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Faculty Governance News

vol. 3.6

November 5 , 2008

From the UNC Office of Faculty Governance
200-204 Carr Building
UNC-CH Campus
Contact:  Anne M. Whisnant (anne_whisnant@unc.edu)

Nominations sought for Chair of the Faculty candidates, due November 7

The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee seeks nominations and applications for Chair of the Faculty in fulfillment of its duty under the Faculty Code of University Government.  At least two candidates will be nominated to stand for election to this position.  Elections will be held in April 2009.  Nominations received by this Friday, November 7, will receive full consideration.  For complete details, please visit:  https://facultygov.unc.edu/elections/.

Fixed-Term Faculty Committee to hold discussions and forum on fixed term faculty issues, November 7

The Fixed-Term Faculty Committee of Faculty Council invites the faculty to join us this Friday, November 7 in the Faculty Commons at the Campus Y to discuss these questions: “What changes or new provisions should appear in policies that apply to fixed-term faculty?” and “What would make being a full-time fixed-term faculty member at Carolina a more attractive career choice?”

Faculty members will have two opportunities that day to share their thoughts:

  • 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon:  Committee members will be on hand in the Faculty Commons for one-on-one conversations with faculty members.  This will provide a chance for discussing issues that may require more confidentiality.
  • 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.:  Public forum.  Committee members will share information about the committee’s work and engage attendees in a wide-ranging discussion of the topics listed above. 

Click here to learn more about the recent work of the Fixed-Term Faculty Committee.

Faculty Council to meet, November 7

The Faculty Council will meet this Friday, November 7, at 3 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History.  Topics on the agenda include a presentation on the UNC system budget outlook by Rob Nelson, Vice President for Finance, UNC System, and a discussion of the “Millennium Generation” of students with Winston Crisp, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.  There will also be several committee reports. The full agenda is online here. All faculty are invited to attend.

Association of Women Faculty and Professionals sponsors panel discussion on “Caring for Aging Family Members,” November 21

The UNC Association of Women Faculty and Professionals invites the university community to its fall program, “Caring for Aging Family Members: A Panel Discussion.”  This event will be held Friday, November 21, 2008, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.in the Pleasants Family Room in Wilson Library.  No advance registration is necessary.

The program will feature several community- and university-based professionals who will help participants think about planning for and caring for aging parents or other aging relatives, a burden that often falls disproportionately upon women.  Panelists will offer practical advice on strategies, resources, and services.  They will consider a continuum of issues from preventing functional decline, assisting with relatives’ medical needs, and overcoming impediments to intergenerational communication to identifying resources in the community, planning for in-home care or long-term care (assisted living, nursing home), and undertaking advocacy. 

Panelists will be:

  • Kate Barrett, MSW, LCSW, Director, Transitions Program, Orange County Dept on Aging
  • Sue Coppola, MS, OTR/L, BCG Associate Professor, UNC Division of Occupational Science
  • Laura Hanson, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, UNC Division of Geriatric Medicine
  • Jill Passmore,  Region J Lead Long Term Care Ombudsman, Triangle J Area Agency on Aging

Click here to learn more about the Association of Women Faculty and Professionals.

Sakai blog shares news, information about pilot

ITS Teaching and Learning is evaluating Sakai– a community source collaborative learning environment. The  pilot is designed to evaluate the efficacy of Sakai for teaching,  research, outreach, and administrative workflows. Feedback from faculty, staff, and students will be collected, analyzed, and documented in a final report expected in June 2009 and authored by Sakai Action Group members.  In an effort to share information about the pilot, a blog containing news and information is located at http://www.unc.edu/sakaipilot/blog/. To join the pilot or for additional information, please contact Kim Eke at keke@email.unc.edu.

LMS User Group created to share innovations, best practices

A Learning Management System (LMS) User Group has been created to provide a forum for sharing LMS innovations, resources and best practices.  Information from faculty and support staff on creative ways to use Blackboard and Sakai as well as feedback on the student experience is welcomed. The inaugural meeting of the LMS User group will take place in January.  To join the group or for additional information please contact Kim Eke at keke@email.unc.edu.

Faculty Governance Reading Room

Articles, books, or other resources of interest to faculty.  This week’s selection:

  • “New physics faculty member benefits from center resources”
    Article focusing on UNC’s new Center for Faculty Excellence, from the October 15, 2008 issue of the University Gazette

About Faculty Governance News

The Faculty Governance News is published every two weeks throughout the academic year by the Office of Faculty Governance.  Archived issues and the publication schedule for 2008-09 are available online here.  Information to be considered for inclusion should be sent to Anne Whisnant (anne_whisnant@unc.edu) by Monday before an issue is schedule to appear. 

For more information on any of these items, please contact Anne Whisnant in the Office of Faculty Governance.