CCSU Faculty Senate
Minutes—September 17, 2001
VAC 105 3:00 PM
Members Present: Abadiano, Altieri, Austad, Baratta, Benfield, Best, Blatz, Blitz,
Brann, Braverman, Calvert, Capitao, Cayer, Carter-Lowery, Cohen, Conway,
Crundwell, Cueto, Czymik, Flood, Fried, Garcia, Gilmore, Halkin, Hicks,
Johnson, Jones, Kaplan, Kim, Kurkjian, Lapuerta, Larose, Leake, Lefebvre,
Lemaire, Martin, Martin-Troy, Moran, Myers, O’Connell, Osterreich, Phillips,
Ritzenhoff, Rodrigues, Stanley, Stoneback, Terezakis, Wallach, Wolff.
Ex‑Officio Members Present: V.P
and Provost Bartelt, Deans Whitford, Miller, Lemma, Higgins and Kremens, E.
Demos (Senior V.P.), L. Deane (Univ. Council).
Guests: Paul Petterson, (Chair,
Curriculum Committee), Chief of Police/Public safety Jason Powell, Associate
V.P Academic Affairs, Dick McCallum, Richard Bachoo VP Administrative Affairs.
Meeting was called to order by President
Best at 3.12 p.m. in Vance 105.
All members, in
remembrance of those killed in the September 11 attack on the United States and
their grieving families and friends, observed a minute of silence.
We will not forget them
Motion
to accept.
Martin-Troy/Wolff
Carried Unanimously
II.
Announcements
Secretary Benfield indicated that there
were a number of new/replacement members. They should indicate on the sign in
sheet that they are new and to check the web site soon to ensure they are
recorded correctly. This information will be also communicated to Ms. Wilton in
the Presidents office.
a.
AAUP Report. Sen. Austad
As the attached issue of Table talk
indicated, negotiations are at an impasse. There are essentially two issues:
1. A reduced teaching load for faculty.
On this issue management appear to be intractable and are essentially saying
“noâ€.
2.Management wishes to eliminate the
part-time cap. Today this is approximately 20% but would have no upper limit if
management prevails. Thus the union comes before the senate to support the
attached resolution:
Discussion:
Sen. Martin-Troy: Did the senate not
previously send part 1 of the resolution to the Chancellor and BOT?
All: General agreement that indeed it
had been sent.
Sen. Halkin desired modification of
resolution to say “…receive FEW (formerly “noâ€) benefits.
Sen. Halkin: Also some grammatical
errors. These were noted by the secretary and Sen. Austad and correction will
be made in the resolution
Sen. Crundwell: What % of release time
is currently refused? Is this figure available? He suspects most requests are
honored.
Sen. Martin-Troy: This is so
Sen. Halkin. Not in her Department!
Sen. Crundwell: Does “release timeâ€
include “administrative†release time?
Sen. Austad: there are two types by
contract, one for administrative type work and another for research. Otherwise
a distinction is neither made nor necessary.
Sen. Blitz: Did the senate also not vote
earlier on #2? …(General agreement) and if so this is consistent # 3 and #1 and
should be supported.
Sen. Fried: In considering this issue,
the problem of increased enrollments/pressure for class size and the lack of
space this brings should have a bearing on number of part-timers in the system.
Sen. Benfield: There are some further
grammatical errors to be corrected (insert hyphen’s, remove = from original
draft replace with apostrophe)
Motion that the following
resolution be adopted and sent to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees:
Resolution of Central
Connecticut State University Faculty Senate
To the Connecticut State
University Board of Trustees and Chancellor
We,
The Faculty Senate of Central Connecticut State University, ask the Board of
Trustees and the Chancellor of Connecticut State University, to support us in
providing the highest quality education to the residents of our State. The CCSU
Mission Statement asserts that Central Connecticut State University is to be
Connecticut’s premier learner-centered public university and to apply knowledge
to better the human condition. The BOT has strongly encouraged the growth of
our student body, directing each campus to expand by approximately 2 percent
yearly. In order to fulfill these
objectives, we need reassurance and commitment from you that you will provide
us with the resources necessary to accomplish our duties. Speaking as a faculty
devoted to the educational excellence of our undergraduate and graduate
students and the public good, we are specifically asking the BOT and the
Chancellor to do the following:
1. Support the creation of more
full-time tenure track faculty positions at CCSU. We are concerned about the growing
trend to reduce the number of full-time faculty and to increase the number of
part-time faculty. The importance of
the role of full-time faculty in teaching, research, and service in structuring
the curriculum, keeping current in one’s academic field, and meeting the
mission of the University, can not be understated. Only an actively engaged full- time faculty can devote the time
and energy needed to design, develop, and update the curriculum as well as advise
and guide students appropriately.
2. Support the current 20% cap or
limitation on the percentage of part-time to full-time faculty. For over 20
years, the BOT and the faculty have agreed that provision in our contract has
served as the foundation for sound educational principles. We hire part-time
faculty to provide instructional expertise unavailable elsewhere and to
accommodate unanticipated student demand and emergencies. Eliminating or
increasing the cap will impose even more difficult conditions on full-time
faculty. Since full-time faculty
perform the support work for part-time faculty (advising students, serving on
committees, caring for the curriculum, etc) increasing the number of part-time
faculty will further reduce the time available for scholarly academic endeavors
and will impair our ability to contribute to community work. The quality of
education at our institution will suffer, thus, hurting our students. We are
very concerned that the motivation underlying the trend to hire part-time
faculty is based upon economic rather than educational principles. Part- time
faculty are treated like second-class citizens or itinerant workers. They are paid substandard wages, receive few
benefits, and are given inadequate resources such as insufficient office space,
phone access, or computer use needed to teach our students
3.
Support a modification of our workload so that faculty are able to
devote a guaranteed portion (ideally
25%) of their workload to scholarly and creative activity. As our institution
matures, grows and offers Doctoral level programs, its faculty must be
supported in their professional obligations to stay current with their
disciplines and contribute to them.
Thank
you for your attention to this matter.
Austed/Terezakis
Carried
One vote against: Sen.
Martin-Troy
b.
Information Technology Committee. Sen. Altieri
Sen. Altieri
indicated that the committee was in place and their first meeting was to be
this Friday. All should have received an agenda and the work will proceed
apace.
a.
Parking Issues. Richard Bachoo
Addressing a topic near and dear to the
hearts of all faculty and with commendable bravery (notwithstanding the
presence of Chief of Police Powell), Richard Bachoo addressed the topic of
parking. He noted, as a result of the consultant studies, three problems/patterns
to address:
(i)
Take the circling around campus/lots out of the system
(ii)
Lower the stress level, particularly the potential (and actual)
incidents of violence and create a situation where public safety vehicles (fire
and police) can access all areas and
(iii)
Dispel the myth that “I must have a parking spot immediately
adjacent to my buildingâ€. He bravely challenged faculty to indicate a time when
they did NOT find a parking spot. Amidst a sea of red faces there was not one
faculty member who could claim to have at least once failed to find a spot.
In order to make this claim (and address
the three issues above) he noted that the garage has been returned to faculty
(cheers and much warmth toward him), Kaiser had been expanded and students were
now permitted in Welte and Barnard.
In essence the parking spots are there. In closing he
noted the envy and puzzlement of the University of Georgia who raise $ 700,000
from parking and who see parking as a revenue source.
Sen. Abadiano: Why close Welte?
Mr. Bachoo: We lost 200 student spaces
and this was needed for relief.
Sen. Fried: These measures are great but
are the new rules being enforced?
Mr. Bachoo: Hiring a parking manager is
being considered.
Sen. Austad: As Mr. Bachoo noted there
are plans to gate some of the parking-when will this be?
Dick McCallum: Probably the Faculty
garage /Vance but this is a more medium range measure.
Sen. Hicks: The problem is often not
getting in but getting out! I.e. dueling parkers have blocked her in on
occasion.
Bachoo: Color-coding of the lots, again
over the long term may alleviate this situation.
Chief Powell indicated that he had a
handout that summarizes the parking situation as of today. It is attached to
the end of these minutes.
III.
Elections Sen. Braverman
Sen. Braverman indicated
that elections must be held for a number of positions. She proposed electing
existing slates for which names distributed on a hand out. However nominations
from the floor now possible and welcomed.
a.
Executive
As the positions of President and
Vice-President are two-year terms both President Best and Sen. Abadiano were
confirmed to serve their second term. The position of secretary has no such
time period. However in a rigged election that would have done the former
Soviet Union proud, Secretary Benfield was re-elected, Sen. Martin-Troy closing
the nominations less than a second after their request from the floor.
Motion to
approve Secretary Benfield for one more year
Approved Unanimously
b.
Senate Elections Committee
No nominations received from
the floor.
Moved existing committee:
(Martin-Troy/Austad) and approved that Secretary cast one vote
c.
Committee on Committee’s
No nominations received from
the floor.
Moved
existing committee: (Martin-Troy/Austad) and approved that Secretary cast one
vote.
d.
Constitution and By-Laws
No nominations received from
the floor.
Moved Toni Moran be reappointed:
(Martin-Troy/Austad) and approved that Secretary cast one vote
e.
Distinguished Service Committee
Ms. Drina Lynch has served her full term
but there is need for one administrator to serve on this committee, President
is desirous of Ms Lynch continuing and Ms. Lynch is willing.
Moved by-laws be suspended and that Ms Drina
Lynch be
re-appointed to this committee for a further
two years
(Martin-Troy/Austad) and approved that
Secretary cast one vote
f.
University Athletic Board
Sen. Martin –Troy has resigned that
position. By the by-laws the next person on the committee be appointed, that
person being Paul Resitarits (Technology)
Moved Prof. Resitarits be appointed:
(Martin-Troy/Austad) and approved that
Secretary cast one vote
g.
Promotion and Tenure committee
In the recent election no members from
the School of Technology were elected. This raises serious issues as to the
need for P & T candidates to have some representation through
departmental/school colleagues on the committee. However as President Best and
Sen. Braverman pointed out the election was fair, there was a candidate from
Technology but this person was not elected. Thus issues of proportional
representation and weighted Ballots must be considered to get fair
representation.
Sen. Blitz concurred indicating that
this appeared unfair and as the P & T committee was already doing its work
it should be addressed and possibly rectified immediately.
Sen. Rodriguez questioned whether the by
laws required such representation
President Best: No…but this was of
concern to him. Thus he proposed to refer the matter to the Committee on
Committee’s for early consideration and bring forth recommendations.
Note: Chairmen of these committees are noted by an
asterisk on the list of committee members (You get the job because of the early
alphabetical listing of your name-blame your parents) and are requested to
convene their respective committees.
IV.
Senate Committee Reports
a.
Curriculum Committee Paul Petterson
Introduced
himself, indicated that the process for curriculum change was on the website
but he was also prepared to discuss changes with individuals at any time.
Senate will see him on a regular basis as the semester progresses.
V.
Old Business
a. Secretary Benfield indicated that the President had vetoed FS-01-6-B the
Academic Honesty Policy change. However in the letter of veto and in subsequent
conversations it is requested that the architects of the policy meet with the
administration (particularly Judicial Officer Thomas Clark) to amend the
proposal. Accordingly the executive recommends that the group who produced the
policy be re-convened to work on the amendment.
General Consensus that the group reconvene under the chair
of Sen. Moran.
Members will therefore be:
Emily Chasse
James Conway
Jane Fried
John Harmon
Virginia Jones
Antonia Moran
Paul Petterson
Matthew Warschauer
b. President Best reminded faculty that
in May he had received a letter from other faculties’ senate of the CSU system
regarding support for the provision of a day off in fall semesters. The
Presidents in his reply indicated that the Board of Trustees had approved the
calendar for the next two years. However the President will bring it before the
President during the informal meetings to explore if this is viable. He will
also communicate this to the other CSU Faculties Senate.
VI.
New Business
a. Resolution:
Part-Time Faculty. Sen. Jones. (Attached)
Sen. Jones introduced two resolutions
concerning campus equity week, and referred to the websites given for more
information.
Sen. Halkin: Questioned whether a tent
was the best meeting place.
Sen. Jones: It beats many of the
existing options!
Motion to
support resolution one (Jones/Wolff)
Carried Unanimously
There were questions regarding the
wording of the second resolution particularly whether part-time faculty
“conduct researchâ€. The wording was thus too loose.
Sen. Jones indicated that the resolution
was specifically a Fair Labor Code of Conduct from a consortium of interests
and therefore needed support in its entirety and without modification. She
agreed not to present a motion related to resolution #2 and would revisit it
with the Senate at a future date.
VII.
Other business
There was none
VIII Adjournment
Motion to adjourn
Wolffe/Baretta
Carried Unanimously
The
meeting adjourned at 4.10. p.m.
Next
Meeting is October 1 at 3.00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Richard W. Benfield
Faculty Senate Secretary
What population is being served by our parking facilities?
The University has roughly 5078 parking spaces on campus. These parking spaces serve the following populations (Nov. 2000):
|
Full time faculty |
570 |
|
Staff |
335 |
|
Adjunct faculty |
643 |
|
Full time students |
6904 |
|
Part time students |
5348 |
|
Total |
13800 |
While over 1,100 of these spaces are currently reserved exclusively for use by faculty and staff, all of our parking facilities (except for reserved spaces) are available for their use.
What progress is being
made in solving
parking problems?
At the direction of the president, the chief administrative officer is coordinating an ongoing effort that involves facilities management, public safety, and the consulting firm Desman Associates. Our focus is not only the current crop of parking problems, but also long-term solutions that will benefit the entire campus. Solutions proposed last year and updated since that time fall into four (4) categories.
Facilities
Ø Vance Garage – (Completed)
Ø Reopening of Willard/DiLoreto Lot – (Completed)
Ø D.O.T. Lot on East St. – (Completed)
Ø Access Ramp from North Garage to Ella Grasso Blvd. – (Completed)
Ø New Garages – (Planning Stage)
Ø Color Code / Alphabetize Lots - (Planned)
Ø Gated Entry to Vance – (Planned)
Ø Security Cameras – (Ongoing)
Ø Off-Campus Parking
o West Farms – available
o Barbour Road – temporarily available
Administration
Ø Best Practices Review – (Ongoing)
Ø On-line Permit Registration Each Semester – (Under Consideration)
Ø Electronic Citations – (Under Consideration)
Ø Campus Shuttle – (Done)
Ø Shuttle Parking at Stop & Shop – (Done)
Ø Parking Information Web Site – (Planning Stage)
Ø Student Patrol – for Escorts & Garage Security – (Implementation Stage)
Practices
Ø Vance Garage for Faculty/Staff Only – (Done)
Ø Welte Lot for Students, Faculty & Staff – (Done)
Ø Manafort Lot for Students, Faculty & Staff – (Under Consideration)
Ø Restrictions on Residence Hall Student Parking – (Under Consideration)
|