Faculty Advisory Council Year End Report 1997-98

1997-98 FAC Committee Members

SUMMARY OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.

1. PROCESS FOR CHANGE

As a contributor to the University of Oregon's Process for Change, the FAC took part in the Issue Definition and Solution Groups and in helping to draft a final document to aid future implementation teams in carrying out the suggested solutions. This process continued through the fall, winter and spring quarters of the 1997-98 Academic Year. During the fall quarter FAC members chose to participate in each of the Issue Definition groups. This allowed us to 1) contribute broadly to the process, and 2) to learn what concerns and ideas other members of the university community had about issues relating to the economic situation, students, public perception and support, quality, the changing market and our relationship with OSSHE and the state, and the role of faculty, students and staff in institutional change. At the end of the term members helped write reports from the different issue identification teams that went into a final Issue Definition report.

During winter term, the FAC participated in the second stage in several ways. FAC members were again assigned to be members of the Solution Group teams, working with other university staff, students and faculty to create innovative solutions to the issues previously defined. During the spring term, after reports were collected from each of the teams, the FAC, the Senate Executive Committee, the Deans Council and the PSES each created summary documents that aimed to highlight the range of solutions covered by the various teams. Then, FAC consulted with Deans and central administration in creating a final report that was presented to the University Assembly Town Meeting on May 20th, for comment by the University Community at large.

2. POST-TENURE REVIEW REVISIONS

During the fall and winter quarters the FAC discussed revisions to the current post-tenure review policy. The impetus for this review and revision grew out of the 1994 report of the Commission on Faculty Rewards and Development. The need for revision in our existing policy was also emphasized during the recent accreditation review and its resulting recommendations. The FAC created a suggested motion for revisions to post-tenure review. Upon presenting this motion to the Senate, it became clear that more faculty input and debate was necessary before the motion was finalized. Therefore it was moved that The University Senate appoint a committee to study the motion proposed by the Faculty Advisory Council concerning post tenure review and to consult widely with the University community on all aspects of the matter, including the financial implications. It was suggested that the committee report back to the Senate by the last Senate meeting of the fall term 1998, and that the Senate take action on the committee's recommendation by the end of winter term 1999.

3. RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK

The FAC also discussed current U of Oregon faculty concerns regarding the development and expansion of the Riverfront Research Park. The 10 year expansion plan was discussed. FAC proposed to the President that the council be advisory in designing a review process. It was suggested that a Riverfront Research Park review committee be created to discuss further development and expansion of the Research Park. FAC has representation on the committee that was formed and has been meeting during spring term to resolve these issues.

4. STUDENT CONDUCT CODE REVISIONS

During winter and spring terms the FAC also discussed issues related to revising the student conduct code. Elaine Green (student conduct coordinator) and Lisa Freinkel (Chair, Student Conduct Committee) attended one of the FAC meetings to talk with the FAC about faculty and student concerns. Following these initial meetings, the FAC received from the Student Conduct Committee a set of proposed changes to the Student Conduct Code. After considerable discussion the FAC made recommendations to the Student Conduct Committee. They included suggestions that issues related to the preferred scope of jurisdiction of the Student Conduct Code should be the focus of a campus-wide discussion.

5. UNIVERSITY HOUSING

The FAC met with Mike Eyster, Director of University Housing about a number of issues regarding University Housing. Eyster gave an overview of the current state of Residence Housing, noting that there were many current problems. As part of the conversation it was recommended that the FAC should continue to be part of an ongoing discussion to improve the university housing situation, and to incorporate possible solutions into the Process for Change. This is an agenda item that will be continued in the 1998-99 academic year.

6. PEBB AND SEBB MERGER ?RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES

The FAC discussed proposed changes in benefits resulting from a merger between PEBB and SEBB. The changes are proposed in order to bring into parity the benefits provided to each board's constituents, but they will mean a reduction in faculty benefits because the changes remove cafeteria benefits and the cash-back option from the faculty benefits package. A letter to President Frohnmayer was drafted requesting that FAC be on record as opposing PEBB changes in faculty benefits, specifically to changes in the menu options and cash-back features of our current plans.

7. DEPARTMENTAL TEN YEAR REVIEWS

The FAC began a discussion of the Ten Year Departmental Review Process, in order to analyze and understand the costs and benefits of this process that the Graduate school has been administering. A letter was sent out to all department heads asking for input from their faculty on the process. The FAC is currently reviewing the input received from University faculty and administrators on the Ten Year Departmental review process.

8. CONSULTATIONS RELATED TO GOVERNANCE

The FAC also consulted with the President on various governance issues, including
relationships with OUS, committee appointments, presentations to the University Senate and OUS State Board and student conduct cases.

Recommendations for next year's committee, including continuing agenda items:

It is recommended that continuing agenda items for the 1998-99 academic year include 1) Process for Change implementation plans, 2) discussions of University Student Housing. 3) following through with FAC advising role vis a vis the ongoing University review of the Riverfront Research Park, 4) continue discussions on the Ten Year Departmental Review process. 
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