As a service to those not able to attend, and to solicit corrections from
those who did, I offer you a draft of the minutes of September 11, which
includes time-senstive information you might need. Keep in mind these are
NOT the official minutes, only a draft.
DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Faculty Minutes
September 11, 2001
Prof. Oralia Preble-Niemi, Acting President of the Faculty Council, called
to order at 3:18 P.M. the first regular meeting of the 2001-2002 academic
year.
Prof. Leroy Fanning moved approval of the minutes of April 24, 2001; Prof.
Bill Wright seconded.
Third item was election of a new Faculty Council President. Profs. Marvin
Ernst and Oralia Preble-Niemi were nominated. Prof. Ernst was elected.
Prof. Preble-Niemi announced departure from the published agenda to
introduce the following issues:
Prof. Verbie Prevost, Faculty Representative on the UT Board of Trustees,
read a letter of thanks and passed around a signature list to thank Mr.
Lupton for his generous gift of $25 million to UTC. The faculty voted
unanimous approval.
Prof. Prevost then mentioned the Resolution from the UTK Faculty Senate
concerning the process of selecting a new UT President. She asked for
endorsement or rejection. She summarized the document by saying it called
for input from UTK faculty about qualifications of President candidates.
Prof. Tom Bibler moved to endorse the resolution, seconded by Prof. Felicia
Sturzer. Voted approval.
Richard Brown and Prof. Preble-Niemi have met with the Advisory Committee
and work is already under way in the search process. Prof. Prevost reported
that the Search Committee has approved advertisement for the position. She
hopes for input to the Advisory Committee. She promised that it will be an
open and full search. Prof. Pedro Campa asked if this open and full search
will differ from previous open searches that elected insider Joe Johnson or
Lamar Alexander [in the Alexander case, the Search Committee suspended the
process on the grounds that Alexander, as a prominent politician, would be
chosen anyway, and it was therefore unfair to outside candidates to
continue. This decision to preempt the search process was by public
announcement at all campuses].
Prof. Preble-Niemi said the next stage is a list of desirable qualities for
candidates. Prof. Sturzer asked how many faculty members are on the Search
Committee. Prof. Prevost said that it was composed of members selected from
the Board of Trustees, which is why UTK is concerned about faculty input.
However, she pointed out that she and a UTK faculty member are members of
the Board of Trustees. Prof. Sturzer expressed doubt that this was adequate
faculty input. Prof. Prevost answered that much of the selection work will
be done by the Advisory Committee, which is composed of faculty, students,
staff from campuses, including two members from UTC. In addition, since she
and the student Trustee are from UTC, we have two members on the Search
Committee.
Fourth announced agenda item was nomination and election of a new member
for the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee: Profs. Marcia Noe,
Cliff Parten, and Shela Van Ness were nominated. Prof. Noe was elected by
secret ballot.
The respective deans introduced new faculty members. This year 43 new
faculty joined our ranks [approximately 13%; last year there were 42 new
faculty, suggesting a two-year turnover rate of about 26%]. The new hires
in each college were as follows: Arts and Sciences: 20; Business: 4;
Education: 8; Engineering and Computer Science:1 visitor; Health and Human
Services: 8; Library: 2.
Sixth item was a report from the Faculty Council by Prof. Preble-Niemi.
At the request of the Provost, the Faculty Council considered the EDO
process, and especially the Outstanding Merit issue. They decided to ask
the entire faculty if the EDO issue should be examined. Prof. David
Pittenger moved, and Prof. Wright seconded a motion to that effect. Prof.
Pittenger, Chair of the Council of Department Heads, then read a Resolution
by that body to review and simplify the EDO [attachment to minutes]. The
motion on the floor was then approved by voice vote. [In late Spring 1999,
after UTC replaced tenure as previously defined by the annual EDO review,
there was promise of reviewing the EDO process that Fall when there was
time, since so much now rides on this "trigger," as it was called. Nothing
was done at that time, but faculty should be aware of the importance of the
EDO in cases of termination procedures].
Prof. Fritz Efaw suggested a representative of the Hamilton County
delegation be invited to come to meet with us. Faculty Council recommended
that we do so. Susan Cardwell and Chuck Cantrell will make these arrangements.
Seventh item was Chancellor Stacy's report, which gave an overview of the
past and present budget situation, and the good news about the Lupton gift.
[a summary of the budget figures will be attached to the final minutes if
available].
In a power point presentation, the Chancellor pointed out that U.S. News
and World Report ranked UTC in the top tier for Southern regional
universities 1999-2000. UTC has the highest graduation rates for
African-American students in Tennessee. He outlined Campus and Community
Objectives,
and the Future. Some of the objectives in this last slide were: being in
the top 25 regional urban universities; student population increase to
10,000; creation of 3-5 national centers of excellence; achieve $200
million in campus renovation and expansion by 2010.
For economic growth in Tennessee, we need will, resources, and time. The
Chancellor shared some depressing social indicators for the state that he
uses in public forums, making the case for higher education and UTC.
Social issues in Tennessee have an impact on business and the economy.
Stacy was happy to report that we ended last year with a balanced budget,
including even athletics.
The Chancellor then spoke of the Lupton Renaissance Fund of $25 million, to
be spent over three years: $10 million in years one and two, $5 million in
the third year. He invited individuals, departments, and colleges to
suggest priorities that would improve their mission.
Item eight was a brief report by Acting Provost Trimpey. Our SACS response
is submitted, responding to their visitation. He seconded the Chancellor's
call for suggestions about access to Lupton gift, and urged departments
and colleges to put together programs for consideration.
Stephen Clark urged faculty members to consider joining the Faculty Club.
He told of various upcoming activities at the Patton House, many of which
will tie in with university activities. He thanked Profs. Tom Bibler, Jim
Avery and Chancellor Stacy for their support of the Faculty Club.
Perhaps due to the latest of the hour, there were no other business items
nor announcements.
Professor Obi Ebbe won the Barnes and Noble book drawing: he received a $25
gift certificate. It is good at any Barnes and Noble store, but was donated
by our local campus branch.
Adjournment was moved by numerous unidentified voices at 4:51 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Richard Rice, Faculty Secretary
The next regular faculty meeting will be November 14 (W) at 3:15 in Grote 129.
Attachment:
Council of Department Heads Resolution of September 10, 2001:
Whereas the Department Heads of the University believe that the current
Evaluation and Development by Objectives (EDO) procedure is an overly
complex and time consuming procedure, whereas the recent budgets of The
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have not provided consistent and
substantial support for merit raises for faculty and staff,
Whereas the Department Heads of the University believe that failure to
offer consistent and substantial merit raises undermines the morale of all
faculty and staff,
Whereas the Department Heads of the University believe that the practice of
limiting the number of faculty, department heads, and staff who receive
meritorious performance ratings to a specific percentage is capricious and
further undermines the morale of all employees,
Be it resolved that the Council of Department Heads hereby requests that
the Faculty Council convene and direct a subcommittee to review and revise
the EDO policies and procedures with the goal of simplifying the process,
reducing the administrative burdens of the procedure, and allowing
department heads to evaluate their faculty fairly and expeditiously.
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