Monday, September 18, 2006
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1:50 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
3. President Evans’ Report:
Evans reported that the upcoming academic year looks promising. The Faculty Senate Steering Committee has been meeting since the beginning of classes. She thanked Vice-President Turner for helping while Evans was in France.
CATA was charged over the summer with providing names of faculty as potential members of the Provost Search Committee. She thanks them for their prompt and thorough action. President Hart’s comments about the search for a provost were that she is looking for a highly accomplished academic leader who would be first among equals in her “cabinet.” She plans to rely heavily on the provost for tenure and promotion, and she expects the provost to act as spokesperson for the faculty.
The GEEC has been meeting over the summer. They are aware that they have many important issues to settle this year.
A committee was formed over the summer to make recommendations to Dr. Hart about restructuring the T&P guidelines currently in place. This committee had lively, open discussions. There was no sense of faculty vs. administration rancor. Rather there was a sense of a committed, caring body striving for a process that would both be humane and promote excellence. The finished report will go to Dr. Hart for her possible modification.
Evans applauded the Committee on International Studies for its work over the summer responding to a concern about the currently low profile of international studies on campus.
Finally, Evans reported that President Hart has seen the various position papers prepared by the FSSC last spring.
4. President Hart’s Presentation:
Dr. Hart began by stating that she wants to regularly join the meetings of the Faculty Senate. She also plans to develop a pattern of informal conversations with faculty at her home. She will begin with topics from the position papers we have given her.
She proceeded to say that she wanted to share her enthusiasm for Temple. She believes that the senior faculty of the university is the operating capital of the institution. We are all colleagues, and we must mentor the junior faculty. We measure our success by their success – not by the number we reject, but by the number to whom we can say “yes.” She will shortly be issuing revised T&P guidelines. She is anxious that individual schools and colleges develop their own discipline specific guidelines.
She announced that Acting Provost Englert and President Evans will be co-chairing a committee to review and revise the Faculty Handbook.
With respect to General Education and its implementation, President Hart announced that she is preparing a request to the Board of Trustees to allow some increased flexibility in a number of areas. In particular she would like to see the implementation extended to allow pilot programs.
With respect to the workload document created last year, she has asked Englert and Evans to look at the report and make recommendations.
The President stated that she is changing the timetable for tenure-track searches to allow ongoing searches throughout the year.
She announced that she has made changes in the Policy on Academic Probation so that it will no longer force students out of their housing nor make it impossible for them to receive financial help.
Finally, she expressed her vision for Temple that is forming around the realization that urban universities are becoming the center of modern education. She believes that we are well positioned to take a leadership role in this transformation both regionally and nationally.
At this point, the floor was opened to questions.
Martoff from CST stated that CST has been a disaster over the past several years with a succession of 3 deans, a hiring freeze, an aging faculty, an increasing number of students, and no new hires several years. He begs that they be allowed to begin hiring.
Dr. Hart responded that there will be no more hiring freeze.
Chein from CST remarked that Dr. Hart is the first president in 20 years who solicits input from faculty. He wonders what is the best way for people to contact her.
She answered that e-mail is fine.
Gratson from SCT noted that Philadelphia is the fourth largest media market in the US, and asked if President Hart is interested in media.
She answered, “Yes,” and stated that she is already talking to media people in the area. She also noted that Temple graduates have a strong presence in the local market.
Hopkins from FSBM mentioned that students tell him that “nobody ever knows them by name.” Perhaps it would help if we did our own advising.
Turner from SCT said that the Convocation was a wonderful experience. She then noted that all of the faculty work done over the summer was volunteer effort and wondered what thoughts President Hart might have about service.
Hart answered that teaching and scholarship are central to faculty activities with service acting as underpinnings. Temple aspires to an academic spirit of excellence that is world class. We also have a long tradition of excellence in teaching at Temple. Associate and full professors need to lead our service responsibilities
Someone from Tyler asked about the role of Temple within our communities.
The President answered that we are ourselves embedded in our communities and we must engage our friends and neighbors. We need to find ways to partner with Philadelphia K-12 education, and find sufficient endowment to help provide more Philadelphia students with tuition.
Baron from Health Professions asked about CET faculty. He said that they are often regarded as of less value than their grant-supported colleagues.
Hart responded that the meaning of scholarship varies by field. However, CET’s, lecturers, and research faculty are all part of Temple.
Lindorff from Boyer asked Dr. Hart to comment on the “Academic Bill of Rights” and HR-177.
Dr. Hart said that Mr. Horowitz is a “chicken little” with a manufactured crisis. The important issues are respect and dialogue, and seeing that students have recourse if they feel mistreated.
5. Vice-President Turner’s Report:
Turner announced that she is working to get our committees staffed and organized. She plans to meet with currently active and potentially active committees, and to establish a LISTSERV for committee chairs.
All standing committees will be expected to make at least one oral report to the Senate each year, and prepare written reports each semester.
We are still seeking an editor for the Herald. Interested people should contact Frank Friedman.
6. Addendum to Evans’ Report:
The Handbook Committee is already meeting, and will eventually bring its recommendations to the Faculty Senate
7. Report from the GEEC – Terry Halbert:
Halbert began by stating that it feels like a new day at Temple. The GEEC continues to help teams form to develop course proposals. Several teams are actively working.
Averbach from FSBM asked about the required size of General Education classes. Halbert said that the assumption is that each course would serve 400-500 students per semester. There should be some choice between small sections and large sections.
8. Old Business:
There was no old business.
9. New Business:
There was no new business.
10. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM.
Paul S. LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
