Academic Senate Meeting
Minutes from May 4, 1998

Present: F Albrecht (proxy for K. Challoner), J. L. Anderson, M. Apostolos, M. Appleman, M. Breuer, H. Cheeseman, T.C. Cheng, E. Cooper, A. Crigler, R. Curfman, R. Farley, C.A. Fleischer, S. Formenti, R. Guralnick, P. Heseltine, P. Knoll, R. Labaree, F. Mason, W. Meezan, A. Mircheff, B. Nelson, M. Nichol, S. Nutt, S. Ross, J. Russel, G. Schierle, C. Silva-Corvalan, H. Slucki (proxy for H. Kaslow), R Stellwagen, W. Thalmann, Y. Tang, N. Verma, W. Waugman, M. Weinstein, W. Wolf

Absent: D. Bunn, R. Chase, E. Chemerinsky, B. Comrie, C. Hempel, Janet Johnson, Julia Johnson, W. Meezan, J. Nyquist, K. Wilber, D. Yaden

Guests: M.Payton, S. Pratt, B. Solomon, J. Zernik

The Meeting was called to order at 2:50 p.m. by President J. lawford Anderson.

Agenda Item #1. Announcements

President Anderson made three announcements:

a.The Academic Senate committee final reports are included in the packet for this meeting. President Anderson thanked all the committee chairs and their members for their time and efforts. Senators applauded in appreciation for their work and President Anderson noted that a letter of acknowledgement is to be sent to all committee members.

b.The Academic Senate is giving a Wine and Cheese reception on May 7 at 3:00 p.m. for the following reasons:

1.to welcome the newly elected Academic Senate Executive Board officers and members at large for the academic year 1998-1999.

2.to honor Professor Tim Gustafson for his work with undergraduate students and for his role as a Faculty Master in the Residential College.

3.to honor Vice Provost Barbara Solomon for her work on behalf of faculty and for her tireless efforts in working with members of the Senate.

c.The status of the 1997-1998 Resolutions passed by the Senate are as follows:

1.Tape Recording of Senate Meetings - not passed by the Senate.

2.Faculty Availability to Students - Communicated to faculty throughout the Academic Senate listserver, the Academic Senate Newsletter, and a campus-side letter from President Anderson.

3.Improvement of Class Scheduling - Endorsed by the Provost. Task force chaired by Associate Vice Provost Carolyn Webb de Macias, Lawford Anderson, and Registrar Ken Servis was formed and is currently presenting a proposal for review.

4.Faculty Review of Deans, Chairs, and Faculty - Endorsed by the Provost. A committee was created, chaired by Greg Thalmann with two subcommittees. Subcommittees on Review of Deans and Chairs, co-chaired by Sylvia Formenti and Sarah Pratt, and Review of Faculty, co-chaired by Nicos Petasis and Barbara Solomon, are to present recommendations before the end of the academic year.

5.Archiving Documents Relating to Governance and Administration - The Provost has recommended that each faculty council or assembly set up a web site to archive governance documents and has initiated efforts for the Dean of the Library to establish a site for the governance documents from the Administration. He has also offered financial or other forms of support for units to develop their archives. Subsequently, the Executive Board has asked all councils or assemblies to forward their governance documents to the Senate office to be posted on the Senate web site.

6.AAUP Censure - The Senate has formed a task force chaired by Al Marston to recommend procedures to remove USC from AAUP censure.

7.Procurement of Travel Services - Vice President for business Affairs, Dennis Dougherty, has communicated through campus-wide memo inviting communication of problems with the travel service. Meanwhile, a parallel initiative regarding laboratory purchases through VWR has been tabled pending further study.

Agenda Item #2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of April 15, 1998 were approved as presented.

Agenda Item #3. Report: Election Results--Officers and the 1998/99 Executive Board

Robert Labaree, Chair of rules, Membership and Elections Committee, reported the results of the Senate election. The following individuals were elected with 75% of ballots returned:

For Academic Vice President - William Tierney, Professor of School of Education.

For Secretary General - Nicos Petasis, Associate Professor of Chemistry, College of L.A.S.

For Members-at-Large - Michael Bolger, Associate Professor of School of Pharmacy Ann Crigler, Associate Professor of Political Science, College of L.A.S. Austin Mircheff, Professor of Physiology & Biophysics & Ophtamology, School of Medicine Carmen Silva-Corvalan, Professor of Spanish and Portugese, College of L.A.S.

Agenda Item #4. Discussions/Voting of Draft New Faculty Handbook

This issue is a continuation of discussions and voting from the April 15, 1998 meeting. Before proceeding, President Anderson reminded the floor of the following:

a.The proposed new Handbook, when endorsed by both the Administration and the Senate, is to be available at a protected university-level web site as a "living document" where accepted new or revised policies are to go into effect on July 1 of a given year. Upon approval by both the Senate and Administration, policies can also go into effect immediately.

b.The first section "Government of the University" was accepted as amended at the last meeting.

c.The intention of this meeting is to complete voting of the entire draft of the proposal of the new Faculty Handbook even if this meant to adjourn late in the evening. He asked all Senators who were unable to stay to leave their votes with Connie and a designated Senator only after they were satisfied that their vote fully reflected their review of the document and discussion with other Senators.

Two motions were made on how to start the discussions/voting of the proposed new Handbook:

a.To accept all sections already endorsed by the Senate, and those sections of the 1987 Faculty Handbook that have been exchanged except for some editorial changes;

b.to reconsider all sections.

The "a" motion was passed with 19 in favor, 2 opposed, and one abstention. The "b" motion was not passed with 10 in favor, 12 opposed, and 1 abstention.

The section of the proposed new Handbook, on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities was discussed at length. Five motions were made and seconded. The first motion was to add wordings under sub-section "c. Faculty Responsibilities" second paragraph, from third sentence up to the last sentence which reads (amendment in capitals) "Although actual percentages may vary depending on the needs of the faculty member's ACADEMIC unit, it is expected that each TENURE-TRACK faculty member will make a significant contribution in each of the three areas of RESPONSIBILITY. NON-TENURE-TRACK FACULTY WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT ACTIVITY PROFILE DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE ACADEMIC UNIT IN WHICH THEY SERVE. The specific nature of a faculty member's teaching, research, and/or service to the University may be adapted in accordance with the demands of the specific ACADEMIC unit and/or terms of a particular faculty member's negotiated profile. The activity profile should be established through consultation BETWEEN EACH FACULTY MEMBER AND THE DEAN OR CHAIRPERSON OF THE ACADEMIC UNIT. Faculty MEMBERS may pursue other professional activities as long as these endeavors do not detract from the FACULTY MEMBER'S responsibility to the University." And on the third paragraph, last sentence of the same sub-section, to change the word "required" to "expected" and to add "after the consultation with the department" and to delete the words"or a duly constituted," "committee." Thus, the last sentence to read "Faculty are EXPECTED to teach courses that have been assigned to them by the department chair, AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT faculty, on the basis of departmental of school needs." The motion was passed with 20 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 abstention.

The second motion was to add wordings in the fourth paragraph, fourth sentence which reads (amendment in capitals): "Likewise, AS EACH FACULTY MEMBER MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE and depending on THE FIELD or discipline, research can include considerable effort in the writing of proposals or related endeavors to acquire outside funding AS MAY BE NEEDED TO CONDUCT A FACULTY MEMBER'S RESEARCH." The motion was passed with 20 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 abstention.

The third motion was to add wordings in the fifth paragraph and to delete the last sentence of that paragraph which reads (amendments in capital): "Service includes efforts derived from committees and other activities at the departmental THROUGH THE university levels. Depending on THE FIELD OR discipline, this effort may include work outside the university. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE CARRIED OUT LARGELY BY TENURED FACULTY MEMBERS. Probationary TENURE-TRACK faculty and NON-TENURE-TRACK FACULTY generally have a reduced role in service activities. the motion was passed with 19 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 abstention.

The fourth motion was to modify sub-section "d. Contractual Conditions." the motion was not passed with 6 in favor, 13 opposed, and 2 abstentions.

The fifth motion was to retain wordings in the 1987 faculty handbook under subsection "d. Contractual Conditions." The motion was passed with 17 in favor, 1 opposed, and 3 abstentions.

The section on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities was endorsed, with amendments, by the Senate with a vote of 16 in favor, 6 opposed, and no abstentions.

Before President Anderson could proceed to the next section, Academic Vice President Greg Thalmann asked permission from President Anderson to have the floor. Dr.

Thalmann presented a medal to Dr. Anderson as a recognition for his hard work and dedicated service as President of the Faculty for this academic year. Dr. Thalmann thanked Dr. Anderson for all his efforts and specially for putting the proposed new Faculty Handbook issue back on the table. President Anderson made a brief comment about his role as President of the Faculty. He said it is a big commitment but it is a challenging and an interesting job as well. He noted the many accomplishments of the Senate for this academic year and thanked the members of the Senate and Members of the Senate Executive Board for all of their efforts.

The section on Faculty Appointments, Promotion and Tenure was discussed. A lengthy discussion resulted in four motions which were all seconded.

The first motion was to add the words "of non-reappointment" and to delete the rest of the words under sub-section 2. Reappointment and Notice of Non-reappointment for Full-time Probationary (Tenure track) Faculty, second paragraph, first sentence to read: "In the case of non-reappointment of a non-tenured faculty member, the faculty member shall receive reasonable notice OF NON-REAPPOINTMENT." The last sentence of the same paragraph was also modified and moved from second paragraph, last sentence to third paragraph, last sentence, which reads (amendments in capitals) "During this notice period, the faculty memberŐs responsibilities may be altered BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FACULTY MEMBER AND THE UNIVERSITY." In the fourth paragraph, first sentence, the word "salary" was replaced with the word "compensation" and in the second sentence of same paragraph the words "notice or" were deleted to read "The Provost may provide COMPENSATION equivalent to the time periods covered by the Notice. Following payment, no further obligations exist as to either party." The motion was passed with 19 in favor, 3 opposed and no abstentions.

The second motion was to add a sentence as the last paragraph of sub-section "2. Reappointment and Notice of Non-reappointment ..." which reads (amendments in capitals) "IF THE RESULT OF THE TENURE REVIEW IS TO DENY TENURE TO THE FACULTY MEMBER, THE FACULTY MEMBER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A TERMINAL YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT BEYOND EXPIRATION OF THE ANNUAL CONTRACT IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE DECISION." The motion was passed unanimously.

The third motion was to insert paragraphs four and five, page 25 of the 1987 Faculty Handbook, in between the sixth and seventh paragraphs of sub-section "2. Reappointment and Notice of Non-reappointment ..." which reads (in capitals) "THE PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND TENURE WHICH ARE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THIS AND ALL OTHER MAJOR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES RELY ON AN ESTABLISHED PROBATIONARY PERIOD DURING WHICH EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY FACULTY. AN ESTABLISHED PROBATIONARY PERIOD ONLY HAS SIGNIFICANCE IF THERE IS A DEFINITE TERM AT WHICH THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD ENDS. A UNIVERSITY IS AS STRONG AS ITS FACULTY. TWO PRINCIPLES ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING A STRONG FACULTY. ONE OF THESE PRINCIPLES IS THAT THE QUALITY OF FACULTY MEMBERŐS WORK IS ASSESSED, NOT BY THE POTENTIALLY CAPRICIOUS JUDGMENT OF ANY SINGLE PERSON, BUT RATHER RESULTS FROM A SEARCHING REVIEW BY THE FACULTY MEMBERŐS COLLEAGUES. THIS PRINCIPLE IS GIVEN FORM BY MAKING SURE THAT EACH FACULTY MEMBER IS PROVIDED A TENURE DECISION DATE WHEN THIS PROCESS OF REVIEW MUST BE COMPLETED, AND ASSURING THAT THE PRESIDENT, AS IS REQUIRED BY HIS/HER ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR MAINTAINING THE LONG-RANGE QUALITY OF THE INSTITUTION, MAKES A FINAL DECISION ON THE AWARD OF TENURE BASED ON THIS FULL AND CAREFUL PROCESS OF PEER REVIEW BY COLLEAGUES." The motion was passed with 19 in favor, one opposed and one abstention.

The fourth motion concerns the section "Advisory Committees on Appointments, Promotion and Tenure." It proposes to add the word "all" in the first paragraph, first sentence under sub-section "2. School or Divisional Committees on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure" which reads (amendment in capitals) "In preparing ALL recommendations to the appropriate vice-president, the dean or director of each school or division receives the advice of faculty committees on appointments, promotions, and tenure." The motion was passed unanimously.

The section on Faculty Appointments, Promotion and Tenure was endorsed unanimously, with amendments, by the Senate.

The section on Academic Designations was accepted unanimously as presented.

The section on Procedures related to Faculty Dismissals was accepted unanimously as presented.

The section on Outside Consulting and Teaching Activities was accepted unanimously as presented.

The section on Faculty Research was accepted unanimously with the agreement that clarification and revision will be done in the near future.

The section on Sexual Harassment Policy was accepted unanimously as presented.

The section on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action was introduced by President Anderson. He noted that in view of the present position stated by the University of California and other universities nationwide, it was appropriate that USC place its position in this debate. The section on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action was accepted unanimously as presented.

The section on Leaves of Absence was discussed at length. A motion was made and seconded to replace the word "leave" with the word "extension" and to add one sentence as third or last sentence in sub-sub-section no. 1, second sentence under sub-section "5. Family Leave" which reads (amendments in capitals) "Requests for such EXTENSION should come from the faculty member via the dean to the provost. SUCH EXTENSION SHALL NOT REQUIRE THAT THE FACULTY MEMBER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY OTHER BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THIS FACULTY LEAVE POLICY." The motion was passed with 13 in favor, 2 opposed and 7 abstentions.

The section on Compensation was unanimously endorsed as presented.

The section on Faculty Grievances, the Academic Senate version, was unanimously endorsed as presented. A subsequent version from the Administration was unanimously declined by the Senate.

The section on Patent Policy was unanimously accepted as presented.

The section on Patent Policy at the University of Southern California was unanimously accepted as presented.

The section on Misappropriation of University Assets was tabled for consideration at a later meeting of the Senate.

The section on Faculty/Student Relations was discussed. As a result of the discussion, a motion was made and seconded: to use the language in the 1987 Faculty Handbook and to add the information section prepared by President Anderson as an appendix. The motion was passed unanimously.

The section on Faculty Benefits was endorsed unanimously as presented.

The section on Endorsement of Commercial Products was unanimously accepted as presented.

The section on Participation on Political Activities was unanimously accepted as presented.

After the discussion of the proposed new Faculty Handbook had ended, there was a call for quorum. It was found that quorum was lacking. President Anderson thanked all attending for their efforts on behalf of the Handbook. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.