October 19, 2006
Loyola Marymount University
Faculty Senate Minutes
October 19, 2006
Collins Center
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Present: Cynthia Becht, Jeffrey Davis, Charles Erven, Sonny Espinoza, Vicki Graf, Paul Harris, Yvette Lapayese, Chun Lee, Mel Mendelson, Blake Mellor, Ed Mosteig, Liz Murray, Jennifer Offenberg, K. J. Peters, Ralph Quiñones, Damon Rago, James Roe, Rhonda Rosen, Sue Scheibler and Seth Thompson
Excused: Najwa Al-Qattan, Omar Es-Said, Rudy Fleck, Gary Kuleck, Nina Reich and Jonathan Rothchild
President Graf called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. She began the meeting with a prayer for freedom.
I. Kristine Brancolini, Dean of University Libraries
- Kristine Brancolini, Dean of University Libraries, introduced herself to the Senate. Dean Brancolini comes to LMU from Indiana University where she was the director of the Digital Library.
- Dean Brancolini spoke about the Hannon Library that is scheduled to open in May 2009. Architectural plans for Hannon are being finalized. The draft of the schematics is finished and has been sent out for bids among various contractors. Interviews with contractors are scheduled to take place in mid November 2006. Hannon will be approximately 120 sq. ft., 3 floors above grade with a 2-story basement below grade.
- Some of the priorities that Dean Brancolini is working on are:
1. Fundraising for the new library. While most of the fundraising is done,
there is approximately $14 million left to raise, which the university hopes
to receive from match donors who typically participate in the home stretch
phase of a fundraising campaign. In addition, Dean Brancolini would like
to raise funds for library collections and endowed positions. The library
needs a preservation librarian and department. A digital library is also in
development with a new digitization laboratory planned for Hannon.
2. The library is looking at ways of revising its collection development procedures. The School of Education is the pilot academic program for revision, with the burden of primary collection development shifted to librarians.
3. The library is looking into building subject expertise among librarians with possible new librarian positions in Social Sciences, Art and Humanities and Science and Engineering.
4. Student Study Award - This year the library is instituting a cash award for undergraduate research papers or creative projects. Students will be nominated by faculty. The cash award will be given to 3 recipients with a first prize of $750, and second and third prizes of $250 each.
The Award aims to stimulate more expert usage of library materials. Similar awards have had successful outcomes at other universities such as Indiana, Berkeley and Washington State.
5. Librarians’ promotion system – Dean Brancolini is working on establishing a new system of promotion for librarians.
The Senate discussion included suggestions that Dean Brancolini might contact the governance sub-committee to continue a conversation on librarian promotion. Ways in which the library can provide current issues of electronic journals that are not available through vendor databases were also discussed, with Dean Brancolini telling faculty that the library may be able to pick up issues individually and to contact Glenn Johnson-Grau, Head of Collection Development
II. Report of the President to the Faculty Senate
- Since Commencement is an academic event, Rose St. Onge, University Registrar, would like faculty to be involved. President Graf is looking to create a sub-committee to start talks.
- 360˚ Review – CFO Tom Fleming is undergoing this evaluative process. A university-wide survey on CFO Fleming’s operations will be disseminated. Focus groups will be part of the process.
- Deans’ Council Meeting – President Graf and Matt Dillon discussed their attendance at a recent Deans’ Council meeting in order to promote conversation between faculty and deans. It was reported that the deans were willing and want to participate in conversations. Drew Bridges, university’s legal counsel, was present and discussed issues of faculty involvement. President Graf felt it would be beneficial to invite Drew Bridges to visit the Senate and will look into his availability for the November meeting.
III. Faculty Handbook, Reduced Teaching Load and Fourth Year Review -- Matt Dillon
- Faculty Handbook. Matt reported that in December 2006, a new PDF file of the handbook will be uploaded and it will be more concise and reflect the current changes. He hopes to have the latest revisions ready to send out to the faculty for a vote in December. These might include the Early Application for Tenure, External Review, and Fourth Year Review policies. The Senate discussed the issue of approving the pre-tenure sabbatical policy, which CAO Rose had altered after the full faculty vote. Matt Dillon recited the alteration which reads “pre-tenure sabbatical may not be taken for an entire academic year.”
It was moved and seconded that the language that Matt Dillon recited be approved. An amendment was introduced and adopted with 1 abstention to add “because it clarifies the Senate’s original intention.”
- Reduced Teaching Load. The survey of possible plans to reduce the teaching load was brought to the CAO Council. The Council felt that deans would want input on it and expressed some apprehension that the survey would be mistaken for a vote instead of gathering information.
Discussion focused on the options provided in the survey and how the issue of service is not addressed adequately. Senators pointed out that options adding extra requirements to current workloads in order to achieve a 3-2 teaching load are unsatisfactory as many AJCU institutions have established 3-2 teaching loads for faculty doing equivalent levels of work that LMU faculty currently do at the 3-3.
It was moved and seconded that the Senate table the discussion and when it is revisited that the Senate revise the survey to be more useful to the faculty. Motion passed unanimously.
- 4th Year Review. The draft policy outlines a 4th Year review and retention vote for all tenure track faculty members prior to November 10th of the faculty member’s fourth year. The purpose of the review is to evaluate whether the faculty member is functioning at the level expected of a fourth year tenure track faculty member according to the following criteria:
• The faculty member has become established as an effective teacher.
• The faculty member is becoming an effective, responsive advisor.
• The faculty member is focusing primarily on scholarship, while maintaining excellence in teaching.
• Although service is secondary, it is an essential element of the faculty member’s responsibility to the university.
• The faculty member has demonstrated that she or he is a valuable colleague.
Senate discussion focused on the tone of the fourth year review document. Concerns were voiced that the proposed review would be equivalent to faculty applying for tenure “twice” instead of providing evaluative assistance.
It was moved and seconded that the Senate table the discussion to the next meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Governance Sub-Committee Update -- Paul Harris
- Paul Harris expressed optimism in the Administration’s willingness to engage in conversation and provide support.
Discussion focused on concerns that faculty have expressed over lack of administrative support and a lost sense of community on campus. President Graf stated that she and Paul Harris planned the open forum, which will take place after the Senate meeting, to give faculty an opportunity to talk.
Further discussion included a hope that someone attending the faculty forum would meet afterwards with each dean.
V. Rank and Tenure Subcommittee
- Discussion focused on the number of letters that are expected to be put in the Rank and Tenure application. All letters go to the Rank and Tenure Committee as well as to the chair. It was stated that the number of letters was an issue that required further discussion.
- The discussion was moved to the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Submitted by: Cynthia Becht
Prepared by: Rosa Calderon
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