Faculty Assembly
Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
August 19, 2004
Members present: Christopher Abelt, Deborah Bebout, James Beers, Chandos Brown, Liz Canuel, Clay Clemens, Robert Diaz, LuAnn Homza, David Leslie, Tom Linneman, Robert Orwoll, Ron Rosenberg, Katherine Kulick, G. Thomas White.
Members absent: David Armstrong, Nancy Gray, Martha Houle, Alan Meese, Ann Reed, Alan Fuchs, Wanda Wallace.
Guests: Robert Archibald, Colleen Kennedy, David Kranbuehl, David Lutzer
I. President Abelt called the meeting to order at 9 A.M.
II. Post-tenure Review
Colleen Kennedy reported for PRC on progress with the revised procedures for
post-tenure review. FA members suggested minor revisions to the procedures.
It was suggested that an amendment be added that allows individual units to
use more rigorous standards such as an automatic six-year cycle. LuAnn Homza
recommended that there be an amendment indicating that there must be a good
faith effort on the part of the Dept Chair, Dean or administrators. The FA will
be asked to take action on this item at the September meeting.
III. Report of Faculty Survey Part II
Katherine Kulick and David Lutzer presented results from the second part of
the faculty survey conducted in February 2004. A motion was made to accept the
Faculty Survey Report with some additional language to describe "not sure"
responses. The motion was seconded. There was unanimous support for the motion
and the report will be posted to the FA website.
FA members noted that presidential candidates should be informed about faculty priorities during search process.
IV. Faculty Research Funding
The Provost requested input from the FA regarding priorities for research funding.
FA members responded to the Provost's questions as follows:
" Frequency of leaves? every seven years.
" Number of faculty on leave at a given time? one seventh of faculty.
" Target for the funding provided to hire replacements for faculty on leave?
If new funds are allocated to Research Program, how should they be allocated?
FA members identified an increase in number of FRAs at current replacement costs
as a priority for new funds. The FA recommends 56 FRAs (does not include SMS/VIMS)
as its three year goal.
The funding level for Faculty Research last year was $660k (includes Matthews and Freeman funds for SRGs). Current replacement costs are $16k. The long-term goal is one-fourth of average faculty member's salary.
V. Faculty Priorities Committee
The Provost and FA Executive Committee have been discussing plans to establish
a Faculty Priorities Committee (FPC). The goal of the FPC is to provide faculty
input to long-term planning and be more proactive than the present BPAC. A draft
proposal was distributed.
The size and composition of the FPC was discussed and FA members noted the need for greater communication and that the proposed membership size/composition is necessary.
FA members also noted the need for better communication between the Assembly and its constituencies. A suggestion was made that the FA send a letter to the faculty describing its priorities and actions. A recommendation was made to distribute an informal statement of what's happening to our faculty. Suggestions include posting to web site, column in W&M news, and use of faculty list-serv.
David Leslie made a motion to "welcome the proposal from the Provost and suggested that the title of the committee be changed to the Faculty Committee on University Priorities." The motion passed by unanimous vote.
VI. Presidential Search Committee
On behalf of the Executive Committee, President Abelt reported on procedures
for the Presidential Search Committee. The Executive Committee was asked by
the Rector to develop a list of faculty to serve on the search committee. Nominations
were sought, Abelt checked with nominees to verify that they were willing to
serve. The Rector chose seven faculty members. Three were from the FA Executive
Committee's list, three were members of the FA, David Douglas from Law was selected.
The process to select a new President was described to the Executive Committee at a meeting with Rector held on July 8th. The Rector indicated that some aspects of the search would be open but others would be closed to protect confidentiality of candidates. The Rector also described staff hires to support effort. The Rector indicated that the next President needs to be good fund raiser. The Executive Committee made a strong recommendation to the Rector that the search be open towards the end, bringing the 3-5 finalists to campus to meet with faculty, staff and students in open forums.
There was a motion to accept the report presented by Abelt. The motion was approved and seconded by LuAnn Homza. The motion passed unanimously.
Members of the Presidential Search Committee announced that there would be an Open Forum to be held on September 14th, Commonwealth Auditorium, 4 pm.
FA members noted that presidential candidates should meet with the Faculty Assembly.
FA discussed qualities needed in a new President included fund raising, building resources for faculty salaries, building improvements, research. Need an open and participatory style of governance. Kulick suggested that the FA prepare a written statement for the Search Committee that describes our views on the search process, priorities for the candidates, and qualities for the candidates.
VII. Faculty Representation to BOV
Abelt suggested that the FA consider an amendment to the constitution of the
Faculty Assembly to allow the faculty representative to the BOV to have voting
rights on the Assembly. Abelt suggested that we invite the faculty member to
the BOV to our FA meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee while we
are in the process of amending the constitution. Holmza made the motion to the
FA, Clemens seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Archibald noted that faculty and student representatives are not included when BOV meets in closed session. FA members felt that faculty representative to BOV should be included in closed sessions, except when it is not appropriate due to conflict of interest.
VIII. The Retreat adjourned at approximately 3 pm.
