Faculty Assembly
THE FACULTY ASSEMBLY
THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TUESDAY DECEMBER 14, 1999
The meeting was called to order at 3:34 p.m. with 24 members in attendance.
The minutes of the meeting of October 26, 1999 were approved as distributed.
I. Administrative Reports
Sam Jones, Vice President for Management & Budget, reported on three topics: parking, the College Bookstore, and finances of the College's athletic program. With regard to parking, he reported that the administration is aware of the College's problem and has hired a consultant to study the situation. The consultant concluded that the College is short about 500 parking spaces. Three responses are currently under consideration. These include (1) expanded on-campus bus loops that shuttle faculty and staff from perimeter lots, (2) a parking deck or terrace in the William and Mary Hall or facilities management lots, and 3) some kind of collaborative parking solution with Colonial Williamsburg. The administration is also considering transitional solutions while long-term parking improvements are in process. Jones stated that at a minimum it would probably be 18 months before construction of a parking deck could be completed.
The parking consultant also looked at W&M's parking pricing policy. The consultant concluded that parking at the College is relatively inexpensive. The administration may consider changes in the College's pricing policy in order to pay for parking improvements.
Vice President Jones also discussed plans to move the College Bookstore to the building that formerly housed Casey's Department Store. Such a move would increase space and the number of trade books the store could carry. Jones reported that the College is currently in negotiations with Barnes and Noble concerning the potential move and with CW concerning rent.
Vice President Jones explained that Bookstore profits go to the Board of Visitors' Unrestricted Fund which supports a range of activities, including scholarships. Jones stated he expects profits from the new bookstore will be adequate to continue supporting these college operations.
On the issue of athletic finances, Jones attributed the apparent deficit in the athletic program's finances to accounting procedures. Due to accounting requirements, the athletic program is charged for various non-cash expenses such as rental waivers and unused personal leave. In addition, FY 1998-99 included one-time expenditures for computer equipment. Jones assured the Assembly that disregarding all of these items the College's athletic program had turned about a $2500 profit.
II. Reports of Standing Committees
A. Academic Advisory Committee. Committee chair Katherine Kulick gave an initial report on the recent faulty survey that AAC coordinated. The survey had a 62 percent response rate. Of the completed surveys 52% were electronic and 48% were hard copies. Thirty-three percent of those responding indicated that they were willing to participate in a follow-up interview. Two reports on the survey will be forthcoming. One will be a report on the survey findings. The other will include results from the follow-up interviews. Professor Kulick will provide a preliminary report on the study's findings at the January Assembly meeting.
B. Committee on Committees. Chair Joe Scott reported that COC has sent surveys concerning committee operations to 20 College-wide committees. So far nine completed surveys have been returned. This represents a better response than COC had last year. The committee will follow up to increase the response rate and will select five committees to examine in detail this year.
Professor Scott also noted that the Registrar is forming a Registrar's Coordinating Committee to enhance communication and resolve problems related to her office. She seeks to have faculty representation on the committee. COC will communicate with the Registrar about these committee appointments. Members of the Assembly agreed that chairs of large departments would be good representatives on this committee.
B. Executive Committee. President Lutzer reported that the Executive Committee has reviewed the proposed policy on Post-Tenure Review. EC will send its recommendations to Provost Cell. Lutzer stated that the formal PTR policy proposal will probably come to the full Assembly during the spring.
President Lutzer presented the text of a letter (below) to the Faculty Senate of Virginia on benefits for unmarried domestic partners. The letter asks the Senate to study the issue on behalf of the faculty of member institutions.
1) Text of letter to be sent to Faculty Senate of Virginia:
In many public colleges and universities in Virginia, non-married faculty are unable to secure benefits coverage for their domestic partners and for their partners' children. We ask the Faculty Senate of Virginia to investigate this issue and to become an advocate for more inclusive benefits policies that would bring Virginia college and university policies into line with the more inclusive policies of the leading colleges, universities, and private companies described in the enclosed list.
President Lutzer also presented the Executive Committee's proposed plan to phase in the revised Assembly Constitution. He reviewed the steps in the proposed process. Each constituency whose membership does not decrease to the new level of representation by June 2000 will select one of its current members as an alternate. The proposed procedure for reducing the Assembly to 20 was approved unanimously.
President Lutzer also explained the proposal for professional expense accounts for Assembly members. Under this plan Assembly officers would receive professional expense accounts of $6000 each. Seven other EC members would receive accounts of $1000 each. Ten other members of the Assembly would receive $500 each per year.
Alan Fuchs noted the Faculty of Arts and Science's opposition to payment for professional service, with the exception of officers and possibly major committee chairs. After extensive discussion of the proposal, it was referred back to the Executive Committee for reconsideration.
C. Liaison Committee. Vice President Bill O'Connell reported on the most recent Liaison Committee presentation to the Board of Visitors. O'Connell stated that the February report to the BOV will focus on undergraduate research.
III. Old Business
George Greenia asked about the timetable and process for presenting the letter on domestic partner benefits to the Faculty Senate of Virginia. President Lutzer explained the procedure he plans to follow. The letter above, with attachments, will be sent to the Faculty Senate of Virginia early in the Spring Term.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Baldwin
Secretary
