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Faculty Senate Minutes

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Roll Call

Absent: Byington (Fac Wel), Clark (Business), Cliford (English), Clements (Psychology), Dodd (Finan. Aid), Earney (Acct.), Errante (Admissions cmte), Farinella (Econ), Garris (Info Sys), Grindlay (Earth Sci), Gurganus (Math), Hines (Student Af.), Howe (Mgt.), Huntley (Pub Srv), Huntsman (Budget), Lawson (Acct), McElheny (A/T), Moore (A/T, UCC), Narayan (Comp Sci), Sizemore (Evaluation), Snowden (Soc), Tyndall (IT), Usilton (History), Webster (Bio), White (Cr. Wrtng), Wilson (P&R)

Approval of Minutes

The January minutes were approved as posted. 

Individual Reports:

1. Chancellor Leutze

• unhappy about the tuition increase, but sees no alternative, if UNCW is to fulfill its mission: UNCW getting $6 million less than budgeted: with $400 tuition increase, we're still -$2 million.
• 1980 the state provided 58% of the UNC system budget, now only 42%; even so, the % provided by tuition is about the same, 17.5% in 1980, 17.6% in 2000.
• responded to "misinformation":
  • Lakeside arches paid for by construction $, not tuition $; it was less expensive and physically more appropriate to build them than to connect the two buildings
  • tuition $ does not pay for parking; this is provided by the parking decals.
• pleased to be working with the B&G Cmte on planning and conservation matters; the campus map is being to reflect future plans.
• UNCW is now competing for the best students in the state:
  • current admissions class has average 3.7 h.s.gpa, and 1140 SAT
  • but UNCW has less $ than competitors to offer honor or merit scholarships
  • UNCW is more restrictive than other schools re: AP type credits, and the admin will be speaking with chairs about how this admissions/academic issue might be addressed
  • current crisis will not cause UNCW to change admissions target of 1650.
• for the future:
  • the UNC system will have to balance "access" with "quality"; if the Legislature continues to decrease funding, the UNC system will have to stop growing
  • there is little likelihood of a significant salary increase, since the state is in a real fiscal crisis (the state budget was based on 4.5% growth; it has seen 2.3% decline)
• endowment, other fundraising efforts going forward, but this is not the time for a capital campaign; Pat McDowell is stepping down as VC for Development, UNCW looking for someone who can fill the position for several years to come
• in response to questions:
  • given budget, endowment issues, given any thought to bringing football to UNCW? it is a fiction that football raises $; almost everywhere it does not, plus it becomes a major management issue, and requires more administrators for oversight
  • UNCW has a student loan fund for emergency situations
  • the average UNCW student leaves with debt of $12,000, which is lower than comparable schools; we have a default rate of only 1.7%, which is excellent

2. Provost Cavanaugh (budget presentation; deferred to the end of the meeting)

3. President of the Senate Noland

• refrained comments, in light of lengthy agenda

4. Faculty Assembly Chair Veit

• the Faculty Assembly met last Friday, had a report on email and computer privacy. The report noted that NC has a extremely open "public records" law. It is possible that all faculty work products (anything done as part of your job; not incidental personal matters) are legally part of the public record,  including those done on home computers. (This issue has not been fully tested in court.)
• Ad Hoc Cmte on Nontenured Faculty reported that while their number is higher than in past years, it is still lower in the UNC system than in other states; urged that nontenured faculty be recognized for their contributions.

5. SACS Self-Study Director Spackman

• the Followup Plan and Addendum to the SACS Self-Study are at the SACS website.
• will be disappointed if UNCW does not receive some commendations for our efforts.
• wants to thank Lavonne Adams for her editorial work, and SACS Self-Study Steering Committee members Lynne Snowden, Bob Fry, Melton McLaurin, Perri Bomar, Andy Jackson, Sue McCaffray, Jimmy Reeves and Diane Levy.
• said this was his last report, and sat down to applause.

Committee Reports:

1. The following revision of motion 02-4-16 from Academic Standards Committee was passed (02-6-22):

At the discretion of the instructor, a student may be given a grade of Incomplete when the work in the course has not been completed for reasons beyond the control of the student. All incomplete grades must be removed according to a deadline established by the instructor, not to exceed one calendar year from the end of the semester in which the Incomplete was given, otherwise the "I" becomes "F" and cannot be changed. A student must not register for the class when attempting to remove a grade of Incomplete. No student will be allowed to graduate with an Incomplete grade on his/her academic record.  Such grades that have not been resolved at the time of graduation will be converted to an "F."  If a student meets graduation requirements, despite the "F," the appropriate degree will be awarded.

Old Business

There was no old business.

New Business

1. The following motion from the English Department was passed (motion 02-6-23):

That all full-time UNCW faculty, including full-time lecturers, who otherwise meet the criteria of eligibility for UNCW teaching awards, including requirements for length of service and teaching load, be eligible for nomination for those awards.

Announcements

1. Adrienne Lopez, SGA President

• thanked the faculty for their support of Intercultural Week
• President's Commission on Diversity out of SGA will be distributing a student survey on diversity issues to faculty and hope that it will encourage discussion on diversity issues in the classroom

The Senate then turned to the budget presentation by the Provost.

Powerpoint Presentation by Provost Cavanaugh: "Budget Basics"

Topics: (i) sources of revenue; (ii) expenditure categories; areas of (iii) challenge, (iv) opportunity; (v) strategic directions; (vi) answers to questions. (Detailed % on revenues and expenditures provided subsequent to the meeting in response to request.)

• Sources of revenue:
  • where does the $ come from?
    • state appropriations (41.9%)
    • tuition and fees - use of these tends to be restricted (18%)
    • grants and contracts - this $ must be spent on the specific project (11%)
    • auxiliarites - food, bookstore (25.1%)
    • gifts (1%)
    • endowment/investment income (1.2%)
    • sales/services (1.1%)
    • other (.7%)
  • what kinds of $ is it?
    • continuing (e.g. positions) vs. one-time (e.g. equipment; restricted ability to flex)
    • operating (e.g. instruction) vs. construction (buildings)--illegal to switch one to the other
• Expenditure categories
  • education and general (77.6%)
    • instruction (33.7%)
    • organized research (8.1%)
    • public service (1.5%)
    • academic support, e.g. library, tutoring (7.4%)
    • institutional support, e.g. business office, payroll (8.5%)
    • physical plant (9.1%)
    • student financial aid (5.4%)
    • mandatory transfers (.1%)
  • other major categories:
    • auxiliary enterprise expenditures (19.3%)
    • mandatory transfers (3.1%)
• Areas of challenge
  • declining state appropriations
    • moved from "state supported" to "state assisted" university; if like Colorado, we move to "state located" university and become a "tuition-driven" institution, then we must increase the % of out of state students
  • serious NC economic recession
    • current recession different from 1990, where layoffs in manufacturing, and jobs returned: current lost jobs in tobacco, textiles and banking (mergers) will not return
    • NC will come out of this recession more slowly
  • lack of endowment, especially for scholarships, difficulty of raising $ in current economy
• Areas of opportunity
  • enhanced academic reputation:
    • UNCW is getting the attention of potential donors; attracting people with national and international visibility now participate on boards, in campus events
  • public support:
    • surveys indicate greater public support for higher education in NC than any other state
  • price elasticity:
    • UNCW tuition and fees still well below national average;
    • + professed support, suggests public will pay more, if keep quality (but how much?)
• Strategic directions
  • UNCW has separated itself from the pack academically:
    • no longer a "backup" school, like Pembroke, ECU, moving past ASU
    • different competitive pool for students
  • UNCW must target its academic market
    • this includes out-of-state students
    • area counselors now realize UNCW is no longer an easy admission
  • UNCW must educate the public on the true costs of higher education
    • public believes cost much greater than is; we can attract many who currently do not apply
  • UNCW must improve fundraising
• Response to questions
  • Can $ from athletics go to other programs? We could, if athletics made $; but they do not.
  • Does UNCW put out an annual budget report? Audited financial statement is part of the public record.
  • Can we remain true to our regional mission, if we increase out of state students for $? 'Regional service' is more than admitting regional students; but in fact we are seeing more good regional students now staying here, going to UNCW
  • What is your sense of the long-term integrity of the system and our place in it?
    • Can see some state systems, e.g. Colorado, that are working, even though they get only 10% state support (though they do admit more out of state students)
    • If the system breaks up into more independent units, as it did in Florida, the 'regional' schools may benefit, 'flagships' be harmed (Charlotte = NC financial center, not Raleigh)

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35.