.  He noted the number of students enrolled in the amount of housing requests is a possible reflection that enrollment is up.

 

Alloway stated that he was surprised to see the number of people who put down the non-refundable deposit and asked if the administration has learned anything by these numbers.  Chancellor Perlman stated that we do not have the number of years of experience with the deposit to be able to see if it is a predictor of enrollment.  He noted that the Chronicle of Higher Education states that the phenomenon of people paying the deposit and not attending the institution is occurring across the country. 

 

2.5       Update on the School of Natural Resources Building

Vice Chancellor Owens stated that Hardin Hall was rededicated a few weeks ago.  He reported that faculty, staff, and students are moving into the building.  He noted that the inside of the building has been totally renovated and it looks very good.  He stated that each faculty member has a good office and the laboratories are first rate. 

 

Vice Chancellor Owens reported that two finalists have been brought in for second interviews for the position of Director of the School of Natural Resources. 

 

2.6       Issues on the Horizon

Chancellor Perlman stated that one of the important things occurring on campus is the revision of the general education program.  He stated that revising the program will move the university forward.  He pointed out that the current general education program is not working for us. 

 

Chancellor Perlman stated that another major effort is the self-study accreditation process.  Moeller stated that the Committee has been reviewing the draft chapters of the self-study report and have been providing feedback to Professor O’Hanlon on them.  She pointed out that the document is largely incomplete so it has not been possible to provide as much input as possible.  Chancellor Perlman stated that he didn’t want to do a self study report where the information gathered could not be used elsewhere.  He reminded the committee that it will not be a typical comprehensive accreditation but rather one focused on strategic planning.  He stated that the report needs to be easy to read and not too long. 

 

Vice Chancellor Owens stated that the Senate could be helpful in having Senators get information back to their departments about the accreditation report.  He pointed out that the accreditation team is noted for stopping faculty, staff, and students on campus to discuss things.  He stated that strategic planning and assessment are issues that should be discussed.  Moeller stated that the Committee will bring this to the attention of the Senate.  Beck suggested that UNOPA and UAAD be notified as well.

 

Chancellor Perlman noted that assessment is a national issue.  He pointed out that the Board of Regents is looking at it and that the campuses will be getting more involved with it. 

 

3.0       Announcements

            No announcements were made.

 

4.0       Approval of 7/12/06 Minutes

Alloway moved, and Beck seconded approval of the minutes as amended.  Motion approved. 

           

5.0       Unfinished Business

5.1       Clarification on University-wide Benefits Committee

Moeller noted that Bradford questioned whether it is the Chancellor who appoints the campus representatives to the University-wide Fringe Benefits Committee.  She stated that Griffin obtained a copy of the most recent syllabus of the committee and it states that it is the Chancellor who appoints the representatives. 

 

Beck asked who the extension person is who on the committee.  Griffin stated that she will check to see if this position is filled. 

 

6.0       New Business

            6.1       Report on Meeting with Professor Janovy on General Education Survey

Moeller stated that the members of the Executive Committee met with Professor Janovy along with Professors Peterson, Minter, and Woodward.  She noted that the meeting went well and at the end there was agreement to work together to develop a survey to get greater faculty input into the revision of the general education program.  The committee then discussed possible wording for the survey. 

 

Moeller stated that in her meeting with the Chancellor last week they discussed the 11 outcomes being developed for the general education program.  Ledder stated that the outcomes are what the institutional objectives are trying to accomplish.  He stated that he liked the outcomes because it gets away from the philosophy of a one size fits all approach to education.  He noted that with these outcomes faculty members can select which one best fits their courses. 

 

Moeller stated that in her meeting with the Chancellor he asked what kinds of incentives we can create to get people engaged in the process.  She asked what can be put in place that will allow faculty members to voice their concerns and fears about the revisions.  Ledder stated that value judgment questions can be asked. 

 

The Committee then discussed what should be stated in the introductory letter to the survey.  Moeller stated that there will be a detailed discussion about the general education revisions at the September Senate meeting.

 

6.2       Proposed Commencement & Academic Honors Committee – ASUN Concerns

Griffin reported that she received a phone call from ASUN raising concern that the student members on the existing Commencement and Honors Convocations Committees are voting members.  The new, proposed syllabus does not give the students voting privileges.  Beck stated that the syllabus was changed to non-voting members because no student members have been appointed to the committees in the last few years.  She stated that there is no problem in giving the students voting privileges again and that change will be made. 

 

6.3       Executive Committee Retreat

Griffin stated that the Executive Committee retreat will be held on August 16th beginning at 12:00 in the Schorr Presidential Suite at the Hewit Place. 

 

6.4       Chapter 7 – Accreditation Self-Study Report

The Committee reviewed and discussed Chapter 7 of the report.   

 

6.5       Conflict of Interest in Research Policy

The Committee agreed to review the draft policy and submit feedback to Bradford so he can send a response back to Associate Vice Chancellor Espy on it.  It was noted that the policy is for UNL only, not a University-wide policy. 

 

6.6       Note From Executive Associate Dean Weissinger

Moeller reported that she received a reply from Executive Associate Dean Weissinger regarding the procedures for changing a graduate student’s grade to W.  Moeller noted that Weissinger stated that from now on instructors will be contacted and consulted with before a graduate student can withdraw from a course. 

 

Moeller stated that she received an email message from an instructor who read the last minutes of the Executive Committee meeting.  The instructor stated that the example of a student using a W to get out of being caught for academic dishonesty was very accurate because it happened in one of his courses. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:14 p.m.  The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, at August 9th at 2:30 pm.  The meeting will be held in the Academic Senate Office, 420 University Terrace.  The minutes are respectfully submitted by Karen Griffin, Coordinator and Rick Alloway, Secretary.