COUNCIL OF FACULTY DELEGATES
MINUTES
4th Meeting

December 4, 1995

Present:  Professors R. Colon, K. Corey, M. Dobberstein, J. Hack, J. Jennings, D. Kark, D. Kirkpatrick, S. Lerner, L. Mura, B. Pai, D. Pick, W. Robinson, (President), C. Sekhar, S. Tickoo, W. Ting, C. Torres-Robles, M. Vermaat, J. Walker, M. Zahraee, Vice Chancellor L. Bryant, Vice Chancellor G. Newsom, Vice Chancellor S. Singer, Chancellor J. Yackel, M. Dakich (Parliamentarian), J. Wermuth (Secretary),

Absent:  Professors C. Chancey, S. Conners, R. Evans, D. Niedner, L. Rittenmeyer; Student Representative T. Moffitt.

I. The meeting was called to order by Professor Robinson.

II. Professor Lerner moved the approval of the minutes of the November 6, 1995, meeting.  Professor Sekhar seconded the motion. Professor Walker asked that the minutes show she had not seconded Professor Vermaat's motion to amend Council Document 95-20(Revised).  The motion to approve the minutes of the November 6, 1995, meeting, as corrected, passed.

III. Professor Hack moved the acceptance of the agenda for the December 4, 1995, meeting.  Professor Lerner seconded the motion.  The motion to accept the agenda passed.

IV. Chancellor's Report

Chancellor Yackel said the Board of Trustees, at its November meeting, approved planning for steam and chilled water lines to Anderson and the proposed classroom office building; approved the hiring of an architect for the Founders Plaza project: and approved the AS degree program in Nutrition, Fitness and Health. 

Chancellor Yackel said the south Lake County initiative is moving forward with the likelihood that several courses will be offered at a single site beginning in January.

Vice Chancellor Newsom said the university is moving forward on planning and construction of a 600-800 space parking facility.  He said construction may begin as early as summer 1996.  He said there had been no decision on a site, and that he will discuss the issue with Resources and Planning.  He said early action to build the facility is predicated partly on a bill to be proposed to the Indiana General Assembly to allow construction on the classroom office building to begin in 1996 rather than 1997.  He asked that those members of the faculty who wish to comment to him on these issues do so by electronic mail.  In response to questions concerning funding for the facility and fees, Mr Newsom said the facility is to be paid with bonds which will be supported by the parking fees generated, and that there is no plan to have a different fee structure for those who use the facility.  In response to another question, Mr. Newsom said the facility likely be three stories high with a footprint the size of the spaces removed for the classroom office building.

Vice Chancellor Newsom reviewed the history of the student/faculty/staff photo ID card.  He said the issue is under consideration by the Purdue system, that he expects a policy statement by the beginning of 1996, and that requests for proposals will be issued shortly thereafter.  He said that it may be possible to provide all students with a digitized photo ID card by the fall 1996 semester, with cards for faculty and staff issued later.  Discussion followed on card sponsorship, use as an ATM card, use as a debit card, and issuance to professors emeriti.

Vice Chancellor Singer said that the Faculty Development Committee is developing a comprehensive list of items to be considered as faculty development.  She said a list of spring semester activities will be announced, and will include a presentation by Leon Lederman.

Vice Chancellor Bryant said that early registration will end December 8.  He said the same procedures will be followed that led to the successful fall 1995 registration.

Special Business of the Day

- Council Document 95-21  Change of Exit Exam Procedure.  Research and Educational Policy Committee. For Discussion.

Professor Kark introduced Council Document 95-21, and immediately moved it to action.  Professor Dobberstein seconded the motion.  Professor Lerner spoke against the motion to consider for action.  He said the issue is substantive and should receive reasoned consideration by the entire council.  Professor Dobberstein said the issue, which had been discussed during summer 1995, had been delayed in reaching the Council because of the General Education documents.  He spoke to the timeliness of moving on the issue, as did Professor Kark.  Professor Sekhar asked why the issue had not been discussed by the faculty.  Professor Robinson asked Professor Kark whether the issue had been handled differently than any other issue presented to the Research and Educational Policy Committee.  Professor Kark said it had not.

Professor Jennings agreed with Professor Sekhar, and said that due consideration should be given to the appearance of the Council as a deliberative body, and to move too quickly would negate that.  Professor Kirkpatrick said he disapproved of the format of the Council document, with which Professor Lerner concurred.  Professor Lerner asked whether there was a more elaborate plan behind the memorandum under consideration.  Professor Hack asked that the Council not hold any brief against the Department of English and Philosophy, and that the Department had not rushed its decision to bring the issue forward.

With no further discussion on the motion to move to action, a vote was taken.  The motion to move Council Document 95-21 to action failed by a vote of 10 ayes to 11 noes.

Professor D. Barbour, head of the Department of English and Philosophy, was granted permission to address the Council.  He reviewed the present and proposed procedures for the English Exit Exam, including the establishment of departmental grading rubric with adequate training so that a high degree of consistency in grading is achieved.  In response to a question from Professor Kirkpatrick, Professor Barbour said that the department had the authority to change the exam, but that it was recommended that the change be brought to the Council for its input.  In the discussion that followed, it was noted and generally agreed that the Department of English and Philosophy has the responsibility for the exam but has a free hand in how the exam is administered.  There was discussion of the handling of transfer students for this purpose, and of the intent, responsibilities, and authorities concerning English proficiency as originally considered and passed by the Council.  Professor Dobberstein said the issue is whether the Council will or will not accept the proposed departmental exit exam procedure for meeting the English proficiency requirement.

There was discussion of the reliability of the present and proposed processes for testing and certifying English writing proficiency.  Professor Barbour said the proposed change should enhance it.  Professor Robinson concurred with Mr. Newsom's comment that the proficiency exam as a graduation requirement is what is under the purview of the Council.  Professor Robinson said the Council must now determine whether the new procedure demonstrates proficiency in English.

Chancellor Yackel said a document is working through the system that will establish that credit from one campus is the same as credit in the same course from any campus. 

Professor Robinson asked whether there will be any adverse impact on the department or its students if the document is brought back for action.  Professor Barbour said no.

- Council Document 95-22  Policy and Procedure for the Academic Calendar.  Resources and Planning Committee.  For Discussion.

Professor Dobberstein introduced Council Document 95-22.  He said the document contains an academic calendar template.  He said the template establishes earliest and latest days for certain events.  He said the idea is that the Office of the Registrar will be given the template for implementation during any particular year.

In the discussion that followed, the following issues were raised: the impact of the template on off-calendar nursing courses (none), the effect of the beginning of summer session on the enrollment of management courses (probably none with the earlier start date, concern about the effect of the missing Mondays on the course schedule, and the addition of the winter commencement date to the template.  There was speculation on why the template stated that spring break will occur "after the 8th or 9th week" of classes, and there was consensus to state either one week or the other.

VI. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

VII. Reports of Committees

Agenda Committee:  Professor Hack said the committee had last met November 20.  She said that the committee had prepared the present agenda along with discussing the general education documents, the Intercampus Faculty Council meeting, and the Council Articles and Bylaws.

Faculty Affairs Committee:  Professor Zahraee said that the committee will meet next on December 11 to discuss Council Documents 95-17 Revised, 93-5, and 93-6.  Professor Kirkpatrick, reporting for Professor Niedner, reviewed the Faculty Affairs Committee survey on off campus instruction, noting response differences between full and part time faculty, and male and female faculty on certain questions.

Nominating Committee:  Professor Corey said that the committee is reviewing Council committee memberships prior to sending out the faculty preference survey in spring 1996.

Research and Educational Policy Committee:  Professor Kark said the committee will meet after the Council meeting to discuss Council Document 95-21, and to meet with the General Education Task Force on December 12.

Resources and Planning Committee:  Professor Dobberstein said the committee will meet on December 5 to review changes to Council Document 95-22.

Student Affairs Committee:  Professor Hack said the committee had met and discussed the Athletic Affairs Committee, the photoID, space, cultural affairs, and library hours.  She said the Committee had helped assign a faculty member to the C100 renovation committee.  She said the Student Affairs Committee will meet next on January 16. 

Professor Lerner, noting the absence of Mr. Moffitt, Student Government president, commented that he hoped Mr. Moffit participated fully in the deliberations of the Student Affairs Committee.

Intercampus Faculty Council:  Professor Hack said the Council had met November 18 with no representatives from Purdue University Calumet present.  She said minutes of the meeting did not show any discussion of this university.  She said there was discussion of the Council itself, the Commission for Higher Education, University Senate Document 95-2, Periodic Peer Review: A Faculty Development Opportunity, dual credit course policy, and reports from the various campuses.  She said that Fort Wayne is interviewing for a Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and has a spring enrollment running 10% behind a year ago.  She said North Central is reporting a 3-5% decline in spring 1996 enrollment.  She said IUPUI will be searching for a Dean of its School of Engineering and Technology.  She said West Lafayette  reported on its Excellence 21 Leadership Conference.  She said the Council will meet next on March 12, 1996.

Student Government:  There was no report from Student Government.

VIII. Other New Business

Professor Hack moved that the next meeting of the Council be held on February 5.  Professor Lerner seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

Professor Lerner announced that Joseph Stiglitz will be speaking in Alumni Hall in the evening.

IX. Adjournment

Professor Robinson called for a motion to adjourn.  Professor Lerner so moved.  Professor Pai seconded the motion.  The motion to adjourn passed.