University Faculty Meeting – December 13, 2011 – Page 1

University of Idaho

University Faculty Meeting

Minutes

2011-12 Meeting #2, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

President M. Duane Nellis, presiding

[Video available at:

Call to Order: President M. Duane Nellis called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.

(Pacific) and welcomed all faculty in Moscow and across the state. There being

only 69 faculty members present, including 14 at University of Idaho Centers, a quorum was not achieved. The minutes of the September 14, 2011 meeting will stand approved as submitted by the Faculty Secretary.

In Memoriam: President Nellis read the names of faculty members who had died

since the beginning of the fall semester and asked for a moment of silent reflection in their memory.

Nelson Curtis

Professor Emeritus of Art & Design

- October 2011 –

Roy Hartzell Goetschel, Jr.

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

- November 2011 –

Lawrence H. Johnston

Professor Emeritus of Physics

- December 2011 –

President Nellis announced the appointment of Joseph Stegner as Special Assistant to the President. Mr. Stegner’s official starting date was December 1 and over the next weeks and months he plans to meet with University of Idaho colleges and units.

Faculty Senate Chair Paul Joyce introduced proposed changes and additions to the Faculty Staff Handbook (FSH) and to the University of Idaho catalog that had been passed by Faculty Senate during the fall semester. All changes and additions passed without vote, due to the lack of a quorum, with the exception of the proposed constitutional change to 1520 which requires a quorum and two-thirds affirmative vote to pass.

Chair Joyce briefly explicated the FSH policy changes, followed by a more detailed presentation of the new FSH 3205 – Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships policy. The Office of General Counsel and the Office of Human Rights, Access and Inclusion began developing this policy in early summer. It was widely vetted by numerous groups and committees, including the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI), Staff Affairs Committee (SAC), and Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC), and it is similar to a policy endorsed by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). This policy is not just for faculty and students; it addressessituations in which two individuals who areemployed by the University of Idahobecome involved in a romantic or sexual relationship, and where one of the individuals is in a role of authority over the other. For example, a relationship covered by this policy could be between a coach and an athlete; or between an administrator and an administrative assistant. This policy also outlinessteps to be taken to mitigate the circumstances, should such a consensual romantic or sexual relationship occur.

A faculty member asked about the junior-senior faculty relationships described in the policy. Chair Joyce stated these are only a few examples and that the important point is this policy covers consensual romantic or sexual relationships in which one person has authority over the other. This policy does not apply in situations where there is no line of authority between the individuals involved in the relationship.

President Nellis will sign FSH 3205 – Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships policy at the close of this meeting and it will become effective immediately.

Chair Joyce then briefly presented the curriculum changes to the University of Idaho catalog. Two items were routine departmental name changes, but two other items were fairly major and significant changes to the catalog. Regulation J reduces the minimum number of credits required for graduation from 128 to 120. Most of our peers require a 120-credit minimum for graduation. This change will not affect the core curriculum and it will not affect those academic units that wish to keep a higher minimum number of credits for degrees from their programs. The effect of this change is that a full-load for a semester now may be 15 credits, rather than 16.

The second curriculum change, Regulations B and C, affects students’ ability to drop without a “W.” Students wanting to drop a class without incurring a “W” on their transcripts must do so no later than the 10th day of the semester. Students will be permitted to drop a course through the 4th week of the semester, but after day 10 a “W” will be registered on their transcripts.

A faculty member asked if these catalog changes affect only entering students. Chair Joyce answered that these changes will apply to students registering in fall 2012 and forward. There is no grandfathering on Regulations B and C (changes to the deadline for dropping a class without a “W”). Under Regulation Jindividual departments may decide to keep the 128 credit major and if your department/program language currently states a 128 requirement, it will remain that way unless the department takes action to change it. If a department chooses to change to the 120 credit degree, they must take sending the proposed change to the University Curriculum Committee for approval.

President Nellis thanked Chair Joyce and Senate Leadership for their work with university policy and the catalog.

President Nellis then presented an overview of the University of Idaho at this time and a preview of the next legislative session. President Nellis described the state’s improved financial situation and said the governor may support CEC (change in employee compensation) funding. The governor may also support base level funding for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at Idaho Falls as well as other funding for new initiatives relating to research.

President Nellis congratulated faculty for their outstanding research efforts and highlighted a few programs:

  • Research partnership with Washington State University (WSU) in developing jet fuel from wood waste;
  • Climate variability and its impact on wheat and barley;
  • IBEST (Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies);
  • LASR (Laboratory of Applied Science and Research), creating new opportunities for working with businesses in the Pacific-Northwest;
  • Northwest Knowledge Network (NKN), providing data research;
  • Partnership with BYU-Idaho to provide access to Ed.D. for BYU faculty.

President Nellis noted other recent recognition and successes:

  • University of Idaho Foundation achieved a 20.4% return on investments during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, which places it in the top 5% of institution foundations nationally;
  • The public phase of our capital campaign begins April 28 and with a tentative goal of $250 million. We are more than half-way to that goal during the silent stage of the campaign;
  • The National Jurist ranked the University of Idaho Law school 13th out of 200 national schools for clinical opportunities;
  • Incoming University of Idaho students in fall 2011 had an average 3.4GPA, our national merit scholars rank us second highest in the Pacific Northwest;
  • Graduate student enrollment is up 1.2%, with slightly more than 2000 graduate students enrolled;
  • Dr. Karen Launchbaugh heads the College of Natural Resources’ new Rangeland Center, which presents another opportunity for national leadership;
  • Priscilla Salant, Director of the Office of Community Partnerships, has secured grant funding for the office which enables the University of Idaho to formalize its community partnerships;
  • Prof. Alexandra Teague, English, has recently won the California Book Award and is the recipient of a 2011 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship;
  • Dr. Jan Boll was appointed as Director of the Environmental Science, Water Resources and Professional Science Masters programs.
  • Drs. Larry Forney, Carolyn Bohach, Peter Goodwin and Aaron Thomas worked with President Nellis to create the President’s Doctoral Scholars in Stem award. This is a 3-year commitment of $50,000/year in funding targeted at minority doctoral students. This award program will enable the University of Idaho to compete nationally for top doctoral students.

In recognition of the many outstanding faculty at the University of Idaho, President Nellis announced a new mid-career faculty award which will be given to a maximum of 9 faculty each year. Qualified individuals will be either tenure-track or tenured and have been on the faculty for a minimum of 3 years. Award recipients will receive a temporary $5,000 increase in base salary.

President Nellis reminded faculty of the holiday reception scheduled for later this afternoon at the Student Union Building.

There being no other items of business, President Nellis adjourned the meeting at

4:17PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Gail Z. Eckwright

Faculty Secretary

Quote of the meeting: “Basically, in modern days, the typical course is three credits, 3 courses/15 credits is easier to deal with. That is mainly arithmetic in my view. And that is a mathematician’s perspective on change.”