Faculty Senate	Minutes	Senate home | Comments
Tuesday, 15 March 2005   See Agenda   Meeting 2005-07

Roll call

Absent: Chen (History), Honchell (Curricular Studies), Howell (Economics & Finance), Hurdle (Social Work), Roer (Graduate School), Simmons (Anthropology), Snowden (Budget Committee) Weber (Communication Studies)

Approval of minutes

February minutes were approved.

Individual reports

1. Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo reported, including the following:
• Although the $7 million in equity funding that UNCW is seeking is not in the Governor's proposed budget, the actual state budget is determined by the General Assembly, and we remain hopeful. Our local delegation has introduced motions to give us equity funding and a new nursing building. The outcome will not be known for some months.
• The NCAA ranked institutions on the academic progress of their student-athletes. We are proud that UNCW ranks first in UNC and second in the entire state (behind only Duke and tied with Davidson).
• The move of IT to new facilities will mean an inevitable disruption in services. This could not be delayed until after the semester without having a domino effect on every other construction project. Email will be shut down for 2-4 days starting March 24 (over Easter break). Incoming mail will be rejected with an explanatory message to the sender.
   
2. Senate President Daniel Noland announced that coordination of the interdisciplinary Leadership Studies minor is being moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the School of Education. Under the expedited procedure, this was approved on behalf of the faculty by the Senate president and the chair of the University Curriculum Committee.

Committee reports

1. The following motion by the Academic Standards Committee was defeated [Motion 2005-07-13; remove majors from diplomas; defeated]:
   

        Whereas the practice of indicating majors on diplomas was not a practice at UNCW before 1991 and is not a practice at most schools; and
        Whereas this practice has led to problems for former students coming back to UNCW to get a second degree; and
        Whereas the diploma is only a decorative symbol of graduation from UNCW; the actual record is the student’s transcript; therefore,
        Be it resolved, that indications of majors no longer be printed on undergraduate diplomas at UNCW.

[After considerable discussion, the motion was defeated. Several senators argued that a student who subsequent to graduation fulfills requirements for a second major in the same degree should have the right to get or purchase a reprinted diploma listing both majors.]

2. The following motion by the Steering Committee was defeated [Motion 2005-07-14; define collegiality in RTP evaluation; defeated]:

   That Section IV of the RTP Criteria document be revised as follows [additions; text not underlined is current language]:

   IV. Guidelines for tenure and academic rank

   The overall goal of Guidelines is to ensure continued professional growth of the faculty. Guidelines should emphasize excellence in teaching and professional activity in order both to reward individual faculty and to further the university's goal of excellence.

   A. Tenure

   Because of their long-term consequences for the university and its faculty, tenure decisions are more important than promotion decisions. To be granted tenure at any academic level, a faculty member must have evidenced proficiency and a pattern of growth in areas of teaching; scholarship and research/artistic achievement; and service. Of these, teaching effectiveness is the primary criterion for the granting of tenure. When a faculty member who has served two years or longer at the rank of assistant professor is recommended for permanent tenure, he/she will also be recommended for promotion. Accordingly, when there is a recommendation for conferral of tenure but at the rank of assistant professor, the recommendation will explain the special or unusual circumstances for not also recommending promotion.

   B. Academic rank

   1. Assistant professor

   For appointment to the rank of assistant professor a candidate shall show promise as a teacher and evidence of progress in the area of research or artistic achievement.

   2. Associate professor

   For appointment to the rank of associate professor a candidate shall show evidence of having developed into an effective teacher, of a continuing pattern of research or artistic achievement, of regular professional service, and of scholarship and professional development.

   3. Professor

   For appointment to the rank of professor a candidate shall have exhibited during her/his career distinguished accomplishment in teaching, a tangible record of research or artistic achievement, and a significant record of service. An individual with the rank of professor should have a reputation as an excellent teacher and be recognized as a scholar within her/his professional field.

   C. A note on collegiality

   Professional collegiality is among the factors that should be considered in assessing the teaching, research/artistic achievement, and service of RTP candidates. Collegiality is defined as: a willingness to work toward achieving the broad goals of the University, college/school, and department; the ability to interact with other faculty members—whether in agreement or dissent—in accord with civility and professional courtesy; and contribution to the governance of the University, college/school, or department by responding to the need to serve on appointed committees. Collegiality must always be distinct from and unrelated to conformity of thought and expression, and it must never be confused with the absence of criticism or dissent or with congeniality. Chapter VI of The Code of the University of North Carolina guarantees that faculty members shall enjoy academic freedom and protects faculty in "their responsible exercise of the freedom to teach, to learn, and otherwise to seek and to speak the truth."

   [Debate was lengthy and animated but not uncollegial. Much discussion centered on whether the university would benefit from having an implicit criterion made explicit. The motion was defeated.]

3. The following motion by the University Curriculum Committee carried [Motion 2005-07-15; approve German Studies major; carried]:

That the Senate approve the establishment of a major in German Studies for the B.A. degree, with the following additional catalog language [additions]:

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers classes in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese and Spanish language, as well as in literature, film studies, civilization, linguistics and classics. Majors in French, German Studies and Spanish prepare students for graduate studies, teaching, and other careers requiring a strong liberal arts background combined with knowledge of foreign languages and cultures. The major in German Studies is available in conjunction with the UNC German Studies Consortium (see page 99). A substantial number of courses for the major are offered through the Consortium as GER 495 Special Topics. Also available are minors in French, German, and Spanish, and, in conjunction with other departments, classical studies, film studies, European studies, and Latin American studies, which complement students’ majors, deepen their cultural and linguistic appreciation, and enhance employment opportunities.

Requirements for a Major in German Studies for the B.A. degree: 36 hours, including GER 201-202 or the equivalent and thirty hours at the 300-400 level of which at least 6 hours must be at the 400 level. Only 3 of the hours at the 400 level may be obtained by means of a GER 491 or 498.

Computer Competency Requirement: To satisfy the computer competency requirement for the B.A. degree in German Studies a student must successfully complete GER 306 or 311.

Oral Communication Competency Requirement: To satisfy the oral communication competency requirement for the B.A. degree in German Studies a student must successfully complete GER 305.

A grade of "C-" or better is required in each course counted toward the major and a “C” (2.00) average or better for all courses counted toward the major. Also required is a passing score on the departmental German oral proficiency exam. Recommended: HST 101 and 102.

Adjournment

Minutes by Richard Veit, Senate secretary