December 10, 1999

Meeting of the Faculty Council

December 10, 1999, 3:00 p.m.

Assembly Room, 2nd Floor, Wilson Library

Chancellor William O. McCoy and Professor Richard N. Andrews will preside.

Agenda

INFODISC 3:00 Chancellor’s Remarks and Question Period.

Chancellor McCoy invites questions or comment on any topic

INFO 3:15  Chair of the Faculty’s Remarks. Prof. Richard N. Andrews

INFO 3:30 Greetings from the Chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly. Prof. Keith Howell, UNC-G.

DISC 3:45 Pedestrian Safety on the UNC-CH Campus. Major Jeffrey McCracken, Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety

INFODISC 4:05 Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions. Sr. Assoc. Dean Bernadette Gray-Little, Chair; and comments by Jerome Lucido, Director of Admissions.

INFODISC 4:20 Annual Report of the Committee on Scholarships, Awards, and Student Aid.

Prof. Charles Daye, Chair; and comments by Shirley Ort, Director of Scholarships and Student Aid

INFO 4:35 Report of the Committee on Teaching Resource Funding. Prof. Gerald J. Postema, Chair

DISC 4:45 Old or New Business.

ACT 5:00 Adjourn.

 

Joseph S. Ferrell

Secretary of the Faculty

 

KEY:

ACT = Action

INFO = Information

DISC = Discussion

Minutes

Attendance

Present (58): Bender, Black, Bluestein, Bowen, Boxill, Bromberg, Clegg, Covach, Debreczeny, Drake, Eckel, Elvers, Fink, Fishman, Gasaway, Grossberg, Harrison, Holmgren, Hooper, Huang, Janda, Johnson, Ketch, Kjervik, Kopp, LeFebvre, Madison, Margolis, Marshall, McCormick, McKeown, Melchert, A. Molina, P. Molina, Moran, Nord, Otey, Panter, Pfaff, Plante, Postema, Raasch, Rao, Raper, Rosenfeld, Schaller, Sekerak, Slatt, Steponaitis, Strauss, Taft, Thorp, Topal, Vaughn, Walsh, Weiss, White, Williams.

Excused absences (20): Ammerman, Angel, Blackburn, Bolas, Bynum, Carl, Cordeiro-Stone, Cravey, De La Cadena, Kalleberg, Kaufman, Kupper, Lubker, Ludlow, Meehan-Black, Moreau, Raab-Traub Savitz, Straughan, Vevea,

Unexcused absences (6): Adler, Assani, Collins, Graham, Graves, Kallianpur,

Chancellor’s Remarks

Chancellor McCoy called attention to some of the highlights of the Fall semester:

• Adoption of a first-year initiative.
• Dedication of the James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence.
• Completion of a number of other construction projects, such as the addition to the Law School.
• Opening of the Center for Public Service and the response on the campus to the victims of the floods.
• Preliminary planning for the capital campaign, which is likely to be known as “Campaign Carolina.”

The Chancellor noted that the speaker at next Saturday’s Mid-Year Commencement will be Prof. Bland Simpson, who is also a member of the Red Clay Ramblers. Prof. Simpson is planning to sing as well as speak.

Chancellor McCoy highlighted some active items:

• Faculty Compensation. The Board of Governors’ consultant on faculty compensation has recommended that the Board request from the legislature an additional $6.8 million in the upcoming fiscal year for faculty salaries as part of a three-pronged approach—legislative support, private contributions and tuition. He said that the Board will be discussing this proposal in detail at their January 16, 2000 meeting, and, at their February meeting, will act on the supplemental budget to be sent to the legislature.
• The Wachovia Contract. The Chancellor thought that the discussion at the November Council meeting answered satisfactorily most of the questions about the Wachovia contract. He said that three issues need to be addressed and that the administration is discussing them with Wachovia. The issues are (1) clarifying that the facility is intended to be a service center, not a “branch bank” as that term is normally used, (2) addressing more specifically what type of signage is contemplated, and (3) addressing concerns about exclusivity.
• Planning and Budgeting. He is planning a retreat in the early part of next year with the Cabinet, the deans, the other campus leaders, to continue planning the ongoing strategic directions of the University.
• Pedestrian Safety. The Safety Team has been working on pedestrian safety for several months. The pedestrian safety rally, called after the recent death of a post-doctoral student who was struck while crossing Manning Drive, was a strong statement on the subject. Chancellor McCoy said that the day before the rally, there had been a meeting attended by representatives from the Town, the State Department of Transportation, the public safety organizations of the University, and other interested persons. He said a Safety Committee is being organized. It will have representation from the Town, the State, and the University.
• Coach Carl Torbush. Chancellor McCoy said he is looking forward to working with the Coach Torbush, and the Coach is looking forward to a good year in 2000.

The Chancellor complimented Jerome Lucido, Director of Admissions, and Shirley Ort, Director of Scholarships and Student Aid, saying that they are doing fine jobs in balancing the quality of students with access to the University for all deserving students.

Prof. Philip Bromberg (Medicine) asked if the Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) is involved with helping the University with pedestrian safety. Chancellor McCoy responded that he was sure they would be called upon, as they were a good asset on campus. He said that the State Department of Transportation (DOT) has assured him that they will work with the University on these problems and the solutions. Mr. Douglas Robertson, HSRC Director, assured the Council the HSRC is in contact with the campus police and the DOT.

Prof. Deborah Bender (Heath Policies and Administration) said that she would like to see five-cycle lights at major intersections, such as are found in California. The fifth cycle stops traffic in all directions to allow pedestrians to cross at all cross-walks simultaneously as well as diagonally. She recalled that this had been in effect many years ago at the Franklin/Columbia intersection. She regretted that it had been discontinued.

Chair of the Faculty’s Remarks.

Professor Andrews added some footnotes to the issues discussed by Chancellor McCoy.

Wachovia. He expects to have the answers to the three issues identified by Chancellor before the next Council meeting. Vice Chancellor Evans has been out of town but intends to address them very soon. He said that broader issues had been raised as a result of the Wachovia contract. The University should carefully evaluate its relationships with outside commercial firms and contracts, and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council (ECFC) had begun an effort to identify principles that should underlie such relationships.

Pedestrian Safety Meeting. Prof. Andrews attended the meeting with representatives of the N.C. Department of Transportation to which the Chancellor referred. He said that Dr. Houpt, and Director of University Hospitals, Eric Munson, have graciously offered financial assistance for safety-related improvements in the medical complex.

Labor Licensing Code Advisory Committee. The Committee has recommended and the Chancellor has approved notice to all of our licensees that the University expects them to disclose their sites to the University and the public and to comply with the labor codes.

Greetings from the Chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly

Prof. Andrews introduced Prof. Keith Howell of UNC-G who is the newly-elected chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly. Prof. Howell said that the Faculty Assembly was created 28 years ago, when the UNC System was created, and is designed to operate as a Faculty Council for the entire system. Each campus has from two to five delegates to the Assembly based on the size of its faculty. The Assembly meets four times a year, usually in Chapel Hill, for an eight-hour meeting beginning at 1:00 p.m. He said the Assembly is structured to advise President Broad on issues of concern to the faculty. The President has been very responsive to faculty suggestions and recommendations. One of the issues being discussed this year is the increasing use of part-time fixed-term faculty throughout the System, reflecting a national trend in that direction. He said President Broad has appointed a task force, with a representative from each campus, to examine this trend and its implications for the UNC System. Many in the academic community see the unchecked growth of non-tenured and part-time faculty as a threat to the concept of permanent tenure itself. Prof. Howell said most of the work of the Faculty Assembly is carried out by six committees. There is some question of whether the existing structure adequately covers all the issues that need to be considered. For example, many faculty members will be retiring over the next several years and will be replaced by a new generation. Both groups may have special needs that the Assembly should address. These and other concerns highlight the need for to reexamine the Faculty Assembly’s organization.

Pedestrian Safety on the UNC-CH Campus

Major Jeffrey McCracken, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Safety, addressed pedestrian safety on the campus. He said “stop for pedestrians” signs have been put out during daylight hours at major crosswalks and officers are being assigned to special duty during the rush hours to make sure vehicles and pedestrians each respect the crosswalks. (He regrets that the signs have to be removed after dark to prevent theft.) He noted that “jay-walking” is an infraction punishable by a $10 fine, plus court costs of $87. The Department is now using radar devices on major streets such as Manning Drive and Columbia Street to alert motorists to their actual speed in relation to the speed limit. The Department has submitted a grant application to the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to receive funding for two traffic positions to work solely on traffic control 24 hours a day. Major McCracken said that the Department recently acquired from another source two radar units and a video camera. He said that the DOT is working closely with the Department to assist in designing ways of enhancing pedestrian safety, such as creating pedestrian islands, improving lighting, and erecting signs.

Prof. Stanley Black (Economics) asked what could be done about the pedestrian crossing markings that have faded or have been paved over. Major McCracken acknowledged the problem and added that the Department is considering warnings painted on the roadway. He pointed out that the only streets on campus under the direct control of the University are Stadium Drive and Bowles Drive. All others are under the jurisdiction of the Town or DOT.

Prof. Paul Molina (Radiology) had suggestions for some short term solutions during the construction period on Manning Drive. He thought that some of the problem stems from driver frustration brought on by the difficulty of getting in and out of the Health Affairs and Craig parking decks during rush hours. He proposed that entry gates be left open during peak times to alleviate backed-up traffic. He suggested more attendants at the exits. He suggested reassessing the locations of the bus stops. He asked if the construction projects could be speeded up. Major McCracken said there were several phases to the construction, the bus stops were being addressed, and the DOT plans to put a traffic signal across from Craig deck. He said he would bring Prof. Molina’s suggestions to the attention of the appropriate staff.

Prof. Ronald Strauss (Dental Ecology) pointed out that the recent accident which precipitates this discussion occurred between the Dental School and the Bowles Building near the intersection of two four-lane streets. He suggested narrowing each street to two lanes with wider sidewalks and plantings or stone walls to prevent pedestrians from crossing other than at designated crosswalks. He said this has become a critical issue, especially among the people at the Dental School, and that it is very dangerous to have a situation that requires pedestrians to cross four lanes at a location with heavy, high-speed traffic.

Prof. Timothy Taft (Orthopaedics) said that his experience as an orthopaedic surgeon has led him to conclude that many pedestrian accidents are caused by the careless behavior of the pedestrian. He wondered what was going to be done about the jay-walking on campus. He said efforts to address pedestrian behavior should be part of the solution as well.

Prof. Deborah Bender suggested that major crosswalks have timed crossing lights. She observed that both motorists and pedestrians lack a proper sense of taking turns.

Prof. Steve Bachenheimer said he thought the pedestrians were most important, and the cars must be controlled. “This is a campus, not a race track,” he said. The streets that intersect the campus should not be treated like city streets because they are part of a university campus where pedestrians dominate. He also pointed out that the parking decks seem to have been designed with no thought as to how the driver would reach the exit once parked; there is no safe place in them for pedestrians.

Prof. Anthony Molina (Prosthodontics) said that construction crews and commercial delivery drivers need to be made aware of pedestrian safety

Prof. Andrews added that commercial delivery drivers also need to be made aware of where they are entitled to park. Often lines of sight for both pedestrians and drivers are obscured by vehicles parked in the roadway or on the sidewalks.

Prof. Philip Bromberg (Medicine) took good-natured issue with Prof. Taft. Even though pedestrian carelessness may be a major part of the problem, cars are lethal weapons and need to be controlled. He agrees that the parking decks are frightening. He suggested an easy-pass lane for the parking decks.

Prof. Jan Boxill suggested an overpass at the new Student Union.

Prof. John Covach (Music) noted that sometimes bus drivers negotiate a change of shift while the bus is sitting idle in a traffic lane. The delay contributes to driver irritation and is a particular problem on two-lane streets such as Cameron Avenue.

Prof. Vincent Kopp (Anesthesiology) observed that the pedestrian crossing buttons found at many intersections appear to be dysfunctional. He urged attention to re-programming these devices so that they better serve their intended purpose. His remarks were greeted with applause.

Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions

Senior Associate Dean Bernadette Gray-Little, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, presented the committee’s written annual report and offered to respond to questions.

Prof. Gerald Postema (Philosophy) asked about recent press reports regarding the quota of out-of-state admissions and the penalty for exceeding it. Dean Gray-Little responded that the 18% quota was exceeded this year, but in the two prior years we were under the quota. Director of Admissions Jerome Lucido explained that General Administration sets the out-of-state quota and enforces it by assessing budgetary penalties both for exceeding it and failing to reach it. Normally the penalties are not assessed if the institution makes a good faith effort to comply.

Prof. Richard Pfaff (History) asked for an explanation of the category of committee members designated “ad hoc.” Prof. Joseph Ferrell, Secretary of the Faculty, said this category had been set up some years ago at the request of Dean Samuel R. Williamson. Before this change, the committee had only four faculty members—the vice chairs of the four Divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dean Williamson wished to enlarge faculty membership to add persons with special competencies. It was felt at the time that the best method to accomplish this was to allow the committee to co-opt “ad hoc” members with full voting privileges.

Prof. Ronald Strauss (Dental Ecology) asked whether there is a program aimed at recruiting Hispanic students. Dean Gray-Little responded that there is no such program at the moment but that the issue is worthy of further consideration.

Prof. Philip Bromberg (Medicine) asked whether the SAT scores cited in the report are those of the students that actually matriculate. Prof. Andrews responded that they are. Prof. Bromberg also asked how much of the rise in SAT scores was attributable to out-of-state students. Mr. Lucido responded that part of the increase was the result of an adjustment in scale, but that much of it is due to rising standards of our applicant pool.

Prof. Jan McCormick (Cell & Molecular Physiology) asked about the drop in applicants. Mr. Lucido said that this was largely attributable to a new requirement that applicants submit essays.

Prof. Vincent Kopp (Anesthesiology) asked about the gender balance among students. Mr. Lucido responded that this mirrors the gender balance of the applicant pool and that the ratio of women to men has remained stable for several years. Our experience in this regard is the same as that of other institutions that offer a similar mix of undergraduate majors.

Prof. Ed Samulski (Chemistry) asked whether low tuition is necessary to adequately attract minority students. Mr. Lucido said research has indicated that minority applicants are sensitive to the availability of financial aid as well as the tuition level.

Dean Gray-Little asked Mr. Lucido to discuss the efforts begun last year to increase faculty involvement in the recruitment of students. Mr. Lucido thanked the faculty for their involvement and response. He said that last year the Faculty Council adopted a resolution encouraging faculty involvement in admissions (See Minutes of 11/18/98). Since that time there have been three faculty phonathons, in which hundreds of students from the top of the applicant pool were contacted. He also cited the Carolina Contact program which invites students and their parents to come for a day on campus. Mr. Lucido said these efforts will be repeated. He believes that it is important for prospective students to learn of the University’s high academic standards. The market for high-achieving students is becoming increasingly competitive, and faculty involvement in recruiting them is becoming increasingly important. Mr. Lucido said that new student recruitment initiatives being launched include a class visitation program and a faculty liaison program.

Annual Report of the Committee on Scholarships, Awards, and Student Aid.

Prof. Charles Daye, Chair, introduced his remarks by giving special recognition to the excellent work being done by the staff of the Office of Scholarships, Awards, and Student aid. He reviewed data showing the proportion of students receiving aid, allocation of aid between need- and merit-based, sources and types of need-based aid, and other relevant criteria. On the whole, aid to undergraduate students is primarily in the form of need-based grants while aid to graduate and professional students is primarily through loans. The principal source of financial aid is from federal funds, but the percentage coming from University sources continues to rise each year.

Director of Scholarships and Student Aid Shirley Ort said her philosophy of student financial aid is that it has as its goal support of the institution’s basic educational mission. It is not an end in and of itself. She said that to reach that goal it is necessary to: (1) remove financial barriers for qualified students to come to the University; (2) recognize and reward talent; and, (3) generate data needed to inform policy decisions. Ms. Ort said she strongly supports the University’s policy position that students in need of assistance will be held harmless from any tuition increase that might be imposed.

In response to a question from Prof. Deborah Bender as to how the issue of transportation factors into the calculation of a student’s eligibility for financial aid, Ms. Ort said there was a standard transportation allowance. Ms. Mary Garren, Associate Director of Scholarships and Student Aid, added that the travel allowance is individualized for each case but is usually in the range of $600

Prof. Gert Webelhuth (Linguistics) asked about the recently reported data indicating that the family incomes of students currently enrolled are significantly higher than the median family income in North Carolina. Ms. Ort acknowledged the disparity but pointed out that data on median family income to which Prof. Webelhuth referred are more statistically reliable than that on UNC-CH student family income because the latter are drawn from information reported by the students themselves. In response to a second question from Prof. Webelhuth, Ms. Ort said that the University is in a more favorable position than some institutions because we have much more in the way of endowed scholarships, grants and institutional monies for student financial aid and the cost of tuition is very low. She also noted that the commitment to devote 30% of the proposed tuition increase to financial aid in the form of grants is, to the best of her knowledge, unprecedented elsewhere.

Prof. Thomas Clegg (Physics & Astronomy) said that many of his students are working outside of the classroom, making it difficult for them to keep up academically. Ms. Ort said that roughly 80% of students nationally report that they work part-time outside of the classroom. Ms. Cindy Wolf-Johnson, Assoc. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, said the increase in outside work is a long-term trend. Prof. Andrews said that it is his impression that often students take jobs in order to support a higher standard of living than would be possible on financial aid alone. Ms. Ort agreed that often there is a disparity between the University’s definition of need and a given student’s expectations. She said the maximum award to an out-of-state student is $9,500 while the University’s estimate of total expenses for such a student is around $20,000. Prof. Daye agreed that some students perceive that they have needs not recognized as need by the University.

Report of the Committee on Teaching Resource Funding.

Prof. Gerald J. Postema, Chair, said that the report springs from Resolution 99-5 Faculty Council (4/23/99) which called for a study of the availability of teaching resources for graduate students. The Provost appointed a task force, as requested, and has accepted its recommendations and passed them on to the Dean of the College. Prof. Postema said the report discovered that a significant number of graduate students pay out-of-pocket to support their teaching efforts, but the problem is not as pervasive as originally thought. Provost Richard Richardson thanked the Committee for the Report and said that the administration would address its recommendations. He agrees that graduate students should not be expected to incur personal expenses for the courses they are teaching.

Prof. Postema added that the graduate student members of the Committee worked very hard on the report and he wished to applaud them.

On motion of Prof. Richard Pfaff (History), the Committee’s Report was received.

Other Items

Prof. Ferrell introduced Ms. Joan Bacon, who will be helping to prepare the minutes of the Council.

Adjournment.

The business of the day having concluded, the Council adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Joseph S. Ferrell
Secretary of the Faculty