Faculty Senate

March 13, 2019

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
March 13, 2019 

Present: Seanna Annis, Alice Bruce, Dick Brucher, Stephanie Burnett, Sandy Butler, Paula Drewniany, Phil Dunn, Scott Dunning, Nuri Emanetoglu, Per Garder, Sam Hanes, Leonard Kass, Anil Raj Kizha, Margo Lukens, Molly MacLean, Grant Miles, Patti Miles, Renae Moran, William Nichols, Deborah Saber, Howard Segal, Kathryn Slott, Andrew Thomas, David Townsend, Phil Trostel, Mark Wells, Clayton Wheeler, Provost Jeff Hecker, VP Research Kody Varahramyan, Xudong Zheng, Jen Bonnet (PEAC), Jennifer Chiarell (CEAC), Jaqulin Wallace (Grad Stud Gov) Harrison Ransley (Undergrad Rep) 

Absent: Erik Blomberg, Emmanuel Boss, Mauricio da Cunha, Julie DellaMattera, Mark Haggerty, Torsten Hahmann, Nancy Hall, Valerie Herbert, Margaret Killinger, Colt Knight, Peter Koons, Robson Machado, Robert Meulenberg, Christopher Nightingale, Nigel Pitt, Laura Rickard, Deborah Rogers, Michael Scott, John Singer, Sean Smith, Mona Therrien, Stephanie Welcomer, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy,

The meeting was called to order at 3:15 pm

I.  Welcome, Announcements and Comments
Harrison Ransley (Undergrad Student Rep) asked Faculty Senate to consider requesting an extension for Add/Drop week. Some classes only meet once prior to the Add/Drop period, it doesn’t give students enough time to assess the class. If they drop after the Add/Drop period they don’t have the opportunity to add a class, which can then impact financial aid. Student Government hasn’t drawn anything up yet but wanted Faculty Senate to have a heads up on the issue. He also asked that faculty be accommodating to students that are late or don’t show up to class when no snow day is called and roads are less than ideal.

Dave Townsend announced nominations for Faculty Senate will take place between now and the next meeting.

II.  Approval of Minutes
December 12, 2018
Approved

III.  Committee Reports
BOT – Patti Miles
One meeting was canceled due to weather but another did take place. Discussed, the Sightlines report that 47% of buildings are over 50 years old. Also discussed was the University using a lot of fossil fuel to run, there is little green energy used.

Academic Affairs – William “Dee” Nichols
Regarding Infosilem, the Taskforce found from 2015 – 2019 schedule conflicts were cut by 90%. The taskforce also discussed the Constraint Form and how to streamline it.

Still looking at Monday/Wednesday classes, similar to Tuesday/Thursday. It can be done but details are needed. Moving towards Spring 2020 implementation but will meet with Kim Page to look at any pitfalls.

Q.  Will that schedule be in conflict with labs?
A.  Yes, those are the details that need to be worked out.

SET –just beginning conversations to look at the 50% of courses using the system.

Gen Ed – Subcommittee of Academic Affairs – Sam Hanes
Sam made a request for Faculty and Graduate Students to volunteer for the assessment sessions after finals. He asked for names to be forwarded to him. The assessment will take place May 17, 2019 8:30 – 12:00.

Comment: Provost Hecker stated the assessment is a great initiative and that there is a small stipend for participants.

Jeff St. John stated the Instruction Constraint Form does need revisions to the tiers. Once done it will go to the Academic Affairs Committee and Elected members.

Monday April 1, and Tuesday April 2, there will be open forums for NECHE. An email will be sent to all faculty, staff, and students with times and location. A nine-member NECHE team will be visiting campus. There is a document on the UMaine home page, hoping for good representation at the meetings.

At the March Elected Members meeting Jeff St. John and Kim Page will provide information on Infosilem and steps taken with the Electronic Student Evaluations.

Q.  Provost Hecker asked for clarification, was it said that Infosilem reduced course conflict by 90%?
A.  Yes

Constitution & Bylaws – Grant Miles
No report.

Research & Scholarship – Deborah Saber & Nuri Emanetoglu
The committee met yesterday to plan for a meeting with the Vice President for Research. There is a motion under New Business. 

Finance & Institutional Planning – Mauricio da Cunha
There was a meeting with Provost Hecker last week to go over a letter regarding Faculty priorities for institutional planning etc. Discussed was approach and how to work together. One concern, if there is a lot of Strategic Vision, what that means for UMaine and for the entire System. If the BOT wants to invest how to respond. Dave Townsend suggested the Faculty Senate Research Committee come up with ideas on how to promote research. For instance, hypothetical, if $100 million a year from the legislature, how to spend, is there a plan. Do we need more faculty, capacity etc? If it’s determined to hire 200 new faculty, is there physical space available? There needs to be a plan and Faculty Senate should explore the issue. Goals should be 5 year, 10 year, and 20-year plans.

Q.  Should FIPCE be charged with working on this and can other faculty be involved, not just Faculty Senate members?
A.  Yes, possibly an Ad Hoc Committee.

University Environment – Erik Blomberg
There are two motions under New Business.

Comment: After the discussion regarding the shape of parking passes at the last meeting, it is being looked into.

Service & Outreach – Colt Knight
No report.

Committee on Committees –
One person is needed for the Review Committee for Visiting Libra Diversity. The committee will only have one meeting in April.

Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Clayton Wheeler
No report.

Library Committee – Howard Segal
No report.

Information Technology Committee – Patti Miles
At the BOT meeting Patti asked if changes made to MaineStreet would make it more user friendly. She was told they’d look into that. Microsoft Office software is obtained by using UMaine login and password but once in there are no updates. A Faculty survey done recently found many would like Adobe Pro. Patti will call the company for pricing. 

Reports of Faculty Members on Committees of the Administration
Molly MacLean commented on the Navigate Steering Committee. She also asked if there is an upcoming visit by Mary Mahoney O’Neil. Jeff Hecker said the visit is upcoming.

IV.  Announcements and Updates from the Administration
Provost Hecker said President Ferrini-Mundy apologized for not being in attendance. She’s attending a meeting at Carnegie Mellon regarding research opportunities for UMaine.

Regarding the Strategic Vision, attempting to communicate with campus regularly. Language has been finalized in three areas, Fostering Learner Success, Creating and Innovating for Maine and Beyond, and Growing and Advancing Partnerships. Information can be found on the UMaine website. There are mechanisms to engage campus on goals, strategies, and indicators to mark progress. Trying different venues to engage the campus community in conversation.

On April 8, there will be an Open Forum in Wells Conference Center. This forum will be designed to have working tables each discussing goals. March 14, a memo will be sent to Vice Presidents and Deans to engage people in their colleges regarding developing strategies.

Initiatives, UMaine System R&D, First Year Student Success, Graduate Education Summit, different units are examining their vision. The goal is to bring all information together and start laying out the bigger picture for future goals. Conversations will take place in March and April on Strategic Goals and strategies to achieve those goals. May, information draft with broad goals will be presented to the Board of Trustees. In the summer months, determine how to disperse and engage people.

Comment: A survey was sent this week regarding the Great Colleges Workforce. It’s an opportunity to assess several aspects and get a good idea on where we are regarding Visions and Values.

Q.  Regarding the email, is it a ranking?
A.  Focus will be a benchmark against other institutions but mostly information on UMaine.

Student Success Steering – the group has ten subgroups and has been very productive.

The first Tuesday after graduation the Provost will share key items from the committee.

V.  Questions of the Administration

Q.  Regarding the Unified Fee and motion from the December Faculty Senate meeting not being supported, because the fees go to colleges and faculty need to make a requests to the Deans Office. The Unified Fee Committee report from last May, it considered a small amount of the money collected, 10%. Is there a need for a mechanism for Deans to get more money if new courses are proposed etc.?
A.  Provost Hecker said there was a concern of adding more fees for students. The point, there’s not enough money distributed. He would like to work towards a better system but doesn’t think an increase is the whole answer. He’d like to have Deans audit how money is spent before adding funds. There may be an area funds are no longer needed; those areas should be examined first. One item in the motion was for a report on how money is used and he thought that was an important aspect.

Q.  When might the report come?
A.  Hoping for the end of the academic year.

Q.  But reporting on more than just Deans?
A.  Yes, Deans should go to the units.
Comment: But more than the Deans, a report on the other 90% of the money.

Q.  Can parking fees be raised to pave parking lots?
A.  The fees are part of each bargaining unit but the Provost would welcome a motion to change the fees and then submit that to bargaining units.
Comment: Claire Strickland said faculty rates should at least be raised to what students pay. Others stated it should be double.

And, if parking fees go up will it actually go to paving lots?

There will be a Budget Forum on April 9, 3 pm in 120 Little Hall and March 19, FFT meeting.

The President’s Inauguration is March 29^th. On March 28, Minsky Hall 3:00 – 4:30 there will be a Symposium with Susan Singer regarding STEM, Fostering Learner Success at American Research Universities: Challenges and Opportunities. There will also be a panel discussion after the symposium.

Q.  What is the thinking behind whether to cancel classes during bad weather?
A.  Provost Hecker said, hindsight for March 4, he wished there had been a closure or delayed opening. There is a committee making the determination but if they don’t all agree the Provost makes the decision. The process begins very early, Facilities employee is in contact with the Weather Service then notifies the committee. Conversations take place days ahead of a storm, the day of the committee starts at 5 am and takes the Weather Service report and weather all in to account to make a judgment. The considerations, can facilities personnel get in, all the equipment is working, etc. Predicting is difficult, hindsight is easy, and the committee tries to get it correct.

Dave asked if Jeff Hecker would attend an Elected Members meeting to discuss weather delays/cancellations further. He agreed. Harrison asked if he could be invited to that meeting on March 27.

Dr. Robert Dana stated people want to make the correct decision and have people know they have a choice on travelling to campus.

Comment: When students don’t show up it’s annoying but safety needs to be considered.

VI.      Old Business
No report.

VII.                New Business                    

Research and Scholarship Committee
March 7, 2019
Motion in Support of UMaine Research and Creative Activity Day
History: In 2016, the Research and Scholarship Committee was asked to propose a motion to encourage support from faculty for UMaine Research and Creative Activity Day. The motion was approved, however, overall support from faculty was not strong (i.e., students were not encouraged to attend by all faculty). The 2019 motion requests unified, ongoing, strong support for student attendance and participation in UMaine Research and Creative Activity Day.

The original 2016 motion approved by the Faculty senate:

Motion in Support of UMaine Research and Creative Activity Day
Research and Scholarship Committee
December 13, 2016

The University of Maine Research Day provides a high profile opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to present their research to the broader university and surrounding communities. The Faculty Senate also recognizes this event as an excellent mechanism to promote the breadth and depth of the research enterprise and creative activity at the University of Maine, and to showcase UMaine leadership in the state. The event aims at increasing the participation of the general public, business people, members of city council and the legislature. The Faculty Senate encourages student participation and also encourages faculty to utilize this showcase as a resource to be incorporated where possible into the learning experience in their courses. To facilitate these activities, the Faculty Senate encourages the office of the Vice President for Research to optimize the logistics to best accommodate teaching and research schedules during that day, and to communicate the schedule of talks and events well in advance of the event. The Faculty Senate looks forward to working with the Vice President for Research in future planning of the University of Maine Research and Creative Activity Day.

Motion in Support of UMaine Research and Creative Activity Day
March 7, 2019

The University of Maine Research and Creative Activity Day and its associated University of Maine Student Symposium provide a high profile opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to showcase their research, scholarship and creative activities. The Faculty Senate recognizes that this event also is an excellent mechanism to promote the breadth and depth of the research enterprise and creative activity at the University of Maine, and to demonstrate the University’s leadership in the State. The event aims to increase awareness of this leadership in the general public, business community, and the Maine Legislature. The Faculty Senate encourages student participation, and also encourages faculty to organize their course planning to utilize this resource by incorporating it into the student learning experience. To advance these activities, the Faculty Senate requests that the office of the Provost and the office of the Vice President for Research work together to optimize the logistics of the event day to best accommodate essential on-campus teaching and research schedules and to communicate the program of talks and events well in advance of the event. The Faculty Senate encourages faculty to: (a) accommodate student absences if students attend the Symposium (e.g., alternate exam time); (b) refrain from scheduling major course events (e.g., exam, presentation) on the Symposium day to accommodate students who are absent due to participation in the Symposium; and (c) cancel class—if possible—and encourage student participation in Symposium events by linking student attendance to an assignment grade. The Faculty Senate looks forward to working with the Provost and the Vice President for Research in future planning of the University of Maine Research and Creative Activity Day.

Discussion: The idea is this would be an expanded event and need to develop and electronic search to determine topics at the symposium. That way faculty could assign students to attend. Also have the date on the Academic Calendar so everyone knows when it is a head of time as classes are planned. There should also be a mechanism to gauge success each year. Also requested, the event be held on Tuesday/Thursday instead of M, W, F. 

Vote: Approved

Motions to Improve Equity Among Faculty Through Enhancing Options for Paid Family Leave
Environment Committee,
2/27/2019

Background. The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine believes in equity as a core value of our institution, and as such, University policies should strive to promote equity within the institution.   For University faculty, this means that existing policies should unequivocally avoid bias against faculty members based on gender or career stage.

For many faculty, the beginning of their careers coincides with starting or growing their families through birth or adoption of children. Unfortunately, the decision to start or grow a family has a disproportionate negative impact on the academic careers of women relative to men. Having children is the single most consistent predictor of women dropping out of academia at all levels, while for men having a family is positively associated with career advancement (Chronicles of Higher Ed; www.chronicle.com/article/The-Baby-Penalty/140813). Thus a University’s policies related to family leave are a critical component of promoting equity among faculty and ensuring that women faculty in particular are not adversely impacted by inequitable policy. 

Rationale. Federal law, under the Family and Medical Leave Act, mandates that full-time employees with a calendar year of employment are entitled to twelve weeks of unpaid leave following birth or adoption of a child. University of Maine System policy allows full-time employees to use six-to-eight weeks of accrued disability leave (sick days) for paid family leave following the birth or adoption of a child. The UMS-AFUM Agreement provides that full-time faculty members may use an additional 30 (business) days of accrued sick days which can amount to twelve weeks of paid family leave for faculty members who have accrued a sufficient number of sick days. In addition, tenure-stream faculty members who have exhausted their disability leave after the birth or adoption of child may be assigned alternative work responsibilities to teaching for a semester (or balance of a semester).

But therein lies the rub. New faculty members begin their appointment with no sick leave, and accrue it very slowly—one and two-thirds (1 2/3) days of sick leave for each monthly pay period. Consequently, a new faculty member would take about two years to accrue enough sick days to qualify for the UMS policy and about four years to accrue enough sick days to take advantage of the UMS-AFUM Agreement policy. This places newly hired faculty in a difficult position where they may have to choose between their pay check and taking adequate time off following the growth of their family. Furthermore, alternative work responsibilities can vary widely from unit to unit, as can the means for funding alternative work plans. Chairs and directors have sometimes expected faculty members to propose how their work will be covered, which is actually the job of the chair or director. Unit directors may not have previous experience with University family leave policies, and a power imbalance also exists between unit directors and pre-tenure faculty members, which may make untenured faculty hesitant to advocate strongly for themselves.

As a consequence of the above, our newest faculty, who are generally pre-tenure and early career, are placed at a disadvantage by existing policy, and women faculty are at a greater disadvantage than men. We believe that all full-time faculty members should be treated equitably, and an equitable family leave policy would entitle all full-time faculty, from the starting date of employment, to paid family leave for the time period provided under the AFUM agreement (i.e. 60 business days). We believe that modestly generous policy will enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain faculty members, and will improve equity among faculty at the University of Maine.

Motion 1
The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine moves that the Administration explore ways to improve family leave policy to provide twelve weeks of paid leave, including talking to local AFUM representatives about how to make 60 days of disability leave available to new faculty members for use as paid parental leave at their start of employment. 

Vote: Approved

Motion 2
The Faculty Senate of the University of Maine moves that the Provost and President work with Deans, Chairs, and Unit Directors to communicate family leave benefits and options to new faculty members, to clarify standards for arranging alternative workloads for faculty members taking family leave, and to determine resources for funding replacement necessitated during leave and by alternative work assignments. As a component of this, it should be made clear to all parties that while faculty may offer input into how their normal responsibilities (e.g. course coverage, maintenance of lab, research, or creative spaces) will be covered during leave, the burden of arranging such work and maintenance of physical spaces during leave rests with the University and should not fall on the faculty member proposing or taking contractual leave.

Vote: Approved

Faculty Senate Resolution
Whereas an historic “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Penobscot Nation and the University of Maine System, University of Maine (Orono)” was signed 10 May 2018 by Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation and President Susan J. Hunter of the University of Maine; and
Whereas this memorandum states that “The University of Maine recognizes that the Penobscot Nation is a distinct, sovereign, legal and political entity with its own powers of self-governance and self-determination, and recognizes its place on Marsh Island in Penobscot Nation traditional territory”; and
Whereas This declaration is the first signed, official recognition that for the “last 153 years, the University of Maine campus has occupied the traditional territory of the Penobscot Nation” (http://www.mainepublic.org/post/penobscot-nation-and-university-maine-chart-future-documenting-past#stream/0); and
Whereas the memorandum focuses narrowly on efforts to collaborate on curation of and providing access to Penobscot artifacts, and ensuring Penobscot community members a voice in what and how research concerning Penobscot culture and interests is performed, but does not specifically engage the consequences of officially recognizing UM’s occupation of Penobscot territory, so that it remains an open question whether the memorandum will serve as the first of a number of efforts to engage the larger historical and ethical context that defines UM’s de facto relation with the Penobscot Nation;
Therefore be it Resolved that the Faculty Senate hereby (i) recognizes and applauds the former president’s recognition of the status of the UM campus with respect to historic Penobscot territories, and (ii) commits itself to encouraging and supporting all faculty, student, staff and administrative efforts to collaborate appropriately and respectfully with the Penobscot Nation in exploring the consequences and ramifications of the President’s acknowledgement, as a matter of UM’s service to all the peoples within the geographic province of Maine.

Vote: Approved

 

Motion before the University of Maine Faculty Senate
March 13, 2019

Issue: Representation by one University of Maine Faculty Senate member at monthly meetings of the University of Maine at Machias Faculty Assembly, assuming reciprocal representation from the University of Maine at Machias

Background:
On February 4, 2019, at a meeting of the UM Faculty Senate Executive Committee with the president and provost, the president and provost floated the idea of our exchanging, at each other’s monthly meetings, a UM Senate representative with a representative from the University of Maine Machias’ Faculty Assembly.

The Senate Executive Committee discussed the matter at its monthly meeting on February 6 where there was general support for the idea.

On February 15, UMaine Senate President Townsend received a letter from UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy “request[ing] that the UM Faculty Senate discuss representation and participation from the University of Maine at Machias Faculty Assembly on the UMaine Faculty Senate”, and alerting Townsend that UMM’s Faculty Assembly was receiving a similar request.

The Executive Committee discussed the matter again on March 6 (after Townsend’s receipt of the president’s letter) where it was suggested that we begin the process informally, to avoid having to amend our Senate Constitution. A suggestion was made to send one representative to each of the monthly meetings of the UMM Faculty Assembly in Machias, and that we suggest they do the same. This informal arrangement would be for the time being – the remainder of the Spring 2019 semester – to be revisited and/or formalized next fall.

Townsend has spoken with University of Maine at Machias Faculty Assembly (UMMFA) President Dan Qualls, who said that his faculty also thought the idea had merit. However, the UMMFA expressed concern that such an arrangement might jeopardize the continuation of a UM Machias Faculty Representative to the UMS Board of Trustees. While not pretending to represent the UM Faculty Senate, Townsend expressed similar concern and suggested that a motion to exchange Senate-Assembly representatives go forward immediately, with the proviso that doing so cannot be cause for eliminating UMM’s Representative to the UMS Board of Trustees.

Motion:
Recognizing the shared interests of faculty at the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias, and in recognition of the need to continue with a BOT Representative from each campus, the University of Maine Faculty Senate (UMFS) hereby recommends that we assign a single representative, to rotate among Senate committee members, to attend monthly meetings of the University of Maine Machias Faculty Assembly, and we invite UMM to reciprocate.

Discussion: This seems very formal when it was supposed to be informal participation. It is informal or the Faculty Senate Constitution would need to be changed. Also, this doesn’t say they don’t have a vote. UMaine Machias would not have a vote per Faculty Senate Constitution.

Vote: Approved

Adjourned 4:40 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Grant Miles

Prepared by Kim Junkins