The Citadel Faculty Council
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 31, 2005

Professor Bill Woolsey, Chair of the Faculty Council, called the meeting to order at 11:00AM in Bond Hall 295.

Members attending: Professors Trautman, Hoyle, Woolsey, Moody, Lally, Calloway, Murray, Grenier, Mays, Politano, Davakos, Carter, Niksch, Davis, and Gustafson.

Members absent: Professors Hewett, Knapp, McKinney, Crawford, Harbaugh, Andrade, Hammond, and Hurren.

Approval of Agenda: Approved

Approval of Minutes: the minutes were corrected to read under New Business, item 2, paragraph 3, "there had been plans to rent…"

The minutes were accepted as corrected.

Reports:
  1. Committee Referrals
    1. Parking – Campus Affairs. The survey has been distributed, but the committee does not have complete data. They will report with the data they have.
    2. Gate Closing - Campus Affairs. Will report under New Business
    3. Greater Issues and Commencement Speakers –Awards. The committee has discussed the issues and will send a list of questions to Prof. Woolsey. They will have a report in September.
    4. Background Searches – Employment. They will have a report at the April 28 meeting.

  2. Faculty House (COL Holland)
    Prof. Woolsey prefaced COL Holland’s remarks by saying he had been tasked with finding out about the status of the Faculty House. He had a spreadsheet provided by COL Tomasik indicating that renovations would cost $200,000-$250,000 (including asbestos abatement). COL Holland said the College has another $5 million in backlogged repairs, so it would be hard to justify those costs even though the College has never expected to make money on the operation. He recommended finding benefactors and offering naming rights to fund the renovation. No group on campus is currently looking for benefactors. Prof. Hoyle said it was an embarrassment not to have a place to take candidates and visitors. Prof. Grenier asked how to proceed in locating donors. Prof. Lally suggested utilizing the Faculty House board of Governors (there would probably need to be new elections) to shepherd this project. FC will address the issue under Old Business.

  3. Salary Compression – Employment committee. Prof. Woolsey referred to the resolutions which will be taken up under Old Business. COL Metts was asked to address the 30% shortfall in salary compression.

  4. Veteran’s Program Update. The ad hoc committee recommended reopening the program. At Academic Board, the Provost did not want to bring it to a vote, so he took a straw vote. The majority of the board supported reopening the program. The BOV Chair is very enthusiastic about restarting the program, so the Provost is working on a program proposal to be presented at the next BOV meeting. The proposal will also be brought to FC, although it may not have authority to endorse.
Old Business
  1. Faculty House.
    Resolution: Faculty Council urges The Citadel to reopen the Faculty House for lunch services and meetings.

    Prof. Grenier endorsed the idea of searching for a donor. Prof. Woolsey said The Citadel Foundation director will attend the April 28 FC meeting, which will be a good opportunity to explain the issue.

    Prof. Lally moved to investigate the charter of the Faculty House Board of Governors, review the membership status, fill vacancies, and operate under the concept that the Board is responsible for the house. Prof. Davakos seconded. The motion carried.

    Prof. Moody moved that Prof. Woolsey bring this motion to The Citadel Foundation requesting that they actively pursue the reopening the Faculty House through whatever means. Prof. Grenier seconded. The motion carried.

  2. Salary Compression
    Resolution A. Faculty Council shall continue to monitor the distribution of salary money and encourage all efforts to cover the 30% shortfall and urge the college to use the anticipated 4% salary increase to strengthen the merit pay system. Prof. Moody moved and Prof. Davakos seconded. A motion to separate the issues by placing a period after "shortfall" carried.

    Revised Resolution A:
    1).Faculty Council shall continue to monitor the distribution of salary money and encourage all efforts to cover the 30% shortfall.
    2). Faculty Council shall urge the college to use the anticipated 4% salary increase to strengthen the merit pay system.

    Questions were raised about the 30% shortfall. COL. Metts’ memo says we are not at such a large shortfall. Resolution A, Part 1 failed.

    Question was raised about whether the College can divert state legislative funds. Resolution A, Part 2 failed.

    Resolution B.
    The Citadel should continue its effort to bring all salaries up to market rates and keep all faculty salaries at market levels rather than allow the salaries of continuing faculty to lag behind due to compression. A motion was made to add "full" to "market rates." The motion carried.

    Revised Resolution B
    The Citadel should continue its effort to bring all salaries up to full market rates and keep all faculty salaries at market levels rather than allow the salaries of continuing faculty to lag behind due to compression.

New Business
  1. Class Attendance System
    Resolution 1. Faculty Council urges all members of the Faculty to take attendance and report absences through the reporting system.

    Resolution 2. The absences system should allow absences to be turned in during the next day rather that before 5:00PM

    FC member were asked to solicit opinions on the class absence system from colleagues. General issues were 1). No control over when cadets are excused in their companies, and 2) restrictions on when faculty can report absences. Company excuses don’t eliminate the "excuse", only drops cons and tours. Most faculty members use it but not 100%.

    Resolution 2 passed as written.

  2. Committee Representation by Schools
    Resolution. Faculty Council requests that the Committee on Committees consider and provide recommendations to Faculty Council regarding a move from Faculty representation on committees by "cluster" to representation by School.
    Motion carried.

  3. Spring Break at The Citadel and Charleston County Schools
    Resolution. Faculty Council requests the The Citadel seek to coordinate the timing of Spring Break with the Spring Break of Charleston County Public Schools.

    Due to the movement of Easter each year, which could put the break too close to the end of the school year, a motion was made to add "when possible" after "coordinate."

    Revised Resolution:
    Faculty Council requests that The Citadel seek to coordinate, when possible, the timing of Spring Break with the Spring Break of Charleston County Public Schools.
    The motion carried.

  4. Name change for Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Science.
    The motion passed to amend the Faculty Council constitution to reflect the name change of the Physical Education Department to the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Science. The motion carried.

  5. Faculty House
    Resolution. Faculty Council requests The Citadel foundation to actively search for a corporate sponsor for the Faculty House. The motion carried.

Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 12:25PM.