Present: Professors H. Abramowitz, A. Ahmed, A. Chelich, C. Chancey, R. Colon, S. Conners (Sergeant at Arms), M. Dakich (Parliamentarian), T. Dougherty, R. Evans (Presiding Officer), R. Foreman, J. Higley, J. Jennings, S. Lerner, L. Mura, T. Pavkov, D. Pick, K. Pierce, L. Rittenmeyer, S. Sil, C. Stacy, R. Stankowski, C. Torres-Robles, J. Walker, G. Wegner, J. Wermuth (Secretary), L. Willer, Vice Chancellor L. Bryant, Vice Chancellor G. Newsom, Chancellor J. Yackel, Student Representative J. Casas

Absent: Vice Chancellor S. Singer

Chancellor Yackel said that Purdue Calumet is extending the payment deadline for the spring 1998 semester to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 1998 to accommodate those students who wish to take advantage of the Hope Scholarship tax credit, and that there will be one less day of open registration because of the extension. He said that he and other university personnel will be attending a briefing by federal officials on Wednesday, November 5, on the Hope Scholarships.

Chancellor Yackel said that the Indiana Commission for Higher Education will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, November 14, in the Region Room. He said that the meeting is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. He said there was no particular agenda item affecting Purdue University Calumet, and noted that the Commission held a retreat for faculty the past weekend.

Chancellor Yackel reviewed Purdue University’s Excellence 21 continuous quality improvement initiative, and said the Purdue Calumet had nominated the teaching assistant mentoring program, and the one stop student services management project for inclusion in the effort. He said that Purdue Calumet will propose that, for this year, the university include Purdue Calumet’s student outcomes assessment project as it affects academic program development and the administrative services project on establishing benchmarks for the Baldridge awards.

Chancellor Yackel said that a revised version of Executive Memorandum C-19 Grievance Procedures for Academic Personnel will be issued shortly. He said the revised policies and procedures are more grass-roots in nature and emphasize informal resolution of disputes. He said the procedures eliminate legal advisors, and stresses training of those who serve on panels. He said the policy will become effective for grievances filed after July 1, 1998. He asked those who had questions to discuss with him or the Personnel Director.

Chancellor Yackel said that the Vision Statement Committee is concluding its deliberations, and that comments on the previously distributed statement will be appreciated.

Chancellor Yackel said that the ad hoc Committee to Review Athletics, Intramurals and Wellness has completed its report and will present it to the university at noon on Tuesday, November 18 in Alumni Hall. He said the report will be distributed to the campus community prior to the meeting.

Chancellor Yackel said that beginning with academic promotions in 1998, the automatic increase in salary for each rank will increase by twice the present amount over three years.

Chancellor Yackel said that the university plans to increase its electronic commerce in the future. He said items under consideration include payment of student tuition and fees via the web. He said the university is encouraging all employees to participate in the direct payroll deposit plan. He said that Purdue Calumet is pursuing with Purdue West Lafayette the possibility of having the payroll payment scheduled for January 5, 1998 distributed electronically on January 2 for those participating in the direct deposit plan. In response to a question from Professor Mura, Vice Chancellor Newsom agreed that, in the future, all payments to staff, including travel be deposited directly into any account the employee wishes.

Chancellor Yackel said that the university will kick off its participation in the Lake Area United Way campaign with a program on Tuesday, November 4 with the campus goal of increasing employee participation to 35% of all employees.He said the university will participate in a household hazardous waste pickup from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m on Wednesday, November 5 in the south parking lot.

Vice Chancellor Bryant said that there will be training for forty student ambassadors on Saturday, November 8 and encouraged faculty to make use of the group. He said the direct lending plan had been implemented and that it will bring about a reduction in the time a student must wait for funds to arrive. He also spoke to the Emerging Leaders Workshop for students which will have eighty participants, a New Student Orientation in April to attract and bind the better prepared students to this campus, and the basketball games this past weekend between Purdue Calumet varsity teams and visiting teams from Lithuania.

Professor Evans asked the chairs of the Council standing and subordinate committees to incorporate the Vision Statement into their actions and proposals during the coming year. He also asked the members of the Council to encourage their faculty peers to read Executive Memorandum C-19 Grievance Procedures for Academic Personnel. He noted his participation in its development and said comments about it can be directed to himself and the Chancellor.

Professor Evans began a review of the revisions to the proposed constitution and said that it had been distributed, along with comments on the revisions, to the faculty. He said the revisions were the result of a meeting between himself and Professor Sol Gartenhaus, Secretary of Faculties and representative of President Beering, and the nine numbered items include those that he thought should be discussed with the Purdue Calumet Faculty. He said that he was of the opinion that the issues were minor, that the present body could accept the previous vote as binding while still amending the proposed constitution, and that the revised document could be submitted to the Board of Trustees for action at its November meeting.

After some discussion of the nine numbered items, it was agreed that numbered items 2 (definition of voting faculty), 3 (definition of "academic unit"), 5 (insertion of phrase, "except when....." etc. in item IV.B. Authority, and 9 (voting rights of Vice Chancellors with academic rank) were substantial in nature. There was consensus that the items will need to be discussed by the Council and final wording approved; and that following Council action and approval, the faculty should vote on the final product.

Discussion included, but was not limited to the following:

Item 2: There was concern that the item as written could allow a person who is once a voting member of the faculty to maintain that he/she maintains that privilege even after retiring or leaving the university. There was concern that padding the rolls of voting faculty in a school (e.g., four faculty teaching one course each semester with each having voting rights) could give that school a disproportionate number of Senate seats. There was concern that, as written, the item could be interpreted to give graduate instructors faculty voting rights.

Item 3: There was some support for substituting" academic department" for "academic unit". A definition of academic unit was offered, but no motion accompanied it. There was concern that the Council could consist of members representing special interest or programs, and include a request for double representation from academic departments that offer both associate and baccalaureate programs. An ad hoc committee to review the issue was proposed, but there was no motion to accompany the proposal. Note was made of the position code definition of each academic rank. It was also noted that this definition need not be the definition of instructor in the proposed constitution.

Item 5: There was concern that the added phrase dilutes Purdue Calumet faculty authority.

Item 9: There was concern that an administrator be permitted to vote on a faculty matter. There was concern that, conversely, that a member of the faculty would be disenfranchised. In reference to a like issue, Chancellor Yackel said that he would support the non-voting status of the President and the Chancellor in discussions with the President, and as proposed in Items V.A.2 and 3 of the proposed constitution.

Professor Evans noting the lack of time remaining, brought discussion to a close. He said that discussion on the proposed constitution will continue, and that the Agenda Committee will likely add it to the agenda of the December 1 meeting of the Council as a document For Discussion. He said he will be pleased to receive comments on the proposed constitution from all who wish to make them, and will make their general tenor available to the entire Purdue Calumet faculty.

V. Special Business of the Day

- Council Document 97-12. Nominations to the ad hoc Curriculum

Committee. Nominating Committee. For Discussion.

Professor Walker introduced Council Document 97-12 and moved it to action. Professor Lerner seconded the motion. The motion passed. Professor Walker moved approval of Council Document 97-12. Professor Stankowski seconded the motion. Professor Walker said that all named on the document had agreed to serve or had been elected to serve, and that the expiration of their term in 2000 is consistent with present terms of other Council Committees. The motion to approve Council Document 97-12 Nominations to the ad hoc Curriculum Committee passed.

- Council Document 97-13. Students Grade Appeal System. Faculty Affairs Committee. For Discussion.

Professor Jennings introduced Council Document 97-13. Professor Rittenmeyer suggested that Item III.C. be changed to include students from any source the panel chairs can find. Professor Jennings said that Student Government is being asked to provide a pool of students each year to serve on panels.

Professor Rittenmeyer asked that Item V.E. be changed to ensure that the student gets a copy of the faculty member’s written statement.

Professor Rittenmeyer asked that Item V.H. be changed to ensure that attorneys not be allowed to serve as advisors, and recommended that advisors must be members of the university’s staff, faculty, or student body. Chancellor Yackel agreed with Professor Rittenmeyer’s request that the hearings be noted as not being legal proceedings. Chancellor Yackel said the document should be consistent with other university documents that deal with grievances. He noted that the recently distributed Executive Memorandum C-19 denied speaking privileges to advisors. There followed some discussion of whether advisors should have speaking privileges.

VI. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

VII. Reports of Committees

Agenda Committee: Professor Jennings said the Agenda Committee will meet again with the ad hoc Bylaws Committee within the month, and will meet also to prepare the December Agenda.

Faculty Affairs Committee. Professor Jennings said the Faculty Affairs Committee had prepared the Grade Appeals document, and will meet to discuss the comments received on it within the Council meeting.

Nominating Committee. Professor Walker said there was no report from the Nominating Committee.

Research and Educational Policy Committee. Professor Mura said the Research and Educational Policy Committee is preparing the general education letters of conformance.

Resources and Planning Committee. Professor Pick said the Resources and Planning Committee is examining its role within faculty governance and is considering recommending to the ad hoc Bylaws Committee that the advisory authority the faculty will have on resources and planning be joined to a university wide resource management committee. He said that this arrangement will yield a more effective mechanism for faculty input into resource management and institutional planning.

Student Affairs Committee. Professor Torres-Robles said that the Student Affairs Committee is awaiting the results of a student survey and has no report at the present time.

Student Government. Mr. Casas said that, as President of Student Government, he is selecting three students to attend the State of Indiana Commission for Higher Education 1997 Student Leadership conference at IUPUI. He said that, within the past month, Student Government has provided student representatives to the Wellness Council, the LASS Senate and other LASS Committees, and the Traffic Appeals Board. He said Student Government has members assigned the Parking Policy Advisory Committee and the Student Service Fee Allocation Committee. He said Student Government will assist the Vision Committee by forming a focus group which will meet on Wednesday, November 5, at 6:30 p.m.

VIII. Other New Business

There was no other new business.

IX. Adjournment

Professor Evans requested a motion to adjourn. Professor Foreman so moved, and Professor Dougherty seconded the motion. The motion to adjourn passed, and Professor Evans declared the meeting adjourned.

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