(96nov5sen)

UNL ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES
Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center, East Campus
November 5, 1996
President Peter Bleed Presiding


1.0 Call to Order

*President Bleed called the meeting to order at 2:35 pm.

2.0 Announcements

* Special Task Force on Benefits. President Smith has appointed a special task force to examine strategies for improved benefits for all four campuses. President Bleed and Adams, Libraries and Employee Benefits Committee Chair, will represent UNL.

3.0 Chancellor Moeser

3.1 Vote in today's election. Chancellor Moeser urged senators to vote if they had not already done so.
3.2 Participation in combined campaign. Chancellor Moeser shared his concern about the university community's drop in support from last year's contribution. From both a personal and institutional request, he urged faculty to take civic responsibility in the community. A follow up question by Chouinard, Mathematics & Statistics, stated that faculty did not get information about the various charities other than its availability in the department office.
3.3 Reallocation process. Chancellor Moeser referred to the guidelines document of October 9th that has been distributed to faculty. The overarching priorities are: areas of emphasis as determined by the Academic Planning Committee; diversity; recruitment of high ability students; information technology; library; operating budgets; and deferred maintenance. His discussion focused on academic rigor and to challenge students to be successful. He urged department discussions on ensuring a rigorous curriculum and challenged faculty to teach to the top students and increase expectations. The objective was not to flunk out students but to increase the retention rate. He requested that faculty not inflate grades or lower expectations. He stated that we need to keep Nebraska's best in Nebraska and to attract top out of state students.
3.4 Climate for minorities and women. Beverly Ledbetter, vice president and general counsel at Brown University, has been hired as a consultant to review the Athletic Department. Chancellor Moeser shared data on the increase in the number of female faculty at UNL since 1989 and an increase in the number of female faculty promoted to the associate rank. Progress needs to be made in the number of female faculty promoted to full professor and those appointed to administrative positions. The status of minority faculty is virtually flat and we need to work in this area.
3.5 Sexual Harassment. The policy on sexual harassment is in place and will be enforced. Dr. Ricardo Garcia, Director of Affirmative Action and Diversity, will visit with each college about diversity. A designated person from each college will receive affirmative action training.
3.6 Tenure. Chancellor Moeser will write an article for the program of the upcoming football game to answer questions about why we have tenure and that it is a guarantee of academic freedom but that it is not an iron lunch bucket'. Tenure at UNL is not easily awarded and there are guidelines for removal of tenure. Chancellor Moeser pointed out that where we need to improve the review process is to review fully promoted professors beginning 5 years after promotion. He proposed a process which would recognize the top ten percent with a stipend. He stated that a joint administrative/faculty committee has been appointed to develop the procedures. The members are Associate Vice Chancellors Al Kilgore and David Brinkerhoff, Dean Darrell Nelson, Agricultural Research Division, Doug Jose and James Ford.

4.0 Committee Reports

4.1 Chancellor's Commission on the Status of People of Color. Venita Kelley, Communication Studies, Chair of the CCSPC reported on the commission's activities and a written report was distributed to Senators at the meeting. Highlights of the report include a summary of last year's issues and the 1996-7 goals of the CCSPS. The Chair of CCSPC will serve on the President's Advisory Council. In November, the CCSPS will have an office in Niehardt.
A discussion on the use of the more appropriate term "microculture" versus "minority" followed. Microculture more appropriate describes racially and ethnically different people rather than minority or people of color.
4.2 Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women. Marilyn Grady, Educational Administration, Chair of the CCSW gave an overview of the CCSW and reviewed the priorities of the CCSW. A written report was distributed to the Senators at the meeting. Grady stated that although progress is being made, not many women are in faculty roles and administration. The CCSW will have an office and a secretary in Niehardt.
4.3 Research Council. David Stanley-Samuelson, Entomology, Chair of the Research Council highlighted 2 points stated in the written report distributed to Senators. 1) The Grant-in-Aid forms were revised; a maximum of $3000 can be requested; and 2) formal policies and procedures for the continuity were developed for the Research Council. NU Foundation provides $300,000 to support faculty through the Research Council. Chouinard asked why a negative amount was given in the report. Stanley-Samuelson responded that more was spent than they had and that they were able to move funds around.

5.0 Dale Ekart, Recycling Office

* Dale Ekart, Recycling Coordinator, explained that faculty could call the Recycling Office when they are moving offices or have lots to recycle, and that he would be available to speak to classes about recycling. Also their office has produced a nine-minute video which explains recycling and is available for use.

6.0 Approval of 10/8/96 Minutes

* Dewey, Geography, moved for approval of the 10/8/96 minutes. Seconded by Robertson, Mechanical Engineering. Minutes were approved.

7.0 Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty Document

* The Executive Committee's document "The Academic Context for Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty at UNL" was sent to Senators prior to the meeting and was made available on e-mail. The document is in response to the Regents request for a statement from each campus on reviewing tenured faculty. The Regents would like a progress report at their 12/14/96 meeting. The document comes to the Senate as a seconded motion from the Executive Committee for Senate approval at the December Senate meeting. Discussion followed. Jensen, Psychology, stated that if we undermine tenure it will be difficult to bring in senior faculty; tenure serves to keep us competitive. Wise, Law, disagreed with #3 in the conclusions and stated that faculty know what is being done with regard to faculty review in their own college; but asked what is done in other colleges? And how will a five-year review document fit into this document? Kennedy, Music, asked what's the bottom line? Goedert, Construction Systems, stated that the review process looks good on paper but protects non-productive faculty. Mayo, Entomology, stated that tenure is under attack and the public embraces the idea of post tenure review. Jose, Ag. Economics, asked Senate members where does protection come, where do you see the deficiency and what do you propose? The response was that reviews are not done uniformly or if at all and that no one is willing to approach non-productive faculty. Jose stated that the structure is there and asked where is the weak link in the current structure? The response was that we need to take a proactive stance and that peer review was more valuable. Bleed asked Ford to take the Chair and stated that we need to be attuned to human diversity and that he does not see a large contingency of unproductive faculty. Bleed resumed the Chair. Discussion continued on our response to the Regents and Bleed stated that we were not requested to discuss the failures of the review process. Pederson, Conservation and Survey, stated that he was aware of release of tenured faculty and felt that the tenure procedures were working.

8.0 Unfinished Business

* No unfinished Business.

9.0 New Business

* Regent Bylaw Amendment. On 10/25/96 the Regents took action on a tenure case which was brought before them by a faculty in compliance with the current appeal procedure. The Regents proposed a bylaw amendment change, provided at the Senate meeting, which they will act upon at their 12/14/96 meeting. If this bylaw change is approved, the UNL appeal process would be changed; no longer allowing faculty to appeal their case to the Regents. The ARRC provided the Senate with written background information on the proposed bylaw amendment. Wise moved that the UNL Academic Senate recommend that the Regents pass the proposed bylaw amendment. Seconded by Kennedy, Marketing. The motion will be voted on at the 12/3/96 meeting of Senate. Discussion followed. Harbison, Chemistry, stated that he was unfavorable to the bylaw change and was impressed with Regent Wilson's insight. Discussion continued on the irregularities in the tenure process, rules not being followed and unwriten rules being used. A recommendation was made that the Regents should not be removed from the appeal process. Chancellor Moeser responded that the Regents felt uncomfortable in this situation and felt that there was a need for some type of appellate process. UNL is the only campus which involves the Regents in the appeal process. In 1993 the Regents removed themselves from the tenure process but did not realize that UNL involved Regents in their appeal process. Chancellor Moeser proposed developing a process that included an agreed upon outside panel would be selected appeal the case rather that involve the Regents. Kennedy, History, asked that if the Regents passed the bylaw change, would there be a commitment to create a structure. Chancellor Moeser answered yes. Roysircar-Sodowsky, Educational Psychology, proposed that we encourage the Regents to withdraw the motion until another process is in place. A safety measure is needed for faculty. Jensen, Psychology, stated that the bylaws could be enriched by forming a commission to aid the Regents in the appeal process.

10. For the Good of the Order

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m. The next Senate meeting will be December 3 at the City Campus Union. Respectfully submitted, Julie Albrecht, secretary.

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