Faculty Council Minutes

Faculty
Council Business Meeting
Dec. 10, noon — Cohen House

Present:
Bob Patten (speaker), Ed Akin (deputy speaker), John Ambler,
Stephen Baker, Bill Barnett, Janet Braam, Dean Currie, Bala
Dharan, Malcolm Gillis, Tom Haskell, Lynne Huffer, Caroline
Levander, Eugene Levy, Seiichi Matsuda, Gordon Mutchler,
Barbara Ostdiek, Jennifer West and John Zammito. Absent:
André Droxler and Herb Ward.

(1) Plans
for Rice’s Future (Bill Barnett, chairman, Rice Board
of Trustees; Dean Currie, vice president for finance and
administration; President Malcolm Gillis; and Provost Eugene
Levy): The council and guests discussed the following
agenda items, which were not discussed during their Nov.
13 meeting:

• graduate
student housing
• size of the university
• research agenda
• pricing and financial aid structure
• graduate student support
• international agenda, including study abroad programs
• community engagement collaboration, outreach and
service
• bookstore
• faculty housing near the campus
• campus health center
• convocation center
• parking

All those present
agreed that they should meet in spring 2002 to discuss the
following topics, which will require more time than was
allocated for this meeting: curricular issues, information
technology, salary disparities, retirement issues, intellectual
atmosphere and student life issues and other appropriate
questions and concerns.

(2) Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. The next Faculty
Council Business Meeting was scheduled for Dec. 11 at noon
in the Esther M. Cohen Dining Room, Cohen House.

Faculty Council
Business Meeting
Dec. 11, noon — Cohen House

Present:
Bob Patten (speaker), Ed Akin (deputy speaker), John Ambler,
Stephen Baker, Janet Braam, Bala Dharan, Tom Haskell, Lynne
Huffer, Seiichi Matsuda, Gordon Mutchler, Jennifer West
and John Zammito. Absent: André Droxler, Caroline
Levander, Barbara Ostdiek and Herb Ward.

(1) Minutes:
The minutes for the Nov. 13 meeting were approved as written.

(2) Matters
Presented (Nov. 13 and Dec. 10 Faculty Council Business
Meetings by Barnett, Currie, Gillis and Levy): The council
reviewed the matters discussed with Barnett, Currie, Gillis
and Levy. Council concluded that it would be very productive
to have more such meetings in the spring of 2002 in order
to cover topics that were not discussed during the last
two meetings with the administration.

(3) New Program,
Professional Masters Degrees in Natural Sciences at Rice
University: Council discussed the issues pertaining
to offering a professional master’s degree. The motion
was made that because of the complexity of the issues involved,
this matter should be designated as a “two vote”
agenda item for the full faculty for the January/February
faculty meetings. The motion was unanimously approved.

(4) Report
from Policy Committee, Performance Reviews (John Ambler):
Ambler presented his committee’s report regarding its
recommendations for replacements to the section of Policy
No. 214-96, entitled “Nontenured Tenure-Track Faculty,”
and amended wording for Policy No. 201-01, section 6c. The
motion was made that the Policy Committee’s suggested
revisions be placed before the full faculty for vote in
the January faculty meeting. The motion was unanimously
approved.

(5) Report
from Committee on Compensation, Family/Maternity Leaves
(Jennifer West): West presented her committee’s
report regarding Policy No. 204-97, entitled “Faculty
Family, Medical and Professional Leaves,” and requested
the council’s guidance. Much discussion followed, and
West stated that her committee will have a proposal for
the council to review during the January Faculty Council
Business Meeting.

(6) Schedule
for Spring 2002 Business: The council requested that
Ellen Butler handle the matters involved in scheduling the
spring 2002 Faculty Council Business Meetings.

(7) Other
Business: Other agenda items were tabled because of
time constraints.

(8) Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 2 p.m. The next Faculty Council
Business Meeting was scheduled for Jan. 22 at noon at the
Card Room, Cohen House.

Ellen Butler
Secretary