University Senate - May 7, 2018 Minutes

The University Senate was called to order at 3:50 p.m., in Room 111, Harrison Hall, Oxford Campus, on Monday, May 7, 2018. Members absent:  Kenya Ash, Susan Baim, Hana Hall, Hannah Kuethe, Jennifer Patrick-Gaines, Chris Pirigyi, Vaishali Raval, and Aaron Smith.

Call to Order and Announcements

  1. Announcements and Remarks by the Chair of University Senate, Phyllis Callahan
    1. Rankin and Associates conducted several open sessions to present the results of the Climate Survey. An Executive Summary is available on the One Miami webpage. A remediated version of the full report will be available at a later date.
    2. Faculty are encouraged to attend the main graduation ceremony on May 19, 2018, at Yager Stadium, beginning at 1:30 pm. Divisional ceremonies will be held on May 19 or 20.
    3. Provost Callahan reminded senators that resolutions and Senate actions are fully approved 10 class days after the approval of the Senate minutes. Additionally, the Board of Trustees does not take a resolution from Senate. Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, Chair of Senate Executive Committee, will deliver the Sense of the Senate resolutions in her report to the Board of Trustees on May 18, 2018.

Approval of University Senate Minutes

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the April 30, 2018, minutes of University Senate.

Consent Calendar

  1. The following items were received on the Consent calendar.
    1. Graduate Handbook Revision - 1.2.M-1.2.N - Combined Bachelor’s.Master’s Degrees

A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the Consent Calendar.

Old Business

  1. MUPIM 7.11.E Discussion (Percentage of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers)
    1. Provost Callahan discussed Powerpoint slides (Attachment A-1 with notes included) from the Fall 2017 Budget presentation. The increase in Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturer (TCPL, formerly LCPL) as well as Visiting Assistant Professors and Instructors is shown in slide 1. The goal is to move VAPs/Instructors into TCPL positions. The current numbers indicate that there will be a total of 737 Tenure/Tenure Track (T/TT) faculty and 129 TCPL faculty Fall 2018.
    2. Slides 3 and 4 break down the number of credit hours taught by faculty rank. The percentage of credits taught by T/TT faculty is declining. (Slides cannot be included due to remediation, but are available upon request.)
  1. SR 18-15 – Increasing the percentage of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers (formerly LCPL faculty)
    1. Prior to discussion on the proposed resolution, Rob Withers, Parliamentarian, reviewed the debate process.
    2. A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution. It was then moved and seconded to amend the resolution with the text (in bold) below.
    3. There was discussion regarding the proposed resolution and amendment.
      • There was concern about the number of VAPs and Instructors ballooning if the percentage of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturer positions was increased to 25%. There was also a concern about an increase in Adjunct professors, which happened after the last LCPL increase (from 10% to 20% in 2010). It was also felt that an increase to 25% should decrease the number of VAPs/Instructors.
      • The Chair of Fiscal Priorities and Budget Planning Committee talked about the financial implications. Because Miami is heavily dependent on tuition, flexibility is needed.
      • Several senators indicated that the resolution needed to be flexible and preserve the teacher-scholar model. There was a concern regarding this proposal being brought forward at the end of the semester. Executive Committee explained that it was brought forward as soon as it had been discussed in COAD.
      • One senator suggested adding the text ‘per division’ after ‘twenty-five percent (25%)’ in the proposed resolution. One concern with adding this text is that it would restrict the divisions that are more dependent on TCPLs (formally LCPLs). Some divisions are currently over the proposed 25% cap.
    4. The question was called and seconded. Senators then voted on the amendment (in red above) to the proposed resolution. The proposed amendment was not approved via roll call vote:  21 Aye; 26 Nay; and 10 Abstentions.
    5. Discussion returned to the original proposed resolution. There was an additional concern voiced as to whether the percentage will be raised again in the future.
    6. The question was called and seconded. Senators voted on SR 18-15 as listed below.

SR 18-15

Number of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers (MUPIM 7.11.E)

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse revisions to MUPIM 7.11.E., Number of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers

The total number of any and all ranks of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of fulltime tenured and tenure-track faculty.

Decisions to create new TPCPLCL lines will not reduce the proportion of tenure/tenure track faculty to full-time non-tenure-track faculty. Any increase in TCPL will come from the full-time temporary faculty percentage. Effective Fall 2018

New TPCPLCL hiring will maintain, and, wherever possible, increase the proportion of continuing faculty (T/TT and TPCPLCL) to total full-time and part-time faculty. Effective Fall 2018

 

SR 18-15

Number of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers (MUPIM 7.11.E)

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorse revisions to MUPIM 7.11.E., Number of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers

The total number of any and all ranks of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturer and Clinical Lecturers shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of fulltime tenured and tenure-track faculty.

SR 18-15 was approved via roll call vote: 43 Aye; 9 Nay; 5 Abstentions)

Adjournment

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to adjourn the Executive Session of University Senate.

Call to Order

  1. The Regular Session of University Senate was convened.

Approval of University Senate Abbreviated Minutes

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the May 7, 2018, abbreviated minutes of University Senate.

Adjournment

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to adjourn the Regular Session of University Senate.