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Faculty Association

March 7,2002


FACULTY ASSOCIATION MEETING MINUTES
February 7, 2002
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I. Call to Order
  President Kathleen Cohen called the meeting to order at 12:18 p.m.
   
II. Approval of Minutes - January 11, 2002
  The minutes of the January 11, 2002 meeting were approved as distributed on the Web.
   
III. Announcements
   
 

Pierre Allaire announced that the search is underway for the Albert D. Ernest, Jr., Caring Award and the Caring Institute Fellowship. This year the nomination forms are available online or in print in the Institutional Advancement office.

Lise Amundrud reported that the UNF Annual Fund, which raises over $100,000 from UNF alumni, will be hosting the 2nd annual "THANK YOU THON" on March 26. Each college will be assigned an evening to call their former students. Hours are 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dinner is provided. She asked for volunteers from each college and asked interested persons to contact their College Development Officer.

Mary Borg reported that one of UNF's graduates, Jessica Stebbins, received a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which she described as comparable to a Rhodes Scholarship. The scholarship covers up to three years of graduate study at Cambridge University and is sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates. The student was a history major who graduated last year. She has also been accepted at Harvard Law, NYU Law and Duke Law.

Lauren O'Shields described a dance marathon to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. The marathon is run completely by students and is in need of an adult advisor to act as a liaison between the program and the university.

   
IV. Standing Committee Reports
   
  Academic Programs Committee  -  Len Roberson
 

The Committee has no agenda items. The next meeting is scheduled for February 28 at 10:00 a.m.

   
  Academic Standards Committee  -  Pali Sen
 

The Committee met January 10. The next meeting is February 14 at 11:00 in FAMA.

   
  Academic Technology and Support Services Committee  -   Bruce Kavan
  The Committee met February 5. The next meeting members will be looking at online tutoring systems and reviewing the layout and design of technology classrooms. The meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 3:00 p.m. in College of Business conference room.
   
  Adjunct Affairs Committee - Ted Stumm
  No report.
   
  Budget Advisory Committee - Homer Bates
 

Absent. No report.

   
  Faculty Affairs Committee  -  Judy Solano
 

The Committee has one agenda item. The next meeting is February 14 at 12:15 in the Library Conference Room.

   
  Faculty Enhancement Committee - Cynthia Scott
 

The Faculty Forum to be held Friday, February 15, is titled "Focus on political correctness in academia: Issues in self-censorship and academic freedom." Another forum will be held in late March or early April. The Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m. in the Faculty Enhancement Office.

   
  Governmental Relations Committee - Dan Whitehead
  Ellie Scheirer reported for the Committee. Members met on January 18 with Janet Owen and discussed items that were to come up in the legislative session. She also talked about Jacksonville Day in Tallahassee. Members then discussed their own role and how they might intersect with governmental officials.
   
  Nominations and Elections Committee  -  Diane Tanner
  Nominations for officers.

Secretary: Cathy Cavanaugh

Vice President: Judy Solano, Adel Boules

President: Terry Bowen, Cheryl Frohlich

   
  Promotion and Tenure Committee  - Faiz Al-Rubaee
 

Members finished their work and made recommendations for promotion and tenure. A meeting is scheduled with Vice President Kline on February 15. In March the Committee will provide a summary of the recommendations.

   
  Research Committee - Cheryl Van Deusen
 

The Committee met January 31 and will meet the last week in February and will have some information items on summer grants. The summer grant application process is still being studied.

   
  Strategic Planning Committee - Gary Fane
  Verna Urbanski reported. President Hopkins met with the Committee on January 24. Members are looking at the mission of the Strategic Planning Committee. President Hopkins shared some questions that the University is looking at in terms of its strategic planning procedures and functions. The next meeting will be on February 21 at 12:30 p.m. in room 42/3138.
   
  Executive Committee  -  Cheryl Frohlich
  The Committee is scheduled to meet again February 19. February 15 is the deadline for agenda items.
   
V. Special Reports
   
Provost David Kline, Acting President, for President Anne Hopkins
 

Dr. Kline reported that Dr. Hopkins is doing fine after her surgery. He reported on the budget situation. The University had to give back $4.1 million. Some positions have been released. He thanked everyone for their cooperation. He said it was a struggle but he was surprised at how little complaining there was. The travel freeze is off. Units have money. The problem is that a rule has been passed by the State Comptroller which says that travel for state agencies can only be used for critical purposes. So he still must sign off on all travel. He noted that applicants must use the word critical in justifications.

The Board of Trustees' committees will meet next week and the whole Board will meet the week after that. On the academic side, members are going to look at a format for approving new academic programs. He also noted that he wants to get the Board's approval to split health sciences into two disciplines. This has already been approved by the Faculty Association. One discipline would be clinical and would include physical therapy and athletic training. The rest would possibly be called public health.

He said the big political thing seems to be the continuing struggle to devolve power to the University Boards of Trustees. He noted that he felt everyone should keep an eye on what is happening at USF involving the computer science professor. He feels there is a lot to be learned there. He said that legislators think that Florida higher education needs more access. They are considering letting community colleges offer four year degrees or creating a whole new system of colleges like the California model. There are a lot of ideas being discussed.

Chris Rasche asked for clarification about the new terminology needed for travel. She asked if statewide faculty association events are considered. Dr. Kline said he would regard modest participation as critical. He asked that faculty use good judgement.

Ellie Scheirer said many have filed TARs when they are not giving a paper but are funding some kind of involvement in professional development themselves. Dr. Kline said that even if personal funds are used the travel must be approved by him and there must be a good reason for going. Dr. Scheirer reiterated how important TARs are for tax purposes and workers' compensation. Dr. Kline agreed that TARs are important.

   
  Legislative Liaison Report  - Janet Owen
 

Absent. No report.

   
  United Faculty of Florida  - Elinor Scheirer
 

Dr. Scheirer reported that the union is still at impasse. There will be a report in the next couple of days regarding that process. The contract currently in force will probably be extended to June 2003. October 1, 2002 negotiations will reopen. There is a high probability for local bargaining for a local contract. UFF is desperate for people to become active in that process. There will be a bargaining forum for both members and nonmembers on March 6 or 13. Lunch is included. There was a "Rally in Tally" on February 4 that had a K-12 emphasis. It was to highlight the fact that education budgeting is still in a hole. This is seen as the beginning of a campaign that will highlight the underfunding of education and will culminate in the next election. Dr. Scheirer described contents of the UFF website and thanked Barbara Tuck for acting as Webmaster.

 
VI. Question and Answer Period
 

President Cohen reported that there are no outstanding questions. All responses are on the Faculty Association Web page.

Dale Clifford said she had received a notice from the book store stating that it was about to send back all books not sold for the spring term. She asked Richard Crosby if it were possible for those who use multiple books to designate books that should not be sent back. She has students who want to buy the books as they need them. Mr. Crosby said it can be done and he indicated he would follow up.

Pali Sen aked Richard Crosby about the blackboard in room 11/2127. She still uses a blackboard with chalk to teach her classes. She characterized the blackboard as writing on concrete. Mr. Crosby said he would take care of it.

Cheryl Frohlich said that the emergency lighting along the floor in building 10, Stein Auditorium has not worked for some time. When she turns the lights off, she cannot see to get out the door. The room is also very hot. The labs are 85 degrees. She said this is dangerous to equipment. Mr. Crosby said they are trying to deal with all the problems. He noted that if anyone has problems they should email him or Charlie Bear. Room numbers 2/2081 and 45/2501 were noted as being hot.

Chris Rasche noted that rooms in building 9 are very hot. Others concurred about the heat.

 
VII. Legislative Items
 


ITEM #1--FA 02-01: Submitted by the Faculty Affairs Committee

Summer School Policy - Faculty Appointments

Judy Solano moved the item. Dale Clifford asked about the placement of an apostrophe in the word colleges. Dr. Solano noted that the punctuation placement is the responsibility of Academic Affairs. Dr. Kline said he would see that it gets fixed.

Dr. Kline asked what the motivation was behind this policy. Dr. Solano said it was to recognize that departments have rotation procedures built into their bylaws or operating policies and that deans should not just make summer appointments willy nilly but should follow the policies.

The item passed.

   
VIII. Adjournment
 

The meeting adjourned at 12:52.


Respectfully submitted,

line

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