Faculty Council Minutes

Faculty Council Minutes

Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
April 13—noon
Cohen House

Present: Akin, Bayazitoglu, Dailey, Dharan, Caldwell, Cox, Ghorbel, Mutchler, Patten, Rea, West, Wiener and Wilson. Absent: Ambler, Droxler and Wittenberg.

The agenda consisted of: (1) Sexual Harassment Policy, (2) Request from the AAUP, (3) Policy 201-97 as It Pertains to Nontenure Track Faculty, (4) Policy 324-99, Research Misconduct, (5) Sale of Class Notes and (6) Election Report.

(1) Sexual Harassment Policy: Council unanimously voted to forward a draft of its revised document, Rice University Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures, to the president for administrative review.

(2) Request from the AAUP: A letter from the president of the Rice chapter of the American Association of University Professors was distributed prior to the meeting. On the issue of equity for part-time and nontenure-line teaching faculty, Wilson prepared charts showing that the trend at Rice has been flat—total numbers have not changed significantly. Council unanimously agreed to this conclusion.

(3) Policy 201-97 as it Pertains to Nontenure Track Faculty: Council decided that this, the second issue raised in the AAUP letter, requires additional consideration. Faculty Council’s policy subcommittee will proceed with a further study and present its findings at the first council meeting in the fall.

(4) Policy 324-99, Research Misconduct: The policy currently reads:
1. If the alleged offender is a faculty member, the president will determine whether to initiate proceedings under Policy 201-97, Section 8, to consider dismissal or a severe sanction against the accused faculty member. If the president concludes that the alleged misconduct, if true, would justify a minor sanction, the president will refer the matter to the faculty member’s dean.
Council unanimously approved recommendation of the following revision:
1. If the alleged offender is a faculty member, the president will determine whether to initiate proceedings under Policy 201-97, Section 8, to consider dismissal or a severe sanction against the accused faculty member. The procedures to be followed shall be those outlined in the Faculty Council’s Procedure for Investigating Accusations Warranting Severe Sanction, Including Dismissal, Against Faculty Members. If the president concludes that the alleged misconduct, if true, would justify a minor sanction, the president will refer the matter to the faculty member’s dean.

(5) Sale of Class Notes: Council was asked to recommend a course of action on this issue. After discussion, it was moved and seconded that council recommend prohibiting the sale of class notes or other materials by students for commercial collection or dissemination or for other commercial purposes. The motion was unanimously approved.

(6) Election Report: It was reported that Stephen Baker won the only contested election, Any Rank at Large, a four-year term (2000-2004) on Faculty Council and University Council, replacing Bill Wilson. John Zammito, in an uncontested election, replaces Martin Wiener to a four-year term on Faculty Council. As no one was nominated in Election 2 (Assistant Professor, Division A, on Faculty Council and University Council) and Election 3 (Assistant Professor, Division B, on Faculty Council) these positions will be filled by Faculty Council by appointment or a subsequent election in the fall.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Joan Reid, secretary

Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
May 4—noon
Abercrombie Lab A227

Present: Ambler, Bayazitoglu, Caldwell, Cox, Dailey, Droxler, Ghorbel, Patten, West, Wiener, Wilson and Wittenberg. Absent: Akin, Dharan, Mutchler and Rea.

The agenda consisted of: (1) Report on Actions Taken to the President, (2) Salary Report, (3) Kinesiology Department Report and (4) New Business.

(1) Report on Actions Taken to the President: Wilson reported on the following three items that had been discussed in Faculty Council’s April 13 meeting and subsequently given to the administration.
A. Policy 324-99, Research Misconduct: The new language, as presented in the previous Faculty Council proceedings, was accepted.
B. Sexual Harassment Policy: Under review by the administration.
C. Sale of Class Notes: The administration agrees with Faculty Council’s recommendation to prohibit the sale of class notes or other materials by students for commercial collection or dissemination or for other commercial purposes.

(2) Salary Report: Following discussion, the recommendation that council place on its agenda for 2000-2001 the topic of effective faculty recruitment was moved, seconded and unanimously approved.

(3) Kinesiology Department Report: Members were given a copy of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Kinesiology Department to the provost, which will be placed on next year’s agenda.

(4) New Business: The issue of a paid maternity leave was brought up. After discussion, Wilson stated that he would ask the University Standing Committee on Faculty and Staff Benefits to examine the issue.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Joan Reid, secretary