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| Tuesday, 16 April 2002 |
2:30 p.m. |
Dobo 134 |
Absent: Byington (Fac Wel Com), Denny (SWK), Dodd (Fin Aid Com), Earney (Acc & Bus Law), Errante (MUS), Hayes (Curr St), Hines (Student Aff Com), Huntley (Pub Ser Com), Huntsman (Budget Cmte), King (MUS), Mintzes (Biology), Shay (IT Cmte), Sizemore (Eval Com), Tyndall (ITSD), Webster (BIO), White (CHM)
1. Chancellor Leutze
· Addressed the issue of diversity.
Wants to see a more diverse university, and find new ways to address the issue.
There is a growing concern that the campus climate may not be attractive to minorities: 15% of 288 minority students surveyed said they had seen or experienced discrimination in the classroom; some Black faculty believe their colleagues do not always treat them fairly.
Doubts we have racist faculty or administrators, but noted that "If there is a perception that we have a problem, we have a problem."
Is having several former UNC system chancellors visit the university, and report on how we might do a better job in this area.
In response to questions, the Provost noted that he sets aside 2 development lines every year for recruitment of minority (Black or Hispanic) faculty; will add money in a competitive situation to hire minorities; will pay for part or all of the recruitment costs, depending on whether the person is hired.
· Responded to a query about why senior UNC officials have not publicized the current fiscal crisis.
Explained that some of the $6.5 million dollars cut from the budget this year will be replaced by the tuition increase, but projections for next year include an additional 1-2% beyond the already determined 4% cut in permanent budget.
"At some point soon, we must say we are going to have to limit enrollment to the university."
Recognized the public relations problem, if (a) the university increases fees and at the same time lowers access, while (b) the public remains uninformed of the serious cuts being imposed.
At present, the Office of the President is negotiating with the Governor on the size of cuts, and wants to wait until this issue is decided, before the issue is taken to the public.
2. President of the Senate Noland
· Introduced Mary Gornto, interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement, who expressed her happiness in being here, and indicated she would like to speak to the Senate again in the fall.
· Acknowledged Carol Ellis, retiring this year, for many years of service to the university and the Senate.
· Announced that after RPT Committee Chair Berkeley's brief introduction, the remainder of the meeting would be a "Committee of the Whole" to discuss the proposed changes in the RTP document.
3. RPT Committee Chair Berkeley
· Summarized the history of the committee's activities. These included: beginning in January, 2001, met with Provost and Faculty Senate Steering committee to determine its charge in reviewing substantive and process issues; reviewed RPT documents in a wide array of universities in and out of the UNC system, particularly the newly revised one at NC State; held open meeting for the Faculty in March 01; gathered information from departments and other universities; and met over the fall and winter to formulate these recommendations. One untenured committee member emphasized that the committee had tried to examine the process from the point of view of the candidate, and ask whether the process was fair to them. The committee had been struck by the great diversity of standards and procedures in the different departments and schools; some seemed eminently fair and appropriate, others not.
The remainder of the meeting consisted in a Committee of the Whole, chaired by President Noland, with discussion focused on the RPT committee report. Technically, the Secretary should not provide notes on such a meeting, but wait until the end of the meeting, and the Committee of the Whole makes its report back to the reconvened Senate. [For those who are interested, I did keep notes on the discussion, available at Notes.]
When the meeting reassembled, President Noland announced there would be an open meeting of the Faculty Senate on April 30, to continue the discussion of the RPT committee report. All faculty are invited to attend.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30.