24 March, 2003 FPC Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2003
Room 158 Norman Hall
Members Present: Jim Archer, Phil Clark, Maureen Conroy, Silvia Echevarria-Doan, Paul Sindelar, Bridget Franks, Jane Townsend, Nancy Waldron, Elizabeth Yeager
Members Absent: Vivian Correa, Lamont Flowers
Others Present: Dean Catherine Emihovich
Waldron called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.
Agenda and Minutes
1. Approval of the agenda for March 24, 2003.
Clark made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted by Waldron. Sindelar seconded the motion. The FPC unanimously approved the agenda.
2. Approval of the minutes of the February 24, 2003 Meeting.
Conroy made a motion to approve the minutes. Sindelar seconded the motion, and the minutes were unanimously approved.
Reports from FPC Committees
· College Curriculum Committee.
Waldron stated that the next CCC meeting is scheduled for March 31.
· Undergraduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.
This committee has not met since the last FPC meeting.
· Graduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.
The March 7 meeting was conducted through e-mail correspondence between committee members. The next meeting is scheduled for April 3rd .
· Faculty Affairs Committee.
Townsend reported that the committee is in the process of scheduling its next meeting.
· Research Advisory Committee.
Conroy reported that the COE Research Advisory Committee met on March 20. She announced that the committee was in the process of developing a recommendation that it will submit to the FPC concerning doctoral research requirements. The committee will recommend that the FPC create a task force (possibly an ad hoc committee with representatives from each department) to study this issue further.
The committee has met with Dean Emihovich to develop the position descriptions for the director and program manager of the new COE research office.
· Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee.
The committee will hold its next meeting on April 3 to consider alternatives to the GRE (for graduate admission) and recruitment initiatives.
· Long-Range Planning Committee.
Archer reported on the faculty forum that took place on March 3. At the forum, Kay Hughes, Interim Director of Educational Outreach and Communications, presented information to the faculty about COE public relations efforts and the services her office could provide to increase COE and faculty visibility. Program development and graduate student recruitment issues were also discussed. Archer noted that Hazel Jones would post information about the forum on the FPC website for faculty review.
Waldron reminded committee chairpersons that the 2002-2003 academic year executive summaries for their committees must be submitted to Correa by May 2, 2003.
Report from the Dean
- Dean Catherine Emihovich reported that the UF budget situation was still uncertain. She noted that there have been no indications that callbacks would be necessary at this time.
- She updated the FPC members about several faculty searches that are currently underway.
- She has attended several alumni events, and noted that faculty members are well received at such events.
- She requested nominations for the first Scholarship of Engagement awards that will be awarded to recipients in four categories: university, college (two awards, one for COE faculty and one for P.K. Yonge faculty), school district, and community. These awards will honor people who embody the principles of the scholarship of engagement. At the university level, the award can be either for a faculty member whose research meets the criteria, or an administrator who promotes the kind of environment that makes this type of scholarship possible. For faculty (including teacher researchers at PKY), the award will honor people who engage in research that benefits the public and leads to action that facilitates change. For school districts, the award will recognize the commitment to a sustained partnership with UF to promote and disseminate research that leads to action and the public good. At the community level, the award will recognize either an agency that meets the school district criteria or a person who exemplifies a commitment to UF and/or the COE in disseminating research to bring about sustained change and a more equitable society.
Because these awards are given on behalf of the College, Dean Emihovich will appoint a review committee to serve with her that consists of the three other deans, Fran Vandiver, Director of P.K. Yonge, and two faculty members (probably the chairperson of FPC and the chairperson of the Scholarship Committee).
More information about the concept of the scholarship of engagement and relevant award criteria can be found at the Scholarship of Engagement website.
- Emihovich summarized the status of the Unit’s preparation for the NCATE-DOE-DCU accreditation review that is scheduled for April 5-9. She emphasized the review team’s focus on assessment, with particular emphasis on how data are used to make decisions for the continuous improvement of students, (educator preparation and advanced) programs, departments, colleges, and the overall Unit.
Unfinished Business
· Procedures for the Spring Faculty Meeting.
Procedures for the Spring Faculty Meeting that will be held on April 14 from 2-3:30 PM were discussed. Updated information about the following meeting-related issues will be posted on the FPC website:
- Rationale for Revisions to the COE Constitution
- Revised Language to the COE Constitution
- Voting Procedures
Waldron recommended that all faculty members be encouraged to attend. It is important that the meeting is well publicized and well attended by COE faculty members.
- Tenure and Promotion Guidelines
The FPC recently approved college procedures for tenure and promotion decisions. Several FPC members inquired about when the new guidelines would take effect. After discussing the issues involved with these particular guidelines and FPC recommendations for other issues, Clark recommended that the T&P guidelines take effect at the beginning of the 2003-2004 academic year.
Sindelar recommended that the FPC establish a time frame for the effective date of all newly adopted policies. He moved that policy changes that are recommended by the FPC be implemented at the beginning of the following academic year, unless the FPC designates a specific time for implementation of the new policy. Archer seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously.
New Business
- NCATE and FPC Interview: Monday, April 7, 2:00-3:00 PM
Dean Emihovich indicated that several accreditation review team members would attend the FPC meeting on April 7 from 2 to 3 PM. She recommended that all FPC members read the NCATE Institutional Report and become conversant with regard to the issues described in the report. She noted that review team members might want to understand the role of the FPC with regard to programs and college governance. Waldron noted that NCATE Standard 6 (Unit Governance and Resources) would be of particular significance for FPC members to review prior to the next meeting.
· Doctoral Dissertation Reviews
Conroy summarized the recommendations of the Research Advisory Committee about the COE procedures for reviewing doctoral dissertations before they are submitted to the editorial office of the Graduate School. She indicated that the COE is the only UF college that has a two-tier procedure, requiring a review by the COE graduate dean before a dissertation can be submitted to the Graduate School for editorial review. Faculty input to the RAC has supported changing the COE procedure to eliminate the first step in this process. It was noted that the graduate dean could refuse to sign off on a dissertation, and could communicate specific concerns to the dissertation chair and/or the chair of the appropriate department.
After an extended discussion that addressed the history of this policy, Sindelar moved that the first step in the current COE doctoral dissertation review be eliminated. Townsend seconded the motion, and the motion was passed (with one abstention).
- Annual Dean Evaluation
The COE Constitution (Article III, Section 1) specifies “the service of the Dean shall be reviewed annually by the faculty.” FPC members discussed the advisability of determining a general process to provide feedback about the services of the Dean. Waldron suggested the consideration of an ad hoc group that would work collaboratively with the Dean with regard to this evaluation (or review) process.
Because the Provost is responsible for evaluating the Dean, Clark noted that the faculty review is a “formative” rather than a “summative” evaluation. After further discussion, Sindelar moved that the FPC annual review process of the Dean begin with the 2003-2004 academic year. Echevarria-Doan seconded his motion, and it was passed by the FPC.
- Concerns about the College Curriculum Committee
Townsend inquired if the FPC should recommend that additional members from each department be assigned to the CCC because of the statement in the COE Constitution that non-CCC members may not cast a “proxy vote” for or against proposed curricular changes. She expressed concern about the importance of receiving input from faculty members whose program and/or departments might be impacted by a decision of the CCC.
Waldron noted that the “no proxy vote” language was in the old COE Constitution, and CCC is the only FPC committee that has this provision. FPC members recommended that this issue be addressed at the Spring Faculty Meeting, with a recommendation that this language be struck from the current constitution.
Adjournment
Conroy moved that the meeting be adjourned. Sindelar seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
