University Senate
Memorandum
Date: May 1, 2007
To: The Academic Community
From: Jennifer Ballengee, Secretary
Subject: April 2, 2007—Meeting of the University Senate
The seventh regular meeting of the University Senate was held on Monday, April 2, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.
Absent were Senators Brown, Debye, Leshnoff, Roberge, Siegel, Trajkovski, Moore, and Vaughn-Smith. Also absent were Vice President Moriarty and Vice President Rubin.
The Senate approved the Agenda unanimously.
The Senate approved the Minutes unanimously.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, President Caret:
Pres. Caret re-introduced Vice President Jim Clements as the new Provost. Vice President Clements will remain in charge of DECO.
The “Hogan Commission,” put into law last year, has as a goal to look at funding formulas for state higher education to come up with a long-term plan for funding. Pres. Caret is on this commission. They will begin meeting bi-weekly as soon as the session is over. This is an effort to build a more rational process associated with funding.
Pres. Caret noted that the Spellings Commission came up with a series of recommendations. As a second step to that process, she held a 2.5 day seminar on the commission to look at aspects of the task-force report closely. The biggest issue appears to be the accreditation issue—whether we should be doing this ourselves along the guidelines of national organizations, or whether the Department of Education should be doing this.
Smaller issues: The system has been looking at issues of non-tenure-track full-time faculty. One result of this has been funding health benefits for these faculty. Also under discussion are retirement benefits. In the old days, such faculty wouldn’t remain here over 6 years, according to AAUP guidelines. That process went away, so now we have non-tenure-track faculty that have remained here longer than 6 years. In the Fall of 2008, if you’ve been in service 10 years or more, retirement benefits will be provided. In Fall of 2009, anyone here 6 years and over will get retirement benefits. After this point, this policy will carry for anyone here over 6 years.
The system is about to move forward on health benefits for same-sex couples. The feeling is that the power structures are open to providing these benefits; many states have done this already. One problem is that the health benefits of USM are the same as state benefits; this makes the question politically more complex. Nevertheless, USM plans to move forward with this.
Updates from Annapolis: The State Legislature is considering several bills on tuition, related to capping tuition, which TU has already agreed to pass. There is a bill for providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants (they would have had to attend HS here, be applying for citizenship, and paying income taxes). There is a cultural diversity bill (a House and a Senate version) to come up with plans to insure that cultural diversity is built into the curriculum. Finally, the House bill on the MBA is continuing to draw a lot of discussion. The Sun and the Examiner both published editorials in support of Towson. Pres. Caret asserted that this is not an issue that should be before us; universities should be working together to educate our citizens.
Prof. Vatz asked if it would be beneficial or detrimental if the University Senate were to pass a resolution with regard to this issue. Pres. Caret replied that the campus hasn’t really been involved in this discussion as a body. It could be helpful for the Senate to pass such a resolution. Prof. Vatz clarified that the illegal immigrant tax was income tax. The President confirmed. Prof. Vatz also expressed concern that the retirement benefits for lecturers would come out of faculty salaries.
Prof. Brennan asked about same-sex benefits, noting that other states have avoided much controversy by using the language of “partners.” He asked if this would be the avenue USM would take. The President concurred.
REPORT OF THE PROVOST, Vice President Clements:
Vice President Clements reported having had an exciting first day as Provost. He acknowledged the amount of work to be done in this position. He noted that he was open to advice and help from faculty.
He noted that the focus of the recent President’s retreat was the 2010 plan. They discussed budget cuts, as well. This will affect faculty hires and enrollments.
Prof. Sullivan asked if Associate Provost Leather would remain in the office until the end of the semester. Vice President Clements confirmed.
Prof. Zimmerman asked when the announcement about tenure and promotion decisions for 2007 would be made. Vice President Clements affirmed that he received documentation on that today: all decisions have been made, and these will be announced campus-wide shortly.
Prof. Vatz asked about whether retirements would be announced.
Prof. Ballengee asked if there is any concern about teaching load numbers, university-wide? She mentioned rumors that CLA is raising its workload.
The President said that there have been no concerns. Prof. Ballengee asked him to clarify whether or not he or the Provost had expressed any concern to any of the colleges about the need to raise their teaching load. The President confirmed that he had no such concerns, nor had he expressed any such concerns to the Deans. In fact, he added, TU has been more vocal than ever to USM about our plans to move to a Research-Intensive status, and USM has been supportive of that move.
Prof. Pitcher asked about the status of the Faculty Handbook Chapter 3 document.
Prof. Zimmerman read a statement from the UPTRM Committee addressed to the Senate, regarding this document:
a. The UPTRM Committee, in light of its status as a subcommittee of the University Senate, registers a concern that the Chair of the Committee was not asked to present a complete, revised copy of the document at issue either to the members of the University Senate or to the University Senate Executive Committee.
b. The Committee noted that the “information” copy (version 3/02/07) of the UPTRM document was incomplete as circulated and that the Chair of the UPTRM Committee was not on the official distribution list.
Vice President Clements said that he looked forward to reading the document.
Prof. Zimmerman suggested that Dean Exner be allowed to speak to Vice President Clements about the document.
Prof. Vatz noted that, at some point, the Senate has to “fish or cut bait.”
Prof. McLucas noted that the Senate should express appreciation to the UPTRM Committee.
AAUP REPORT, Prof. McLucas:
The AAUP has scheduled a meeting for Wed., April 11, at 4:30. At 3:30 in the same location, the junior faculty are meeting with the President.
The AAUP has already scheduled next year’s Faculty and Friends Crab Feast / Bull Roast for Friday, Sept. 28th, 2007, at 6 PM at the Auburn House Pavilion.
Next year the AAUP will be addressing more closely the issue of collegiality and its role in P and T decisions.
Pres. Caret added that TU was one of the campuses that aggressively embraced the Boyer model as a means of assessing faculty for promotion and tenure. Pres. Caret will be working with V.P. Clements to produce guidelines for teaching, service, and scholarship.
Prof. Pitcher noted that there is still some confusion about these things.
SGA REPORT, Senator Dieguez:
Senator Dieguez noted that SGA has made an effort to push for the Senior Experience in Campus Life. Campus Life has responded with a solid Senior Week, whose schedule may be accessed at the following URL address: www.towson.edu/seniors. Senator Dieguez encouraged faculty to notify their students of these activities.
SGA is encouraging faculty to honor book-ordering deadlines for the upcoming semester. In response to high textbook prices, SGA found that professors are not turning in their book orders on time. This helps students to sell back their books, and have a larger selection of used books in the coming semester.
SGA Elections are coming up soon. He encouraged faculty to encourage their students to vote.
Prof. Vatz urged the Senate to formulate a motion regarding the MBA issue.
He proposed the following:
“In view of the success of TUs MBA program, and in view of the need for higher education to operate independently in the state of Maryland, the sense of the Senate is to oppose any interference of the legislature in any of TU’s undergraduate and graduate program offerings.”
Prof. Pitcher suggested that we should include the President’s argument about educating the citizens.
Prof. Rosecky noted that the Legislature’s argument aims at the heart of TUs MBA program and inhibits our ability to grow.
Prof. Little felt it was important to emphasize the steps that TU took to pursue building this program.
Ultimately, the Senate formulated the following motion:
“Whereas the UB/TU MBA program has been successful, whereas higher education has the need to operate independently in the state of Maryland, whereas the citizens of Maryland need to have a range of quality and affordable higher education options, and whereas TU has followed all proper procedures for the adoption of such a program, the Towson University Senate gives support to the current UB/TU MBA program and supports the need for TU and other USM institutions to maintain and create undergraduate and graduate program offerings in accordance with its professional expertise and independent of the State Legislature. The Towson University Senate specifically opposes House Bill 81 and Senate Bill 29.”
The motion carried unanimously, 14-0-0. (Motion 06/07-19)
Prof. Vatz mentioned that this should be publicized. Prof. Sullivan promised that he would run it by the President.
1. Motion 06/07-17:
Approve instituting an Annual Report of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, to be presented to the University Senate every April.
(Senate Executive Committee)
Debbie Seeberger and Prof. Paz Galupo passed out handouts regarding diversity on campus.
The motion passed unanimously, 14-0-0.
2. Motion 06/07-18:
Accept Annual Report of the Student Financial Aid Committee. (attached)
(Senate Executive Committee)
Prof. Vonnie Shields was present to answer questions.
Prof. Little asked about the membership of the committee.
Prof. Zimmerman expressed disappointment about the attendance of some members of the committee. Senator Dieguez noted that student attendance on committees is a widespread problem. SGA is assessing how to hold students accountable for these things. Prof. Zimmerman suggested that the committee should have rules for attendance and substitution.
The motion passed unanimously, 14-0-0.
3. Point of Information: Academic Calendar
(Academic Affairs)
Prof. Sullivan explained that the academic calendar is under discussion, to begin Fall semester on Mondays, Fall 2010.
4. Point of Information: Salary Data
(Senate ad hoc Salary Committee)
Prof. Sullivan distributed handouts featuring comparative salary data and figures.
Subcommittee: Rick Vatz, John McLucas, Christine Eith, and Tim Sullivan, as the ad hoc Senate Salary committee, have been reviewing Towson’s salary information.
Prof. Rosecky noted that there are fixed costs and variable costs. We now have 4000 more students than we did in 2001. He wondered where all of the tuition money is going, considering the fact that faculty is appearing as a fixed cost, since the numbers are not rising. Prof. McLucas added that the tenure-track and tenured faculty are providing the scholarship and service that help to drive the university forward.
Prof. Vatz discussed the problems with Towson’s current Merit policy, which contributes to TU’s current problem with salary compression.
Prof. Sullivan noted that the Senate might want to address the question of what the purpose of Merit is. There are big market distinctions in terms of salary. The Senate should consider whether Merit ought to also reflect these market distinctions.
Many Senators then noted various ways in which salary disparities are becoming a serious problem for the University. Some of these problems are the result of new hires, long-time service, and unequal departmental means.
Prof. McLucas noted that market norms should be instituted not only for new hires, but also for existing faculty.
Prof. Guerrero suggested that there should also be data available for gender differences in salary. Prof. Brennan suggested that he would also like to see the breakdown with regard to assumptions about entering faculty and their cost-of-living needs (including families, single, schools, affordability).
V.P. Clements expressed surprise and disappointment that the number of full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty has not risen in accordance with our growing enrollment. He expressed the feeling that now is the time to look at this information and re-assess it.
Prof. Little added that TU has 142 full-time non-tenure track faculty. CUSF jumped on the issue of retirement benefits, because it saw that the universities from the old BoR system are the ones not giving the benefits.
Prof. Sullivan adjourned the meeting at 6 PM.