Faculty Senate

West Virginia Northern Community College

Present: S. Beck, R. Berry, F. Binkley, T. Boyers, P. Canary, J. Cisney, T. Craig, C. Dale, T. Danford, M. Davis, W. Deibert, M. Goldstein, D. Gonot, M. Grubor, D. Hans, K. Hart, K. Herrington, R. Honeman, C. Huston, R. Jennette, J. Keyser, A. Kuca, V. Larson, K. Leisering, R. Lucki, R. Malek, S. Mankowski-Myers, B. Matey, K. Morelli, G. Norton, J. Pillar, D. Poffenberger, S. Purpura, M. Riley, E. Rogers, S. Rychlicki, R. Sambuco, A. Secreto, P. Sharma, L. Shelek, D. Smittle, C. Stokes, C. Teaff, D. Thiem, A. Thompson, A. Vavra, M. Watson, and R. Yeager

Excused: C. Bonfini-Hotlosz, S. Hooff, J. Lalich, R. Letzkus, G. Pickett, and M. Sidon

Absent: E. Gast, D. Gregory, B. Hudak, L. Ingram, K. Jacobson, D. Jones, N. Krupinski, C. Rogerson, D. Roth, V. Slider, and G. Winland

Guest: P. Mancha, Vice President, Teaching and Learning

C. Stokes called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. in the Culinary Arts room, HA, Wheeling Regional Campus. The minutes of the April Senate meeting were approved on a motion by G. Norton and a second by T. Craig.

• FERC: T. Danford distributed the final revisions to the guidelines not yet approved. C. Dale distributed the calculation sheet summary and examples. There was some discussion, but the document was adopted.

• FERC 2: T. Danford moved that the revised document be used in the current evaluation cycle with the following stipulations: 1) student evaluations would use the old form (Fall 96 and Spring 97 evaluations) and 2) the approved goals for 1997 be used instead of the GIP. The motion was seconded and after little discussion approved unanimously.

• New Series: Dr. Mancha distributed copies of the newly revised Policy Bulletin 36, Faculty Duties and Responsibilities. Changes included in this revision are: 1) temporary full time faculty can serve for a total of six years instead of three, 2) all full time faculty will receive a yearly written evaluation, and 3) there is no longer the internal, institutional grievance procedure. These changes will require the establishment of some form a yearly evaluation for tenured full professors who are currently evaluated only once every three years and the disbanding of the Senate's thirteen member Faculty Appeals Committee.

• Concerns: A. Class cancellations - several faculty expressed dismay over the early cancellation of classes, even before registration was completed. Some classes with low enrollments may have made the cut off if they had not been canceled early. The following motion (B. Matey/M. Davis) was approved unanimously:

The Faculty Senate recommends a class cancellation procedure that is more student oriented and one that includes the consideration of class cancellation only after the first week of classes.

B. TIAA/CREF spring payments: Several faculty noted that in April the TIAA/CREF payments were tardy. Since this has been a problem in the past, faculty are encouraged to check their TIAA/CREF statement carefully. This matter was referred to the Faculty Liaison Committee and a suggestion was made that Dick Smith, Vice President, Financial Services, be invited to the September meeting.

C. Classified Employee Concerns: P. Miller, President of the Classified Staff Council, has expressed concern over the ability of the classified staff to express concerns and problems. With the conversion of the Governance Council from a forum for discussion of concerns and problems to a policy/procedure review board, the classified staff need additional avenues of communication. The Senate agreed to have the Classified Staff Council (or its officers) meet with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for the discussion of this matter.

D. Financial Aid: Faculty expressed concern over the continuing problems with the financial aid office. Dr. Dunn had indicated that a consultant would be used to evaluate the current status and make recommendations. This has not yet occurred. This concern was given to the Liaison Committee for follow-up.

• Announcements: C. Stokes made the following announcements: 1) B. Matey has been elected Vice President of the Senate to replace W. Deibert; 2) V. Larson has accepted the vacant Faculty Senate Executive Committee membership slot; and 3) T. Danford and C. Stokes will be serving on the Major Administrators Evaluation Task force.

• Election of Faculty-at-Large member for Liaison: Since T. Knierim is no longer a faculty member, a new member-at-large needs elected to the Faculty Liaison Committee. Michele Watson was duly nominated, nominations were closed, and she was elected by acclamation.

• Committee Reports and Substitutions: In addition to the committee substitutions noted above, D. Gonot was elected to the Student Life Task Force. The Senate heard reports from the following committees: ACF, Student Life Task Force, Academic Affairs, College Technology Committee, Assessment Committee.

• Adjournment: With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate will be Friday, 26 September 1997, at 2:00 p.m. in the Culinary Arts room, HA, Wheeling Regional Campus.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas R. Danford, Secretary