wvnlogo.gif (12288 bytes) fn6.jpg (54272 bytes)

Faculty Senate

West Virginia Northern Community College

Minutes

25 September 1998



Present: S. Beck, R. Berry, F. Binkley, P. Canary, J. Cisney, T. Craig, C. Dale, T. Danford, W. Deibert, E. Gast, M. Goldstein, D. Gonot, M. Grubor, D. Hans, K. Hart, K. Herrington, R. Honeman, S. Hooff, L. Ingram, J. Keyser, N. Krupinski, A. Kuca, V. Larson, R. Lucki, R. Malek, K. Morelli, G. Pickett (presiding), D. Poffenberger, S. Purpura, R. Pusz, M. Riley, S. Robinson, S. Rychlicki, A. Secreto, P. Sharma, D. Smittle, R. Vance, J. Van Fossan, A. Vavra, M. Watson, G. Winland, and R. Yeager.

Excused: T. Boyers, R. Jennette, K. Leisering, S. Mankowski-Myers, L. Shelek, C. Stokes, C. Teaff, and A. Thompson.

Absent: M. Davis, B. Hudak, C. Huston, K. Jacobson, D. Jones, C. Mason, G. Norton, E. Rogers, C. Rogerson, D. Roth, R. Sambuco, M. Sidon, and V. Slider.

G. Pickett 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 P. Canary and a second by V. Larson.



T. Vavra led a discussion of the proposed 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 academic calendars. After much discussion on just the 1999-2000 one, the following option was voted upon (Larson/Dale):

Fall Semester 1999
Faculty Return 16 August
First Day of Classes 23 August
Last Day of Classes 13 December
Final Exams 14 - 18 December
Grades Due 20 December
Spring Semester 2000
Faculty Return 5 January
First Day of Classes 10 January
Spring Break 6 - 11 March
Last Day of Classes 1 May
Final Exams 2 - 6 May
Graduation 7 May
Grades Due 8 May
Faculty Development Week 8 - 12 May


This calendar was approved by the Senate on a vote of 24 in favor to 8 opposed. G. Pickett will forward this information to the administration.



The question of pay for overloads was raised. It seems that there has been a change in policy/procedure and faculty will now only be paid an overload during Spring Semester. Those teaching 16 or more credits during the Fall Semester, who would have previously been paid during Fall Semester, will not be paid until the Spring teaching schedule exceeds 30 credits. This, coupled with the recently announced change of payment of program coordinators and directors (now quarterly), brought forth the question of lack of communication. Also discussed was the question of overloads for program coordinators. It appears that they no longer have such an option if they receive released time. The Senate came to consensus that these serious matters be placed on the Liaison Committee's agenda as a focus... that they be the sole agenda item for the next Liaison Committee meeting.



Committee Report Highlights
Liaison G. Pickett reported that the faculty concerns were: academic calendar, faculty contract period, enrollment/class cancellations, bookstore, and financial aid; and that staff concerns were: unfilled positions, reorganization
Advisory Council of Faculty D. Poffenberger reported that 1)faculty salary increases and an increase for technology/development was included in the proposed budget to the Legislature, and 2) there is much speculation about higher education governance and reorganization
Student Life First meeting was primarily organizational. No major actions taken.
College Technology First meeting was primarily organizational. No major actions taken.
Finance/Facilities First meeting was primarily organizational. No major actions taken.
Academic Affairs First meeting was primarily organizational. No major actions taken.
Assessment First meeting was primarily organizational. Assessment will be an agenda item at the October Division meetings.
Professional Development First meeting was primarily organizational. Great Teachers Seminar has been rescheduled for October; contact Mark Goldstein if interested.
FERC Committee failed to meet.
Retention Committee has met and is collecting information on why students left. It wants to focus on two of the six initiatives identified at All College Day. Interested faculty should contact C. Dale or S. Beck.




At the Executive Committee meeting, a series of irregularities with respect to certain early entrance classes were reported. These irregularities included total amount of instructional time and scheduling (extending past the semester end). After some discussion, the Senate endorsed the following (Danford/Deibert):

The Faculty Senate expresses concern about early entrance classes and endorses a position of college-wide standard policy and procedure. Such standard policy and procedure should include input from both division chairs and regional campus deans.



a. Sabbatical Leave Policy Revision

This revision was last seen in March 1998; it has apparently fallen into the administrative black hole.

b. Legal Actions

There was a report on K. Leisering's legal situation. After some discussion, the Senate unanimously endorsed the following (Poffenberger/Goldstein):

The Faculty Senate supports the legal position of our colleague, Katherine Leisering.

c. Major Administrators' Evaluations

There was a discussion concerning the Major Administrators' evaluations. A draft memo was distributed. This memo was approved unanimously (Poffenberger/Larson). The complete text can be viewed by clicking here.



With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m. on a motion by S. Rychlicki and a second by P. Canary. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate will be Friday, 23 October 1998, at 2:00 p.m. in the Culinary Arts room, HA, Wheeling Regional Campus.



Respectfully submitted,

Thomas R. Danford, Secretary

last modified: 26 Sept 1998