Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting

8 December 2000, 12:00 Noon, Cohen House

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

The agenda consisted of: (1) Approval of Minutes, (2) Disposition of Termination of Appointments Proposal, (3) Report on Jones School Promotions Guidelines, (4) New Statistics on Non Tenure-track Faculty Teaching in School of Humanities, (5) Request from AAUP for Speaker to Address Them Next Week, (6) Update on Search for Council Secretary, (7) Date of Possible Additional Faculty Meeting, (8) Report on Distance Learning, (9) New Business.

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

(2) Disposition of Termination of Appointments Proposal: As recommended in the previous Council meeting, the revised Report on Termination of Appointments was endorsed by Council and forwarded to the University Counsel. After her review, Counsel suggested a few changes. The administration is presently reviewing the document, after which Council will study all remarks and vote on final wording to be forwarded to University Council.

(3) Report on Jones School Promotions Guidelines: Patten reported that in recent meetings with the administration it was decided that this year's Promotion and Tenure regulations will be observed during the 2000-01 academic year. Patten will meet with deans of schools organized in a non-departmental manner in order to discuss proposed variations that would be in keeping with both P&T procedures and the uniqueness of these particular schools. Any variations recommended will be presented to both the Promotions and Tenure Committee and Faculty Council.

(4) New Statistics on Non Tenure-track Faculty Teaching in School of Humanities: Patten reported that Gale Stokes has developed statistics showing the following: The School of Humanities has 132 tenure/tenure-track slots, not all of which are filled. This semester the school employs 68 persons as academic lecturers, not counting 15 lecturers involved in LPAP (Kinesiology). Fourteen of the academic lecturers have 10 or more years of service. Of the 127 sections of introductory language courses we are offering this academic year, 101 (80 percent) are taught by lecturers (16 are taught by faculty and 10 by graduate students). In the English Department, 13 of the 27 courses at the 100/200 level are taught by lecturers; 6 of the 13 Humanities 101/102 courses are taught by lecturers; and of course in Kinesiology a significant part of their courses are taught by lecturers. Dean Stokes has convened a committee to study these findings. During discussion, it was suggested that the question might be asked, "When students come to Rice, what percentage of the faculty that teach them in their first year is not tenure track?" Council decided to keep a watching brief on these developments, at least until Dean Stokes has presented his proposal for enhancing the position of lecturer to the appropriate persons.

(5) Request from AAUP for Speaker to Address Them Next Week: Patten will meet with the AAUP chapter Monday, December 11 to respond to issues raised by AAUP.

(6) Update on Search for Council Secretary: Patten gave a report on the progress in the search for a Faculty Council Secretary.

(7) Date of Possible Additional Faculty Meeting: As there are several issues to bring before the faculty, an additional meeting has been scheduled for April 3, 4:00-5:30 p.m. If it becomes clear that this additional meeting is not needed, it will be canceled.

(8) Report on Distance Learning: Dharan distributed a comprehensive report on this issue followed by discussion. This report will be forwarded to the president with the recommendation that a committee be formed to study issues relating to faculty and university ownership of intellectual property and to assess the impact of teaching technologies on the university.

(9) New Business: A provision passed by Council in the late 80's stipulated that no University events be scheduled during dead week without the approval of the University Standing Committee on Examinations and Standing. The women's basketball team received the required approval and will have an exhibition game during dead week this semester. It was noted that other events are sometimes held during this period and that the whole issue should be reviewed next semester.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m. The next Council meeting will be held at 12:00 noon,Tuesday, January 23, at the Faculty Club.

Joan Reid,

Secretary