Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Present: Karen M. Turner (Pres.), Paul S. LaFollette (V. Pres.), Bonnie Averbach (Secy.), Robert M. Aiken (Past-Pres.), Z. Joan Delalic (Engr.), Marge Devinney (CLA), Pauline Hurley-Kurtz (Ambl), Michael Jackson (STHM), Luke Kahlich (BCMD), Stephanie Knopp (Tyl), Lois Millner (SSA), Mark C. Rahdert (Law), Joan P. Shapiro (Educ.), Joel B. Sheffield (CST), Roy Stevens (Dent.), David Waldstreicher (Fac. Herald)
Absent: David Baron (Med), Charles Ruchalski (Pharm), Jay Sinha (FSBM), Roberta Sloan (SCT), Cheryl Mack (Coord)
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM
2. President’s Report: Karen M. Turner
- Debbie Hartnett, Vice President of Human Resources, will be a guest next week. Turner asked that we think of some issues to discuss with her in advance of her visit.
- Michele O’Connor, Assistant Vice Provost for First Year and Transfer Programs, will also be visiting next week. Her portfolio is broad and there should be many things to discuss with her.
- A suggestion was made that we invite someone from TIAA/CREF to visit with us to determine if we can withdraw monies from our fund before we retire. Also, it was mentioned that we discuss Temple’s Transition to Retirement program with the TIAA/CREF representative and determine if withdrawals of funds are possible under this program.
- Since Provost Lisa could not attend a previous meeting because of illness, Turner will ask her if she will be able to attend our end of year luncheon.
- A discussion of Tyler’s exhibits took place. A number of different exhibits were talked about and the Steering Committee was encouraged to return to Tyler for some superb displays.
- Turner has been trying to have Bill Black, Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, attend one of our meetings. He has been hard to reach. She hopes to have him come in to visit with us early in September.
- Turner mentioned there have been queries about the Faculty Senate election. Faculty members have asked why they should vote since so many of the positions are uncontested. In response to such comments, Turner feels is it important to vote to show that there is an interest in faculty governance. The number of votes is reported, and it does not look good to the Temple administration if the numbers of faculty who voted are low.
- LaFollette reported that 90 people have already voted. That was heartening. However, most people vote right away. So there is a need for representatives to encourage their faculty to vote.
- Sheffield reported that the button to push for voting on the web is hard to locate. Waldstreicher indicated that he had a problem finding the biographies. In response, Turner said she would let Mack know about this and see what could be done to remedy the situations. Perhaps a link can be created from the Faculty Senate home page to the biographies.
3. Guest: Diane Maleson, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Faculty Affairs:
some of the projects that she is working on are:
- With respect to actual initiatives, most are taking place in the Teaching Learning Center. There is an initiative to create a teaching certificate for graduate students. In addition TLC would like to create a summer institute that would identify master teachers who would run seminars for graduate students and post docs.
Then graduate students could have the opportunity to teach classes. A business plan has not yet been developed. There may be interest in the community colleges for interested faculty to take such a course. This teaching certificate will enhance job opportunities for graduate students who want to teach.
- The University Tenure and Promotion Committee have agreed to do most of their work online on Blackboard. Full discussion and voting will take place online. If four of the sixteen members of the Committee ask to discuss a case there will be a live full blown discussion among the members of the Committee together with the Chair of the college committee and the Dean. This method replaces the many 3-hour meetings of the past. In addition, the candidate will have the opportunity of hearing from the people who are for and against his/her obtaining tenure or promotion.
Turner mentioned that she would like some members of the Committee to attend one of our future Senate meetings and talk about their experiences.
- Maleson is available to see people with problems. There has been angst among NTT’S in some Schools that are merging with other Colleges. They have been told that they will be judged under the standards that were defined when they were hired.
- In reference to the proposed summer institute for teaching, Devinney suggested that high school teachers get credit for continuing education and might be interested in this program. This could contribute to the revenue stream needed for the program. Shapiro mentioned that the College of Education has a similar program. Maleson said that if the summer institute is approved, then suggestions will be considered.
- When asked about the merging of some of the colleges, Maleson responded that Social Work will go as a School of Social Work within the College of Health Sciences. The final name of this union has not been finalized. Ambler, Architecture, etc., is still under discussion.
- Many questions came up about the NTT’s contract renewals. Maleson replied that the Deans of the colleges are responsible for NTT contracts in their colleges. The Deans have different ideas concerning NTT contracts.
- There are many International hires at the University. There are laws that must be followed when an international person is hired in order for the person to be allowed to stay. It is Important to notify Maleson and Martyn Miller, the Director of International Services as soon as the decision to hire is made to make sure that the hire can stay.
- There was some discussion about the bylaws of the Collegiate Assemblies of the Colleges. In some cases, the Dean attends all of the meetings. Some faculty would like to have some meetings without the Dean’s presence. Maleson suggested that this topic be discussed with the Provost.
4. Approval of the Minutes:
The minutes were approved as amended.
5. Guests: Stephanie Ives, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, John Di Mino, Director of the Tuttleman Counseling Services and Valerie Harrison, University Council’s Office, are three members of the University’s CARE Team.
- the Care Team’s mission is to serve as a central university resource point for any issue involving a student or the impact a student is having on his/her community.
- Ives mentioned that a faculty member may refer a student to the Care Team for depression, anxiety, for missing classes because of problems, for disruptive behavior, for hurting oneself, for being suicidal, etc. If a faculty member feels that there is a problem, he/she can call on any member of the Team or an academic advisor or counselor at the Tuttleman Counseling Services. When a student is referred, the Team members collect information, address the issues as well as give support on academic issues.
- DiMino mentioned that although counseling had been an important issue in the past, the concept of a CARE Team originated as a result of the Virginia Tech tragedy. In this way they are much more organized. It is important to be able to communicate information and have a safety net where the entire community has the responsibility to intervene when behaviors are getting out of line. The Team does not try to predict future behavior but does try to enter in a process of engagement with students. DiMino mentioned that it is important to share information, act promptly and not to make allowances for people with bad behavior. A website for the CARE Team will be set up soon.
- Harrison spoke about the incident at Virginia Tech and that one of the problems was that there was a lot of misunderstanding about FERPA, which regulates the disclosure of educational records.
If one observes strange behavior, this does not fall under FERPA. If parents need to be notified, the CARE Team will take care of the situation. It is important to note that some behavior may be due to cultural differences or generational differences. In any case, faculty should call for a consultation and let the Team design the strategy.
Aiken mentioned that there needs to be a faculty member of the Team. He proposed that at least one faculty member be on the Team. Harrison mentioned that this would need further discussion. Aiken feels that it is an extremely important committee which is doing critical work and that having a faculty person on it sends a message that would give the Team more visibility in the academic community.
Ives mentioned, in response to a question regarding the economic situation if a student withdraws, that students are more concerned about losing health insurance. Students do not lose their health insurance if they withdraw from a class.
Waldstreicher gave an example of why he felt it was important for a faculty member to be on the Team. He stated the importance for graduate students and new faculty to have the opportunity to learn about the work of the Team.
6. Old Business:
None
7. New Business:
None
8. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:07 PM.
Bonnie Averbach, Secretary
