MINUTES OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL

PROCEEDINGS

Approval of the Agenda

Professor Tolbert MOVED approval of the agenda, Dr. Stephens SECONDED the motion, and the agenda was APPROVED as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the January 26 Meeting

Dr. Niebuhr MOVED approval of the minutes of the January 26 meeting, and Dr. Null SECONDED the motion. The minutes were APPROVED as posted on the web.

Approval of Annual Reports from Committees Reporting to the Academic Council

Mr. Levi MOVED approval of the committee reports, and Mr. Wilds SECONDED the motion. Dr. Otuonye answered questions about the awarding of faculty research grants, and Dr. Roberts pointed out that the Faculty Research grants are now divided into two programs, the Research Initiation Program and the Faculty Research Development Program. Professor Tolbert responded to a question about Mechanical Engineering by saying that M.E. has now joined the other engineering departments in allowing a student to go directly into his/her major department. Dr. Roberts asked what decision was made by the Records Office on the referral from the Committee on Commencement, Convocations, and Academic Ceremonies in regard to allowing Honors graduates who do a thesis to be so recognized on their diplomas and transcripts. Professor Tolbert said the thesis would not appear on the diploma, but it could be on the transcript. By a unanimous vote, the motion to approve the reports PASSED.

Revisions to University Curriculum Committee Procedures

Professor Tolbert presented the revisions to the Procedures of the University Curriculum Committee and stated that the following new philosophy statement was added as II:

The Curriculum Committee of Tennessee Technological University strongly affirms that the curricula of all credit-bearing programs devolve from the faculty. Each unit or departmental faculty approves proposals as a committee of the whole or as faculty representatives on a curriculum committee. Approved proposals are forwarded to the college curriculum committee and, if approved there, to the Curriculum Committee of Tennessee Technological University for final approval.

The Committee also added the following statement to No. X of the procedures: All new programs are referred to Academic Council and University Assembly for action.

Professor Tolbert MOVED approval of the revisions, and Dr. Miller SECONDED the motion. It was noted that this process was not spelled out in writing anywhere, but it needed to be for SACS and other purposes. The motion CARRIED by a unanimous vote.

Proposed Changes in the TTU Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures

In relating background information on this issue, Dr. Null said the TTU documents represent about two years of work with TBR on revisions to the TBR policies and then work by the campus committee chaired by Jonathan Good to bring our tenure and promotion policies and procedures into line with TBR policy. The Policies and Procedures then went to the Faculty Senate for input. Dr. Null thanked the proofreaders—Jann Cupp, P.K. Rajan, Mark Stephens, and Rafal Ablamowicz. Dr. Null MOVED approval of the whole packet of documents as distributed by e-mail with the agenda, and Dr. Whitney SECONDED the motion.

The question of external evaluators was discussed. Because our policy can be more but not less stringent than TBR policy, Dr. Barker said that the requirement for three external evaluators should be in our document because it is in TBR policy.

In the requirements for each level--assistant, associate, and full professor-- “evidence of good character, mature attitude, and professional integrity” are required, and at the full professor level, “a high degree of academic maturity and responsibility” is required. However, since there is no place on the check sheet to evaluate these characteristics, Professor Tolbert asked if the assumption should be made that these qualities would be integrated into the overall evaluation. Dr. Null said that this assumption should be made since there is no longer a category on collegiality. The group also discussed the length of the probationary period.

Dr. Baker and the Council expressed appreciation to Dr. Null for all her hard work in revising the Tenure and Promotion Policies.

The Council PASSED by a unanimous vote the motion to approve the revised Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures and Forms. Dr. Null will take this item to the Administrative Council today, and from there it will go to the University Assembly, the Faculty Senate, and the general faculty.

Part-Time Instructor Compensation Scale

Dr. Baker said that this item arises because the campus has not defined the four levels for part-time compensation. As chair of the Faculty Senate’s ad hoc Committee on Part-Time Compensation Levels, Dr. Baker presented the proposal that was distributed with the agenda for this meeting. Dr. Baker said the committee started with four guiding principles: (1) the definitions must comply with TBR policy, (2) no part-time instructor will receive a cut in pay, (3) the definitions should compensate for longevity, and (4) the definitions should not be overly restrictive. Dr. Baker said the committee looked at what MTSU and Volunteer State were doing and then customized the definitions for TTU. Dr. Baker noted that the proposal does not change a current policy but composes a policy.

Dr. Baker MOVED approval of TTU’s Compensation Levels for Part-Time Faculty, and Dr. Whitney SECONDED the motion. The units have the flexibility to decide what the terms “limited”, “very limited“, and “extremely limited” mean when referring to availability and what “special”, “unusual”, or “exceptional” mean when referring to qualifications. Dr. Baker said the distinguishing factor among these levels is experience, which is defined by the individual departments. It was clarified that the number of years of professional experience means additional years above the number of years required for each level, and the departments can decide what constitutes “experience.”

Dr. Barker said that he thinks these levels are degree-directed, and he said that he has a problem with a person with a master’s degree and a lot of experience being hired as a full professor. Dr. Baker responded that there are two different scales—one for adjuncts and one tied to rank for overload pay for regular faculty. Dr. Baker stated that this proposal still allows for exceptions. Dr. Barker said that two issues for overruling this set of values would continue—market value and travel expenses. This scale does not preclude calling adjuncts assistant or associate professor or some other rank. Dr. Baker noted that these rates will be adjusted should TBR raise its rates.

The motion to approve PASSED by a unanimous vote.

Election of Chairperson

Mark Stephens, Darlene Franklin, and Linda Null served on the nominating committee to elect a chairperson for next year. Dr. Stephens, chair of the committee, placed Dr. Jeff Roberts’ name in nomination. Dr. Harris MOVED that Dr. Roberts be elected by acclamation, Dr. Whitney SECONDED the motion, and the motion CARRIED by a unanimous vote. Dr. Roberts was re-elected as chairperson for the 2005-06 year.

Such Other Matters

Dr. Roberts said the Council would get a report on double majors at the first meeting of the fall semester.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

Addendum to April 6, 2005, Minutes

In light of changes in the TTU English requirement following the revision of TBR guidelines for General Education, the Department of English recommended new rules for determining which students must complete the English Qualifying Examination (EQE) as a graduation requirement. Because the Academic Council meeting for February 23 was canceled, by an e-mail vote spring semester 2005, the Council APPROVED the request. Passages concerning the EQE will be deleted from the TTU catalogue, and the following directives will be forwarded to the Records Office:

1. Students graduating under any 132-hour curriculum (2002 or earlier TTU catalogue) will be held to the requirements in the 2002 catalogue (p. 38) governing the EQE.

2. No students graduating under curricula that include the new General Education core will be required to complete the EQE; earning the required minimum C grade for ENGL 1010 and 1020 at TTU (or by means of transfer credit) will be considered sufficient proof of writing competency.