Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Present:
Karen M. Turner (Pres.), Paul S. LaFollette (V. Pres.), Bonnie Averbach (Secy.), Robert M. Aiken (Past-Pres.), David Baron (Med), Z. Joan Delalic (Engr.), Marge Devinney (CLA), Pauline Hurley-Kurtz (Ambl), Michael Jackson (STHM), Luke Kahlich (BCMD), Stephanie Knopp (Tyl), Lois Millner (SSA), Joan P. Shapiro (Educ.), Joel B. Sheffield (CST), Jay Sinha (FSBM), Roberta Sloan (SCT), Roy Stevens (Dent.), David Waldstreicher (Fac. Herald), Cheryl Mack (Coord)
Absent:
Mark C. Rahdert (Law), Charles Ruchalski (Pharm)
Call to Order:
The final meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year was called to order at 12:10 PM.
Guest: Provost Lisa:
The website for the Strategic Compass is now up, http://www.temple.edu/provost/academiccompass/.
Provost Lisa is encouraging faculty to log on. There is a drop box for faculty comments and suggestions and also information on faculty achievements related to the goals of the Compass. Provost Lisa is also interested in projects that faculty want to work on in the next academic year relating to the Compass.
Many topics were discussed. Among these were the following:
Aiken asked if Provost Lisa had spoken with the CARE team to see if a faculty representative could be on the team. She replied that she had and will be meeting with them next week. She also mentioned that the counseling service is overwhelmed with the numbers of students who have come in for counseling.
A question came up about the additional cost of the 18th (possibly 19th) credit that students have to pay because they have to take the four-credit English, calculus, and a possible science class, and still have a five course load. It seems unfair since it is an additional cost over student tuition. Provost Lisa will look into this.
Jackson mentioned that he is losing some students who now have to work and cannot attend classes.
Provost Lisa mentioned that research administration must be fixed as soon as possible. Faculty input on the Strategic Compass was wonderful and she would like to have faculty input on graduate programs. She would like to work with the Steering Committee, and speak to the collegiate assemblies. These issues must also be discussed with the President. She hopes that satisfactory solutions will be obtained by 2010. Since fellowships, etc. are given out in the fall, the system will probably not change much for the next academic year. She has no idea as to what will come out of the recommendations.
Kahlich remarked that he hopes that graduate students will be allowed to use alternative formats for their dissertations. Sloan mentioned that she has been told that the University Tenure and Promotion Committee will not accept DVD’s. Provost Lisa feels that this doesn’t make sense, especially for the Arts.
Another remark had to do with the reluctance of faculty to be on committees and be involved with service. It was mentioned that if the Deans were to mention that service is valued, faculty would be more likely to serve.
Turner mentioned that the reports of the Senate Committees will be appearing in future issues of the Faculty Herald. It is hoped that faculty will have a chance to see what is being accomplished in these committees.
Provost Lisa commended Waldstreicher for his work on the Faculty Herald.
Baron brought up the fact that Department Review for the Medical School should not follow the same pattern as that followed by the departments in some of the other schools and colleges. There are many clinical departments, doctors working with residents, etc. Stevens agreed that the Dental School has similar issues.
Provost Lisa replied to a question about summer school, saying that the University wants to build up the summer school programs.
With respect to housing at Ambler, the University is trying to find block housing for students in the area of the Ambler Campus. Also there will be layoffs of staff, but the University is trying to place as many of these people as possible in other positions at Temple.
When asked about funds for summer projects, Provost Lisa mentioned that colleges will be able to roll over money left over from one year for use in the following year.
The results from the survey on the quality of the faculty life may be given out in the fall. The survey was run out of Human Resources.
There was much discussion related to service:
- Service will be a problem in the future since faculty who are mostly involved with service are close to retirement. Younger faculty should be involved with at least a small amount of service now. Shapiro mentioned some of NTT’s want to be involved in service, but have full teaching loads and some are also involved in research. Provost Lisa mentioned that NTT’s are hired for particular roles. LaFollette mentioned that many NTT’s feel that they have to do service in order to continue to be rehired. Sloan mentioned that when the majority of the faculty members are NTT’s, the department cannot be run without the participation of the NTT’s. Shapiro mentioned that there are many roles for NTT’s not just teaching. Jackson suggested that there be a faculty breakfast at which NTT’s are recognized. Provost Lisa was enthusiastic about this proposal.
Sinha brought up the concept of a course release for service. Baron mentioned that at the medical school, there is an ABC matrix: Teaching, clinical practice and research. Some spend more time in one area, some in another area. Kahlich spoke about a holistic approach, a balanced approach, and that junior faculty need mentoring as to how this process plays out in the development of portfolios.
Community Service and Evening Events:
- A balance is needed; there should be a change from individual interest to interest in the community.
Hurley-Kurtz mentioned that her students at Ambler were involved in service to the community at large. She mentioned that a particular sophomore project involved “bringing the city to the suburbs”.
Sloan mentioned that ticket sales have been up this year and that faculty are returning to the campus in the evening.
Waldstreicher mentioned that there have been meetings where faculty from all disciplines in CLA came to interesting discussions on topics such as for example, Schwartz’s recent book. He hopes that these meetings will continue. A concern is about cuts in the budget.
Turner mentioned “Chats in the Stacks” sponsored by The Faculty of Color Committee. It started out as a forum in which faculty of color would be showcased. There will be two programs a semester and there is a relation with Temple Press. Many in the audience are students. It is hoped that more faculty and members of the community will attend. All are invited to attend and participate.
The Provost mentioned that she has had a wonderful year and enjoyed working with the Committee.
Approval of the Minutes:
The minutes of April 28, 2009 were approved with amendments.
President’s Report: Karen M. Turner
Turner recognized the following members of FSSC:
- Cheryl Mack has worked at Temple for twenty-five years.
Members who are leaving the Committee
- Pauline Hurley-Kurtz, representing Ambler College
- Lois Millner, representing Social Administration
- Bonnie Averbach as Secretary and representing Fox School of Business and Management
- Dave Baron, representing the School of Medicine
Vice President’s Report: Paul LaFollette
There was nothing to report
Old Business:
Aiken asked for someone to be on the TLT Committee (Teaching/Learning/Technology). Sheffield agreed to serve.
New Business:
None
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 PM
