Faculty Senate

November 18, 2020

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
November 8, 2020
Zoom Meeting

Present: Henri Akono, David Barrett, David Batuski, Donald Beith, Susan Bennett-Armistead, Amy Booth, Debbie Bouchard, Alice Bruce, Stephanie Burnett, Sandra Butler, Kristina Cammen, Mauricio da Cunha, Phil Dunn, Allison Gardner, Michael Grillo, Mark Haggerty, Emily Haigh, Heather Hamlin, Sam Hanes, Andre Khlil, Amanda Klemmer, Sara Lello, Margo Lukens, Natalie Machamer, Ivan Manev, Dmitri Markovitch, Derek Michaud, Sid Mitchell, Renae Moran, William Nichols, Harlan Onsrud, Elizabeth Payne, Anil Raj Kizha, Robert Rice, Deborah Rogers, Deborah Saber, Michael Scott, Mary “MJ” Sedlock, Asli Sezen-Barrie, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Kathryn Slott, Sean Smith, Andrew Thomas, Mark Wells, Todd Zoroya, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, John Volin Provost, VP Research Kody Varahramyan, Robert Dana, Kimberly Whitehead Chief of Staff, Jeff St. John, Jen Bonnet (PEAC), Peter Altmann (CEAC), Karina Iskandaro (Grad Rep)

Absent: Erik Blomberg (sabbatical), Nuri Emanetoglu, Per Garder, Colt Knight, Holly Schreiber, David Townsend, Peter Van Walsum, Ken Ralph, Chris Lindstrom, Kylie Trawick (Undergrad Rep)

I. Welcome, Announcements and Comments
No announcements.

II. David Batuski – Howard Segal memorial and a Moment of Silence
The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine mourns our loss of Howard Segal, Professor of History and long-serving, highly-active Senator, who passed away on November 9, 2020.
Howard joined the University Faculty in 1986, and by the early 1990s, he had been promoted to full Professor and was already well into his three decades of contribution to the Senate’s shared-governance mission. He served many terms as a prominent voice in deliberations in Senate meetings and working on many Senate committees – up until this current, sadly-ended term, through which he persevered over major health challenges.

Howard earned his PhD at Princeton in 1975, and prior to starting on UMaine’s tenure track, he had appointments at Franklin & Marshall, the University of Cincinnati, Dalhousie University, the University of Michigan, and Harvard University. Here at Maine, he has taught many, many rounds of introductory US History and upper level American History courses, as well as his ‘signature’ Science and Society and Technology and Society courses.

Howard was twice honored by the History Department with election to the Bird and Bird Professorship, which he held for a total of 15 years. He was chosen to present the Maine Heritage Lecture in 2017, in which he summarized major developments in the recent history of our University and included some strong advocacy for organizational changes to advance the academic excellence and standing of UMaine. Howard was never shy about expressing his well-thought-out and fact-supported opinions on matters related to the quality of academics at our University and higher education generally.

Howard’s industriousness and insights contributed immensely to his students, colleagues, and the UMaine academic community, at the same time that he was creating his impressive collection of scholarly work on the history of technology. He published eight books, one of which, Technology in America: A Brief History, earned recognition as an “Outstanding Academic Book” by the American Library Association magazine, and another, which was about Ford’s impact on technology, received the Henry Ford Heritage Association Annual Book Award. He also had 42 peer-reviewed journal articles, six encyclopedia entries, 20 essays, 11 columns in The Times Higher Ed (London), 13 review essays, six museum exhibition reviews, 18 newspaper Op Eds and other columns, 120 book reviews, many published conference proceedings, and, of course, numerous posts on his weekly Bangor Daily News Blog.

Howard was a member of boards and governing bodies of national and international service and academic organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa and the Society for the History of Technology. For many years he was the face of Phi Beta Kappa on our campus, serving most effectively as the president of the local chapter for the society, working to ensure that the most accomplished Arts and Sciences students of each UMaine graduating class were honored with Phi Beta Kappa membership. He also served on the boards of the University’s Page Farm Home Museum, the Maine State Museum, and Congregation Beth El in Bangor. And Howard loved to sing, so he was a mainstay of the Congregation Beth El choir for many years.

A prominent feature of interactions with Howard was his very frequent injection of humor – almost regardless of the subject under discussion. Colleagues, students, friends, and family members were frequent beneficiaries of his inimitable wit. His ironic comments and dry jokes were irrepressible, whether or not they were warranted by the occasion. They might often bring a rolling of the eyes, but almost always lightened the moment.

We also knew Howard as a devoted father to his son and daughter, Rick and Raechel Segal and devoted husband to his wife, Deborah Rogers, Professor of English and fellow Senator. And many of us knew that Howard was a twin – he is also survived by his brother, Robert Segal, professor of Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Howard Segal contributed immensely to thousands of UMaine students, the Department of History, the Faculty Senate and our University faculty generally, his scholarly field, and the local community.
We celebrate the gifts that his life brought to so many, and we will miss him profoundly.

Moment of Silence

III. Approval of Minutes
October 21, 2020
Approved

IV. Announcements and Updates from the Administration
Provost Volin said there have been several communications and surveys sent to students this semester. One final communication will go out today regarding technology issues. Thirteen percent of undergraduates and five percent of graduate students responded earlier that they have tech issues. UMaine Augusta, Hutchinson Center and Cooperative Extension offices are helping with open locations for students that have issues. The Keep Learning site is live for students to get more information they may need.

President Ferrini-Mundy commented on the tribute to Howard Segal. She said he was one of the first to reach out to her when she arrived at UMaine which she appreciated. An Athletics announcement just went out; Men’s ice hockey won’t be playing at Alfond this weekend but will play an away series next weekend at U Conn. Women’s ice hockey will be playing away this weekend.

The President thanked everyone, and faculty, for all the work done. She said it was important how UMaine pulled together with extraordinary work by faculty. Joanne Yestramski will be Interim VP for Finance and Administration and CBO, replacing Claire Strickland who retired. Campus is in the final weeks of Covid testing before students go home for break. The university will still be open after break but students will continue remotely.

Unified Accreditation is gearing up; standards will be reviewed in the spring. NECHE has specifics to the UMaine research mission with its being a research institution. The Alfond project is starting and teams are being constructed. If anyone is interested in participating please contact Provost Volin.

The calendar for next semester is being looked at for potential break days to help maintain student wellbeing. The entire semester, without breaks, could be too intense for students and faculty. The plan is to allow a little time but not enough so people leave campus.

By the end of the week twenty thousand people will have been tested this semester. Very few resident students tested positive for Covid; there was an outbreak in Facilities. It appears the signing of the Black Bear Pact was taken seriously. January 18, 2021 is the return date with testing being conducted like it was in the fall. The campus positivity rate was lower than the state rate.

V. Questions of the Administration
Q. Instruction Mode Codes from UMS Data Governance were sent last week. Looking at the website, fourth column titled Course Fee, says it is “assigned by campus”. What does that mean and who can answer that? If UMaine has no course fee but has online fees, what does it mean?
A. Provost Volin said different groups across campus worked on those definitions. There are nine and they wanted them to fit the national norm and all seven campuses. It may be a place holder since online is the only fee on the UMaine campus.

Jeff St. John said they met last week to figure which of the new modes would have an online fee attached. No course fees are proposed.

Q. Does that mean the online course fees were extra fees going to faculty to develop a course? It would be nice to have a clear definition so faculty know which mode to choose.
A. Some of the language still refers to ITV which is very old. The group will come back with recommendations.

President Ferrini-Mundy said faculty have shown versatility, teaching multiple modes at the same time which is not simple. Wouldn’t all teaching be considered high quality and not have any of the fees?

Michael Grillo said in advising, fee or no fee is confusing.

Q. Mark Wells mentioned he was speaking with a custodian and found out most took the Covid furlough and made more money not working. This particular custodian kept working because numbers went from 80 down to 6 and they didn’t want the supervisor left more shorthanded. Shouldn’t those that stayed be recognized?
A. Dean Dana said numbers were actually 20 out of 80 custodians went on furlough. Chris Lindstrom said there were a number that took voluntary furlough but he didn’t know the exact number.

Q. It was mentioned that a committee is looking at fee recommendations, are there any faculty on the committee?
A. There’s not really a working group; there’s been one meeting and it’s not planned to be ongoing. The group is trying to see which mode the online fee should be applied to.
Provost Volin said these would start with the summer term system-wide but he’s happy to discuss it with the Academic Affairs Committee.

IV. New Business
November 18, 2020
Chancellor Dannel P. Malloy
University of Maine System
Chancellor’s Office
15 Estabrooke Drive
Orono, ME 04469

James R. Erwin, Board Chair
University of Maine System
Board of Trustee Office
15 Estabrooke Drive, Office 251
Orono, ME 04469

Dear Chancellor Malloy & Board Chair Erwin,

With due deliberation and full faculty senate support, the faculty senate of the University of Maine endorses the University of Southern Maine’s resolution regarding the recent negative and unilateral actions of the University of Maine Board of Trustees regarding Changes to Retiree Health Benefits that was submitted on November 10, 2020 by the Faculty Senate of the University of Southern Maine. We join the Senates and Assemblies across the system in opposition to the changes of the employees’ retirement healthcare benefits from a group plan to an individual party plan.

Resolved, that the faculty of the University of Maine joins the University of Southern Maine and the other system campuses and stands in strong opposition to the Trustees’ action to strip UMS employees of their longstanding group healthcare plan for all retirees, whether faculty or staff, and urges UMS administrators to reverse course.

Respectfully submitted,
William Dee Nichols, PhD

Professor of Literacy, Language and Culture
University of Maine Faculty Senate President
Email cc:
University of Maine President Ferrini-Mundy
UMaine AFUM Jim McClymer
University of Maine Faculty Senate Executive Committee
USM Faculty Senate Chair Blake Whitaker

Vote: Approved

Motion to Change the Default Completion Period for Incomplete Grades for Undergraduate Students
Academic Affairs Committee, November 2020

Introduction:
Upon receiving an Incomplete grade, undergraduate students have by default a maximum timeframe of 140 days to complete their work for consideration for a grade. Undergraduate students receiving Incomplete grades over the Spring semester find that they can have difficulties completing their work in facing a disadvantage in that the Summer months, when Faculty are off-contract and students are typically working in various employments, makes their completing their coursework difficult. The Office of Registrar notes that they receive many requests for extensions beyond the 140 days, permissible by UMaine policy which allows for up to of one year from the course’s end. In response to these factors, the Office of the Registrar has suggested a 160 period as more reasonable. Faculty will continue to retain the right to set a shorter period of time for completion or grant an extension beyond the default date for a period of up to one year.

Current undergraduate policy (https://studentrecords.umaine.edu/home/grades-and-grading-policy/) reads:
Upon selecting the “I” grade during the grade input process, the instructor will be prompted to provide information related to the incomplete grade including:
1. A description of the assignment(s) needed to complete the course requirements and have the “I” replaced by a regular grade.
2. Grade reflecting quality of the work submitted to date.
3. The date by which work is to be completed. The maximum time allowed is 140 days from the end of the semester in which the class was held. The “end of the semester” is defined as the final day that grades may be submitted. [Exceptions to this rule are rare and allowed only with the formal approval of the faculty member, the faculty member’s department chairperson or school director, and the associate dean of the faculty member’s college. The formal process for requesting extensions requires the completion of the Extension for Incomplete form. The extension is not to exceed one year from the original end of the semester in which the course was taken.]
Once the grade is posted the details of the Incomplete Contract are available to the student in MaineStreet.

Motion:
The Faculty Senate requests that the Registrar’s Office change the default maximum time from 140 days to 160 days for undergraduate students to complete their work for consideration for a grade.

Discussion: In a meeting this week a question was asked about setting times. Do students actually see the time? It was stated that it will need to be checked but the timeframe is not in the catalogue. It’s between the faculty and the student. MaineStreet should show students how much time they have.

Vote: Approved

VI. Committee Reports
BOT – Harlan Onsrud
Harlan said that the beginning of BOT meetings is for citizen comment and many retirees signed up to comment with six signing up to discuss divestment. The comments lasted over two hours. Many spoke of the higher drug and treatment costs with the new insurance plan. One retired faculty said she was fine under the current plan but the new plan would cost an additional $2000. She was concerned she could lose her house. The changes were done in secret by saying it’s a personnel action. Someone mentioned that only the very healthy would benefit from the new plan. Many suggested the action be corrected. The USM resolution was read into the record. It appeared the BOT wouldn’t change course unless legal action was taken. Harlan stated, in his opinion, that it appears the appointment of anti-labor lawyers to the BOT wasn’t accidental. He felt this was planned ahead of time.

Academic Affairs – Michael Grillo
The committee will meet on November 25th to discuss the “Fresh Start Rule”. Students can get a fresh start but it “stalls” them for five years. That doesn’t seem good for retention. The committee also hopes to discuss plans for the pandemic/post pandemic policies.

Gen Ed – Subcommittee of Academic Affairs – Sam Hanes
No report.

Constitution & Bylaws – Debbie Saber & Kathryn Slott
The committee is working out a way to distribute recommended changes to the Constitution and Bylaws to faculty. It will probably be distributed via Survey Monkey.

Research & Scholarship – Sean Smith & Nuri Emanetoglu
There’s an updated survey asking for impacts of the pandemic on research and scholarship activity. The committee will refine the survey and distribute for review, hoping to roll it out in December. The committee will meet on November 24th.

Finance & Institutional Planning – Mauricio da Cunha & Mike Scott
There is a meeting on December 9 with committee members and December 18 with members and administrators. One topic will be faculty representation on the BOT. The committee would like to look at fees and how to reduce the number. FIPC is in the process of developing transparency budget processes from last semesters work.

President Ferrini-Mundy said she’d like to comment more on budget processes at the next meeting she attends. She also said once people hear Joanne Yestramski they will see she is committed to budget transparency and collaboration. They are currently looking at the FY 22 budget, which seems to be a good place to introduce different ideas. There will be public forums.

Q. Where do we stand on this year’s budget and the possibilities of faculty hires or is there entrenchment coming?
A. President Ferrini-Mundy said she will check that with Joanne Yestramski who is looking at where things are currently. At this point, before looking at things, there’s no plan for entrenchment.

University Environment – Erik Blomberg & Amanda Klemmer
The committee is working with Ad Hoc on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion regarding keeping the Rising Tide Center services available. Additional items being discussed; partner accommodations, the promotion status of teaching faculty, and an increase in childcare.

Service & Outreach – Colt Knight
No report.

Committee on Committees – Heather Hamlin
No report.

Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Margo Lukens
No report.

Library Committee – Howard Segal & Robert Rice
No report.

Faculty Information Technology Committee – Todd Zoroya & Michael Scott
No report.

Ad Hoc System Shared Governance – Renae Moran
The committee will meet tomorrow.

Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Margo Lukens
The committee is looking to continue collaboration with the University Environment committee for a history of Rising Tide and how services can continue. Provost Volin stated he could meet with the committee at some point.

Reports of Faculty Members on Committees of the Administration – Heather Hamlin
Mike Scott commented that the Define Tomorrow Panel has reviewed the first 40-50 proposals and will be meeting before winter break for final review of those proposals.

VI. Old Business
Dee mentioned he’d like to look at past motions and minutes for items requested of the administration.

Adjourned 4:20 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Slott

Prepared by Kim Junkins