Get to Know Your Faculty Senate Open communication is central to an effective governance system. As the voice of the faculty in university policy and decision-making matters, the Faculty Senate wants to ensure that all faculty members are familiar with their representatives and have a number of means of contacting them and sharing their ideas, concerns, and priorities. We hope that the following information helps you better know your Faculty Senators and the workings of your Faculty Senate. Meet Your Faculty Senators for 2010-2011 The following table presents the Faculty Senators and Senate Leadership for the 2010-2011 academic year, including information on each members term of service. Heidi Buchanan Senator - Hunter Library Reference Librarian 227-3408 hbuchanan@email.wcu.edu David Claxton Senior Faculty Assembly Delegate Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dept. Reid 100 227-7360 claxton@email.wcu.edu Christopher Cooper Chair, Faculty Affairs Council Political Science and Public Affairs Dept. Stillwell 360 227-3861 ccooper@email.wcu.edu Elizabeth Heffelfinger Assistant Coulter 420 227-3930 heff@email.wcu.edu Catherine Carter Coulter 421 227-3931 ccarter@email.wcu.edu Beverly Collins (& Faculty Assembly Del.) Biology Natural Science 109 227-3663 collinsb@email.wcu.edu Cheryl Daly Assistant Educational Leadership and Foundations Dept. Killian 250C 227-2115 cdaly@email.wcu.edu Christopher Hoyt Chair, Academic Policy and Review Council Assistant Philosophy and Religion Dept. Stillwell 231 227-3972 choyt@email.wcu.edu 1
David Hudson Assistant Physical Therapy Dept. Moore 318 227-2288 dhudson@email.wcu.edu Leroy Kauffman and D.H. Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Economics Dept. Forsyth 124B 227-3480 kauffman@wcu.edu Ron Mau Senator - Kimmel School Assistant Construction Management Dept. Belk 224 227-2544 rmau@wcu.edu Erin McNelis Faculty and Senate Chair Mathematics & Computer Science Stillwell 440 227-3947 emcnelis@email.wcu.edu Kadence (Kadie) Otto Business Admin. and Law and Sport Management Dept. Forsyth 238 227-3548 kotto@email.wcu.edu Malcolm (Mack) Powell Biology Dept. Natural Sciences 132A 227-3649 mrpowell@email.wcu.edu Luther Jones Senator - FPA Assistant Theater Dept. FPAC 184 227-3849 ljones@email.wcu.edu Rebecca Lasher Assistant Social Work Dept. McKee G10-A 227-2774 rlasher@wcu.edu David McCord and Dept. Head Psychology Dept. Killian 301 227-7361 mccord@wcu.edu Elizabeth McRae History Dept. McKee 221C 227-3481 mcrae@email.wcu.edu Jane Perlmutter 2008-2011 Birth-Kindergarten Program Killian 276 227-3350 perlmutter@email.wcu.edu Bill Richmond Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Economics Dept. Forsyth 230 227-7192 brichmond@wcu.edu 2
Barbara St. John 2008-2011 School of Nursing Enka Campus, Haynes G-17 864-670-8810 x 224 stjohn@email.wcu.edu Phil Sanger Senator - Kimmel School Engineering & Technology Dept. Belk 220 227-2435 sanger@wcu.edu Vicki Szabo Chair, Collegial Review Council History Dept. McKee 206C 227-3911 szabo@email.wcu.edu Erin Tapley Senator - FPA Art Education Fine Arts Bldg. 225 227-3598 etapley@wcu.edu Ben Tholkes Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dept. Reid Gym 122-I 227-3843 tholkes@wcu.edu Charles (Chuck) Tucker Assistant School of Nursing Enka Campus, Haynes G-21 670-8810 x231 ctucker@email.wcu.edu Cheryl Waters-Tormey Faculty and Senate Vice Chair Geology Dept. Stillwell 308 227-3696 cherylwt@wcu.edu Laura Wright Faculty and Senate Secretary 2010-2011 Coulter 416 227-3927 lwright@email.wcu.edu Faculty Senate at WCU The Faculty Senate is the chief policy-recommending body of the general faculty providing for faculty participation in the governance and decision-making process of Western Carolina University. The Senate represents the general faculty as their principal voice to advise the Chancellor on the conduct of the university s affairs and represents the sense of the general faculty in the long-term development of the university s identity. It shall serve as a collegial forum for the airing of faculty concerns and suggestions about the quality of academic aspects of the university, including matters of instruction, curriculum, composition of the faculty and student body, research and creative activities, community outreach, university evaluation and planning, and other faculty and student affairs. The Faculty Senate consist of the representatives from each college of the university (Arts & Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, Hunter Library, and the Kimmel School), with each college granted two representatives (if they so choose) at a minimum, and additional senators based on the size of their faculty. Each college should have a proportionate amount of Senators as it does a proportionate amount of faculty, e.g. if Arts & Sciences has 33% of the university faculty, it would roughly have 33% of the senate positions. In addition to the Senators and the leadership team, the Chancellor (or a designee, often the Provost) and the senior member of the Faculty Assembly Delegation are considered members of the Faculty Senate. Though the leadership team, the Chancellor, and the senior member of the Faculty Assembly are not Senators, they are ex-officio voting members of 3
the Senate. Current Ex-Officio Members of the Senate Chair Erin McNelis Vice Chair Cheryl Waters-Tormey Secretary Laura Wright Chancellor John Bardo Provost for the Interim Linda Stanford Senior Faculty Assembly Delegate David Claxton Senate Councils Figure 1: Faculty Senate Structure at WCU Councils are the major units for faculty participation in the advisory work of the Senate. There are three councils. Academic Policy and Review Council (APRC) Members: Christopher Hoyt (Chair), Heidi Buchanan, Catherine Carter, Cheryl Daly, Luther Jones, Gary Jones, Rebecca Lasher, Kadie Otto, Phil Sanger, Chuck Tucker, and Beth Lofquist (Ex-Officio) Academic policy and institutional governance falls under the jurisdiction of the APRC. Areas of responsibility include: altering admission, graduation, instructional, or retention standards modifying academic policies including grading criteria, etc reviewing academic programs (i.e. inactivation, reactivation, and termination) Examples of issues worked on 2007-8, 2008-9, and 2009-2010: A+ grading, Academic Appeals policy, Attendance policy, Dual Degrees, Majors on Diplomas, Curriculum Review Process, Liberal Studies Task Force, Revising Curriculum Approval Forms, Academic Dismissal policy, Large Program monitoring incorporation into Program Review Collegial Review Council (CRC) Members: Vicki Szabo (Chair), Tim Carstens, Elizabeth Heffelfinger, Ron Mau, David McCord, Mack Powell, Bill Richmond, and Barbara St. John The jurisdiction of the CRC includes: annual faculty evaluation tenure, promotion and reappointment 4
post tenure review other issues related to faculty performance Examples of issues worked on in 2007-8, 2008-9, and 2009-2010: Madison ship, Faculty Handbook, Extending the Tenure Clock, Second and Fourth Year Reviews in Tenure Process Faculty Affairs Council (FAC) Members: Chris Cooper (Chair), Bob Adams, Beverly Collins, James DeConnic, David Hudson, Leroy Kauffman, Libby McRae, Jane Perlmutter, Erin Tapley, Ben Tholkes, Maridy Troy, and Alessia Zanin-Yost The welfare and development of the Faculty falls under the jurisdiction of the FAC excluding specific issues that are the jurisdiction of the other two Senate Councils mentioned above as well as Student Assessment Instruments are overseen by the FAC Examples of issues worked on in 2007-8, 2008-9, and 2009-2010 : Student Evaluations and Validation Plan for the Student Assessment Instrument, Parking, VA Tech Recommendations, Faculty Membership on UAC, Copyright and Patent Policy Revision, Faculty Memorial Other Committees and Councils Senate Planning Team The Senate Planning Team serves as a conduit from the General Faculty to the Faculty Senate. The Planning Team sets the monthly Senate agenda based on faculty input, develops a broad perspective and uncovers relevant background information, consults with administration, receives administrative suggestions for agenda items, and issues invitations to appropriate administrators and/or experts to upcoming Senate meetings. Planning Team members are the Chair of the Faculty, Vice Chair, Secretary, Council Chairs, and Chairs of Task Forces. The Senate will elect Senators at large as members of the Senate Planning Team as needed to ensure representation by at least one person from each of the colleges. Rules Committee The jurisdiction of the Rules Committee includes: reviewing the Faculty Constitution, the By-laws of the General Faculty and the By-laws of the Faculty Senate of the Faculty Handbook receiving and evaluating suggestions for amendments updating the Faculty Handbook as needed. The Rules Committee will consist of a minimum of four Senators chosen by the Faculty Senate at the first meeting of the academic year and will be chaired by the Vice Chair of the Faculty. Basic Procedures and Processes The annual Senate agenda is developed through faculty dialogue in General Faculty assemblies and meetings. General faculty meetings/caucuses for this purpose are held at least twice a year. Agenda items may be suggested in the Senate. Senate meetings are held each month. One week prior to each Senate meeting, the Planning Team meets to construct the next agenda, in consultation with the Chancellor, the Provost, or a designee. The Planning Team then issues invitations to the Senate meetings based upon agenda items. By the Friday prior to the Senate meeting the agenda is finalized and disseminated to the Senators and the rest of the University. The Senate meets on the following Wednesday or Thursday. If business is not concluded by the end of the day (5 p.m.) it will be extended to the overflow meeting time, at the same time the following week. In general, most items for Senate discussion are first handled at the council level. It is up to the councils to research and discuss the item. If the council deems the item ready for Senate discussion, they write it up as a formal resolution and bring it to the full Senate in the next monthly meeting. The first reading of the resolution is for the purpose of providing information and discussion. The second reading of the resolution is for action and/or voting. Once the resolution leaves the Senate, it is sent on to Administration for approval. 5