Personnel Policies Committee

Minutes: September 30, 1997

Sociology 102

Persons Present: Roger Fisher, Paul Hertzel, David McBeth, Jim Fieser, Stephanie Kolitsch, Steve Rogers, Glenn Everett, Linda Ramsey, Jerald Ogg

  1. Chair Roger Fisher called the meeting to order. The minutes of the September 2 meeting were approved.

  2. Roger Fisher put the issue of the dates for the general faculty meetings on the floor for further discussion. The Executive Committee requested that language in the motion from the last meeting be modified to allow the Executive Committee to schedule the general faculty meetings without being restricted to the months of October and March.

    Correspondence among Chair Fisher and the members of the Personnel Policies Committee indicated concerns with this language, including allowing too much flexibility in the scheduling of the general faculty meetings, the possibility that these meetings would be scheduled too late in the semester to address problems, and questions of why these particular dates were chosen originally. Paul Hertzel distributed a proposal to change the language to allow some flexibility but still ensure that meetings were held early enough in the semester to allow problems to be addressed. After some modifications, Mr. Hertzel made a motion to change the current language in the Faculty Handbook to the following (changes to the Faculty Handbook are made in bold print):

      2.10.1 GENERAL FACULTY MEETING

      An official meeting of the faculty occurs annually before the opening of the fall semester. There shall be one additional regular meeting of the faculty in the fall semester and one in the spring semester, both to be scheduled in advance by the Executive Committee. The fall meeting will be scheduled to occur within the thirty (30) days prior to the Fall Break, with preference given to Thursdays at 3:15 p.m. The spring meeting will be scheduled to occur within the thirty (30) days prior to Spring Break, with preference given to Thursdays at 3:15 p.m.

      Notice of these meetings will be sent two weeks in advance by the Secretary of the Senate. The President of the Senate will preside at the meetings.

    The motion was seconded by Steve Rogers and carried unanimously.

  3. Steve Rogers reported that Phil Miller will attend the next meeting of the Personnel Policies Committee (scheduled for November 4) to address the collection of data concerning administrative evaluation so that the Committee may discuss action on this issue at a later date.

  4. Some discussion was held concerning the matter of a faculty member's obligations to his or her colleagues. Committee members expressed concern that including nonspecific language in the Faculty Handbook on this issue could result in inappropriate action being taken against faculty members for minor infractions. There was also discussion of whether non-tenured faculty members should take part in decisions concerning detailing the obligations of a faculty member and penalties for failing to meet these obligations. Such decisions can put a non-tenured faculty member in an awkward position. No action was taken by the committee on any of these discussions.

  5. In relation to the issue concerning obligations, David McBeth raised the issue of faculty obligations, rights, and responsibilities to those students who attend class while under the influence of a controlled substance. Mr. McBeth indicated that this type of student often disrupts class and distracts his or her classmates. Suggestions including taking the matter to the Dean of Students and informing the Department of Public Safety in these cases. No action was taken by the committee.

  6. Regarding a discussion held during an earlier meeting, Paul Hertzel raised the question of post-tenure review and incentives for full professors. Linda Ramsey suggested that the Committee postpone discussion of this issue until further information is obtained.

The meeting was adjourned.


Respectfully Submitted:

Stephanie Kolitsch (for Kendall Blanchard)