Minutes for University Faculty Council Meeting,
12:30pm - 2:20pm, Friday 7 December 2007

Members Present: Javad Abbasian (ChBE), Patricia Bach (Psyc), Jeff Budiman (CAEE), Howard Chapman (Kent), Warren Edelstein (AMAT), Bill Grimshaw (SocSci), Zia Hassan (SGSB), Joyce Hopkins (PSYC), Andy Howard (secretary, BCPS), Vijay Kumar (ID), Robert Krawczyk (ARCH), Art Lubin (AMAT), William Newman (MSED), Boris Pervan (MMAE), Ganesh Raman (MMAE), David Rudstein (Kent), John Snapper (Hum), Phil Troyk (chair, BME), David Venerus (ChBE), Catherine Wetzel (ARCH), Chris White (chair-elect, BCPS), Geoff Williamson (ECE), Wai Gen Yee (CS).

Student Representative: Adam Bain.

Faculty and Staff Visitors: Joe Locicero (ECE), Thor Hogan (Soc Sci), Christena Nippert-Eng (Soc Sci), John O'Leary (CAEE), Mary Anne Smith (Counsel), Christopher Stewart (Dean of Libraries).

Members Absent: Shlomo Argamon (CS), Ali Emadi (ECE), Zia Hassan (SGSB), Catherine Wetzel (ARCH),

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 12:39pm on Friday 2 November 2007 in the ballroom of the McCormick / Tribune campus center after lunch.

Meetings for 2008: Phil asked that we consider dates for UniFC meetings during spring 2008. Advantages and disadvantages of various dates were discussed, and one member asked why we couldn't simply schedule the first meeting and then leave the rest of the scheduling for later. Phil Troyk and Andy Howard pointed out that it helps the Provost's office book the room and the lunches when we lay claim to specific dates well before the semester begins. Chris White recommended the first Mondays of each month, i.e. 1 February, 7 March, 4 April, and 2 May as appropriate dates for meetings. After brief discussion, this schedule was approved by acclamation.

Financial Report: Howard Chapman distributed a new version of the 2007 Financial Report. There have been numerous additions and corrections to the report since the version distributed at the November meeting, including sections on enrollment and application levels. Phil and others asked him how the University's cash deficit will be covered in years like this. Howard said that, in general, the deficit is closed via additional draws from the endowment. There was some discussion of non-cash expenses, particularly depreciation; Howard pointed out that he provides a statement of cash flow on p.21 of the report. This provides a somewhat cheerier view than the views that incude depreciation. Several Council members asked additional questions about the report, and Howard offered answers. Andy agreed to make the report available to the full faculty via the UniFC website (n.b.: This has occurred). Chris asked that the Council again recognize Howard's hard work in putting the report together. Phil commented that this is no longer simply a financial report: it is a "State of the University" report.

UGSC Report: Jack Snapper provided a report from the Undergraduate Studies Committee.

• Nomenclature for "specialization": Diplomas for students whose major included language like "X with Specialization in Y" have had incomplete descriptions of the degree written on them. This has now been corrected. Jack suggested that the Council does not need to act on this item, and the Council agreed.
• Change in aerospace engineering BS degree program: Jack explained the changes approved by the UGSC in this degree program. The question to be raised is whether the changes are significant in the sense called forth in Appendix P of the Faculty Handbook. This proposal involves a reduction by one in the number of credit-hours in the program, and extensive replacement of courses. Jack distributed the program, and noted that both the MMAE Department and the UGSC have approved the proposal. The spirit of the proposal is to strengthen and modernize this degree. It will include a "build-and-fly" course for Aerospace engineers.

  The Council considered whether these changes are extensive enough to warrant review by the University Faculty Council. After some lively discussion, the Chair affirmed that the Council should, in fact, discuss this proposal. Phil noted that the modified degre restricts the IPro choices for Aerospace Engineering majors, in that they would have to take the "build-and-fly" IPro as one of their two IPros. The ChBE and CAEE degree programs already require a specific IPro as one of the two that each student in those programs must take, so the design given here is consistent with that approach. Some Council members asked whether the UniFC itself should endorse that approach.

  Boris Pervan pointed out that the development of this IPro would, in fact, add to the list of available IPros. Phil agreed, but reiterated that the Aerospace Engineering majors will have restricted choice. Art Lubin asked whether the build-and-fly IPro would be approved and overseen by the central IPro committee. Javad Abbasian argued that that system works smoothly in ChBE. Phil affirmed that this kind of IPro would be subject to the same kind of scrutiny that a non-restricted IPro would receive. Chris articulated considerable enthusiasm for the proposal. He indicated that the concept behind this proposal is consistent with the goals of the IPro program, and in fact it could serve as a model for future IPro designs. He also suggested that the UniFC shouldn't try to micromanage a program that has been carefully crafted within a department and approved by the UGSC.

  Joe Cicero noted that the total number of credit-hours goes down from 130 to 129; he asked how many courses have been eliminated. Boris Pervan replied that there are several courses added, subtracted, and adjusted, so the numbers are unclear. Phil asked Jack to provide a summary of the UGSC's discussion regarding what happens if there aren't enough IPros to meet the needs of all students, and of what happens if the instructor of this Aerospace Build-and-Fly IPro refuses to admit a non-Aerospace student. Jack replied that the UGSC noted these issues but accepted them, since there is a pattern established in ChBE and CAEE. Geoff Williamson suggested that Phil's concerns are not unique to the Aerospace proposal; they constitute a generic discussion about employing IPros to meet an internal departmental need. David Venerus moved to accept the proposal; his motion was, in effect, ruled out of order because the proposal was already on the table as a component of the UGSC's report.

  Phil noted that the IPro oversight committee can rule on the appropriateness of any IPro, so there is an opportunity for the faculty to examine whether the elements that need to be present for an IPro to be valid are in place. He also argued that the statement about a requirement for instructor's approval of participation by non-Aerospace Engineering majors is inconsistent with the rest of the IPro system. Joyce Hopkins asserted that the proposal is carefully crafted and asked if she could move its passage. Javad Abbasian argued that any IPro instructor has to specify which majors he or she is recruiting into the IPro. Any IPro that targets participation from only one or two majors will raise some concerns at the level of the oversight committee, and there are procedures in place to prevent abuse of the system. Patty Bach called the question; Phil asked again whether the MMAE Department has discussed the proposal. Boris said yes, and Phil asked for concurrence from the UniFC. The proposal was accordingly approved unanimously by acclamation.

• Jack asserted that the next proposed alteration in a degree program is even less controversial because it does not involve a change in the number of semester-hours: namely, the proposed alterations in the Political Science BS Degree. The Social Science Department has provided a document describing their requirements and tracks, and a response to the UGSC's concerns over their proposal. Phil noted that two members of the Social Science Department, Christena Nippert-Eng and Thor Hogan, were present at the meeting and prepared to explain the proposal. Jack asserted that the changes are minor. Phil asked whether the proposal changes the total number of credit-hours in the degree program, and whether there are changes in the number of credit hours for core and elective credit-hours. Jack and Thor replied that the proposal keeps the total the same, but increases the number of core credit-hours and reduces the number of elective credit-hours by the same amount. Thor said the number of core courses has increased from 3 to 5 and the number of electives has decreased from 8 to 6. There are some new courses, and there are now six possible specializations within the degree, including a new choice called "International Relations / Comparative Politics." Andy asked whether the entire department has discussed the proposed change in the degree program, and Thor said yes. Phil asked if there were any objections to approval of this program, and hearing none, pronounced the program approved.
• Phil then asked the secretary to announce to the full faculty the UniFC's approval of the Aerospace Engineering and Political Science BS Degree programs. As set forth in Appendix P, the programs will then enter a 30-day waiting period. If ten or more faculty ask for full-faculty consideration of either program, then the full faculty will review these approvals at the next University Faculty meeting; if fewer than ten ask for review, the programs will be considered completely approved by the faculty and will be forwarded to the President for action by the Board of Trustees. Chris asked whether these changes should be regarded as significant, such that full faculty approval might be needed; Phil argued that it would be, so he directed Andy to announce these postings.

Committees:

• The Budget Planning Committee members—Joel Goldhar, John O'Leary, Phil Troyk, John Twombly, and Michael Young—have been contacted asking for their participation in the budgeting process. We can expect a report back in the spring from this group.
• The Academic Freedom Committee members—Patty Bach, Howard Eglit, Phil Troyk, and Jialing Xiang—have been contacted asking for their participation in a discussion of the Code of Ethics proposed by Vivan Weil and her committee. We can expect a report back in the spring from this group.
• Capital Project Planning Committee: John Collins has asked for a few faculty members to participate in a Capital Project Planning Commitee. This group met on 6 December, and Phil attended. He suggested that he and John O'Leary would be appropriate representatives on this body. Geoff Williamson proposed that Phil and John be the faculty representatives on that committee; that proposal was approved by acclamation. Phil said he told the other committee members on 6 December that the faculty wanted to understand how various projects were prioritized, and that the UniFC would like to understand that process.
• Diversity Taskforce: Mary Anne Smith mentioned that a Diversity Taskforce is being set up to consider diversity issues in faculty hires and in the student body. She is inviting volunteers to come forth from the faculty. She also said there is interest in establishing a group to look at women's issues at IIT.
• Parking Taskforce: Joe Locicero presented some PowerPoint slides containing a position statement drafted by the Parking Taskforce. The position statement states:

  The UFC supports the position that the IIT administration should be apprised of the concern of full-time aculty regarding the excessive increase in Main Campus parking fees over the last 10 years; and that the University should take action to curb such increases starting in the 2008-09 academic year: decreasing the Main Campus parking fee for full-time faculty, as well as limiting increases to the annual inflation rate in all future years.

  Joyce Hopkins moved adoption of the position statement; William Newman seconded. Chris said that he does not see parking as a priority, but rather as part of a larger concern over faculty compensation. Joyce replied that this proposal is intended as a straightforward compromise, intended to offer the administration an opportunity to provide a gesture of goodwill. Chris said he would prefer a more general message regarding faculty compensation, including salaries, healthcare costs, parking and other financial issues. Jack spoke in favor of the motion on the grounds that healthcare is almost beyond the University's control, whereas these parking fees constitute an example of an outrageous cost imposed on the faculty. Geoff moved to postpone action on this proposal until the Taskforce has met with Vice President John Collins; the Taskforce members suggested that passage of the proposal will provide them with more armament when they do meet with VP Collins. Howard noted that the University has provided some significant improvements in fringe benefits recently, as exemplified by the switch in healthcare plans to Blue Cross / Blue Shield. He agreed, though, that the parking fees are internal and out of line. Boris said it would be useful to know whether the parking fees are being banked for future maintenance of the parking lots.

  Mary Anne said that she has discussed this issue with VP Collins and President John Anderson, and both will affirm that nothing will change even if the Faculty Council passes this motion. Joyce asked to withdraw her motion, in view of that decision by Anderson and Collins to ignore it even if the Council does pass it. Phil suggested that it would be easier to defeat it than withdraw it, and that the motion might carry some significance even if it doesn't cause an immediate policy change. Joyce said that her colleagues in Psychology were also dissatisfied with the upkeep of the lots, and asked that, if the rates are not going to drop, the Administration at least reaffirm a willingness to maintain the lots. Mary Anne asked whether it would help to sort this question out if John Collins were invited to answer the Council's questions at a spring meeting. After some discussion the motion to pass the Position Statement was tabled and the Council agreed to invite VP Collins to its March meeting. The Council will spend part of its February meeting sorting out what kinds of questions it wants to ask VP Collins.

• Sabbatical Leave Committee: Boris Pervan agreed to chair the Sabbatical Leave Committee, whose charge is set forth in Article V, Paragraph H, of Appendix B of the Faculty Handbook. He will find other faculty members to serve on the committee and inform the UniFC secretary as to who they are.
• Library Committee: Christopher Stewart distributed some statistics associated with use of Galvin Library in the last year.
• IPro Oversight and Reportage Committees: Phil asked what the status of these two committees is. John O'Leary said that those groups have submitted a report to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Phil will ask for formal transmittal of that report to the UniFC, including an indication of who the members of those committees are.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:04pm.