Mid-Year Report to the Board of Trustees

National-Louis University

From the Faculty Senate

January 2004

Members of the Faculty Senate are pleased to submit a mid-year report of recent activities, current work-in-progress, and concerns. We are all painfully aware that the previous academic year began badly. The inaugural Fall Connection in 2002 was marred by anger and distrust, leading to intense divisions between faculty and administration—this at a time when the University was failing financially and desperately needed the full cooperation of all stakeholders.

Despite these inauspicious beginnings, however, last year was also a time of recovery. Not only did we improve financially, but of equal importance we began to recover our social and political equilibrium. This recovery has continued in the current year, with faculty experiencing increased communication and collaboration at every level of decision-making, including a strong relationship with the Board of Trustees. Faculty governance is becoming shared governance. Whereas in the past faculty established positions that it would urge upon a frequently reluctant administration, now in many instances faculty and administration are hammering out solutions together (as this report will indicate).

Many members of the faculty are distrustful of these new arrangements and fear that the collaborative efforts of UPG⁴,“interest-based” task forces, and other joint faculty/administration efforts will whittle away at faculty governance and faculty’s voice will be lost. Vigilance is required, of course, to insure that the constitutional rights of faculty are not by-passed through these new mechanisms for decision-making. We are creating a new culture at this University, gradually building a sense of the common interests that unite faculty, administration, and Trustees. At the same time, we must insure that the interests of each of these constituent partners are not lost.

In September, we established a plan of action for Senate, as well as for the Senate’s various committees (attached). In the following, we indicate what we have done in relation to that plan and what remains to be done. We provide some basis for our hopefulness, as well as identify areas of concern that require ongoing attention.

Activities

Task Force on Non-Tenure Track Faculty: There is currently a large number of non-tenure track faculty in the National College of Education. All faculty in the Library are non-tenure track. The issue of equity and academic freedom for all full-time faculty was raised at the fall meeting of the Faculty Association. As a result, the Senate established a Task Force to examine this issue and make a recommendation to the Senate. The Task Force prepared its report, which builds on AAUP guidelines and incorporates conclusions of an earlier proposal by the Academic Cabinet. The report, which recommends that tenure track be the norm for NLU faculty, was received and is now being reviewed by the faculty and the Academic Cabinet for further refinement and action.

Academic Planning Handbook: Last year, with the likely closing of the Heidelberg and Atlanta campuses in view, UPG³ asked the Senate Academic Planning Committee (SAPC) to complete a program review before UPG would make its final decision. In the past, SAPC had only reviewed programs, but never by location. In this case, it was asked to review programs at a particular location. The Committee made the road by walking. The path it took last year is now mapped in a revised Academic Planning Handbook, which provides procedures for faculty review prior to the closing of programs, campuses, or programs at a particular campus.

Sabbatical Timeline: The Senate Sabbatical Committee requested that the timeline for submission and review of sabbatical proposals be moved forward to allow sabbatical recipients advanced notice. Frequently faculty would learn about the approval of a sabbatical a few weeks before it was to begin, leaving little time to cover academic duties, make travel arrangements, or complete other tasks associated with a sabbatical. Accelerating the schedule required a change in the Sabbatical Policy, which was approved by the Senate in September, approved by the Provost, and has now been implemented.

University Technology Council: The Senate expressed concern that the University Technology Council (UTC) was moribund and that technology-related decision were, in fact, being made by the Technology Projects Steering Committee (TPSC)—a group that included no faculty. The Senate’s concern was exacerbated by technological changes and Banner shut-downs without regard for the academic schedule. As a result, the Senate, through its chair, worked with the Kathy Tooredman and Tony Chaitin to restructure a leaner and meaner UTC, smaller in number with the same proportionate representation of faculty as in the original UTC. The TPSC has subsequently been disbanded.

Macintosh Platform: The Office of Information Technology (OIT) had proposed eliminating the Macintosh platform to the Senate Academic Technology Committee. This committee compiled significant evidence of the pedagogical value to faculty and students of maintaining both the Mac and the Windows platforms. The Senate approved a resolution renewing faculty support for the Macintosh platform as essential to the academic mission of the University, and especially to the National College of Education, which is educating teachers in schools that use Macintoshes exclusively. OIT has now recommitted itself to supporting a dual platform environment.

Work-in-Progress

Task Force on Faculty Compensation: The Faculty Welfare and Compensation Committee (FWCC) proposed a “Six-Point Plan” in 2001 for bringing the wages of faculty within the 60^th percentile of faculties at comparable institutions. While an across-the-board increase in faculty salaries in 2003 provided considerable momentum toward that goal, other concerns of FWCC and Senate for equity by rank and discipline were not addressed. In an effort to move forward, an interest-based Task Force on Faculty Compensation has been formed. Members of this group are the Provost (Kathy Tooredman), Senior Vice President (Tony Chaitin), Vice Provost (George Litman), the co-chairs of FWCC (Ed Weiss and Walt Westrum), and Senate chair (Tom Heaney). This Task Force, which will stay in close contact with FWCC and the Senate, is intending to arrive at some specific conclusions in time for the next budget cycle in the spring of 2004.

Task Force on Undergraduate Education: Over the course of the year there has been growing concern about diminishing undergraduate enrollments— despite demographic data that indicate this population is growing significantly. In an effort to analyze this situation and develop strategies for reversing the trend at NLU, the Senate established a Task Force on Undergraduate Education. Two members of the UPG⁴ sub-committee on Students will serve as liaisons to the Senate Task Force and the two groups are planning joint meetings. The timetable for this Task Force will coincide with the timetable for the reports of UPG⁴ to the Trustees.

Task Force on Due Process in the Termination of Tenured Faculty for Cause: In 2002, the Senate proposed a policy for the termination of tenured faculty for cause. The proposal was received by administration without response. In attempting to bring this matter to closure, it became clear that, if a policy was to be acceptable to all parties, in needed to be rebuilt by a joint faculty/ administration team. An interest-based Task Force has been established that includes two faculty members (including the chair of the original Senate committee that had drafted the 2002 policy proposal) and two administrators. University Counsel will be a fifth member of the Task Force. This group will remain in frequent communication with the Senate.

Facilities Planning: Announcements of impending changes in campus facilities and the locations of campuses unleashed concerns that faculty were not being consulted. The Senate referred these concerns to the Senate Academic Support Committee, which met with the Vice President for Operational Services, Bill Roberts, and has begun to articulate a plan for faculty involvement over the next several months.

Distinguished Professorship: The Trustees, at the recommendation of the Provost, approved a proposal for establishing a Distinguished Professorship earlier this year. This proposal was referred to the Institutional Promotion and Tenure Committee of the Senate for the development of implementation procedures to begin this academic year.

Faculty/Student Research Grants: The Provost’s Office has initiated a grant program in support of research projects involving both students (graduate and undergraduate) and faculty. The implementation of this grant program has been given to the Senate Academic Standards Committee for implementation. SASC will review proposals and make recommendations for the awards to the Provost.

Faculty Appeals Policy: The Senate put forward several suggestions for strengthening procedures for faculty appeals and for clarifying the rights of faculty related to evaluative information on performance. These suggestions have been referred to the Faculty Standards, Evaluation, and Appeals Committee for review in this academic year.

Baker Demonstration School: The Senate shares the concerns of the entire NLU community in fiscally viable and academically relevant programming consistent with our mission and our strengths. Baker Demonstration School is currently under intense scrutiny by the Senate Academic Planning Committee (SAPC), by the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee, and by committees within the National College of Education and the Baker School itself. A final report to the Senate on Baker from SAPC is expected at the beginning of 2004.

Concerns

English for Speakers of Other Languages: The decision of the Council on Enrollment Management (CEM) earlier this year to eliminate significant institutional grants supporting students of the English for Speakers of Other Languages Program (ESOL) had an immediate and predictable impact on enrollment within that program. The merits of this decision have been debated throughout the year by the Senate, CEM, UPG⁴, and in numerous ad hoc groups set up to seek solutions within both the College of Arts and Sciences and the University. In response to this crisis, three faculty members have been added to CEM in order to make sure the academic impact of its decisions are brought to the table. The issue of ESOL, however, remains unresolved.

Florida Campus: The Senate remains committed to providing full support for rebuilding the Florida Campus and is encouraged by the new leadership and renewed energy of faculty at that location. With the future of our faculty in Florida in the balance, it is important that all interested parties—including the Senate’s Out of Chicago-area Campus Affairs committee (OCCA)—be kept fully informed. The Associate Vice President of Campus Administration, Jim Falco, has arranged for OCCA to join in his monthly meetings with the Out-of-Illinois campus directors and provides OCCA with the same reports being submitted to UPG⁴. The Senate appreciates that there seems to be a concerted effort to keep everyone informed, including the faculty in Florida.

Faculty Membership on the Board of Trustees: A year ago the Faculty Association asked that faculty members be considered for membership on the Board of Trustees. At the beginning of this year that request was renewed and a specific proposal was put forward. While the faculty appreciates that determination of Board membership is a prerogative of the Trustees and that there are legitimate arguments both for and against a positive response to the faculty’s request, we are nonetheless concerned that after a year there has been no response. We respectfully ask, in the interest of the openness that has come to characterize our communications, that the Board consider our request and inform the faculty of its decision.

While we have begun to address many of the difficulties of the past, we still have a long way to travel in order to rebuild confidence. However, even in the worst of times faculty have continued to be proactive in addressing problems, identifying new markets and creative ways to capture them, and developing timely and cost-effective programs. We have fought to protect academic quality and freedom. The faculty and its Senate are ready to join in any collaborative efforts to navigate the turbulent waters in which we find ourselves.

Tom Heaney

January 2004

Attachment

National-Louis University Senate Plan 2003-2004

GOALS

Ø Maintain consistent and effective communication with the Board of Trustees, President, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, Provost and Provost's Team, College and Library Chairs and faculties, and the University community at large.

Ø Promote understanding of faculty governance and its effective exercise within the broader context of shared governance.

Ø Maintain centrality of faculty (through their Departments and Academic Units) and established governance councils in the development/approval and assessments of all academic policies, courses, and programs.

Ø Participate in strategic and budgetary planning of the University

Ø Address salary compensation and benefits issues

OBJECTIVES

o Continue to strengthen the faculty’s relationship with Board of Trustees

o Pursue faculty membership on Board of Trustees and/or involvement with Board Committees

o Fully utilize the Senate web site in order to inform and involve the university community in faculty governance

o Promote the local chapter of AAUP

o Participate in any academic policy reviews as initiated by the Board of Trustees or Administration

o Involve faculty in the review of administrative performance

Ø Promote understanding of faculty governance and its effective exercise within the broader context of shared governance.

o Reflecting on new mechanisms for faculty participation in decision-making developed over the past two years—both direct (faculty elected governance structures) and indirect (joint faculty/administration groups), develop a map showing the relationships between and among these decision-making bodies and their relationship to the Faculty Senate.

o Assess the effectiveness of these various decision-making bodies in terms of representing faculty interests.

o Continue support for the Adjunct Faculty Council

o Ensure that faculty voice is represented in all matters coming before the Senate through involvement of relevant constituencies, and both college and Senate committees.

o Develop a schedule for the timely receipt of documents or proposals from Senate committees that will allow Senators time for thoughtful consideration and feedback from their colleagues.

Ø Participate in strategic and budgetary planning of the University

o Continue support and collaboration with University Planning Group (UPG4)

o Secure timely financial and enrollment data as necessary for conducting program level self-studies, and Senate level reviews of existing programs

Ø Address salary compensation and benefits issues

o Continue the three-year salary adjustment plan begun in 2003

o Promote the application of formulae in the six-point plan for salary adjustments and equity as developed by FWCC

o Promote increased compensation for adjunct faculty

SENATE COMMITTEES

Constitutional Charges and Plans for 2003-2004

Academic Support Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Academic Support Committee (ASC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the ASC address issues related to support for all academic programs and faculty within the University. The primary function of this committee is to elicit and address faculty issues related to academic support needs, including but not limited to the bookstore, infrastructure, public safety, Student Services, and the University Library. Recommendations of this committee shall be reported to the Senate.

The CFA also requires that the chair of ASC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

The chair also is required to provide the Senate with an end-of-year report. This report must be submitted to the Senate prior to the completion of the “unfinished business” portion of the final scheduled meeting of the Senate for that academic year.

Mark Burnette has been assigned as Senate liaison to ASC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. He should be included in communications about meetings.

Faculty Development Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Faculty Development Committee (FDC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the FDC recommend to the Senate appropriate faculty development activities for the University. These duties include reporting on faculty development funding activities at the University, identifying funding resources for faculty development, reporting on faculty development needs for continuing and part-time faculty, assuming leadership for the faculty development activities of the University, and facilitating faculty recognition activities at the University.

Specifically, the tasks assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year include:

Ø Recommend the Faculty Awards of Excellence

Ø Review proposals and recommend recipients of the faculty Development Funding Projects Grants

Ø Review proposals and recommend recipients of the Faculty/Student Research Grants

Ø Participate in planning Faculty Connections to include and encourage the professional development activities of faculty

Ø Maintain membership in the Chicago Area Faculty Development Network

The CFA also requires that the chair of FDC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Carol Kohlman has been assigned as Senate liaison to FDC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. She should be included in communications about meetings.

Faculty Standards, Evaluation & Appeals Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Faculty Standards, Evaluation & Appeals Committee (FSEA) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the FSEA address issues related to standards of conduct for faculty, evaluation of faculty performance, and faculty appeals. The Committee shall establish standards for faculty performance, organize and monitor the teaching evaluation process, and monitor the faculty appeals policy. While this committee does not sit to hear appeals, it is responsible for the implementation of the Faculty Appeals Policy.

Specifically, the following task is assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Review of the Faculty Appeals Policy and consideration of issues referred to FSEA by the Senate at its July 2003 meeting.

Ø If merit is adopted as a criterion for increased compensation of faculty by the university, work with the Provost in the development of standards and procedures for the determination of merit.

The CFA also requires that the chair of FSEA provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

June Steinberg has been assigned as Senate liaison to FSEA and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. She should be included in communications about meetings.

Faculty Welfare and Compensation Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Faculty Welfare and Compensation Committee (FWCC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the FWCC represent the interests of all full-time (core and non-core) and adjunct faculty of National-Louis University in reporting to the Senate its recommendations regarding faculty salaries, fringe benefits, work environments, travel reimbursement, support services, and other aspects of the quality of work life as assigned by the Senate. The committee shall keep informed of the ongoing financial status of the University and shall represent the faculty through the Senate in the annual budgeting process.

Specifically, the following tasks are assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Continue to work with administration toward revision of the six-point plan and the relevant formulae for salary increases and equity in order to reduce the implementation timeline from five to three years.

Ø Work with the Provost in reviewing a proposal for merit pay increases.

Ø Work with the administration on the retirement plan.

Ø Work closely with the Office of Human Resources on benefits.

Ø Continue to seek a collaborative working relationship with administration and the Board of Trustees.

Ø Prepare a recommendation for Senate review concerning the compensation of faculty required to participate in faculty governance during summer months when they are not under contract.

Ø Study the comparative salaries of adjunct faculty in comparable institutions.

Ø Based on this study, recommend appropriate adjunct compensation as part of the entire faculty salary package.

The CFA also requires that the chair of FWCC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Judith Kent has been assigned as Senate liaison to FWCC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. Please include her in your communications about meetings.

Institutional Promotion & Tenure Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Institutional Promotion and Tenure Committee (IPTC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the IPTC review applications and the reports submitted by the promotion and tenure committees of the individual colleges and other recognized academic bodies comprising the

institution and make recommendations on their disposition to chief academic officer. IPTC conduct all business according to the guidelines in the Academic Promotion and Tenure Policy and provides reports of meetings and notifications of its completed work. The deliberations and actions of this committee are confidential.

Specifically, the following task is assigned to IPTC for the coming year:

Ø Work with the Provost on standards and procedures for the implementation of the “Distinguished Professor” designation of faculty approved by the Board of Trustees in July 2003.

Ø Complete the review of Promotion and Tenure policy concerning standards for promotion to full and associate professor. Make a recommendation to the Senate two months prior to the winter Faculty Association meeting.

The CFA also requires that the chair of IPTC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Paul O’Neill has been assigned as Senate liaison to IPTC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. He should be included in communications about meetings regarding policy and procedures. He will not participate in meetings to review applications for promotion and tenure.

Out of Chicago-area Campus Affairs Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Out of Chicago-area Campus Affairs Committee (OCCA) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the OCCA advocate for equitable treatment of center programs and faculty and investigate and make recommendations to the Senate concerning all out of Chicago-area campus related issues, including but not limited to the following:

Ø academic policies and procedures,

Ø conditions affecting academic programs,

Ø the availability of university resources, and

Ø the climate in which center faculty members do their work.

Specifically, the following tasks are assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Continue to monitor the close-out of the Atlanta, St. Louis, and Heidelberg campuses.

Ø Identify for the Senate areas in which additional support is needed for strengthening the Florida campus.

The CFA also requires that the chair of OCCA provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Todd Price has been assigned as Senate liaison to OCCA and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. He should be included in communications about meetings.

Senate Academic Planning Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Senate Academic Planning Committee (SAPC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SAPC function as the institutional committee for academic planning.

Ø The committee shall exert leadership among the faculty in planning the academic future of the University as well as achieving consensus among the faculty concerning the academic direction that shall be pursued by National-Louis University.

Ø The committee shall establish guidelines for proposing new academic programs, presenting plans for enhancing already existing programs, and discontinuing programs.

Ø The committee shall recommend academic/faculty planning priorities for the institution which include budget implications for the institution.

Ø The committee shall develop academic/faculty planning documents for the Senate.

Ø The committee shall work with the chief academic officer to oversee all academic planning processes.

Ø The committee shall conduct periodic reviews of the Senate Academic Planning Process.

Specifically, the following tasks are assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Develop an orientation for all programs scheduled for both new program and program reviews.

Ø Coordinate the schedule of program reviews in such a way that they are distributed throughout the year.

Ø Meet with the Senate Curriculum Committee and appropriate college committees to set reasonable timelines for deliberately, but expeditiously, completing the academic planning cycle.

Ø Develop procedures and templates for the expanded role of the SAPC to be included in a revised Academic Planning Handbook. Particularly needed are procedures for evaluating programs at specific campuses, closing down/teaching out programs as well as for campus closings and/or openings.

Ø Revise Academic Planning Handbook to included new planning assumptions and strategic initiatives (in Fall). Revisit all of the sections of the Handbook to see if it still meets the needs of faculty and their planning.

Ø Identify, create, or establish a common, perhaps electronic method verify that proposals that come to the SAPC have received all the appropriate college approvals and have met with other relevant support departments.

The Senate also asks that SAPC consider meeting earlier in the month so that reports can be forwarded in a more timely manner to the Senators.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SAPC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Tom Heaney has been assigned as Senate liaison to SAPC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. He should be included in communications about meetings.

Student Academic Standards Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Student Academic Standards Committee (SASC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SASC recommend University-wide student academic standards to the Senate and monitor standards for admission, retention, appeals, graduation of students, financial scholarships, and fellowships.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SASC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Natalie Manbeck has been assigned as Senate liaison to SASC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. She should be included in communications about meetings.

Senate Academic Technology Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Senate Academic Technology Committee (SATC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SATC address faculty and student issues relating to technology. Specifically, the committee will assess academic technology needs, develop plans to meet those needs, provide vision for future effective utilization of technology, and recommend policies and procedures concerning academic technology. This includes, but is not limited to, issues relating to computers, interactive classrooms, multimedia, telecommunications, and software that affect faculty and students as they teach and pursue research and scholarly work.

Specifically, the following tasks are assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Monitor the Office of Information Technology’s re-commitment to support for dual platforms.

Ø Complete recommendations for deployment of the computer labs as requested by the Provost.

Ø Working with the Center for Online Teaching, provide information to faculty about the university’s partnership with eCollege.

Ø Maintain regular communications with the University Technology Council.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SATC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

June Steinberg, who is already an elected member of SATC, has been assigned as Senate liaison to the committee.

Sabbatical Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Sabbatical Committee (SC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SC inform faculty members of the procedures for applying for sabbatical leaves, collect and review sabbatical applications, make recommendations for sabbatical leaves to the chief academic officer and provide reports of meetings and actions to the Senate.

Specifically, the following task is assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Make a recommendation to the Senate concerning the awarding of Sabbaticals to non-tenure-track faculty.

Ø Review the revised Sabbatical policy recommended by the Provost’s Office that incorporates the new accelerated schedule. Make a recommendation to the Senate by its September meeting.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Paula Jordan has been assigned as Senate liaison to SC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. She should be included in communications about meetings.

Senate Curriculum Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Senate Curriculum Committee (SCC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SCC recommend and monitor policies for review, assessment, and accreditation of programs at the university level. The committee shall identify and attempt to resolve potential conflicts arising from college-approved curricula which impact on more than one college. Reports of conflicts and resolutions shall be sent to the Senate.

Specifically, the following task is assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Meet with the Senate Academic Planning Committee and appropriate college committees to set reasonable timelines for deliberately, but expeditiously, completing the academic curriculum review and planning cycle.

Ø Implement and monitor the requirements for General Education.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SCC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Paula Jordan, who is already an elected member of SCC, has been assigned as Senate liaison to the committee.

Senate Finance Committee

The Senate submits the following charge to the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Constitution of the Faculty Association (CFA) requires that the SFC meet monthly with the Vice President of Administration and keep informed of the ongoing financial status of the University. The Committee is a proactive body reporting to the Senate, making recommendations concerning the financial affairs and health of the University, consulting with the faculty and advising the administration concerning financial affairs like cost containment and budget efficiencies, and seeking regular exchanges with the Board of Trustees’ Financial

Affairs Committee.

Specifically, the following task is assigned for the 2003-2004 academic year:

Ø Establish a collaborative working relationship with administration and the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The CFA also requires that the chair of SFC provide a written progress report to each regular Senate meeting; file a copy of the minutes of each committee meeting with the Secretary of the Senate and submit to the Senate in writing any policies adopted by the group. These reports and minutes are not to include information revealing confidential deliberations concerning individual faculty members.

Fred Widlak has been assigned as Senate liaison to SFC and will serve as a non-voting member of that committee. He should be included in communications about meetings.