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Faculty Council Meeting

September 15, 2005 – Minutes

ATTENDANCE

Joan Alexander, Chris Borglum, Amy Bosley (President), Tom Byrnes, Suzette Dohany, George Dow, Ray Enger, Dan Gutierrez, Deidre Holmes Dubois, Terry Long, Sue Matthews, Marie McClendon, Lana Powell, David Rogers, Kathleen Rue, Michael Shugg, Bill Snider, Linda Anthon, and Rose Watson.

ACTION ITEMS

A. Minutes - Approved with one amendment to the spelling of Deidre Holmes Dubois’ name.

B. Evaluation Taskforce - The Faculty Council approved appointment of George Rausch, Rachel Waite, Shari Koopman, and Oscar Cuan.

C. Business Process Analysis Teams (3 Teams) – The Faculty Council approved appointment of Jim Johnson (Enrollment Funnel), Terry Long (Financial Aid), Linda Speranza (Post-Secondary Transition), and Diane Reed (Post-Secondary Transition).

DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Intellectual Property Rights Policy – There were four questions raised by faculty, from forums, surveys and campus meetings, regarding how the policy directly affects them and one response from a Dean who questioned how the policy would affect other types of staff (i.e. Administration and Professional). Clarification of those five questions is listed below:

a. Books created outside the job are not included in the Intellectual Property Rights Policy.

b. “Utility Task Software” created for college use is owned by Valencia; however, with Valencia’s approval, the author/creator will have a non-exclusive license and can still market the software.

c. Nursing faculty should not be concerned about this contract because that department has a separate Intellectual Property Rights Policy contract.

There was a slight change of wording to the Preamble for clarification purposes made by the committee. The Faculty Council approved and moved Intellectual Property Rights Policy to an action item. Amy Bosley will present the final draft to the Executive Council and Learning Council. It will then be forwarded to the Board of Trustees.

B. Compensation Forums – Hosted by the Implementation Team, the purpose of the Forums is to explain the budget process to the faculty. One forum was held last week at East Campus, and two more will be hosted next week (Monday, September 19, 2005 from 3-5 pm at West and Thursday, September 22, 2005 from 12-2 pm at Osceola). Amy Bosley asked Faculty Senates to encourage all faculty to attend a Forum, even if they must travel to another campus. None will be held at Winter Park, but the PowerPoint presentation, handouts, and a list of questions/answers will be emailed to all full-time faculty.

Dr. Shugart answered most of the questions at the Forum held last week. Keith Hauck presented a budget model explaining factors, enrollment, and funding.

It was asked that the following question be addressed at the West Campus forum: How does inflation affect the market price in four years?

C. N-Grade – The IAC recommended a new grade option that will allow college preparatory professors the option of giving a grade of “N” to students who do not pass the State Competency Exam but have a passing grade for the class work. The “N” grade will not count as an attempt and is similar to an “I,” except a fee will be assessed; students will pay a nominal amount (approximately $85-90) for tutoring sessions in the Student Support Centers. After tutoring sessions, the student will retake the competency exam. Departments on each campus will individually choose when the State Competency Exam is administered.

It was questioned whether Financial Aid will pay for the fee assessment and how the “N” grade will affect the student’s Financial Aid in general.

The Council endorsed the N Grade concept.

D. AA General Education Program Review – Per the SACS reaccredidation process, a framework and timeline for courses is needed (this process is not a faculty review). It was mentioned to review page three of Attachment B. Under the Implementation section, number four refers to College Learning Day 2002 data.

The council endorsed the AA General Education Program Review time line.

E. Compensation Appeals Process – Currently, there are three appeals (two are still pending), and a streamlined system needs to take effect as soon as possible. The most common type of appeal is a faculty member questioning where they should be placed appropriately on the scale. It was proposed and moved to action that the process be streamlined by adding another faculty member to the Compensation Implementation Team (yes – 11, no – 1, abstentions – 3). Amy Bosley will send an open call via email to recruit an additional faculty member; the email will include A Statement of Your Interest. The Faculty Council will vote for applicants via email.

F. Sexual Harassment Policy & Procedure – Dr. Shugart stated that the Faculty Council may review “Harassment/Sexual Harassment” and “Investigating and Resolving Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Complaints” in the future.

The West Campus Faculty Senate created the following statement regarding faculty investigations: “Faculty will form a committee which shall be involved in policy construction to insure that faculty are treated with fairness, due process, and progressive discipline in matters by which faculty are disciplined, suspended, or terminated. Professors must have the right to appeal disciplinary measures to a group constructed of their peers. Investigations must be carried out by a ‘Fair Witness’.”

A motion was moved forward from discussion to action to request Human Resources re-evaluate the HR Policy Cluster (yes – 11, no – 3), and include faculty on the review team.

G. Senior Teaching Fellows – It was brought forth that the working conditions of Senior Teaching Fellows be improved. Amy Bosley will provide more information so the Council can make a recommendation at that time.

H. Motions from West Campus Senate – No motions were made.

INFORMATION ITEMS

A. Academic Policy Cluster Review – Bill Mullowney’s group sent large portions of the Academic Policy Cluster to various constituencies for review and is awaiting feedback.

B. GPA Calculation – There was no change to the formula for calculating GPA

C. 2005-06 Faculty Council Meeting Schedule – Meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month except for March 2006, in which it will be held the third Tuesday. Ray Enger will post the dates on the web.

D. HR Identification Numbers – Human Resources has a new policy in which the Employee Identification number will substitute use of the employee’s Social Security.

E. Kaye Walter – Dr. Walter is the new CLO for Valencia. The Faculty Council will invite her to attend as a guest at the October 2005 meeting.

F. DISCOVER Event – The Girl Scouts of America will be hosting an event Saturday, October 15, 2005. Each participant may earn her math/science badge(s) and learn about non-traditional careers in the sciences. Faculty may participate as speakers. Amy Bosley requested that each campus’ Faculty Senate inform faculty on their perspective campuses.

REPORTS

A. Campus Reports

East – Nothing for the minutes.

West – Please remember that the Compensation Forum is Monday, September 19, 2005 from 3-5 pm at West Campus.

Winter Park – Suzette Dohany reported that the job description for “Discipline Coordinator” (a.k.a Program Director) is vague and inconsistent within Valencia. She reported that Dean Michele McArdle has a lengthy description and model that she will share with anyone interested. Suzette will email the description to anyone who requests it.

Osceola - Please remember that the Compensation Forum is Thursday, September 22, 2005 from 12-2 pm at Osceola. Ray Enger noted that that there is question as to how/why adjuncts get paid for faculty development sessions; it was advised that he discuss with Patrick Nellis. The technology center closed on Friday at the Osceola campus, but recently was changed.

B. Other Reports – none.