UNH Faculty Senate

Summary Minutes from 22 March 1999

I.  Roll - The following Faculty Senate members were absent:  Bornstein,
de la Torre, Gaudette, Grenier, Gross, Kaen, McNamara, Niman, Pugh,
Reardon, Roh, Wang, Williams, Winslow, Zsigray and Zunz.  Absent as work
to rule were Brinker, Carr, Coon and Echt.  Excused were Draper, Keim,
Komonchak, Macieski and Sherman.

II.  Motion to Withdraw Standing Invitation - James Farrell moved and Art 
Balderacchi seconded that the Faculty Senate hereby respectfully 
withdraws the standing invitation to the president of the university to 
address the senate, until such time as she is prepared to discuss 
collective bargaining or until there is a contract settlement between the 
UNH faculty and the USNH Board of Trustees.  The rationale for the motion 
was that the president's presence at the start of every meeting of the 
Faculty Senate indicates business as usual which is inappropriate when a 
faculty contract still has not been obtained.  Another faculty member 
responded that the Faculty Senate is definitely a faculty body and thus 
is not covered under work to rule.  Also he said that the senate benefits 
from being able to discuss issues directly with the president at these 
meetings.  Another professor said that, if the senate does not give input 
on issues, the administration will make the decisions without faculty 
input.  Professors pointed out that the president speaks out strongly on 
issues such as not cutting athletic scholarships and the need for more 
university buildings.  The Faculty Senate constitution states that 
=B3Collective bargaining issues may be discussed, but no official action 
may be taken.  The president has said that she has no role in the 
negotiation process and that fair labor practices limit what she can say 
to faculty about issues under negotiation.  However, some faculty feel 
that she is relinquishing her authority and influence on this issue.  
Some professors asked that, if the president is legally bound not to 
discuss collective bargaining, this law or ruling should be shown to the 
faculty.

III.  Communications from the Chair - The Faculty Senate chair said that 
the senate's Academic Affairs and Finance and Administration Committees 
have been meeting with the vice president for finance and administration 
to discuss the decentralized budget plan.  There will be an open forum 
about this on April 6 from 12:30 to 2:00 in the Johnson Theater.  The 
Agenda Committee has met with the vice president for finance and 
administration to discuss the time frame for Faculty Senate involvement. 
Discussions will continue this semester; the new provost will arrive in 
the summer; and no major decisions on the decentralized budget plan will 
be made until during the fall semester.

The Agenda Committee was given a copy of a draft of the Faculty Handbook 
and has referred it to the Professional Standards Committee for review.  
The AAUP has also received a copy of the draft.  The question which 
Professor Appel brought up at the last senate meeting has been referred 
to the Finance and Administration Committee.  At the April 5 Faculty 
Senate meeting, the Academic Affairs Committee will present a motion on 
the formation of the Academic Oversight Committee.

Regarding work to rule, the history is that there were no cancellations 
of the Academic Senate in 1994/95.  In 1995/96, the Academic Senate 
functioned until the Faculty Senate was created after the start of work 
to rule.  The Faculty Senate has continued since its formation without 
interruption.  The Faculty Senate is a totally faculty body.  The senate 
chair said that he is a member of AAUP and that he believes it is 
important that the Faculty Senate be vigilant in protecting faculty and 
academic interests by continuing its work.  Each faculty member should 
interpret work to rule as dictated by her/his conscience.

The senate chair announced the dates, times and location of open meetings 
with candidates for provost.  The senate chair has submitted a proposal 
to the Parent's Association regarding a budget for the activities of the 
General Education Study Committee.

IV.  Presentation on Book Costs for Students - The student body president 
and vice president expressed concern about the rising cost of textbooks, 
especially when added to the increasing cost of tuition, fees, room and 
board.  The students said that some courses require three or four books 
and that some students must pay $600 for texts in one semester.  Often a 
new edition of a book is required even though there is little change from 
the previous edition.  A discussion followed on second-hand book selling, 
the possibility of a cooperative book exchange, and the use of course 
packets and the library reserve system.

V.  Report on Accessing Career Challenges in Education through 
Specialized Services - This office bases its work on section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act and on the Americans with Disabilities Act which says 
that no otherwise-qualified person with a disability should be deprived 
of services in an institution receiving federal assistance.  The ACCESS 
Office works to provide services and support to both students and 
faculty.  Compliance issues are dealt with not by ACCESS but by the 
Affirmative Action Office.  Textbooks have been recorded for the use of 
blind or dyslexic persons, but frequent new editions are a difficulty for 
students in this program.  The ACCESS Office refers students to the 
Academic Advising Center, the Center for Academic Resources and the 
Writing Center, as well as the Counseling Center and the Health Service.

Students served by the ACCESS Office must meet the usual UNH admission 
requirements and must present the professor with an official letter 
showing that they qualify for the ACCESS program.  In the classroom, 
professors should maintain their usual standards but may need to modify 
certain rules about testing, note taking, tape recording, etc.  A 
discussion ensued on the standards of testing to define students who 
qualify for this program.  Margo Druschel, Coordinator of ACCESS, said 
that she would like to work closely with faculty and students to meet the 
needs of well-qualified students with disabilities.

VI.  Minutes - The minutes of the last meeting were approved unanimously.

VII.  Open Mike - When a quorum was present and the senate's agenda had 
been completed, the senate resumed discussion about the standing 
invitation to the president.  Some faculty felt that the motion should be 
approved as a symbolic gesture, while other professors said that the best 
way to resolve difficult situations is to discuss them face to face and 
that faculty should take advantage of the opportunity which senate offers 
to discuss issues with the president.  Faculty said that we should ask 
the president what law or regulation states that the university president 
cannot speak about collective bargaining issues.  A motion was made and 
seconded to table the motion.  The motion to table passed with seventeen 
ayes and nine nays.

VIII.  Adjournment  - Today's meeting was adjourned.