Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting

13 October 2000 &endash; 12:00 Noon

Abercrombie Lab A227

Present: Akin, Baker, Braam, Cox, Dharan, Droxler, Levander, Mutchler, Ostdiek, Matsuda, Patten, Zammito. Absent: Ambler, Bayazitoglu, West, Wittenberg.

The agenda consisted of: (1) Approval of Minutes, (2) Report on Termination of Faculty Policy, (3) Report on Jones School Faculty Governance Policy, (4) Report on Online Courses, (5) Report on Sexual Harassment Policies, (6) New Business: Appointment to Benefits Committee, (7) Other Business: University Calendar.

(1) Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.

(2) Report on Termination of Faculty Policy: A revised report was distributed by Cox. After discussion, Council was asked to study University Policy 201 in conjunction with this report and to email Cox with further recommendations. At our next meeting Council should be prepared to forward the report and recommendations to the President. In the course of this discussion it was also mentioned that the Policy Committee would like input from Council to identify other University policies that need reviewing in the near future.

(3) Report on Jones School Faculty Governance Policy: Akin distributed a document entitled "Jones Graduate School of Management Faculty Governance Policy" which had been approved by vote of Jones Graduate School Faculty, February 18, 2000, and a report prepared by the Faculty Council Policy Committee discussing the document. Council was seriously concerned that there were disparities between this policy document and University policy and procedures. By a vote of twelve in favor, with two abstentions, Patten was asked to meet with the Provost to discuss both the content and the process by which the document became policy. Patten will ask Cox, a member of University Council P&T, to accompany him in order to better determine how P&T will probably view this Policy. It became apparent during the discussion that records of University Policies related to faculty rights, responsibilities, and benefits need not only the original date or date of revision, but also the date showing when the policy was recommended by Faculty Council. As it stands now, it is very difficult for schools to determine what role Council has in policy. Akin asked Council's secretary to research all such University policies on which Council has acted or made recommendations during the past six years.

(4) Report on Online Courses: Tabled.

(5) Report on Sexual Harassment Policies: The University General Counsel is studying a report prepared and approved by Faculty Council during 1999-00. After she has an opportunity to discuss it with pertinent groups on campus, she will report her findings to Council.

(6) New Business: Appointment to Benefits Committee: Patten asked for a volunteer to serve on this University committee. The appointment will be announced at the next meeting.

(7) Other Business: University Calendar: Patten announced that President Gillis had asked him to form a committee to study the university calendar. Registrar Jerry Montag and Patten will see if in the future Rice calendars might be better coordinated with major federal, state, and religious holidays. Patten will report back to Faculty Council and hopes to have a choice of calendars for future years to offer for faculty consideration.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m. The next Faculty Council meeting will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, October 27, at the Faculty Club.

Joan Reid, Secretary