1. Professor Hack Ezell, Chair of the Faculty Council, called the meeting to order at 11:00 AM.

Members in attendance: Professors Alford, Barrett, Berlingheri, Brannan, Durgun, Epple, Ezell, Feurtado, Greenawalt, Hoyle, Hutchisson, Lipovsky, Rushing, Siskind, Thompson, Toubiana, Wallace, White, Williams

Members absent: Professors Carter, Gay, Koob, Watson

2. Approval of minutes
The minutes of August 27, 1998 and September 22, 1998 were approved.

3. Comments from the Chair
Professor Ezell noted that he would provide a summary of Academic Board meetings through the e-mail.

4. Report from the Task Force on Post Tenure Review
Professor White reported that the Task Force had met and that he had been selected as Chair. Professor Ezell urged the task force to proceed with caution.

5. Report from the Faculty Council Subcommittee Reviewing the Core Curriculum Review
Professor Thompson distributed a written report from the Subcommittee and discussed it briefly. Professor Thompson moved that since the Core Curriculum Review Committee did not address specific charges for which it was responsible, it is recommended that the committee go back and address these charges. The motion was not seconded. Professor Barrett moved, seconded by Professor Hoyle, that the report of the Faculty Council (FC) Subcommittee be forwarded as an initial report along with a cover letter expressing the concerns of FC and the willingness of FC to continue working with the Core Curriculum Review Committee and Academic Board on this issue. The motion was approved unanimously.

6. Faculty Manual Process
Professor Ezell related to FC the background for the discussion on the Faculty Manual Process. When the report from the Task Force on Professional Development was sent to the Academic Board, the report was discussed and presented to the Academic Board on two occasions. Members of FC and the Academic Board who served on the task force were present at those meetings. The report was well received. During a special meeting of Academic Board held on May 27,1998, Dean Metts brought in several pages of concerns and recommendations. Each recommendation was discussed and unanimously approved. Professor Ezell voiced concern over several items. Later in the summer (July, 1998), a copy of the recommendations was made available, signed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) dated May 27. This became the document by which tenure, promotion, probationary re-appointment, and termination of tenured faculty would be determined. After receiving the document in the mail, Professor Ezell wrote a letter to the VPAA with a copy to Dean Metts expressing concern over specific items that had been included in the document. One example involved the way in which external reviews would be conducted and the way external reviewers would be selected. Although many of the changes were cosmetic, there were three substantial changes to the document. Early in the Fall 1998 semester, the Tenure and Promotion committee became involved in the document and identified six concerns that it felt should be addressed. On Tuesday's meeting of the Academic Board, Professor Finch asked if the Academic Board would again discuss the Professional Standards. Once again, Professor Ezell, representing the Faculty Council and the Tenure and Promotion Committee, expressed concerns. He thought that it had been decided that the document would be sent back to Faculty Council by way of the Professional Standards Task Force; however, Gen. Poole stated that his interpretation of the meeting was that they would be willing to receive amendments to the document. Professor Ezell stated to FC his plans to reconvene the Professional Standards Task Force to compare the document approved by FC with the current document in place and suggest amendments at the next Academic Board Meeting. However, concerns were then expressed by other FC members that the process of approving the Faculty Manual was not followed, and that FC should address this.

Professor Barrett moved, seconded by Professor Hoyle, the following statement. Faculty Council does not accept that the Vice President for Academic Affairs regards its position as one of merely offering amendments to the Professional Standards Report which had been issued as approved by the Academic Board. FC cannot accept this document as authoritative at this stage. Faculty Council urges the administration to adhere to the governance procedures in the Faculty Manual, Paragraph 4, Page 2, which clearly states Faculty Council must approve any changes to proposed academic policy, and Faculty Council has not approved this document. The motion was approved with no opposing votes.

7. Announcements and Other Business
(a) Students late to Class
Professor Ezell discussed a potential concern involving how to best handle students attending one class late when they are held over in another class (such as completing a test). Because there were various opinions expressed, no action was taken on this issue.

(b) VPAA Search Committee
Professor Ezell discussed the progress of the VPAA search committee. Professor Ezell is currently working on a letter that will later be sent to the VPAA search committee.

(c) Staffing Analysis of Faculty
Professor Ezell reported that Dean Metts presented an excellent report at Academic Board on staffing analysis of faculty, and encouraged FC members to ask department heads to allow FC members to see the report. One issue was professional development courses that are responsible for an FTE of 25.58. Some in the administration oppose these courses; others support the courses. He also discussed the Veteran's program that was discontinued during the court battle over single gender education and pointed out that such a program could be valuable in increasing enrollments if it were possible to again have such a program. Several favorable comments were made regarding the merits of the Veteran's program. Professor Ezell agreed to check into the possibility of reinstituting the Veteran's program. Another question that came up was about whether it is policy that members in the administration who do not wear the uniform cannot attend classes with cadets. Professor Ezell agreed to check on this.

(d) Faculty Council versus Faculty Senate
Professor Ezell discussed whether FC should investigate the possibility of creating a Faculty Senate. After a brief discussion, Professor Ezell agreed to investigate the difference between a Faculty Council and Faculty Senate further and report at a later date.

(e) Fall Break
Professor Greenawalt raised a question about whether it would be feasible to add a couple of days to the fall schedule for a fall break. Such a break may be helpful in promoting academics as a catch-up time, and time for relaxing and reducing stress. Professor Ezell agreed to talk to an appropriate person about the college calendar and report back at the next meeting.

(d) Krause Foundation Business Plan Competition
Professor Alford reported on the success of the Krause Foundation Business Plan Competition. There are 25 teams competing, some of which are not made up of Business majors. Bill Krause will be on campus on Friday, October 23 in Bond Hall 166 if any faculty wish to meet with him.

8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 PM.