COUNCIL OF FACULTY DELEGATES
MINUTES
1st Meeting
September 11, 1995

Present:  Professors C. Chancey, R. Colon, S. Conners, K. Corey, M. Dobberstein, R. Evans, J. Hack, E. Jennings, D. Kark, D. Kirkpatrick, S. Lerner, L. Mura, D. Niedner (Sergeant at Arms), B. Pai, D. Pick, L. Rittenmeyer, 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:  T. Moffitt (Student Government)

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

II. Professor Lerner moved the approval of the minutes of the May 1, 1995, meeting.  Professor Chancey seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes of May 1, 1995, meeting passed.

III. Professor Hack moved the acceptance of the agenda for the September 11, 1995, meeting.  Professor Lerner seconded the motion.  The motion to accept the agenda passed.

IV. Chancellor's Report

Chancellor Yackel reminded those present that Purdue Calumet is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.  He encouraged those present to participate in the various activities, and reminded them of the concert on the lawn on Sunday, September 17.  He said one focus of the celebration is to generate endowed scholarship funds.  He said four community based committees are working to this end.  He said another focus is to generate funds for campus development, in particular development of the Founders Plaza.

Chancellor Yackel said that while enrollments were down slightly the budget situation appears to be stable.  He noted the importance of this year's total enrollment in that it decides the base budget for 1997.  He said that if the present enrollment decrease continues into the spring 1996 semester, a decrease of $400,000 in the 1997 base budget can be anticipated.  He said that even though the state has a surplus of more than $1 billion, he does not anticipate any change for the better in funding for higher education.

Chancellor Yackel reviewed the funding of the classroom office building approved by the Indiana General Assembly.  He said no funds for building will be available until Spring 1997, but that a bill will be introduced into the Spring 1996 General Assembly moving the building forward.  He said if Purdue Calumet has to wait to build, it will be necessary to reduce the size of the building to 40,000 square feet, at best.

Vice Chancellor Singer noted that Purdue Calumet had received full accreditation for ten years in 1993 but was required to have a focused visit on three issues: its student outcomes assessment program, its general education program, and its initiatives regarding long range university planning.  She said the three member team will visit on April 15 and 16, 1996.  She said the team consists of Jane Earley of Mankato State University (team leader), Joel Anderson of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Celestino Fernandez of the New Campus in Pima County of the University of Arizona.  Vice Chancellor Singer stressed that the faculty and staff need to be aware of and knowledgeable about the university's efforts in these areas as it is likely the team will question faculty and staff about them.  Vice Chancellor Singer said that to inform the university community of the issues and the university's efforts there will be guest speakers and focused town hall meetings.  She asked those present to make suggestions to her on communicating information on these issues.

Vice Chancellor Bryant spoke to the establishment of an Enrollment Services Center incorporating functions of admissions, registration and financial aid.  He said Student Services will hold focus groups with students on campus climate.  Professor Lerner asked Professor Bryant to speak to retention issues.  Vice Chancellor Bryant said efforts such as the Enrollment Services Center should have a positive impact on enrollment.  He said that, considering the nature of the student body, retention is a multi-faceted issue and thus is of university-wide concern.  In response to another question from Professor Lerner, Vice Chancellor Bryant said he will make known the results of the focus group discussions.

Vice Chancellor Newsom reviewed the history of the south Lake County facility.  He said a presentation of the proposal to lease was made to the Commission for Higher Education on Friday, September 8.  He said a request to the Commission to move the proposal to action was not accepted, and that the Commission will vote on the proposal at its October meeting.  He said action by the State Budget Committee should be timely enough to move the lease forward.  He reviewed the role of IUN, Calumet College, Ivy Tech State College, and Valparaiso in the lease, and said that there are indications the offerings at the site would fill.  Chancellor Yackel said that if Purdue Calumet is unsuccessful in obtaining permission to lease, he expects enrollments to stagnate over the next five years.  He said a review of the schedule by hour of day of the week simply does not permit for any increase in course sections allowing for decent schedules.  In response to a question from Professor Lerner, Chancellor Yackel said there was no initiative to offer courses jointly with IUN.  He reviewed common initiatives of Purdue Calumet and Indiana University Northwest.

In response to a question from Professor Kirkpatrick, Vice Chancellor Newsom said the figure of 60% new students at a south Lake County facility is based on a sense of pent-up demand as expressed by employers and employees in the area.  Chancellor Yackel referred to a market survey involving NIPSCO, WHITECO and banking employees which indicated demand.  He noted that NIPSCO has a tuition reimbursement plan that is underused.  He said that a recent survey of 1993-94 Lake County high school graduates who attended college in 1994 showed that Purdue Calumet enrolled 34% of these students, and that the per cent per school drops off as one moves further south in the county.  In response to a question from Professor Kirkpatrick, Vice Chancellor Singer said most of the Crown Point students are students new to the university.

Professor Jennings asked whether the October decision by the Commission for Higher Education is a make or break situation, and he asked whether there is a link between the new building and the proposed lease.  Chancellor Yackel said there was no connection between the building and the lease.  He said there is a shortage of space at present on the Hammond campus, and that increased enrollments in south Lake County will add to the need for additional space in Hammond.  He said he preferred that the state of Indiana build a facility in south Lake County in which all area campuses could share.  He stressed that the facility is not a campus.  He said that he is willing to pursue the lease with the Commission until October, but probably not further.

V. Special Business of the Day

- Council Document 95-18 Nominations to Committees and Subcommittees of the Council of

Faculty Delegates.  Nominating Committee. For Discussion.

Professor Corey moved the adoption of Council Document 95-18.  Professor Lerner seconded the motion.  Professor Robinson noted that CUSSPAC is not a Council Committee, but that the Council was requested by CUSSPAC to recognize formally its nominee for membership on the committee.  After some discussion of the wording of the document, the motion to adopt passed.

- Report of the President of the Council of Faculty Delegates

Professor Robinson asked each member of the Council to introduce himself/herself and to indicate departmental and school affiliation, and the Council responded accordingly.

Professor Robinson introduced Professor M. Dakich as nominee for parliamentarian, Professor J. Wermuth as nominee for secretary, and Professor D. Niedner as nominee for sergeant at arms.  Professor Lerner moved to approve the nominations.  Professor Zahraee seconded the motion.

The motion to approve passed.

Professor Robinson introduced the chairs of the standing committees of the Council.

Professor Robinson said the following were of particular interest to the present Council:

- General Education, part II; which is due before the Council at its October meeting,

- Review by the Agenda Committee of the selection of the president of the Council, and an effort by that committee to provide for the direct election of the president.

- Review by the Faculty Affairs Committee of faculty governance.

- Review by the Research and Educational Policy Committee of the attendance policy recently approved by the Purdue University West Lafayette Faculty Senate.

- Participation by all in resource management as invited to do so by Chancellor Yackel.

He said he has a personal agenda to improve and develop relationships between the Council of Faculty Delegates and the Purdue University Calumet chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Professor Kirkpatrick asked Professor Robinson to instruct the secretary to send out a list of present Council members and committee assignments.

VI. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

VII. Reports of Committees

Agenda Committee:  Professor Hack said the Agenda Committee had met on Monday, August 28, at which meeting it elected its chair and prepared the agenda for the present meeting.  She said the committee agreed to meet on the third Monday of each month; viz., September 18, October 16, November 20 and December 18.

Faculty Affairs Committee:  Professor Zahraee named the members of this committee and said that the committee will concern itself with issues brought to it by individuals or groups of faculty, and plans to work with the Purdue University Calumet chapter of the American Association of University Professor.  He said the committee needs an additional member.  He said the analysis of the Faculty Survey on Off Campus Facilities will be available soon.

Nominating Committee:  Professor Corey said that this committee had prepared the Council Document presented at this meeting, and named the members of the committee.

Research and Educational Policy Committee:  Professor Kark said the committee will be heavily involved with the general education document.  She named the members of this committee.

Resources and Planning Committee:  Professor Dobberstein said the committee will begin development of the 1997-98 academic calendar, and named the members of the committee.

Student Affairs Committee:  Professor Hack said the committee has carried forward the issue of library hours during final exams.  She listed the members of the committee and said that the committee needs an additional member.

Intercampus Faculty Council:  Professor Hack said there was no action from this committee.

Student Government:  There was no report from Student Government.

VIII. Other New Business

In response to a question from Professor Vermaat, Professor Robinson said the change in course withdrawal policy had been put into effect.

IX. Adjournment

Professor Pai moved adjournment.  Professor Rittenmeyer seconded the motion.  The motion to adjourn passed.