Faculty Council Business Meeting
Monday, December 16, 2002
Anne and Charles Duncan Hall, Conference Room 1049

Present: John Zammito (Speaker), Ed Akin, Bill Barnett, Steven Crowell, Dean Currie, Chandler Davidson, André Droxler, Malcolm Gillis, Deborah Harter, Tom Haskell, Lynne Huffer, Hannah Landecker, Gene Levy, Scott McGill, Julia Morgan, Bob Patten, Jennifer West, and Mark Wiesner. Absent: Stephen Baker and Herb Ward.

(1) Presidential Search (Zammito): The Speaker acknowledged President Gillis’ announcement to complete his term as the sixth president of Rice University, and he thanked him for his support of Council’s efforts and for the many ways in which he has served Rice University. Zammito asked the Board Chair how the Council could help with the arrangements to put in place faculty representatives on the Presidential Search Committee. Barnett responded that he will research that issue and then advise Council.

(2) Plans for Rice's Future, Part II (Bill Barnett,
Dean Currie, Malcolm Gillis, and Gene Levy): Council and guests continued their discussions of the following agenda items from their October 8 meeting:

(A) Athletics Finance
(B) Long-Run Master Plan for Facilities
(C) Honor Council
(D) Promotion Procedures

Zammito stated that these discussions have been very productive, and all present agreed to have another such meeting in the spring of 2003.

(3) Family/Maternity Leaves (ProposedPolicy Revisions) (Huffer): Huffer provided an overview of the current family/maternity leaves policy, and then described situations in some of the departments, of variances in “teaching relief” provided and “gender equality” discrepancies. Several of the members stressed the significance that family benefits have on recruiting and retention of faculty. Huffer stated that the Provost has agreed to the Policy Committee’s draft proposal for enhanced family benefits. She said that the proposal is pending for action by the legal counselors, who stated that the document will be ready by the spring semester of 2003. Council will then present the draft proposal for vote in the general faculty meeting on January 29.

Huffer described another on-going concern of the faculty, which is the need for a childcare facility. Those present expressed the importance of having a back-up system, a short-term-illness childcare facility for those who can not be taken to their usual day care provider.

(4) Unity of University (tensions pulling toward fragmentation into autonomous schools) (Zammito): Zammito gave a brief overview of Council’s concern that the university is straying from “one” institution unity. He then described some of the following present conflicts: (1) variances in degree requirements, (2) promotions and tenure policy issues, and (3) lack of adherence to faculty governance. He stated that it will be increasingly difficult to achieve a venue of excellence if the university does not give priority to unity. The President stressed the significance of having an appropriate diversity of balance, to be able to comply with the needs of each school. The following approaches for establishing solutions for those concerns were discussed: (1) providing a forum for faculty to develop a common curriculum/degree plan and (2) “University Professors” teaching outside of their main disciplines, to share their knowledge with the other schools. An ad hoc committee will be formed by Council to develop those proposals.

(5) Security/Privacy Issues (International students/faculty) (Zammito): Zammito described some of the increasing security difficulties confronted by their “international” colleagues and students in respect to the events of September 11. 2001. The Provost provided an overview of the main concerns of such emergency situations (i.e.: visa delays for citizens of other countries, coming in/out of the USA, and the FBI’s requests for confidential documents). President Gillis stated that he has been in frequent communication with the AAU regarding those security issues and will continue to do so.

(6) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m., and the next Faculty Council business meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, 2003, 12 noon, Esther M. Cohen Dining Room, Cohen House.

Ellen Butler
Secretary