A&S Faculty Assembly Minutes April 21 2006

College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Assembly Meeting

April 21, 2006

Registering Attendance:

Anthropology L. Markowitz, S. Parkhurst, J. Peteet, E. Segal, C. Tillquist
 Biology R. Fell, W. Pearson, D. Schultz
Chemistry R. Buchanan, J. Richardson
Classical & Modern Lang W. Cunningham, M. Dalle, J. Greene, C. Hardin, G. Hutcheson, A. Leidner, M. Makris, A. Mastri, W. Pfeffer, R. Roebuck, C. Sullivan
Communication J. Berman, M. D’Silva, S. Esrock, J. Ferre, A. Futrell, J. Gregg, K. Walker
English D. Anderson, M. Biberman, D. Billingsley, B. Boehm, T. Byers, K. Chandler, G. Cross, J. D’Antoni, S. Griffin, P. Griner, K. Hadley, D. Hall, S. Henke, A. Jaffe, D. Journet, K. Kopelson, E. Lin, E. Majozo, C. Mattingly, R. Mills, K. Mullen, A. Powell, A. Rabin, C. Raczkowski, G. Ridley, M. Rosner, D. Tanner, J. Webb, A. Willey, B. Williams, J. Wolfe, T. Yohannes
Fine Arts K. Britt, C. Fulton, J. Grubola, S. Massey, G. Mayer
Geography/Geosciences C. Leuthart, W. Song
History B. Adams, A. Allen, B. Beattie, J. McLeod, R. Njoku
Humanities A. Allen, K. Gray, R. Johmann, N. Polzer, M. Stenger, E. Wise
Mathematics J Kim, T. Riedel
Pan-African Studies J. Hudson, R. Jones
Philosophy R. Kimball, A. Kolers, T. Maloney, D. Owen, O. Wiggins
Physics D. Brown, W. Hoston, Jr.
Political Science A. Caldwell, D. Clayton, J. Farrier, R. Payne, S. Wallace, C. Ziegler
Psychology S. Meeks
Sociology J. Beggan, J. Busch
Women’s & Gender St K. Christopher, A. Harris, D. Heinecken, N. Theriot

Professor Hall, Chair, called the meeting to order.

The minutes of the meeting of March 24, 2006, were approved as distributed.

The Chair requested unanimous consent to change the Order of Business to approve the 2005-06 Woodcock Medalist. William Brammell, a Political Science major, was approved on the recommendation of the Honors Advisory Committee.

Responding to a question from the floor, the Chair noted that the Assembly of March 24 had delegated to the Dean the approval of the candidates for graduation for May 2006, but that a list of degree candidates had been attached to the agenda for the day’s meeting.

The Assembly then returned to Old Business and the revision of the Personnel Policy.

The Chair noted that only one item remained for discussion in the revision of the policy, item 2.1.C.6 under “distribution of funds.”

As originally proposed by the Personnel Committee, the item read: “Increases for part-time faculty shall be determined by the Dean based on availability of funds.” At the conclusion of the meeting of March 24, the committee was asked to propose substitute language for this item, based on the concerns expressed by the part-time faculty representatives in the Assembly and the discussion of the March 24 meeting.

The committee proposed the following substitute statement: “Each year, when funds are received by the College for pay raises for part-time faculty, these funds must be used for that purpose. The Dean may also designate funds under his or her discretion for this purpose.”

There was a friendly amendment to change “this purpose” to “that purpose.” The amendment was accepted.

Following discussion, which included the concurrence of the part-time faculty representatives, the chair put the question and the substitute motion for 2.1.C.6 carried.

The Chair then put the question on the revised Personnel Policy, as amended in the meetings of November 4 and December 2, 2005, and March 24, 2006. The policy, as revised, was approved.

Turning to New Business, the Chair opened discussion on a motion from the Department of English proposing “ That the Faculty Assembly reverse the November 9, 2005, ruling of the A&S Curriculum Committee and approve the Department of English proposal to change the current graduation requirement of one course in either Humanities 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, or 596 to an elective in any Humanities discipline other than English at the 400-level or above.”

Following discussion, the motion of the Department of English was approved. Vote was by a division of the house.

The Assembly then turned to a second motion from the Department of English, reading “That the Faculty Assembly affirm that neither Divisional Curriculum Committees nor Divisional Faculty as a body have authority over the curricula of individual Departments and majors.”

Following discussion, the motion carried.

Representatives of the Curriculum Committee and the Planning and Budget Committee recommended approval of the proposal for an M.A. in Communication. The proposal was approved.

The Chair opened the floor for nominations for Assembly Chairperson for AY 06-07. Professor Byers was nominated. Hearing no further nominations, the Chair put the question and Professor Byers was elected unanimously.

The Chair then opened the floor for nominations for Parliamentarian for AY 06-07. Professor Stenger was nominated. Hearing no further nominations, the Chair put the question and Professor Stenger was elected unanimously.

The Chair announced that the A&S Faculty Awards Reception would take place immediately following the Asembly.

Hearing no call for additional business, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned.