Minutes of the Faculty Senate | Faculty Senate | SIU

[as amended]

Meeting convened at 1:02 p.m. by Sanjeev Kumar, President.

ROLL CALL

Members present: Om P. Agrawal, James S. Allen, Ira J. Altman, Mark A. Amos, Ken B. Anderson, Gary Apgar, Ruth Bauner (ex officio), Lisa B. Brooten, Ronald A. Caffey, Rita Cheng (ex officio), Joan M. Davis, Lisabeth A. DiLalla, Stephen D. Ebbs, Stephanie Graves, Jodi Huggenvick (for James S. Ferraro), Allan L. Karnes, Sanjeev Kumar, Mary E. Lamb, Douglas W. Lind, Michael J. Lydy, Cathy C. Mogharreban, Nancy Mundschenk (ex officio), Diane Muzio, William Recktenwald, Don Rice (ex officio), Jose R. Ruiz, Gerald R. Spittler, Thomas H. Tarter, Brooke H. H. Thibeault, Jesse Trushenski (for James E. Garvey), James Wall, Jonathan S. Wiesen.

Members absent without proxy: Kimberly Asner-Self, Connie J. Baker, Sandra K. Collins, Jyotsna Kapur, Michelle Kibby-Faglier, James A. MacLean, Marla H. Mallette, Benjamin F. Rodriguez.

Visitors and guests: Codell Rodriguez (Southern Illinoisan), Susan Logue (Office of the Associate Provost), Matthew Schlesinger (Psychology), Suresh Tadisina (College of Business).

MINUTES

The minutes from the meeting on September 14, 2010, were approved as presented.

REPORTS

1. S. Kumar reported: a) the Board of Trustees approved the administrative closure policy with no sunset clause. Vice President Stucky commented that he is aware there will need to be negotiations; b) the Faculty Senate website has been redesigned and includes a message on shared governance; c) the fall faculty meeting is scheduled for October 21. The theme of the meeting will be, "The Effect of Budget Cuts on Academics," and will include guest speakers and a Q & A.

2. Chancellor Cheng reported: a) the State of the University address is now posted on the website. It is a call for action to move the University forward. A planning effort will be launched to realign and strengthen the University, and she will be asking constituency groups to participate in discussions and on committees in an effort to determine what should be the institution's strategic goals. Areas to examine will include marketing/recruiting to sharpen the University's branding image; a university college model; and using the results of the research climate survey in the strategic planning process; b) there will be press releases going out shortly recognizing the good work of faculty and students on campus; c) international recruitment is going well. Recruitment plans are being approved, pending the desired numbers in the colleges, and critical areas will be discussed; d) the Board of Trustees approved the unpaid administrative closure days. The reason for the change in policy was to avoid more drastic measures, i.e., layoffs. She asked for any thoughts anyone has on how to avoid the closure days or on how to implement them as fairly as possible. She has begun conversations with the bargaining organizations; there has been progress with some, but not others.

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

1. M. Lamb questioned whether it was poor timing to discuss construction on an Alumni building. Chancellor Cheng responded that alumni will give to a building; it is their decision.

2. S. Kumar asked, in terms of the administrative closure policy, what "significant delay" in state reimbursement would mean (50%, 100%?). If the administration is asking faculty and staff to give back their salaries, will those monies eventually be returned? Chancellor Cheng responded that the tie to cash flow is separate from the budget deficit, which is what the University is currently experiencing. The concern that the University is also not receiving its state revenues in a timely fashion has increased the tension. The deficit is currently over $70 million and goes up $17 million each month. She expects SIUC to receive $18 million by the end of December, but it is uncertain when the funds will come for FY10-11. The President will again ask for short term borrowing, and this time all the universities in the state are on board. There is also a RAMP request for money to fund faculty and staff salaries; that will be a way to help pay back faculty and staff.

A. Karnes commented that the University is in extraordinary times; it is being forced to live off the income fund and is not able to generate the money it normally would on the fund. Employees are being asked to make small sacrifices so people do not lose their jobs. The campus needs to pull together and stop complaining; things will turn around. J. Davis commented that the chatter she is hearing [about the administrative closures] is that, "they are not telling us everything." Chancellor Cheng responded that she did ask [the Board] for up to six days per year over the next two years, with full transparency. However, the Board removed the two-year language. She noted the debate is that the University could do nothing and save dollars. However, it may one day find itself behind the other institutions.

3. J. Allen asked what longer term ideas the Chancellor has about where the University will be a year from now. Where will it go to find dollars and what decisions will be made to fix the structural problems. Chancellor Cheng responded that the hiring freeze will continue. Her initial impression is that the campus can be restructured to be more effective. The University needs to use this time effectively and needs to grow itself out of debt. She noted that she will be asking for modest tuition increase next year.

4. O. Agrawal asked why salary cuts could not be made in the summer rather than over the academic year since administrators are on 12-month contracts while teaching faculty are 9-month. Chancellor Cheng responded that she has asked her staff to examine this option. Provost Rice added that it may also be possible to collapse an administrator's salary into a nine month schedule. A. Karnes suggested another option would be to compute faculty salaries on 12 months. O. Agrawal asked why not use the U.S. tax rates someone earning more pays more. Chancellor Cheng believes that taking the same number of days for each employee would accomplish the same thing.

C. Mogharreban asked what would happen if the Chancellor and the bargaining units cannot reach an agreement on the administrative closure days and how can faculty expedite the process. Chancellor Cheng responded that faculty should talk with their bargaining units. B. Thibeault believes that even taking a day for those on the low end of the scale will hurt them more. The Chancellor had mentioned that [lessening] the days for lower salaried civil service would require those at the higher levels to take more days. Her constituents (non-tenure track faculty) are concerned because they also are on the lower end of the scale. S. Graves asked if the administration has taken into consideration those employees with multi family incomes. Chancellor Cheng responded they have not, as that pits one against the other; mixing and matching could have unintended consequences.

5. M. Lamb asked what effect the administrative closures would have on pensions. Chancellor Cheng responded that SURS has assured them that people within four years of retirement can buy back those days.

6. J. Wall asked about differentiating the number of closure days. Chancellor Cheng responded that everyone taking one day already does that.

REPORTS (cont.)

3. Provost Rice reported: a) banners have been placed across campus, and it is hoped to put them throughout the community. He believes this not only will improve the aesthetics but also show pride in SIUC and create a sense of community; b) the students of Mass Communication and Media Arts won another Emmy for their student-produced news magazine ["Alt News 2646"]; c) nominations for honorary degrees and distinguished service awards are being solicited. The nomination deadline is November 8; d) the move to a university college-type model will [help improve] mentoring and allow student programs such as Pre Major Advisement to move under Saluki First Year; e) currently, there are 63 total faculty searches that have been requested and approved, including for internal searches (chairs). Of the 63 positions requested, 17 were approved (6 by Sam Goldman) and are in process, and the other 11 were approved by himself and the Chancellor. He noted that attrition is not a good planning tool, and the University cannot right-size by not replacing people. They will be taking a close look at who [is requesting] the searches. If there were no hiring freeze, then [60-65] searches would normally be allowed. It was asked whether not filling jobs affects promotion and tenure decisions. Provost Rice responded that it is something to which close attention is being paid. When faculty in expansion lines were lost, the Provost's office pulled those dollars back; however, departments can still request funding, and that has been allowed.

4. Chancellor Cheng reported that the provost candidates will be announced on October 14, and their CVs and schedules will be accessible. Interviews will begin October 18.

5. A. Karnes reported on the September meeting of the Faculty Advisory Council to the IBHE (see appendix). L. Brooten asked about the results of the PR campaign. A. Karnes responded they will be announced in December when the legislature is in session.

6. N. Mundschenk reported the Graduate Council is working on a number of issues, including facilitating research in the colleges; promotional rank beyond full professor; and the University Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. She added that the climate survey showed that 68% of faculty who responded indicated their research is not funded. The Council will look into how it can help with that.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. G. Apgar reported: 1) the white paper released on distance education has been forwarded to the Executive Council for review; 2) he received data on MOUs from [the Graduate Council]; additional questions will be forwarded to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research; 3) nominations for the Judicial Review Board are currently being collected in 10 of the 11 colleges. The deadline for nominations is October 14.

2. Associate Provost Logue reported there is a distance education council, with representatives from each college. They meet weekly, and there are several subcommittees, including academic access and student support activities. Susan Edgren, the current director of the Division of Continuing Education, has agreed to work as director of distance education to help move distance education forward within colleges. At this time, they are working on a budget model with a three year cycle that would be cost study and not cost recovery. An interim report should go to the Chancellor next week, with a first draft of the final plan to her by the end of the semester. She hopes to have the final report to the full campus in May and have [the program] in place for fall 2011. J. Allen commented that moving away from cost recovery is a huge step forward.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE -- L. DiLalla, Chair

L. DiLalla changed the order of presentation of the resolutions in the event there are questions on the College of Business RME.

1. L. DiLalla presented for approval the Resolution to Recommend Approval of the RME for the Modification of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Administration to Create an Online Degree Completion Program, College of Business (included asAttachment C to the Agenda).

Resolution was approved on a voice vote.

2. L. DiLalla presented for approval the Resolution to Approve Internal and External Program Reviewers [as modified] (included as Attachment A to the Agenda).

Resolution was approved on a voice vote.

3. L. DiLalla presented for approval the Resolution to Recommend Approval of the RME for the Modification of the Specializations for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Cinema and Photography, College of Mass Communication and Media Arts (included asAttachment B to the Agenda).

Resolution was approved on a voice vote.

4. L. DiLalla reported that the committee has four more RMEs under consideration.

COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES -- O. Agrawal, Chair

1. O. Agrawal presented for approval the nomination of Ruth Anne Rehfeldt, Professor, Rehabilitation Institute, to serve on the Outstanding Scholar Award Selection Committee.

Nomination was approved on a voice vote.

2. O. Agrawal reported the following names were submitted for consideration to serve on either the Search Committee for Dean of the College of Liberal Arts or the Search Committee for Dean of the College of Engineering: Lisa B. Brooten, Mass Communication and Media Arts; Philip Howze, Library Affairs; Mary Lamb, Liberal Arts; and Marla Mallette, Education and Human Services. S. Kumar noted that the requests for both searches happened to come in at the same time, so the committee decided to request the Provost's office select the representatives for each search committee. Future requests will be handled separately, as in the past.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE -- G. Spittler, Chair

G. Spittler reported the committee is reviewing the list of faculty without appointments in tenure units. They will meet to discuss this issue, and he hopes to have a preliminary report at the next meeting.

FACULTY STATUS AND WELFARE COMMITTEE -- L. Brooten/J. Kapur, Co-Chairs

L. Brooten reported the committee has not met; however, she did attend a recent University Joint Benefits Committee meeting. That committee may be more active once the administrative closure days take effect.

BUDGET COMMITTEE -- None.

OLD BUSINESS -- None.

NEW BUSINESS -- None.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

M. Lamb thanked Chancellor Cheng for including academic excellence in the University's branding.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 
Mary Ellen Lamb, Secretary

MEL:ba