Minutes Faculty Senate Meeting 2/26/10

Present: Schramm: President, Windham: Parliamentarian,

                Senators: Lanza, Thomason, Monday, Jenkins, Shloush, D. Ward, S. Ward, Hill, Gergen, Denton,

                               Rath, Nolan, Currie

 

Meeting called to order at 2:20.  Resolution was made (Thomason, Jenkins seconded) to continue without January minutes.  President Schramm recapped meeting with Dr. Goff.  There was discussion on ending the Good Friday holiday for staff/faculty by merging it with Spring Break.  RSCC is beginning a Maymester.  This year it will begin on May 9 after graduation.   Paint policy (GA-12-02) was reviewed.  President Schramm shared faculty concerns about building accessibility.  Current policy seems to have been implemented before full approval.  Schramm sent e-mail to VPs Whaley and Gibbs.

In old business, Steve Ward moved approval of the Senate’s new faculty office hours policy recommendation.  Lanza seconded and the recommendation was unanimously approved (see attached).

Sarah Thomason discussed the new class related to SAILS.  It is  COLS 1010.  It is a three hour free class (enrollment limited to 30) with two sections (one in Oak Ridge, one in Harriman).  Faculty should discuss it with advisees.  Sen. Thomason also asked that faculty take the teaching style assessment if they had not yet done so.

The interactive room subcommittee reported.  The committee, Denton—Chair, Cobb, Currie and Wurth has collected background and will meet and follow-up.

In new business, Senate discussed House Bill 3542 which would allow political appointees to be eligible for college leadership positions.  It was proposed (Shloush, Monday seconding) that RSCC adopt a resolution (see attached) from Columbia State Community College.  Motion was unanimously carried.

Executive committee is considering a new add policy which would allow a deadline date for adding classes.  Currently, students may add one week into the semester without permission.  Deans would like to extend into a second week with permission of faculty members and deans and then cut off all subsequent adds.  Senate was concerned with the lack of flexibility.  President Schramm agreed to discuss it with Whaley and provide feedback to Senate.

Ralph Monday discussed issues with the current evaluation procedure and feedback from senators and other faculty was sought. 

Meeting was adjourned at 3:30.

Respectfully submitted,

D. Windham