Minutes
Faculty Meeting
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
6:00 p.m., Mills A
President Cloyd called the meeting to order.
Reverend Clark gave the Invocation.
Committee Reports
Council on Academic Policy. Provost Entzminger presented the September 20, 2006 Faculty Meeting minutes. The minutes stood as presented.
Entzminger asked if there were questions regarding the September 21, 2006 Academic Policy minutes. No questions were raised.
Honoring Retiring Faculty. The Provost reported that the retiring faculty member would be part of the platform party at commencement as recommended. There would be other opportunities for recognition as well.
Tenure Track Search in Philosophy. Provost Entzminger announced that the search had been concluded with the hiring of Dr. Campolo to fill the position. The faculty responded with applause.
International/Intercultural Studies Committee. Dr. Oxner reported that the committee had been asked by the Murphy Foundation to study the best way for the College to take over the administration of the Hendrix in London Program. She reported that beginning in the Fall of 2007 the program will be offered during the Fall Semester to allow seniors to participate as well as take advantage of better weather.
Dr. Oudekerk recognized Nell Doyle for her work running the program. The faculty responded with applause.
Action Item.
Committee on Comittees Recommendation Regarding the Committee on Honorary Degrees. Provost Entzminger reported that the recommendation had the endorsement of the Council on Academic Policy. The purpose was to expand the committee and broaden the nomination process.
Entzminger stated that the Trustees had not understood the nomination process in terms of connection to the College. The Committee on Committees felt that it was appropriate for the Trustees to work with the Faculty to get more nominees into the pipeline. The Trustees have been concerned over the lack of nominations in the past.
Dr. Chappell pointed out that this would be the first time that Trustees would serve as voting members on a standing committee of the Faculty.
Dr. Gron stated that the old way of nominations did not work well so it made sense for the Trustees to work with the Faculty on this to restructure the process.
Dr. Cloyd endorsed the restructuring because it still preserves the power of the Faculty. He pointed out that the process of awarding an honorary degree is nothing like the process for graduation. This would set up a process where the stakeholders are involved in the process and would have the opportunity to review the old process. This recommendation would also keep honorary degree nominations in the purview of a faculty committee.
Associate Provost Sutherland stated that the Committee on Committees felt it was an appropriate time to revamp, restructure and get a better definition of what the honorary degree nomination process was trying to accomplish.
Several comments and suggestions were raised.
The nomination process at it is now is not clear.
Do other ACS institutions award honorary degrees?
Would the newly restructured committee still report to the faculty?
Dr. Teague moved to table the vote until February. The move to table does not require a second but does require a simple majority to pass.
Provost Entzminger asked for a voice vote. The results were not clear.
A show of hands vote resulted in an unclear count. A second show of hands vote resulted in the motions failure to carry with a vote of 27 to 32.
Discussion returned to the original motion.
A show of hands vote passed with a vote of 32 to 29.
Discussion Item.
Committee on Experiential Learning. Dr. Goodwin presented the proposal.
The Committee on Experiential Learning recommends that professional staff may
be allowed to serve as mentors/supervisors for student projects in the Service to
the World Odyssey category, as is presently allowed in the categories of
Professional and Leadership Development and Special Projects.
Teague asked that a definition of “professional staff” be included in the proposal.
Announcements.
President Cloyd announced that Scott Schallhorn, a Hendrix alum, had been hired as general counsel and CEO of The Village at Hendrix.
Cloyd informed the faculty that the underpass had been moved to the corner of Hardrider and Siebenmorgen as a result of concerns over pedestrian safety. Construction will begin in late February or early March.
Dr. Moran will be meeting with an environmental reconstruction expert next week to discuss the creek that runs through the Village.
Labryinth Project. Dr. Cloyd mentioned that a student had done an Odyssey funded project over the summer to study the use of labyrinths in various cultures. There will now be oneincorporated into the campus plan along with a Columbarium. The site will be near Trieschmann and the present site of Captain Martin’s grave.
Provost Entzminger congratulated Matthew Lopas and Susan Clark who had recently adopted a daughter. The faculty responded with applause.
Entzminger announced that 3 Hendrix faculty had received funding from The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium which administers the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program and the NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.: Gabe Ferrer, Warfield Teague and Bob Dunn. The faculty responded with applause.
Professor Grace announced two upcoming Special Events. Alejandro Escovedo will perform on Saturday in Staples. The Miami String Quartet will be on campus in November.
Oudekerk said that the deadlines for faculty applications to the China Faculty Exchange and the Hendrix in London Program were approaching.
Provost Entzminger announced that the ACS Deans would be on campus this weekend. Dr. Wayne Anderson, the ACS president, will be available for discussion with Hendrix faculty from 1-4 in the Fausett Hall Conference Room.
Bobby Engeler-Young and Karen Fraser highlighted the new technologies now available on campus.
Dr. Entzminger presented Dr. Capek with a framed certificate and check. She is the recipient of the Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award. She came forward to accept the award. The faculty responded with applause.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.