May 6, 2020
FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
May 6, 2020
Zoom Meeting
Present: Lynn Atkins, David Barrett, David Batuski, Susan Bennett-Armistead, Erik Blomberg, Amy Booth, Alice Bruce, Stephanie Burnett, Kristina Cammen, Mauricio da Cunha, Paula Drewniany, Phil Dunn, Nuri Emanetoglu, Per Garder, Torsten Hahmann, Heather Hamlin, Colt Knight, Sara Lello, Robson Machado, Natalie Machamer, Ivan Manev, Robert Meulenberg, Grant Miles, Patti Miles, William Nichols, Elizabeth Payne, Nigel Pitt, Laura Rickard, Deborah Rogers, Deborah Saber, Michael Scott, Mary “MJ” Sedlock, Howard Segal, Kathryn Slott, Sean Smith, David Townsend, Peter Van Walsum, Todd Zoroya, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Faye Gilbert Interim Provost, VP Research Kody Varahramyan, Claire Strickland CBO, Robert Dana, Ken Ralph, Kimberly Whitehead Chief of Staff, Jeff St. John, Chris Lindstrom, Harlan Onsrud, Jen Bonnet (PEAC),
Absent: Donald Beith, Julie DellaMattera, Mark Haggerty, Emily Haigh, Sam Hanes, Judith Josiah-Martin, Leonard Kass, Anil Raj Kizha, Amanda Klemmer, Peter Koons, Margo Lukens, Renae Moran, Christopher Nightingale, Holly Schreiber, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Andrew Thomas, Phil Trostel, Mark Wells, Xudong Zheng, Peter Altmann (CEAC), SuriyaPrakaash LakshmiBalasubramaniam (Grad Stud Gov), Camryn Hammill (Undergrad Rep)
I. Welcome, Announcements and Comments
David Townsend stated that a decision was made a few weeks ago to give the Administration an opportunity to answer questions from Faculty Senate during this meeting. Margaret Nagle is on Zoom to convert questions into Google Docs, people can still ask questions in the chat box. Grant Miles and Patti Miles will also be available to answer questions on the recent faculty poll for fall planning that went out last week.
II. Announcements and Updates from the Administration
President Ferrini-Mundy thanked David Townsend for the last week of the semester and Faculty Senate and faculty for the last six weeks. In the last few weeks there has been innovation and problem solving across campus. Questions about the future and when decisions will be made, she appreciates the willingness to put students first and being flexible during Covid-19. Having expectations of how things are done and that’s all changed in a short time. In the last several weeks there have been solutions and decisions made quickly.
III. Questions of the Administration
Q. What is the status of the Provost search and will Faculty Senate be able to meet with candidates?
A. Yes, the search is still active and there will be meeting times set up. It’s different during this time but in the last couple weeks things have moved along. Finalist, if able, will come to campus around the week of the 24th. The search committee is hoping to have forums scheduled for faculty to meet candidates.
Q. Any idea when the return to campus will take place, restrictions lifted on labs?
A. President Ferrini-Mundy stated she sent a letter to the Governor, today, explaining how campus will start relaxing restrictions. She’s anxious to see research start again. Kody Varahramyan, VP for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, said the Covid 19 Continuity Taskforce was set up two weeks ago, the Faculty Senate Research and Scholarship Committee have members on that taskforce. They’re looking at essential research, procedures and when people can work on campus. The April 29th updated order from the Governor may mean things can be relaxed. A message is going out today or tomorrow. Coordination is going on with different areas/departments on campus, his staff are reviewing applications and recommendations will be made with safety in mind. People will be notified when projects can be continued on campus.
Q. How is the University preparing for return in the fall? Facilities Management has a list of 150 items for fall startup. Patti and Grant, what did the poll show?
A. Grant Miles stated that people had a difficult time answering due to the unknown, it made it difficult for some to evaluate options. A general concern, face to face classrooms, even in larger classes and what about after class lets out and students go about their lives. There’s no control over where students go. All ages were concerned with safety of students and their own if older. There was more concern with life circumstances, i.e., do faculty have kids, women were less comfortable with a return than men. A large number were in favor of a mix of online and face to face classes but a low response on two seven week terms. Asked about longer days or including Saturday classes had the most no’s. Approximately half of the respondents were ready to teach online.
A comment in chat stated, 110 gallons of hand sanitizer, plenty of masks, plexiglas and signage have arrived on campus.
There was concern for the impact on careers of untenured over tenured faculty. David stated AFUM came up with language for a “by” this semester for pre-tenured faculty.
Q. Kody Varahramyan was asked if any faculty representatives were on the taskforce.
A. Yes, there is faculty representation, fieldwork faculty members from agriculture and some others from NSFA have offered guidance.
Comments: There are many facets to fieldwork, faculty also work in jails, on ships, etc.
It was stated that the Faculty Senate Research and Scholarship committee also have members serving on the taskforce.
Q. How does field research work with the Governors orders?
A. Example, the Governor talked about agriculture being essential. Before April 29, a conservative thought was certain types of agriculture but after that date things will be more relaxed.
Q. Are there special provisions for research taking place on private and public land? I work on private land but contact owners via email, should there be special provisions for interacting with those people?
A. There should be permission; under Covid 19 private or public location, UMaine or not, criteria apply. Many students are at Jackson Labs where the facility is bound by UMaine guidelines.
Q. Is there a fact sheet to send to property owners or can they be directed to the UMaine website?
A. Send them to the website, there’s an FAQ there.
President Ferrini-Mundy said there are a couple points that have come up. She said the survey sent out was quite helpful. Regarding the career disruption, many are recreating courses so that should be part of documentation for the semester. Also, there are faculty changing research to deal with the pandemic and those that have changed direction to help the state. She hopes departments and PEER committees would take these things into consideration during faculty review. Some faculty changed direction to help the state during Covid 19. All questions weren’t outlined by the Governor so UMaine is working on getting definitions from that office regarding field work and research.
Q. When can everyone get back on campus and labs?
A. We’re just now coordinating with the UMaine System. Several committees are working on phases with the Governors phased openings. Hoping a phased restart will be available in a couple weeks.
Q. Is there an update on the Rising Tide Center and the Director search?
A. No update, there were no applicants so need to revaluate the center and look at the expectations for the position or how to separate the Ombudsman portion from Rising Tide. There may have been concern that the Ombudsman aspect won’t be as comfortable for some. When the new Provost is hired it can be looked at.
Q. With Susan Gardner being done the end of June, will the Rising Tide Center continue to exist without a director?
A. PACE (Provost’s Advisory Council on Equity) will continue, i.e., there are concerns among faculty that women may be more affected by work from home, etc. PACE will provide input and function. The center won’t be closed, funding may be borrowed temporarily but the center is not going away.
Q. Does this affect Women and Gender Studies, the Strategic Vision and Values plan also addresses equity?
A. Women and Gender Studies was separated from Rising Tide, as requested by Susan Gardner. Strategic Vision and Values goal this year, begin to set benchmarks on being a great place to live and work. NECHE data on gender, for instance, how often is a student asked to speak in class. The NECHE score for UMaine was 2.4 and Carnegie is 2.9. We need to look for actions to take next year to help students feel diversity is important based on their answers to the NECHE survey of 2017 and then results for 2019 will be available to help gauge progress.
This year the Great American College Survey has faculty views on whether this is a great place to live and work. Work needs to continue, whether someone applied for the position or not. Dr. Dana stated he’s looking to restore the Diversity/Equity position at EEO.
Q. To prepare for fall, is there any progress regarding the Childcare Center?
A. President Ferrini-Mundy stated yes. The Director of the Childcare Center is watching state and federal guidelines for training staff, following guidelines, etc.
Comments: Rising Tide addresses equity issues for faculty, women initially but now mostly under represented.
Q. How are decisions being made on dropping programs like IEI?
A. We’re using data from deans, student credit hours and cost per student credit hour, but this is just in the discussion phase. In the future, instead of the UMaine System saying numbers are low, there will be discussions with deans on programs that are growing, staying the same or ending. They’ll need to be looked at to reduce costs. IEI was intended to raise its own funds for expenses but that hasn’t happened.
Comments: The PCRRC has a review process that should conduct hearings through senate. Interim Provost Gilbert stated, discussions have not begun except some with department chairs to help examine things for FY21. The discussions aren’t just to eliminate programs; it’s also to see which should grow.
Q. Can Blackboard be kept through fall? Faculty are finding it difficult to move things to Brightspace.
A. There are many reasons to continue the move to Brightspace. It is mobile friendly for students and the cost of Blackboard is high. There will be a symposium on May 14 and 15, hoping many dial in and participate.
Comment: The timing is bad for the transition. Many faculty are frustrated with the process of migration.
Q. Why are vendors being selected for a new grant management system?
A. Kody Varahramyan stated PARS didn’t work well even when he started at UMaine in 2017. He looked at data and worked with the UMaine System in hopes of it being a three to six month process. It has now been three years but finally have narrowed it down to three finalists. The benefits are ease of use and productivity gains for faculty. PARS isn’t cost free, there’s maintenance and it’s clunky.
Q. Can you talk about the status of the NSFA and Honor’s College Interim Dean searches?
A. Official letters have not been sent, so no. Both positions are approved but can’t speak until it’s final.
David said, after asking if it was okay with President Ferrini-Mundy, he knew Mario Teisl has been named Interim Dean of NSFA. President Ferrini-Mundy said yes as long as he accepts.
Q. Jim McClymer asked about the BOT Academic Affairs Committee deciding to approve all tenure track new hires?
A. Patti said she thought it was more so the BOT is aware of filling a position not to approve.
Q. Question to Jim McClymer, what is the issue the new policy will have?
A. It takes authority away from campuses and gives it to people with no academic background. It’s also about making this huge change during the Covid shutdown, it’s concerning.
Comment: Are they deciding on the person or the position the person will be in? President Ferrini-Mundy said she thought it was just for information. She thinks some of the intention is good, the BOT looks at tenure approval and state they don’t know about some positions. It should be a celebration reaching tenure but if the BOT isn’t aware of the field or understand what is done for tenure, it takes away from a celebration. More discussions need to be held.
Ivan Manev commented that the BOT is for policy not administration.
Q. Can you identify resources to help faculty migrate to Brightspace?
A. Interim Provost Gilbert said she is currently getting estimates to hire additional people. It won’t be one on one sessions but workshops. Maybe faculty can create teams to assist each other with the migration.
With summer, peer to peer may be difficult. Maybe reaching out to faculty over the summer would be helpful.
Q. Harlan Onsrud stated the norm of young people is different from most faculty. Will there be guidelines issued by UMaine and if not followed by students is there a plan to deal with it? Riding through an apartment complex this week made it clear there is no social distancing going on.
A. Dr. Dana stated yes, there is monitoring going on off and on campus and will continue. Public health campaigns will also be done. There is concern but they’re working on it.
IV. Approval of Minutes
April 8, 2020
Approved
V. Committee Reports
BOT – Patti Miles
Patti stated, her understanding of the BOT proposal was for them to approve tenure lines before they were added. She asked, at the BOT meeting, if it was to approve a person and was told no. They’d be aware of these people ahead of time. The Brightspace changeover will take place. Patti said her switch was a bit of a hassle but learning something new can be. The timing is bad but it needs to be done. Regarding Unified Accreditation, several have asked to review the document but she believes the Chancellor asked everyone for input.
Q. During the Finance, Facilities, Technology Committee meeting, it was discussed that the government is receiving money from the Cares Act but most is going to students. When students are refunded, how much is a loss?
A. A vast majority is a loss, approximately 75% of the cost is in salaries. Gearing down residence halls saves some. $7.6 million was refunded to students. Auxiliary Services is trying to reduce expenditures, also some voluntary furloughs is savings.
Academic Affairs – William “Dee” Nichols
No report.
Gen Ed – Subcommittee of Academic Affairs – Sam Hanes
The committee will have a Zoom meeting on May 13th at 3 pm to discuss policies for incompletes.
Constitution & Bylaws – Grant Miles
No report.
Research & Scholarship – Sean Smith, Deborah Saber & Nuri Emanetoglu
No report.
Finance & Institutional Planning – Mauricio da Cunha & Mike Scott
No report.
University Environment – Erik Blomberg
No report.
Service & Outreach – Colt Knight
No report.
Committee on Committees – Grant Miles
There was a request from the Scientific Misconduct Committee. They try to get a variety of disciplines. Let Grant Miles, Debbie Saber or William Nichols know if you’re interested.
Program Creation & Reorganization Review – Margo Lukens
No report.
Library Committee – Howard Segal & Robert Rice
No report.
Information Technology Committee – Patti Miles
No report.
Ad Hoc Shared Governance
No report.
Reports of Faculty Members on Committees of the Administration
No report.
President Ferrini-Mundy presented a Sentiment of accomplishments for faculty. There will be hardcopy versions later.
UMaine President’s Cabinet Sentiment, Delivered to Faculty Senate May 6
VI. Old Business
No old business.
VII. New Business
No new business.
Adjourned 4:45 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Grant Miles
Prepared by Kim Junkins