Present: J. Cummins, B. Ferguson, K. Jacobson, J. Meehan, R. Osgood, S. Rebelsky, J. Swartz, E. Willis

The meeting came to order at 1:15 p.m. in room 203 of the Rosenfield Student Center.

The minutes and excerpts from November 14, 2007 were approved.

President’s Remarks

The President stated that he has been thinking about globalization and internationalization, noting that these issues cut across all elements of the College. He reflected that in June the Board brought this to the foreground. He is planning to appoint a small committee to focus on these issues. He would expect them to report on their finding sometime this year.

Dean’s Remarks

The Dean updated Council on the status of faculty searches.

He distributed a draft of the agenda for the 12/3 faculty meeting. There was discussion. A side discussion developed regarding enrollment pressure, faculty size, class size, number of courses in relation to the reality of constraint, mix of classes, departmental need, EKI, and the need for communication between the administration and the faculty on these issues. K. Jacobson urged the President and Dean to have this conversation with the faculty soon to try to allay fears among the faculty that they are helpless to address their needs for faculty expansion outside the parameters of the EKI.

The Dean reported that the various subcommittees of the Budget Committee are starting to meet and are trying to look carefully at strategic issues. The President noted that the cost of implementation next year of the loan cap which will apply to all students is the largest component of the budget, along with a need for a larger salary pool for faculty and staff and further implementation of the EKI. He noted the current projected deficit is very substantial.

E. Willis asked the Dean about progress on preparing Faculty Handbook language regarding the definition of “regular” faculty. The Dean responded that there has been no action on this to date, but committed to concluding the matter this year.

The Dean announced faculty hired to start in 2008-2009 would receive their first paycheck in August, rather than in September.

Recommended Change in Schedule of Curriculum Committee Elections

S. Rebelsky raised several issues pertaining to proposed legislation to make service on Curriculum Committee a two-year commitment. There was discussion. E. Willis agreed to move this forward for a vote at the 12/3 faculty meeting.

Proposal for Interviews: Gender and Women’s Studies Special Search

There was discussion of the progress of the GWS search.

Council Remarks

E. Willis reported on progress of the Commencement Committee.

J. Meehan reported on requests for her to bring several matters to Council attention. There have been several complaints that travel per diem is insufficient in today’s economy. She had received many responses to the discussion of the Harris Leave program at the recent faculty meeting, with an overriding number of faculty wishing that the program remain in tact. Finally, she reported that a good number of humanities faculty are complaining about the lack of technical support for visual imaging.

B. Ferguson noted that a member of the Social Studies division had contacted him, offering a persuasive argument on retaining the Harris Leave program.

E. Willis noted that she has concluded from the faculty meeting discussion that the Harris Leave program should be maintained. She further believes that the administration should seriously consider increasing the number of awards available for award each year.

There was further discussion of research leaves in general. The President stated that he believes that it is not a good idea to take untenured faculty members who are in probationary contracts out of teaching for a full year because he strongly believes that this is a formative teaching period important to the development of a strong career faculty member. He is in favor of liberalizing leave for those in the post-tenure mid-sabbatical period. He also believes that the College should invest liberally in those faculty members who are productive. Finally, he does not want to open the door for second semester leaves with or without pay, but would acknowledge that certain circumstances warrant consideration. E. Willis concluded this discussion by requesting that the administration consider ways to increase support for teaching of early career faculty by, among other means, reducing the teaching obligation in the first year to a 2-2 load.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Secretary
Karen Wiese