Faculty Council Minutes

Present: John Zammito (speaker), Stephen Baker, Bill Barnett, Steven Crowell, Dean Currie, Chandler Davidson, Andrè Droxler, Malcolm Gillis, Deborah Harter, Tom Haskell, Seiichi Matsuda, Barbara Ostdiek, Bob Patten, Herb Ward and Mark Wiesner.
Absent: Ed Akin, Lynne Huffer and Jennifer West.

(1) Plans for Rice’s Future (Bill Barnett, Dean Currie, Malcolm Gillis and Eugene Levy): Gillis stated that meetings with the Faculty Council began last year to discuss the issues that affect the future of the university, and they were found to be very helpful. Zammito said that the Faculty Council would like to discuss strategic planning issues and faculty involvement in all of those issues, and there are specific points under that that have come up. A second major issue of concern is unity and fragmentation in the university — the way in which the university pulls together and pulls apart. The Council and guests then discussed the following subjects:
(A) Athletics Finance
(B) Long-Run Master Plan for Facilities
(C) Honor Council (deferred for lack of time)
(D) Promotion Procedures (deferred for lack of time)
Zammito stated that the Faculty Council will schedule another meeting with the president and board chair for discussions of topics that were not covered in today’s meeting. However, the council has a full schedule of business for this year, so it will try to fit in another meeting for that purpose before the end of the semester. If not, the council can certainly schedule it for the spring semester.

(2) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m. The next Faculty Council business meeting was scheduled for noon Oct. 22 at the Cohen House.

Faculty Council Business Meeting
Oct. 22, noon
Cohen House

Present: John Zammito (speaker), Ed Akin, Stephen Baker, Chandler Davidson, Andrè Droxler, Deborah Harter, Tom Haskell, Lynne Huffer, Julia Morgan and Bob Patten. Absent: Steven Crowell, Seiichi Matsuda, Barbara Ostdiek, Herb Ward, Jennifer West and Mark Wiesner.

(1) Minutes (Sept. 24 and Oct. 8): The Oct. 8 minutes were approved as written; however, the minutes for Sept. 24 will need to be extended and presented at Council’s meeting on Nov. 12.

(2) Discussion of Junior Faculty Replacements on Faculty Council (Baker): Hannah Landecker, Scott McGill and Julia Morgan were invited to become Faculty Council members and to attend today’s meeting. McGill and Landecker were not available, but they will attend Council’s meeting on Nov. 11. Jennifer West will be asked to continue her present Faculty Council service.

(3) Faculty Council Election Reform (Akin/Baker): Akin presented Council’s revised proposal (for amendments to the bylaws) for Faculty Council service terms to be reduced from four years to two years for the ”Assistant Professors” positions. The following motion was made:
”I move that we forward this to the general faculty for vote in the Oct. 29 meeting.” (vote, unanimous)

(4) Mid-Term Review Language (Zammito): Zammito stated that if the language in the Mid-Term Reviews document (distributed in today’s meeting) is acceptable to Council, it must be included in Rice’s Policy 214-96. The following motion was made:
”I make the motion that this document be carried forward to the general faculty for vote in the Oct. 29 meeting.” (vote, unanimous)

(5) Shepherd School Degree Requirements (resolution to present to general faculty) (Zammito): The speaker described Council’s findings regarding the impact caused by the altering (via the General Announcements) of the undergraduate degree requirements. The Council discussed the language of the following draft resolution, which they plan to present to the general faculty:

DRAFT RESOLUTION — On the Shepherd School Degree Requirement Changes:
In the spring of 2002 the Dean’s Council unilaterally altered the degree requirements in the Shepherd School of Music and placed these revised requirements in the General Announcements for academic year 2002-2003. This was in violation of the general faculty’s authority to determine curriculum and degree requirements. The prior degree requirements for the Shepherd School remain in force.
Proposals for degree requirement changes must be submitted to the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Upon that committee’s recommendation, Faculty Council brings the matter before the general faculty for consideration.
After discussion, the following motion was made:
”I make the motion that we request that this resolution topic be added to the agenda for the general faculty meeting on Oct. 29.” (vote, unanimous)

(6) Maternity Benefits (Huffer): Huffer described a discussion with Provost Eugene Levy concerning legal matters pertaining to changing the present maternity leave policy (regarding parental distinctions, adoption situations, child-care issues, etc.). She stated that Levy was supportive of the revisions that were suggested. The Policy Committee will meet with the provost and the general counsel to work up a proposal that incorporates these revisions.

(7) Confirmation That We Will Be Sending Honorary Titles Policy to the General Faculty for Consideration (Akin): Akin distributed copies of the proposed Honorary Titles Policy (with the revised wording discussed during Council’s Sept. 24 meeting) and he made the following motion:
”I move that we take this policy to the general faculty, as we agreed during our last meeting.” (vote, unanimous)

(8) Possible Dates for Second Meeting This Fall with President, Board Chair, etc. (Zammito): The speaker stated that another meeting with the president and board chair is needed to discuss the topics that were not covered in the Oct. 8 meeting. Council asked the secretary to query all concerned about their availability in December for that meeting.

(9) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m., and the next Faculty Council business meeting is scheduled for noon Nov. 12 at the Cohen House.

Ellen Butler
secretary