Faculty Council
Annual Report
2003-2004
I.
Membership
Faculty
Council was composed of the following members during the 2003-2004 academic year:
Dr. David
Urban (MRBL), Chair
Dr. Ben Wier (ACCT)
Dr. Bob
Reilly (ECON)
Dr. Rich
Phillips (FIRE)
Dr. Jim
Wynne (INFO)
Dr. Don
Miller (MGMT)
Dr. Heiko Wijnholds (MRBL)
Dr. Iris
Johnson (Faculty Senate/University Council)
II.
Meetings
Faculty
Council held eight monthly meetings during the year. Council did not meet in
January because the University closed on the scheduled meeting date due to
inclement weather.
III.
Actions Taken
Faculty
Council took the following actions during the academic year:
1. Enhancements
to the Faculty Council Web page: Council implemented several new features
on the Faculty Council Web page: a.) an updated listing of criteria for
2. Electronic
Approval of Minutes: Faculty Council minutes are now approved via
electronic vote, thus saving time at meetings and getting the approved minutes
to the faculty sooner.
3. Student Evaluations of Faculty Teaching: Council discussed the
University’s policy of not processing course evaluations for classes containing
fewer than five students. Council advised the Dean that no special effort
should be made to conduct course evaluations in these courses within the
4. Election of Faculty representatives to School and University committees:
Council informed the Dean, Senior Associate Dean, and
Department Chairs of the upcoming vacancies on School and University committees
for 2004-2005.
5. Review of Academic Policies and Procedures:
Council provided input to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies about
the prudence of including “walkers” in graduation ceremonies—students who
participate in and who are recognized at graduation without having completed
their degree requirements. The Associate Dean, under direction of the Dean, is now implementing a
policy banning “walkers” from participating in future graduation ceremonies.
Council
also discussed proposed changes in admissions standards for undergraduate
students in the
6. Input on Strategic Directions: Council consulted with and
provided input to the Dean regarding the major strategic initiatives of the
School, including: AACSB review and assessment; restoration of the operating
budget; planning for the new School of Business building; and the capital campaign.
Council saw to it that descriptions and drawings of plans for the new
building were made available to faculty for review and comment.
Council also provided input to the Associate Dean for Research and
Graduate Studies about the review procedures for Summer Research Grants. In
September 2004, Council will deliver specific recommendations for modifying the
process.
Council began a discussion of the implications of the definition of
“voting faculty” that appears in the By-Laws, in light of new AACSB faculty
classifications and changes taking place in the
7. Roles
and Rewards: Council revised the Faculty Roles and Rewards document to
specify that in years when no merit raises are available, each faculty member’s
accomplishments for that year must be carried forward for future evaluation
when merit rewards become available. The revised document was transmitted to
the Dean and posted on the Faculty Council Web page.
8.
9. Faculty Awards Program: Council implemented revised nomination
standards and procedures for
Council selected the following winners of the School awards for 2003-2004:
Dr. Rich Coppins, Distinguished Teaching; Dr. Dave Harless, Distinguished Scholar; and Professor Wayne
Edmunds, Distinguished Service.
Council made arrangements to securely remount the plaques listing winners
of the School awards. For the first time in three years, the plaques were
updated with the names of recent winners.
10. Annual Faculty Survey: Council conducted an anonymous survey
of the faculty to determine their support for the policies and practices of the
Dean and each Department Chair in April. The survey results were tabulated and
distributed according to the By-Laws.