Council of University System Faculty
CUSF Meeting of February 23, 2006
Draft Minutes
CUSF Meeting
February 23, 2006
UMBI, Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB)
Present: Martha Siegel (Chair, TU); Lee Richardson (Past Chair, UB); E.
William Chapin (Vice Chair, UMES); John Collins (Secretary, UMBI); Vincent
Brannigan (At-Large, UMCP); John McMullen (At-Large, FSU); Patricia Alt (TU);
Alcott Arthur (CSU); Rahim Ashkeboussi (FSU); Zane Berge (UMBC); Dennis Coates (UMBC);
R. Michael Garner (SU); Stephanie Gibson (UB); Denny Gulick (UMCP); John
Gustafson (UMUC); Stephen Jacobs (UMB); Rosemary Jagus (UMBI); A. Deloris James
(UMUC); Joan Langdon (BSU); Adelaide Lagnese (UMUC); Joyce Currie Little (TU);
Elizabeth Mulroy (UMB); Emmanuel Onyeozili (UMES); David Parker (SU); Douglas
Pryor (TU); Kim Rotruck (FSU); Joyce Shirazi (UMUC); William Stuart (UMCP);
Joyce Tenney (UMBC).
Not Present: Marymal Holmes (BSU); Lori Harris (CSU); Robert Scott (FSU,
alternate); Memo Diriker (SU, on leave); Paul Flexner (SU); Harry Womack (SU,
alternate); Jay Zimmerman (TU, alternate); Paul Thut (UMB); Patricia Young (UMBC,
alternate); Frank Robb (UMBI, alternate); Raymond Morgan (UMCES, alternate); J.
Court Stevenson (UMCES); H. Rodger Harvey (UMCES, alternate); Frank Alt (UMCP).
Guests: Irwin Goldstein (VCAA, USM); John Wolfe (Associate VCAA, USM);
Robert B Kauffman (FSU Senate Chair); Kay Mills (a reporter from National
Crosstalk).
Dr. Siegel opened the meeting at 10:00am. She called on Dr. Collins to
introduce Dr. Yonathan Zohar, Director of the Center of Marine Biotechnology
(COMB). Dr. Zohar welcomed the group and gave an overview of the scientific
activities of COMB. Dr. Siegel then called for a round of introductions by all
present at the meeting.
The minutes of the previous (January 20, 2006) CUSF meeting were approved
without modification.
The proposed meeting agenda was presented and accepted. Dr. Siegel informed
the group that Kay Mills (a reporter for National Crosstalk, a newsletter
that deals with issues in higher education) would be joining the meeting later.
Ms. Mills is currently working on faculty workload issues and wants to get the
faculty point of view.
The System Report was given by Dr. Goldstein. A big political issue
this year is the proposed USM tuition increase. Chancellor Kirwan has presented
the USM budget and left it to the General Assembly to debate. He told them that,
if USM tuition is frozen, something else will have to be cut. USM’s capital
budget and operating budget increases this year are the highest ever. Some new
buildings that were requested were given a lower priority than expected or were
not included in the budget. Postponement of the new UMB School of Pharmacy
building is a particular disappointment. The legislature appears friendly to USM,
and USM is working with them to get the best budget possible.
All campus mission statements have received final approval from MHEC. USM’s
report to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is complete. The report basically
says that USM has accomplished a lot, but there is still more to do. The MHEC
Board has approved the report and it will be reviewed by OCR in Philadelphia
next month prior to final approval. OCR is expected to visit USM and other
Maryland institutions in March and to issue a report in June or July.
The lack of health benefits for contractual faculty (especially at TU, SU and
CSU) is being worked on at the highest USM level. Dr. Goldstein will come back
to CUSF soon with a plan for solving this problem. Everyone, including the
Chancellor, is aware that this needs to be fixed. USM is grateful to CUSF for
bringing this problem to their attention.
Military Base Relocations and Closings (BRAC) is becoming a big issue, with
expectations of new people moving to Maryland and wanting education, including
some non-credit programs. The E&E initiative is going well. The Regents are
very impressed by the effort being put in by both USM administration and campus
faculty. Cost of textbooks and bookstore issues are being considered by the
legislature.
The Chair’s Report began at 11:04am. Dr. Siegel reported that at the
Board of Regents meeting in February, she proposed to use faculty salaries as
one of the dashboard indicators. The idea was favorably received. Inequities in
the optional retirement program are being recognized by campus presidents as a
competitive issue in faculty recruiting. Dr. Siegel distributed a draft letter
to the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Pensions regarding this issue. She
asked for, and received, CUSF approval of the draft before sending it. A motion
of support was unanimously approved after a brief discussion. It was noted that
CUSF and CUSS were cooperating on this.
Dr. Siegel also distributed a letter to Regent Nevins asking that faculty
salaries be included as a dashboard indicator. A spirited discussion ensued. A
motion of support for sending this letter was unanimously approved, after
certain modifications.
Dr. Siegel next distributed a draft resolution on merit pay. There was a
spirited discussion. In particular, some felt that merit pay funds should
instead be used for COLA. There was a discussion of different campus procedures
for allocating merit pay. It was noted that peer review of meritorious
performance had previously been approved by CUSF. Dr. Siegel’s suggestion that
"peer review" be replaced by "in a process decided by
faculty" was agreed to.
Dr. Chapin reminded the group about the upcoming elections for the 2006-2007
CUSF Executive Committee. He asked for nominees to cover all positions.
Nominations for Chair must be received at today’s meeting, for an election to
be conducted at the March meeting. The current nominees for Chair are Drs.
Brannigan, Parker and Richardson. Dr. Siegel will not be a candidate for
reelection. At present, Dr. Chapin is the only candidate for Vice Chair and Dr.
Collins is the only candidate for Secretary. Nominations for these offices, as
well as for the two At-Large positions, will close at the March meeting and
voting will take place at the April meeting.
At 11:55am, Dr. Siegel introduced Kay Mills and invited her to talk about the
faculty workload issue. Ms. Mills said that she had already interviewed the
Chancellor, Regents, campus Presidents, etc, and is now glad to have the
opportunity to talk to CUSF faculty (individuals and small groups). She would do
this during lunch break.
Dr. Siegel asked the Regents Faculty Awards Committee to discuss changes in
procedures during lunch break and to report back in the afternoon session.
The meeting broke for lunch and committee meetings at 12:10pm, then
reconvened at 12:40pm.
Dr. Siegel called on Dr. Gulick to report on two initiatives that have been
inaugurated by the state of Maryland with respect to pre-college education
during the past few months. He said that in November, a Governor's Summit on
Science and Mathematics was held to address the increasing recognition by state
and local governments across the country that science and mathematics training
in the USA is lagging far behind that of other countries. This has resulted in a
deficit of teachers in those areas, outsourcing of all kinds of technology, etc.
A goal to restructure Maryland's pre-college education in science and
mathematics has been set. A central committee consisting of Brit Kirwan, Nancy
Grasmik, and other influential educators and politicians has been created. Nancy
Shapiro is the main contact at USM. More recently, Maryland signed onto the
American Diploma Project (ADP), whose goal is to bring high school mathematics
and English training up to higher standards. Several states (e.g., Indiana,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas) have already signed on and become
partners. The assumption is that each new state (e.g., Maryland) will create new
goals and assessments in mathematics and English for high school students -
goals that are consistent with those adopted by ADP - within ADP's timetable.
Teri Hollander is the main contact at USM. Dr. Gulick noted that the central
committees for these initiatives appear to have no working scientists of
mathematicians
Dr. Siegel told the group that she had noted her concern about advanced
placement exams to the Regents. This has been an issue of concern to AAAC. AAAC
is compiling a list of each institution's standards for the various AP credits
that it accepts. Siegel maintained that too many students are being pressured to
take the exams when they are not ready.
Dr. Siegel thanked Ms. Tenney for taking charge of the Student Research Days
in Annapolis. Drs. P. Alt, Thut, and Brannigan also helped with this effort. The
students were great, but the presentations were sparsely attended. Dr. Siegel
suggested that, in the future, perhaps these presentations might be linked to
the higher-profile, annual Annapolis 101" events.
Dr. Siegel called on Dr. Alt to unofficially announce the 2006 Regents
Faculty Awards winners. Dr. Alt noted that Drs. Jacobs, Holmes, Tenney, and
Stevenson were also on the review committee. She said that there were fewer
applications this year, although the quality of the applicants was very high.
Some campuses submitted very few, or no, applications. Dr. Siegel noted that
reforms in the application procedures (e.g., electronic submission) are needed.
She asked that suggestions be sent to Dr. Alt.
Dr. Siegel reported that she had testified before the General Assembly about
the pending textbook bill, sponsored by Senator Jacobs. She testified against
the bill in the hearing, saying that this is a matter that can best be handled
by the faculty. There are many issues here, e.g., some big campuses have book
stores that are controlled by corporate enterprises. Another bill now before the
legislature would waive state sales tax on textbooks.
Dr. Brannigan reported on a meeting about textbooks that he, Jim Salt of USM,
and Nick Aragon (Chair of System Student Council) had attended. They learned
that most faculty don’t know what their textbooks cost. Publishers don’t
readily reveal textbook prices. He asked whether USM should try to negotiate
better prices with publishers, analogous to drug formularies. A lively
discussion followed, continuing to 1:40pm.
Dr. Chapin mentioned a situation in one county on the Eastern Shore that
asked for advice on how to deal with unprepared students. It has been suggested
by some that standards be lowered, which is obviously a bad solution.
Dr. Siegel said she was contacted again by Lee Preston, UMCP Ombuds Officer,
who wants to know what kinds of arbitration systems - preceding the formal
grievance procedures - are used on the different campuses. He is trying to put
together best practices. Dr. Parker has agreed to gather this information from
each campus.
Dr. Siegel proposed, and it was agreed, that the date of the May CUSF meeting
be changed to the 18th, still at Salisbury. There is a distinct
possibility that the June meeting at Coppin will once again be canceled.
Dr. Chapin reviewed the rules for election of the 2006-2007 CUSF Executive
Committee. Main points were that only one person per campus may be elected, and
that losing candidates for one office can run for another office. Nominations
for Chair (Drs. Brannigan, Parker and Richardson) were officially closed.
Dr. Richardson gave a brief report on MHEC-FAC.
Dr. Alt presented a request from the UMB VPAA to revise the human subjects
rules.
Dr. Siegel thanked Dr. McClive (FSU) and Dr. James for their work on the USM
committee on distance education, and announced that Dr. McClive would report on
this at the March CUSF meeting.
Dr. Chapin reminded the group that the Chancellor and the Senate Chairs would
be present at the April 18 CUSF meeting at UMUC. It was agreed that CUSF would
invite Regent Florestano to one of our spring meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 2:03pm.