September 11, 2013

English Executive Committee Minutes –FINAL

Approved 9/25/2013

Attending: Franklin (head), Recchio, Schlund-Vials, Fairbanks, Capshaw-Smith, Mahoney, Lynch, Burke, Hepburn.

Minutes:

Meeting began at 1:05.

1.Approval of 4/24/2013 minutes. Minutes approved.

2.Hiring Plan. Franklin stated that the dean has not yet notified the department of any available hires for AY 2014-2015. The university hiring plan has been extended to a 4 year plan, though it is not clear if we are in the first or second year. CLAS overspent the recruitment/start-up funds for new faculty by $6 million. In an effort to manage these costs, the dean has decided to share the expense of start-up costs with departments, meaning that we will now be responsible for 20%. Primarily the university uses indirect funds from grant overhead, which is not really an option for us.

Hiring plan that went forward from department in spring 2013 was for 2 positions – performance studies with a link to Human Rights and a composition/rhetoric position.

At present, it does not seem likely that we will get any positions for this year.

The administration is still open to “star” hires. Most recently Semenza proposed a colleague with a specialty in Renaissance. Alternatively, an opportunity presented itself this summer which administration considered. Committee may want to consider the possibility of presenting the dean with a “star” hire or hold a conventional search at the associate/full level.

3.Merit. Franklin thought that merit was handled as well as possible this year, considering the complications of including scores from 3 years in the allocation of merit funding for 1 year. A total of $79,000 was awarded in merit to faculty based on an average of merit scores received over past 3 years. $79,000 represents 2.1% of departmental faculty salaries. Other components of increase included a mandatory percentage increase and a flat dollar amount. 5 individuals received additional funding, 3 to address equity issues, 2 received retention raises. Process should be fairly similar for next 2 years, without the aggravation of averaging in 2 unfunded merit periods. Committee was asked to comment on process. Franklin thought that more careful consideration should be given what constitutes a monograph as opposed to, say, edited texts or collections. Schlund-Vials commented that the change to associate advisors was beneficial. Franklin responded that the department should watch the balance between awarding merit for classroom teaching and graduate advising.

4.Department Head procedure. Franklin stated this will be his final year as department head. He recommended that the search process be started in early spring 2014, with the committee suggesting that the dean be contacted at the end of fall semester. Franklin will distribute the materials describing the head search process as posted on the CLAS dean’s website. A new head should be in place as of August 2014. Franklin would be happy to consult with successor. The department governance document states that the dean cannot appoint a candidate as head that hasn’t been approved by the department.

5.Undergraduate Program. Fairbanks distributed materials showing an 8% decline in English majors for 2013-2014. This is in keeping with a decline nationwide, as students elect to choose majors based on starting salaries post-graduation. Other materials showed strong enrollments in “W” classes and weaker enrollments in courses offered for the actual major. Anecdotally, an instructor reported that in a Victorian Lit W course, 100% of students were non-majors. This trend, which is unlikely to reverse itself in the near future, has implications for courses offered and for future hiring.

Summer session offerings are one resource for revenue, but it is clear that the department should be strategic in offerings. On-line courses offered by Grossman routinely fill; courses offered that satisfy major requirements are less certain to attract necessary enrollment.

Other opportunities for summer offerings could include a 6 week summer in-residence program for freshman that would include FE and Q courses or a viable ESL program. Both of these strategies would require investment from administration in terms of funding, dorm and food service accessibility, and involvement from other departments. Benefits would be increased summer revenue, students better prepared for regular academic year, more teaching opportunities for graduate students and adjuncts, relief of historically overenrolled or closed out required courses, relief on limited classroom space during regular academic year. Also implications for hiring strategy – perhaps 1 hire in the history of English language who also possesses ESL experience. Increase in enrollments is expected to continue for next 5 years.

6.Graduate Admissions. Mahoney reported the results of admissions process: 22 students left the program and 22 students were admitted. Of the 22 admitted, 2 have deferred their enrollment by 1 year. Mahoney stated that the Graduate Executive Committee discussed the topic of advising responsibilities in the graduate program. DGS and ADGS will be developing some “Best Practices” with regards to advising for committee to review in September.

Meeting adjourned 2:05

Minutes submitted by Melanie Hepburn