Faculty Assembly
Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
February 24, 2004
Members present: Christopher Abelt, Robert Archibald, Deborah Bebout, Liz Canuel,
Lan Cao, Clay Clemens, Robert Diaz, Nancy Gray, Katherine Kulick, Robert Orwoll,
Ann Reed, Roger Ries, Ron Rosenberg, Laurie Sanderson, William Stewart, Larry
Ventis, Wanda Wallace, Parliamentarian: Alan Fuchs.
Members absent: Jonathan Arries, James Beers, LuAnn Homza.
I. President Rosenberg called the meeting to order at 3:37 P.M. Minutes from the Faculty Assembly meeting on February 10 were approved with three corrections.
II. Burma Resolution. At the November Faculty Assembly meeting, Mark Fowler
presented a resolution requesting divestiture of any College holdings in Burma.
The Faculty Assembly Faculty Affairs Committee had been charged at the December
Faculty Assembly meeting with attempting to draft a new more general version
to replace the original resolution from Mr. Fowler. A draft of a proposed resolution
was presented by Ann Reed, FAC chair, and discussion ensued. Bob Archibald noted
that two resolutions were needed, one directed to the Board of Visitors and
the other to the Endowment Association. Bill Stewart moved: "That in the
last paragraph of the drafted resolution, we strike everything prior to the
first comma, and begin the paragraph with 'The Assembly strongly urges ...'".
Robert Archibald seconded this motion. After considerable discussion, the motion
was defeated, with 6 in favor, and 10 opposed, and 1 abstention. Robert Archibald
then made a motion to amend the last sentence of the resolution to the Board
of Visitors, to be worded as follows:
"The Faculty Assembly strongly urges the Board of Visitors to conduct a
review of how its endowment funds are invested, with the aim of moving them
out of firms engaged in business in Burma."
Robert Diaz seconded the motion to amend, and the motion passed with 15 in favor,
0 opposed, and 0 abstentions. Robert Archibald then moved that we amend the
wording of the last sentence to be included in a resolution to the Endowment
Association as follows:
"The Faculty Assembly strongly urges the Endowment Association to conduct
a review of how their funds are invested, with the aim of moving them out of
firms engaged in business in Burma."
Robert Diaz seconded the motion to amend, and the motion passed with 16 in favor,
0 opposed, and 0 abstaining. Robert Archibald then moved that we adopt the amended
Board of Visitors resolution, and Robert Diaz seconded this motion. The motion
passed with 15 votes in favor, 0 opposed, with 2 abstentions. Robert Archibald
then made a motion that we adopt the amended resolution to be forwarded to the
Endowment Association. This was seconded by Robert Diaz. The motion to adopt
passed with 14 votes in favor of the motion, 0 opposed, and 3 abstaining.
Faculty Assembly Resolution to be forwarded to the Board of Visitors:
"The Assembly shares the concern of many faculty and the Student Assembly
that College endowment funds are invested in firms currently doing business
in Burma. Given the deplorable human rights conditions perpetrated by the regime
of that country against its own citizens, the US Congress has voted on a broad
bipartisan basis to impose a series of sanctions in an effort to isolate the
military government. American and international firms conducting business in
Burma undercut such efforts; some have also been charged with significantly
abetting its atrocities.
While cognizant of the complexities involved in disentangling investments, especially those made through such instruments as mutual funds, the Faculty Assembly strongly urges the Board of Visitors to conduct a review of how its endowment funds are invested, with the aim of moving them out of firms engaged in business in Burma."
Faculty Assembly Resolution to be forwarded to the Endowment Association:
"The Assembly shares the concern of many faculty and the Student Assembly
that College endowment funds are invested in firms currently doing business
in Burma. Given the deplorable human rights conditions perpetrated by the regime
of that country against its own citizens, the US Congress has voted on a broad
bipartisan basis to impose a series of sanctions in an effort to isolate the
military government. American and international firms conducting business in
Burma undercut such efforts; some have also been charged with significantly
abetting its atrocities.
While cognizant of the complexities involved in disentangling investments, especially those made through such instruments as mutual funds, the Faculty Assembly strongly urges the Endowment Association to conduct a review of how their funds are invested, with the aim of moving them out of firms engaged in business in Burma."
III. Administrative Reports:
Provost Feiss commented on the fact of competing Budget proposals offered by
the Virginia House of Representatives and the Senate, and that we are waiting
for the resolution. He urged those present to communicate with the General Assembly
in terms of what is best for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Provost also
disseminated a proposal to replace BPAC with a Budget Priorities Committee.
In addition, the Provost indicated that he was working on a fair use policy
regarding copying of copyrighted materials. Finally, the Provost has been considering
putting the Faculty Handbook on the web, so that it will be possible to make
changes to the Handbook in real time.
IV. Optional Retirement Plan Changes.
Anna Martin, Vice President, Office of Administration, reported on coming changes
in the Optional Retirement Plan alternatives. The basic change is that Optional
Retirement Plan vendors, through which a faculty member may invest retirement
funds, in the future will be reduced from six to just two, those under (1) Fidelity
Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company, or (2) TIAA-CREF. This change will
go into effect July 1, 2004. Faculty are not required to shift any funds already
invested prior to July 1, 2004.
V. Phased Retirement Program
Katherine Kulick presented a report from the Faculty Compensation Board on the
consideration of a Phased Retirement Program for College of William and Mary
faculty. In the report summary, the Faculty Compensation Board recommended that
the Provost and Faculty Assembly actively consider implementing a Phased Retirement
Program at the College. The report also provides guidelines for how such plans
may be considered and implemented. There appeared to be consensus that we forward
the report to the Provost for further consideration of developing a policy.
VI. Committee on Planning and Resources: Non-Academic Leave Policy
Robert Diaz reported that the committee met on February 18 to consider issues
raised in the Faculty Assembly February 10 meeting, namely whether the non-academic
leave policy applies to (1) non-tenure appointments funded by grant or contracts,
and (2) 1-year restricted appointments when faculty enroll in VRS and select
VSDP. The consensus of the committee was that:
1) Specified term faculty as defined in the Faculty Handbook should be eligible
for a benefit equivalent to that provided by VSDP.
2) 1-year restricted appointments are not eligible for the Faculty Handbook
described benefits, but may select VSDP coverage if enrolled in VRS.
The Provost is to edit footnote 12, p. 49 to be consistent with the recommendation.
A motion to adjourn passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Larry Ventis, Secretary to the Faculty Assembly.
