RSCC Faculty Senate Minutes
Thursday, March 23, 2006, 2:30 p.m.
1. Attendance:
President: Safdie, Robert
Vice President: Lanza, Don
Secretary: Crotty, Pat
Sub Council Rep:
Past President: Alfonso, Robert
Parliamentarian:
Business/Technology: Fox, Brad; Wurth, Pat; Rath, Dave; Meghabghab, George
Health Science: Young, Marty; Robinson, Jean
Nursing:
Humanities: Knox, Jim; Thomason, Sarah;
Library: Vaughn, Laura
Math/Science: Bailey, Pat; Arcangeli, Kathy; Mabry,
Marianna;
Social/Behavioral Science: Gomezdelcampo, Stella; Cordell, Sharon; Doyle, Jim
2. Motion to approve agenda: Agenda was unanimously approval.
3. Motion to approve minutes: Minutes of February 24, 2006 Faculty Senate Meeting were
unanimously approved as written.
4. Treasury Report: Acct. # 2-61920 Starting Balance $720.00; Current Balance:
$532.93 No Changes to report.
5. Election of Officers: Officer election will take place in the April meeting.
6. Proposal for Faculty Senate Constitution change: With the increase in academic
divisions from five to six, Don Windham made a motion that was seconded by Robert
Alfonso to change Section VI, article A, number 3 from:
“Representation of academic divisions shall be equal, with five Senators and one
alternate elected from each. The library shall be considered a division with one
Senator and one alternate elected. In addition, the Senate membership will include
the president, vice-president, secretary, past-president, RSCC TBR Faculty Sub-
Council representative, and the parliamentarian (if appointed from outside the elected
senate).”
After much discussion the following change (bolded below) was passed:
“Representation of academic divisions shall be equal, with four Senators and two
alternates elected from each. The library shall be considered a division with one Senator
and one alternate elected. In addition, the Senate membership will include the president,
vice-president, secretary, past-president, RSCC TBR Faculty Sub-Council representative,
and the parliamentarian (if appointed from outside the elected senate).”
7. Van Pooling: Don Windham presented information from J. Neely about the possibility
of leasing 15 passenger vans from Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) for those interested in
van pooling to and from the various campuses. This service could be provided at a fee to
each rider monthly. With the increased cost of fuel this option of transportation may be of
interest to some faculty as well as students and support staff. It was suggested that J. Neely
continue to pursue this issue and that a needs study may be appropriate to determine interest
and or commitment if provided.
6. Committee Reports
A. Faculty Evaluation Committee – A second pilot was completed this semester for use
of the on-line evaluation. Kristi Roberson-Scott will give a report at the April 28th
Faculty Senate meeting. FS President Robert Safdie will send out information for
senators to review prior to the April meeting. Senators will vote at the April meeting on
whether or not it supports going forward with a one year trial for the new evaluation
system next year. Don Lanza reminded senators that all General education courses will be
involved in an academic audit of which D. Raines is chair. This will be due January 2007.
B. Curriculum and Academic Council meeting - There was a meeting on March 17. A
report will be given at the next faculty senate meeting.
C. Faculty Sub-council – No report
D. Promotion and Tenure Committee – Sarah Thomason provided clarification of the
new TBR policy for the length of Probationary Employment. The new promotion and
tenure policy states:
“Probationary faculty may be employed on annual tenure-track appointments for a
probationary period which may not exceed six (6) years. Upon completion of five
years of full-time service to the institution, a faculty member may declare his/her
candidacy for tenure at the beginning of the sixth year of service.”
This is a change from current RSCC policy of 5th year of service.
E. Benroth Update - Don Lanza reported that ballots have been sent and are
due March 29th. Selection should be completed by the end of April.
7. Issues and Concerns with Distant Learning - A short discussion about the lack of
evaluation of distance learning and on line courses occurred. George Meghabghab
suggested those who teach be surveyed by a committee for peers. It was suggested if the
present pilot for online evaluation of faculty is successful, this may meet this need.
8. Next Meeting: April 28, Walden Dining 1:30 Harriman
9. Adjournment -- 4pm
Respectfully submitted: April 24, 2006
Approved: April 28, 2006
Patricia Crotty, MSN, APRN BC
Associate Professor
Secretary Faculty Senate 2005-06