The Senate would like to see a statement on Academic Freedom reinstated in the Faculty Handbook. A question was raised regarding the legality that supports getting a degree at an accreditated university and thus giving instructors the right to academic freedom. This issue will be researched.

Any other business

The issues of state finances and state pay increases were raised. Kim Gregor will ask the Director Office of Research and Analysis for the Department of Finance to come to DTCC and give a presentation on the state finances.

Next meeting

The next meeting will be held on April 12th at the Stanton campus at 1:00 pm in the Campus Director's conference room.

• Photos

• Salary survey
  

John Rossi will provide the pictures and the survey.

Academic Titles
The Senate made a few changes to the document and the memo will be sent to the Dean of Instruction.

Academic Freedom
The Senate will seek to make additions and deletions to the Academic Freedom section of the Personnel Policy and Faculty Handbooks. The Faculty Senate will also ask to be represented on the committees who revise the Personnel Policy and Faculty Handbooks.

Air Quality
The Senate is still researching this issue.

Course Leaders
The Senate will ask Fran Leach to reinstate the formal procedure for course leaders.

Academic Advising
The question of the support departments aiding is advising was brought to the Senate. The Senate will investigate how advisement is handled with the pre-tech population. The English and Math departments will chat with colleagues to determine if any interest exists in helping the technologies.

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on February 1st at 1:30 pm at the Wilmington Campus in Room East 407.

* Calendar: The Faculty Senate urged the Middlestates Steering Committee to include questions regarding a Fall Break and the timing of the Spring Break. This issue is still in progress.

* Academic Titles: The Senate contacted six local community colleges to find out the issue of academic titling. All six colleges have academic titling (5 of the 6 colleges are unionized) tied to the instructors' number of years of experience and educational background. The Senate will search for a model created several years ago and use that as a guide in developing a process for assigning academic titles.

Budget
The Senate is very concerned with the budget cuts that have been put upon the college. The Faculty Senate would like to send a flyer out to all faculty to get their input on creative solutions for the budget cuts.

The Senate will seek the following questions answered prior to any action taken:

* What is the budget? How much of the budget is funded by the State?

* How is the new reduction broken down, 2% from all 5 locations?

* Is the College still filling positions?

* Are these proposals temporary or fixed?

* Will a grandfather clause be instilled for senior faculty?

* Will these changes be voluntary or mandated?

* Will faculty have input to decision making

* Will department chairs be asked to teach more hours?

* How will administration contribute more hours?

Website:
Senators will provide biographical information ASAP for the website.

The Senate will seek guidance with respect to adding a virtual tour on its' website.

The website will also contain the following:

Goals: academic freedom, calendar and academic titles.

Issues/Services: website, faculty salary report, input in the Blue Prints for Excellence employee survey, air quality testing at Stanton, American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and Recent Changes in Tax Law and Their Effect on Individuals.

Banner
The Faculty Senate is concerned that faculty haven't been trained on Banner or Pipeline to properly advise and register students. An email was sent to Administration earlier this week, but the Senate will continue to follow up with this issue. A pamphlet on Pipeline was distributed to senators for use in advisement and registration.

Tax Issues
The Senate prepared an announcement regarding the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and will distribute this flyer next week. A member of the Senate also developed recent Changes in Tax Law and Their Effect on Individuals. This document will be reviewed by the Senators and external bodies then distributed to all faculty.

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Friday, December 14th, the Stanton Campus at 1 pm. The room will be announced at a later date.

Smoking and parking issues at Stanton
The Senate came to consensus on these issues. Rules are already in place for smoking and parking and the senate should pass the word that if faculty or staff see people disobeying these rules, they should report the incident immediately to Administrative Services.

Student issues
The Senate discussed the matter of student issues and how students, staff, and faculty may be affected by the tradegies on September 11, 2001. A notice will be posted on the intranet for people with concerns and this posting will link to various counseling sites.

Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
The Senate initiated a fund drive asking for donations by September 28th.

December Meeting
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be held on December 4th, Stanton Campus at 1 pm in the Campus Directors' Board Room - B240.

Members present: Valerie Bergeron, Kim Gregor, Jackie Henaghan, Tia Mukerji, Eric Nefferdorf, Pat Ramone, Alison Randall, John Rossi, Susan Stoller, James Villarreal

Goals
The Senate discussed the following goals:

* Academic Titles: The Senate will investigate this issue by contacting local community colleges.

* Academic Freedom: Research will be conducted to determine if the College has a definition of academic freedom. The members developed the following definition to be expanded/changed if necessary "Academic freedom promotes diversity, teaching and learning of thought to ensure a dynamic educational model."

* Code of Ethics: The Senate will determine if a Code of Ethics for faculty exists and expand on it if necessary.

The results from the survey conducted in the spring 2001 will be distributed to all members.

Website:
The Faculty Senate logo, mission statement and links will be on the front page of the website.

Mission Statement
The mission of the faculty senate is to promote professional excellence; develop interdepartmental and intracollege cooperation and understanding; provide a forum for discussion and recommendations concerning the professional privileges, performance, evaluation and academic freedom of faculty; and foster and encourage collegiality among all members of the college community.

Links
Constitution, senators, goals, minutes, current news, current projects, results from survey, link to diversity page.

Each senator will provide (ASAP) a biography that will contain name, campus, department, title, office, phone, email and a picture.

Smoking and parking issues at Stanton
The Senate came to consensus on these issues. Rules are already in place for smoking and parking and the senate should pass the word that if faculty or staff see people disobeying these rules, they should report the incident immediately to Administrative Services.

Student issues
The Senate discussed the matter of student issues and how students, staff, and faculty may be affected by the tradegies on September 11, 2001. A notice will be posted on the intranet for people with concerns and this posting will link to various counseling sites.

Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
The Senate initiated a fund drive asking for donations by September 28th.

1. Calendar

2. Academic freedom

3. Facilities

4. Security

5. Cafeteria

6. Honor code for students

7. Strengthen communications with collegewide Faculty Senates

8. Academic Titles

9. The "R" vs. "F" grade

10. Faculty code of ethics