UNL ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES
City Campus Union Centennial Room
December 3, 1996
President Peter Bleed Presiding
1.0 Call to Order
*President Bleed called the meeting to order at 2:33 pm.
2.0 Announcements
2.1 Pacemaker Award. Bleed congratulated the staff of the
Daily Nebraskan for receiving the Pacemaker Award.
2.2 Faculty Contributions. Bleed reported on the status of
the Academic Senate's contribution campaign. The Friends
of the Faculty Senate account now totals over $2,200 and
donations to the Schwartzkopf account are over $1,000.
Contributions are encouraged.
2.3 Senate Office Staff. Bleed announced that Peggy
Malzacher has been hired to fill the half-time staff secretary
vacancy. She will begin her duties in January 1997 and is
currently at the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus.
2.4 Big XII Meeting. Bleed reported on his recent
attendance, with Senior Vice Chancellor Omtvedt, at the Big
XII conference for academic senate presidents and provosts.
The topic of post-tenure review was discussed as well as
other academic issues. A new "Big XII Fellowship," will be
initiated to stimulate faculty exchanges. Support for six
faculty fellowships at $2,500 is planned.
3.0 Interim Senior Vice Chancellor Omtvedt
3.1 Kellogg Commission. Senior Vice Chancellor Omtvedt
stated that Chancellor Moeser is currently attending a
meeting of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State
Colleges and Land Grant Universities. The Kellogg
Commission has a three-year initiative with five major
objectives: student experience; access; engaged institutions
beyond extension; learning society; and campus culture
(taking charge of change). Chancellor Moeser has appointed
an IANR National Advisory Board. This board will hold
their first meeting December 3 and 4, 1996. The charge is to
review and propose changes that land grant institutions must
make regarding three program areas: molecular biology and
biotechnology, natural resources, and outreach/service.
3.2 Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Senior
Vice Chancellor Omtvedt reported on the status of the search
for a new SVCAA. Four candidates are scheduled for
interviews before the semester break. There will be open
forums and staff receptions which all faculty may attend.
The first of these candidates is Daniel Fallon, Professor of
Psychology and public affairs in the School of Public Affairs
at the University of Maryland at College Park. He will be on
campus to interview December 5 and 6. The second
candidate is Richard C. Edwards, Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences at the University of Kentucky, who will
interview December 9 and 10. The third candidate is Risa
Ileen Palm, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the
University of Oregon. Her campus visit is scheduled for
December 11 and 12. The fourth candidate is Harvey
Perlman, Dean of the College of Law at UNL, who will
interview December 16 and 17. Senior Vice Chancellor
Omtvedt stated that two additional candidates are under
consideration. Their interviews will be scheduled after these
initial four.
3.3 Big XII Meeting of Provosts. Senior Vice Chancellor
Omtvedt provided additional information regarding the
Faculty Fellowships that Bleed had earlier announced. These
fellowships will begin with the 1997 spring semester and are
for a two-week duration with funding in the amount of
$2,500. Additional information will be provided to college
deans as soon as it becomes available.
Discussion. Wise, College of Law, inquired about faculty
involvement in the Chancellor's drafting committee report on
fully-promoted faculty evaluations. Senior Vice Chancellor
Omtvedt stated that this document is currently in a very
rough draft phase and he has just received comments from
the college deans. There will be a full discussion of the
document during a future senate meeting. Chancellor Moeser
will only report on the progress of the document during the
Board of Regents meeting on December 14. Omtvedt stated
that Jose, Agricultural Economics, and Ford, English, serve
on the drafting committee for faculty representation.
Zorn, CBA, stated that several years ago he had debated with
Jerry Petr regarding the unionization of faculty. At that time,
he argued against unionization because of the
tenure system. Zorn stated that he and other colleagues are
prepared to change their minds about forming a UNL union
if tenure comes under attack at the university. Senior Vice
Chancellor Omtvedt stated that the document
currently under construction is addressing the evaluation
process of fully promoted faculty only.
Roysircar-Sodowsky, Educational Psychology, stated that
fully-promoted faculty in her department are concerned with
the financial aspects of the periodic review process;
specifically, awards for merit. Senior Vice Chancellor
Omtvedt responded that he was somewhat surprised because he felt
the positive aspects of the evaluation process had been fairly well
received by faculty. He invited faculty to contact either Ford
or Jose with concerns.
4.0 Committee Reports
4.1 Student Publications Board. Travis Brandt, UNL student
and chair, reported on the board's activities highlighted in his
report distributed to all senators. Brandt also stated that the
Daily Nebraskan was one of only four recipients of the
prestigious Pacemaker Award.
4.2 Computational Services & Facilities Committee. Clinton
Rowe, Geography and chair, reported on the status of
newsgroup subscriptions policy development for alt groups
and the status of the university modem pool. Rowe stated
that the modem pool will be phased out in favor of
independent service providers.
Discussion: Fowler, Curriculum and Instruction, stated that
alt groups had been banned years earlier by Doug Gale and
should be a dead issue. Fowler stated that faculty need to be
concerned about resources for the modem pool. He stated
the committee should focus on issues stated in the 1995
CS&FC report such as campus wiring, the chaotic state of
some services provided by Information Services and other
issues.
Chouinard, Mathematics and Statistics, inquired about the
possibility of connecting to the net via faculty personal phone
line. The benefit of this idea is a one-time expense versus
on-going charges. Rowe stated that it is a violation to use
personal phone lines from faculty offices.
4.3 and 4.4 University Judicial and Appeals Boards. Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs James Griesen and Director of
Student Affairs Linda Schwartzkopf presented the report for
these two boards. In 1996, both the Judicial and Appeals
Boards heard two cases each. The great majority of cases are
dealt with administratively, according to Griesen. This
process calls for Schwartzkopf to write to the student and
have the student come into the Office of Student Affairs to
speak with her. If the student does not comply with this
request, a block is placed on his or her registration. Vice
Chancellor Griesen reported that the Office of Student
Affairs has complied with most of the recommendations put
forth in a report by the Chancellor's Conduct and Behavioral
Standards Task Force. Both he and Schwartzkopf meet with
Ken Dewey and Jamie Mediger, faculty and student
representatives on the Judicial Board, respectively.
Discussion: Jensen, Psychology, inquired about faculty access
to the standards and precedents used by the Office of Student
Affairs when handling a case administratively. Schwartkopf
stated that these cases are confidential but are discussed with
the Judicial Board representatives. Her office is in the
process of entering these cases on a database which will
produce reports that can be shared with the Judicial Board.
The report will include violations and the sanctions imposed.
Sartori, Physics and Astronomy, stated that an offense
involving violence should not be handled administratively, as
recommended by the Conduct and Behavioral Standards Task
Force. He asked if this recommendation was being followed.
Griesen stated the spirit of the recommendation was being
carried out.
5.0 Approval of 11/5/96 Minutes
* The minutes of 11/5/96 were approved as amended.
6.0 Honorary Degree Approval
* Marilyn Grady, Educational Administration and chair of the
Honorary Degrees Committee, explained the balloting process
for the five candidates nominated to receive honorary
doctoral degrees. These ballots, in envelopes marked
confidential, were distributed to senators for voting.
7.0 Motion on Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty Document
* Latta, Libraries, stated that the Periodic Review of Tenured
Faculty document, submitted by the Senate Executive
Committee, had been developed in compliance with
university guidelines and bylaws.
Discussion: Coyne, Horticulture, stated that the process of
periodic review of fully promoted faculty is unnecessary and
is desirable for peer review of those faculty with
unsatisfactory performance only. Coyne stated that, present
political realities aside, this process is a waste of time and
funds for both faculty and the university.
Roysircar-Sodowsky, speaking on behalf of the fully-promoted faculty within her department of Educational
Psychology, agreed with Coyne's assessment of the process.
Bleed called for a vote. The Periodic Review of Tenured
Faculty document passed unanimously.
8.0 Motion on Proposed Amendment to the Board of Regents
Bylaws
* Sartori presented a substitute motion from the Executive
Committee to Wise's motion from the November 5 senate
meeting. Wise accepted the motion as a friendly amendment.
The motion states; "The Academic Senate endorses the
amendment to the By-laws of the Board of Regents proposed
by Regent Charles Wilson. our endorsement is predicated on
the understanding that, as stipulated in a legal opinion issued
by the University's legal counsel, By-law 2.12.2 guarantees
the Senate's right to appeal to the Board in cases that involve
the status of individual faculty members." Bleed stated this
reference to By-law section 2.12.2 is supported by General
Counsel Richard Wood in a letter dated 11/27/96.
Discussion. Jensen inquired as to the impact of the Board of
Regents bylaws change. McShane, English, and ARRC
member, stated that it would eliminate the potential for
frivolous appeals from individual faculty members because
the right of appeal to the Regents would rest with the
appropriate senate committee, i.e., through recommendations
of the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee.
Harbison, Chemistry, inquired whether both academic
freedom and status of tenure were included and, separately,
why the senate was not asking for tabling the Board of
Regents motion to amend the By-laws given Chancellor
Moeser's proposal to present an alternative process of faculty
appeal. McShane answered that both academic freedom and
the status of tenure were issues for appeal. McShane
explained that the Chancellor's proposal is a separate matter.
The Board of Regents By-law change only affects the UNL
appeals process. The Chancellor's proposal deals with how
he will handle appeals. McShane stated that a faculty
member's academic peers (the department) should be
involved and that off campus peer evaluation is part of the
process. Harbison stated that oftentimes the department's
recommendations are overruled in tenure cases. McShane
stated that, generally, there are procedural problems involved
in these cases and that section 2.12.2 of the BOR by-laws is
designed to address these. Bleed called for a vote. The
motion and friendly amendment passed with some dissent.
9.0 Unfinished Business
* No unfinished Business.
10.0 New Business
The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m. The next Senate meeting will
be January 14, 1997 at the Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center, East
Campus. Respectfully submitted, Julie Albrecht, secretary.