University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
November 6, 2013
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on November 6, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. in the Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, BelknapCampus, Joseph Steffen presiding.
Senators Registering Attendance:
A&S:David Brown, Jasmine Farrier, Ron Sahoo, Joseph Steffen, Elaine Wise, Tamara YohannesBUSINESS:Bruce Kemelgor, Robert MyersDENTISTRY:Ricardo Caicedo, Don Demuth, Dave WillisEDUCATION:Roger Buskill, Patrick Hardesty, Tom SimmonsKENT:Martin HallLAW:Kurt Metzmeier, Luke Milligan, Enid Trucios-Haynes LIBRARIES: Terri Holtze, Margo Smith MEDICINE: Yousef Abu-Kwaik, Richard Downs, Pamela Feldhoff, Saeed Jortani, David Stirling MUSIC: Ansyn Banks, Dror Biran, Krista Wallace-Boaz NURSING: Diane Chlebowy, Valerie McCarthy, Karen Singleton PART-TIME FACULTY: Dawn Gaus, Joseph Gutmann, Rose Mills, John Ritz PUBLIC HEALTH: Ray Austin, Scott LaJoie SPEED: Bruce Alphenaar, Kevin Walsh
Also Attending:
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Ginger Brown, Grant Ford
Others: Gretchen Henry, recording secretary
Press: Janene Zaccone (UofL Today)
Senators Not Registering Attendance:
A&S: Carrie Donald, John McLeod, David Simpson, Beth Willey BUSINESS: Rob Barker, Ben Foster DENTISTRY: Robert Staat EDUCATION: Daya Sandhu KENT: Seana Golder, Wanda Lott Collins LIBRARIES: Gail Gilbert MEDICINE: Forest Arnold, Sham Kakar, Brad Keller, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Steven Myers, Steven Nakajima PART-TIME FACULTY: Susan Peacock, Michael Wade SPEED: J.P. Mohsen
CALL TO ORDER: – Steffen
ACTION ITEM: Approval of the October minutes will take place next month.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Grant Ford
The main topic of conversation from the SGA is the new Student Rec Center and the plans to renovate of 3 basketball courts into student meeting space. This space is also wanted by Athletics for practice space for its spirit teams. SGA President Carrie Mattingly has contacted Provost Willihnganz to discuss this topic. He has contacted the Academic Technology Committee to discuss his idea of an advising chat room. More information on that will be forthcoming.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Ginger Brown
The Staff Senate had a presentation on the new Student Rec Center at its October 14th meeting. President Ramsey also attended and made a Power Point presentation on the University’s achievements over the past 10 years. The Staff Senate’s Executive Committee met with the President and Provost and discussed unit losses due to the VSIP and the uncertainty staff feel with changes taking place. They encouraged the Staff Senate to send feedback on internal communications.
ACTION ITEM: APC Election – Sahoo
The CCC has determined that the membership of the Academic Programs Committee is out of compliance with its bylaws. Members from Education and Speed are needed. Patrick Hardesty from Education and Kevin Walsh from Speed are the nominees. No floor nominations were made. There is also a vacancy on the Parking Appeals Committee. Scott LaJoie from Public Health nominated himself from the floor. Results are in the Committee reports section below.
ACTION ITEM: Revision of the Faculty Senate Bylaws – Elimination of Committee on Libraries (first reading) – Wallace-Boaz
As this is a first reading no discussion is allowed until the second reading next month. A vote will be taken next month.
Senator Wise asked what will become of the current committee members. Chair Steffen said that he hoped Dean Fox would place them on his advisory committee.
ACTION ITEM: Revision of REDBOOK Minimum Guidelines for Faculty Personnel Actions (first reading) – Wallace-Boaz
As this is a first reading no discussion is allowed until the second reading next month. A vote will be taken next month.
Senator Wise asked why the documents are being revised. Senator Wallace-Boaz answered that units were seeking clarity as to which documents were to be used for tenure.
DISCUSSION ITEM: 21st Century University Initiative – Holtze
The discussion today is focused on 2 areas of the report: Academic and Research Priorities and Technology, Demographics and International. The discussion began with the first question: What do you think of the chosen areas (Academic & Research Areas of Prominence list). Senators asked how the list was determined and who makes the funding decisions for programs on the list. There was an attempt to make the list cross-disciplines and collaborative, removing silos. The absence of engineering, the arts and diversity concerned some senators. Also, not including cross-discipline programs that, with funding, have potential to become prominent was mentioned. The focus on income-producing programs and bundling of others was a concern. Many felt the labeling of programs was confusing and may be unintentionally misleading. If this was a report from the second phase, it does not provide enough information to move forward into Phase 3. Some felt receiving the report with a glossary to understand what the terms mean, would have been more helpful. Many felt the report was not inclusive or addressed how programs/units could develop to fit in with the plans. It was said that the list did not include anything about recruiting, educating and graduating undergrads. These are things that we already do well are not on the list. The second question: Are the metrics in the report applicable and sufficient to measure success? The overall response was negative. It was mentioned that the measuring against benchmarks was overused and, often misused. The use of US News and World Report was seen as even more narrow than benchmarks. Metrics that appealed to senators were mission-based, beginning at the unit/department level that included student and faculty. Using benchmarks for comparison was seen as useful in some areas, but not in every case. Some felt funding should be tied to achieved goals, similar to the scorecards used by administrators. Moving on to the second area: Technology, Demographics and International, it was mentioned that technology now refers to distance learning and ignores the infrastructure. The areas of International and Community Engagement led to a discussion of the breadth of UofL’s community outreach and we are in the process of applying for recognition to the Carnegie Institute. The outcome of that application will come in January. The Community Engagement Scholarship also helps determine what research project we choose. The time allotted for this discussion ended. Chair Steffen said that Provost Willihnganz really would like the Senate to help with this. Next month the discussion will focus on Budget and Culture of Excellence.
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
Dr. Ramsey reported that he had met with the Staff Senate Executive Committee and they told him there were many rumors about the 21st Century. He made it clear that no decisions had been made on any of the reports. They also mentioned that it was thought that the VSIP was done differently on HSC and Belknap. This is incorrect. Moving on, he said the CPE meets tomorrow to vote on its budget recommendations. It will then send those recommendations to the governor in January. Whatever he passes could be redone by the General Assembly. Also, the CPE will not make any tuition decisions until April. Asked about the state taking funds from Medicaid, Dr. Ramsey said that it had been mentioned, though nothing has been decided and the pension issue and the budget’s structural imbalance still needed to be addressed. Regarding the fraud in the Family Medicine department, he said a local audit firm is working on all the private practice plans. Asked about KY One, Dr. Ramsey said that it is moving forward, but it will be awhile before it is all ironed out, though all parties are trying to make it work. Dr. Dunn is in negotiation with Norton, regarding Pediatrics and academic affiliations. These talks are going very well.
REPORT: Standing Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC) – This committee had no report.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC) – This committee held the election. Results are: all were elected. APC- Patrick Hardesty and Keven Walsh; Parking Appeals – Scott LaJoie.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL) -
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC)-This report was available online.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B)- This committee
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB) –The readings above.
Executive Committee (XC)- This report was available online.
REPORT: Faculty Senate Chair – Joseph Steffen
Chair Steffen reported that he had a very busy month. The COSFL meeting was centered on a part-time faculty discussion.
New Business
None
Old Business
None
Announcements
Chair Steffen told the Senate that Janene Zaccone was leaving UofL , and that her work with the Senate was appreciated. The Senate applauded her.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary