UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE

UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING

VOL. 37, NO. 8

 

February 13, 2001

 

 

Members Present:

 

Marcia Bollinger, Dick Boyum, Linda Carpenter, Terry Classen, Stephen Drucker, Joel Duncan, Rodd Freitag, Mitchell Freymiller, Andrea Gapko, Marc Goulet, Margaret Hallatt, Susan Harrison, Erik Hendrickson, Ann Hoffman, Larry Honl, Rose Jadack, Debra King, Carol Klun, Tim Lane, Kate Lang, Robert Langer, Tim Leutwiler, Barbara Lozar, Barbara Mac Briar, Maureen Mack, Mona Majdalani, Donald Mash, Joanne Mellema, Rick Mickelson, Mark Olsen, Jane Pederson, Bobby Pitts, Cleo Powers, Donna Raleigh, Lori Rowlett, Kathleen Sahlhoff, Nola Schmitt, Katherine Schneider, Nick Smiar, Lori Snyder, David Steele, Todd Stephens, Paula Stuettgen, Kent Syverson, Thomas Wagener, Cecilia Wendler, Michael Wick, Jean Wilcox, Karen Woodward, Steve Zantow

 

Members Absent:

 

Randy Beger, Jack Bushnell, Gene Decker, Jeannie Harms, Sean Hartnett, Tim Ho, Gretchen Hutterli, Fred Kolb, Lisa La Salle, Jane Linton, John Melrose, Richard Ryberg, Ronald Satz, Robert Scott, Roger Selin, Mehdi Sheikholeslami, Jodi Thesing-Ritter, Roger Tlusty

 

Guests:

 

Christine Anding, Margaret Cassidy, Bernard Duyfhuizen, Justin Hentges, Bill Olson, Andrew Phillips, Connie Russell, Jennifer Shaddock, Andrew Soll, Steve Tallant

 

The regular meeting of University Senate was called to order at 3:05 p.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2001 in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center.

 

1.        Minutes of January 23, 2001 meeting of University Senate approved as distributed

2.        Chancellor’s Remarks – Chancellor Mash

·         Open discussion on faculty workload held at last University Senate meeting very helpful

·         See as one of series of discussions that can occur in several different arenas

·         Made follow-up clarifying comments at Executive Committee meeting last week

·         Administrative staff engaged in discussion of university’s agenda, where going, how going to get there

·         Prelude to University Planning Committee meeting on February 28, 2001

·         Will freshen university’s mission statement

·         Bring out university’s strong points

·         Look for ways to distinguish special nature of this university

·         November Chronicle of Higher Education talked about state colleges nationally

·         What happened to mission over time

·         What challenges are

·         Not very complimentary article

·         We don’t fit that mold

·         In many ways unique as state colleges go

·         Differences in line with some critical aspects of our mission

·         Coming to end of two important searches

·         Dean of College of Professional Studies

·         Close to making offer, references and final work being completed

·         Director of Admissions

·         Additional candidate interviewing on Thursday and Friday

·         Katharine Lyall, President of UW-System, was featured speaker at Industrial Development Corporation annual meeting luncheon in Eau Claire

·         Talked about role of university – strong sense of how important university is to region and state generally

·         Legislators attended as well

·         Able to hear some of community leaders reacting favorably to remarks

·         That type of appearance important for positive positioning of university for ongoing support

·         February 20, 2001, Governor McCallum will deliver budget address

·         Expect hybrid of Thompson budget and things McCallum has talked about

·         Budget message is platform, and then legislature goes to work

·         Hopeful will make strides in legislature and do things in addition to what governor requests

·         Currently getting mixed reports in newspaper and at meetings about fiscal status of Wisconsin

·         Assembly and Senate leadership suggest have dollars to invest wisely

·         Governor a little more cautious about revenues

·         Individual legislators even more cautious

·         Yesterday at Stout, Chancellors from UW-Eau Claire, Stout and River Falls hosted eight regional legislators

·         Talked about legislative session and dollars for investing in key programs

·         Stressed importance of pay plan and need for another good biennial pay plan

·         Will hear nothing about pay plan when governor speaks on February 20^th

·         On different track than state budget; discussion starts later on pay plan, beginning with unions

·         Then discuss how much state to fund vs. how much tuition expected to fund

·         Get in this discussion with legislature every year

·         Stressed yesterday how tuition revenue plays into state support; both critically important – GPR funds lagging while tuition rising at faster rate

·         Students at university understand tuition paid here reasonable

·         Expectation is that state will do its share as well

·         Additional tuition modest, not to support what state not supporting

·         Tuition increases accompanied by need-based financial aid

·         Seems new governor inclined to provide management flexibility

·         Think will get relief from position control to allow spending revenue we generate to supplement workforce

·         Also likely to lift $12,000 earning cap on faculty and teaching academic staff for additional work in any UW-System university

·         Will be interesting to see what governor has to say about operating budget

·         In position to make strong case in legislative session of things we can do with reasonable funding

·         Yesterday chancellors asked by one of legislators, “What are you going to do if you don’t get all the money that you have asked for?”

·         Obviously won’t do some things we proposed to do

·         That is too bad for Wisconsin, the region we serve, and your constituents

·         Good session, supportive delegation, will have to see how it shakes out

·         At regent’s meeting, UW-System expressed interest in greater presence in Washington for federal support

·         System feels, with exception of Madison, have been missing federal funding opportunities

 

3.        Chair’s Report – Chair Harrison

·         Wisconsin open meeting law research included in Chair’s Report

·         New business can be discussed provided no hidden attempt to subvert system

·         Any new motions or actions delayed, if possible, to another meeting allowing for proper notification

·         Using term “Miscellaneous Business” sufficient to allow topics within realm of business of committee to be discussed

·         Draft report of Instructional and Research Academic Staff included at back of Chair’s Report

·         If comments, contact Don Reynolds in Mathematics Department, member of System working group

·         Regarding pay plan, President Lyall stated unwilling to concede to less than 4.2% increase even if means “paying for it out of hide” (by internal reallocation)

·         Whole System told to reduce utility costs

·         Thermostats to be set to 68^o and computers turned off when not in use

·         Legislative update

·         Bill now in Assembly would allow state employees to use unused sick leave not only for health insurance but also for long-term care insurance

·         Assembly Bill 87 would prohibit parking tickets during final exam week

 

4.        Academic Staff Representative Report – Senator Hallatt

·         Academic Staff Representative’s meeting February 15, 2001

·         Instructional Academic Staff Report will be topic at that meeting

·         Will be happy to pass along any comments

·         Academic Staff Leadership Conference July 26^th and 27^th in Stevens Point

·         Will be getting information out and looking for people to go

 

5.        Old Business – Technology Committee

 

Report on Counseling for Students Enrolled in Web-Based or Distance Education Courses – Senator Lang

• Came to Technology Committee in response to guidelines from System on services for DE students
• Counseling Services concerned about ethics of offering web-based counseling

·         Students so comfortable with web that interested in these types of services

·         Problems with malpractice coverage and myriad of ethical issues

• Response to questions from floor

·         Committee did not take up issue of advising, only personal/psychological counseling

·         Discussed putting in catalog or class bulletin (up to administration where) so students notified up-front

·         Silent on other services

·         University Senate no authority to tell Counseling what will or will not provide

·         Motion here to get opinion of Senate on record

·         Counseling Services came to committee with concern

·         Guidelines for distance education from UW-System vague

·         State services such as counseling must be provided to all students involved in DE courses

·         Why policy on what will not do – why not just what will do?

·         May discourage calls to get information on where to go

·         Hate for student to assume they can get something that they can’t from, for example, Alaska

·         Better said out front with information about web pages, links, pamphlets, etc.

·         System policies said we provide these services for our distance education students; Counseling concerned, that is why saying we can’t and we don’t

·         Could help figure out how to find information in Alaska

·         American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, accrediting International Association of Counseling Centers says will not provide this type of counseling

·         Doesn’t mean won’t provide consultation and give information

·         Get 12,000 hits/week on self-help system seeking information

·         Don’t have infrastructure to address some of these issues, such as suicidal email

·         Don’t want to put students and faculty or staff in jeopardy when conflict

·         Counseling has very specific meaning; this motion to make sure don’t put in situation where providing less than quality of service capable of providing at this institution

·         Not sure motion belongs in University Senate

·         If argument is with System policy, then should go back to System

·         Don’t think we should write contradictory policy without looking at consequences

·         Malpractice becomes question when someone calls from distance

·         Insurance covers us for what we do under scope of duties as assigned

·         Do not know all regulations in other states, outside area of competence

 

Motion 37-TC-01

Moved and seconded by Technology Committee (5-0-0) that consistent with UW-System policy, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will provide counseling services to students enrolled in web-based and other distance education courses. However, arranging counseling by telephone or internet is beyond the ethical, technical, and financial constraints of the UWEC Counseling Service.

 

The Counseling Service will not provide:

Counseling by telephone, teleconference, or the Internet.

 

The Counseling Service will provide:

1. Counseling Service website: provides much psychoeducational material for student use for personal growth, and for background material for papers and projects. Links are also provided to such megasites as the Virtual Pamphlet collection that contains over 500 informational documents about subjects ranging from depression to alcohol to relationship concerns.

2. Counseling in person at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Counseling Service, by appointment during regular business hours, for all students who pay tuition at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

3. Consultation with Faculty and Staff teaching web-based or other distance education courses regarding how to handle particular student concerns.

 

All students registering for web-based or other distance education courses should be notified of this policy.

 

Discussion

·         Statement from System: “The institution provides adequate access to the range of student services appropriate to support the program, including admissions, financial aid, academic advising, delivery of course materials, and placement and counseling.”

·         Similar comments from Counseling Services sent to System at time responses to rough draft sought

·         Committee also discussed communicating with System

·         Guidelines were vague in many areas

·         Ultimately decided might make more sense just to include what we could provide than to get System to clarify

·         Representative from Counseling felt no other forum for bringing forth this concern; wanted it on record

 

Amendment 37-TC-01-a1

Moved by Senator Mac Briar and seconded that motion start with services Counseling will provide, add item #4 Consultation on how to access local counseling services, and delete paragraph on what Counseling Services will not provide

 

Discussion

·         Amendment could be divided by request

 

Motion 37-US-17

Moved by Senator Classen and seconded that the motion be referred back to committee for rewording in way that we recommend Counseling do this in language more consistent with authority that we have here

 

Discussion

·         Get policy statements from System all the time and have to make interpretation; are other forums to bring forth such issues

·         Counseling staff discussed with administration – not previously something of concern to them

·         Once Counseling stated why worried, administrators thought had point

·         Not something administration wasn’t backing 

·         Support motion and encourage committee

·         May want to clearly define counseling referred to

·         Support differentiating consulting for information vs. counseling so not placing anyone in jeopardy

·         Instead of eliminating what Counseling Services will not do, might put that at end

·         Suggest looking system-wide at how sister institutions dealing with this

 

Vote on Motion 37-US-17: Motion PASSED. Motion 37-TC-01 referred back to Technology Committee

 

6.        Nominations from Floor for at-large University Academic Staff Senator

• Nominations from University Academic Staff Nominating Committee

·         David Fleitas – American Ethnic Coordinating Office

·         Linda Spaeth – Academic Skills Center

• No additional nominations from floor
• Election to be held at University Senate meeting of February 27, 2001

 

7.        Election to fill vacancy on Academic Policies Committee

• Nominations from University Senate Nominating Committee

·         Jane Pederson – History Department

·         Bobby Pitts – Art Department

• No additional nominations from floor

 

Elected to Academic Policies Committee for spring semester – Bobby Pitts

 

8.        Committee Reports

¨       Academic Staff Personnel Committee – Senator Hallatt

• Next meeting February 22, 2001

¨       Budget Committee – No Report

¨       Compensation Committee – Senator Wick

• Subgroup working to identify possible modifications to pay plan for next biennium
• Trying for unified, simplified model acceptable both to standard pay plan departments/units as well alternative pay plan departments/units
• Conversation going on every Monday morning at 10:00 in Eagle Room, Davies Center

¨       Executive Committee – Chair Harrison

• Last meeting discussed dual degrees to determine if shared governance involvement necessary in process of developing these programs
• Committee felt only area requiring university-wide policy would be waivers of residency requirements for those programs

·         Need discussion by Academic Policies Committee

• Next meeting February 20, 2001

¨       Nominating Committee – No Report

¨       Physical Plant Planning Committee – Senator Stuettgen

• Next meeting February 20, 2001
• To discuss

·         Reducing traffic speed at entries to parking lots

·         Surplus property management

·         Faculty/staff access to university facilities

¨       Technology Committee – No Report

¨       Academic Policies Committee – Senator Lozar

• At next meeting, February 20, 2001, will return to topic of assessment
• At last meeting, discussed graduate certificate programs

·         Senate recently passed standards for credit-bearing certificate programs; question came up about approval of graduate certificate programs

·         Consensus of APC that needs to be clarified for record because current policy silent on issue

·         Felt usual process of approving graduate programs (through Graduate Council, not APC) should apply also to graduate certificate programs

 

Report on WMNS Prefix – Senator Lozar

• Item came from Women’s Studies Curriculum Committee through Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee
• Currently WMNS prefix located only in Category IV – Humanities in General Education program

·         When prefix first introduced, attached to a humanities course for women’s studies

• Now additional courses and others in development that more appropriately belong in social sciences or natural sciences, so appropriate to place WMNS prefix in other three categories of general education
• Response to questions for clarification

·         Similar to IDIS for determination of which category classes fit, i.e., Category I, Category II, or Category III

·         Same process as other multidisciplinary courses, through Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee

·         IDIS courses need to be signed off by chair in appropriate category; assume same process for women’s studies

·         If another department sought to have classes in multiple GE categories, would need to go through Senate as well

 

Motion 37-AP-05

Moved and seconded by Academic Policies Committee (9-0-0) that the WMNS prefix be included in all four categories of the General Education Program

 

Discussion

·         Would support if sure request to include course in particular category reviewed by departments that have expertise in that category to verify content has met minimal criteria

 

Amendment 37-AP-05-a1

Moved by Senator Freymiller and seconded to add “and that the approval procedure include signatures of chairs”

 

Discussion

·         Would it have to be unanimous, or simple majority of chairs?

·         Practically speaking, before proposal ever came forward this kind of discussion would take place

·         For example, if proposal came from biology faculty member, would have to negotiate with department chair for release from another course

·         Confused about purpose of this amendment

·         Is concern that one department will propose a course that will be listed in another department?

·         Concern is course proposed with Women’s Studies prefix and given credit for GEII natural science should have content basis in natural science as determined by science departments

·         Seems like extra step because courses coming forward for GE of any category must go through Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee

·         Are scientists on that committee – their job to confirm content

·         Friendly amendment accepted that the approval process include a signature of a department chair in the category in which the course is offered

·         This motion came through Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee – letter attached to report

 

Vote on Amendment 37-AP-05-a1: Amendment PASSED by University Faculty Senators

 

Continued discussion on Main Motion 37-AP-05

·         Wouldn’t this allow specialization in women’s studies in general education requirements?

• Decreases breadth student getting if chose a women’s studies course in each GE category
• Jennifer Shaddock, Program Coordinator for Women’s Studies Program, indicated resources not sufficient to offer enough courses to be able to do that

·         Now only two regular courses in GE

·         Purpose of motion to lay foundation to build program slowly

·         Could ask same question of American Indian Studies or any other interdisciplinary program

• Also prevented from amassing more than ten credits from any one prefix in general education courses

 

Vote on Motion 37-AP-05: Motion PASSED by University Faculty Senators

 

TEXT OF AMENDED MOTION

That the WMNS prefix be included in all four categories of the General Education Program and that the approval process include a signature of a department chair in the category in which the course is offered

 

¨       Faculty Personnel Committee – Senator Mack

• Next meeting February 20, 20001
• Will continue discussion on final authority on personnel plans and also consider new item referred via Executive Committee from UW-Milwaukee on collective bargaining issue

 

Report on Reviewing Department Chairs/Library Directors – Senator Mack

·         Motion referred back to committee from Senate

·         Incorporated suggestions on adding word draft to motion and eliminating reference to demographic data

·         Response to questions from floor

·         Classified staff not granted governance rights in Chapter 36

·         Their rights through union contract

·         Not part of review process, even for director of library where many on staff are classified

·         University Senate does not recommend policies governing classified staff

·         Classified staff could make issue with their union

·         Nonteaching academic staff should be covered by term academic staff

 

Motion 37-FP-02

Moved and seconded by Faculty Personnel Committee (7-0-0) that the UW-Eau Claire policy on reviewing a department chair be modified

 

Vote on Motion 37-FP-02: Motion PASSED

 

TEXT OF MOTION:             

Procedures for Reviewing Department Chairs and Director of Libraries (page 5.80 in Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook)

 

Procedure For Reviewing Department Chairs and Director of Libraries

 

Department Chairs are to be reviewed within three years of initial appointment and every five years thereafter.

 

The review is to be initiated by the Dean who will receive a written statement from the Chair which describes how his or her performance meets the requirements of the position, successful accomplishments, and planned improvements and activities for the subsequent five-year period.  The Dean will survey all faculty and academic staff in the department and may, in response to the results of the survey, conduct interviews with the faculty and academic staff.  Any such survey will include a summary evaluative question granting faculty and academic staff an opportunity to express their confidence in the Chair’s performance.  The Dean will write a draft report which will include the results of a summary evaluative question and will distribute it to the Chair and the faculty and academic staff members of the department along with an invitation to submit responses or reactions to the draft report.  Any faculty or academic staff member of the department may request and shall be granted a meeting with the Dean to discuss the draft report and its implications.  Following receipt of the written and face-to-face responses, the draft report will be revised as appropriate.  Summary dData from the survey will be available to the Chair.  Raw data and verbatim comments shall not be distributed, nor included in any report.  Immediately after the final report is written, the surveys and other information gathered during the review will be destroyed, except for numerical results or statements which are incorporated directly into the final report.  Throughout the review process, including the draft and final reports, the Dean will make every reasonable attempt to protect the confidentiality of the reviewers.  Copies of the final review report will be given to the Chair, the faculty and academic staff members of the department, and filed in the Dean’s office and in the personnel file of the Chair.

 

The review report will be part of the information used by the Dean in making personnel recommendations concerning the Chair, and in improving the administration of the College or School.

 

9.        Miscellaneous Business

·         Senate previously passed motion for fall calendar 2002-2003 to include legitimate fall break

·         Purpose stated

·         Increase Friday class attendance

·         Give first-year students opportunity to catch breath and reconnect with family and friends

·         Recruitment tool because many other institutions have fall break

·         Supported because lots of days off in spring semester; very few in fall semester

·         Issues not addressed prior to passage have come forward resulting in date change to Friday, October 4, 2002

·         Admissions, in competitive market to get best students, feels all three teachers’ conventions need players in place when students visit (last three weeks in October)

·         October 4^th is weekend of home football game

·         Athletics compelling concerns on what means to them with few home games in season

·         Lab science people made strong arguments that Mondays important to them for lab sequence

·         Contend October 4^th not legitimate fall break; simply a day off

·         Students and faculty polled felt too early in semester; two weeks ahead of earliest fall break at other institutions

·         Tried to improve something, but in hindsight doesn’t seem to be a date to meet stated purposes

 

Motion 37-US-18

Moved by Senator Boyum and seconded that the motion instituting Fall Break Friday be rescinded

 

Point of Order: Material on open meeting law suggests we don’t take action under miscellaneous business to allow opportunity for public notice that discussion is coming up

 

·         No urgency known for this motion for publications or System notification

 

Motion 37-US-19

Moved by Senator Smiar and seconded that the motion be tabled until the next meeting and placed on the published agenda

 

Vote on Motion 37-US-19: Motion PASSED

 

·         Question did come out why all institutions in UW-System not more uniform with breaks so students able to connect when visiting home towns

 

·         Request for popcorn machine at Senate meetings noted.

 

10.     Announcements

·         Next Senate meeting scheduled for February 27, 2001

·         Will be open discussion on Instructional Academic Staff and second part on Status of Women at 4:00 p.m.

 

Meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m. without objection.

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

 

Wanda Schulner

Secretary to the University Senate