FACULTAS: Fall 1999

In this issue of FACULTAS, we present background information useful in preparing for a referendum to determine what approaches are best for an effective faculty role in decisions about salaries, benefits, course loads, exam schedules, and other issues at Villanova.

The Faculty Senate will conduct the

referendum in early November, shortly after two informational seminars on the options for the future of university governance. The referendum will help decide if faculty believe they are best served by (1) the Faculty Senate/status quo, (2) by approving and participating in the proposed restructuring of the tripartite University Senate, and/or (3) by

forming a more autonomous faculty grouping, perhaps a faculty bargaining unit.

See inside for more information on these approaches to governance. The Faculty Senate urges all Villanova faculty to familiarize themselves with these options and to vote in the upcoming referendum.

The Faculty Senate Cordially Invites You to Informational Seminars

Seminar I

Proposal for a New University Senate

Report of the Joint Executive Committee / Rules and Review Committee Working Group
Ms. Dorothy Malloy, University General Counsel and

Monday, October 25, Connelly Center Cinema, 3:30 p.m.

Seminar II

Prospects for an Independent Faculty Organization

Faculty and Collective Bargaining

Thursday, October 28, Connelly Center, 3:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Faculty Senate.

Toward Faculty Strength and Autonomy

Few things are as important to American higher education today than a strong faculty presence. A powerful faculty guarantees that academic and curricular needs come first in university priorities. A strong faculty safeguards academic freedom, the foundation of intellectual advancement. And a strong faculty makes certain that those most responsible for the educational mission of the university are well protected in terms of medical and retirement benefits.

Unfortunately, due to the corporatization of academia, faculty voice has grown weak; Villanova reflects this decline in the Professoriat. We are now deciding how best to reverse this trend on our campus. At stake is whether or not we will have an independent organization to decide on faculty concerns, or whether our voice will be lost, once again, in a sea of committees associated with a larger university grouping.

As it turns out, Villanova faculty across colleges have overwhelmingly indicated their preference for an autonomous faculty organization on at least two occasions: the recent Middle States surveys (see next page) to which 60% of the faculty responded and the Faculty Senate vote of 1997 for the "Unified Faculty Voice." The vote on that proposal was 212 in favor and 30 opposed. We are beginning to wonder how many times our position must be tabulated before it is understood to be an accurate expression of our interests.

An autonomous faculty body would negotiate with administrators instead of accepting their unilaterally imposed initiatives such as the erosion of salary and reduction of benefits (e.g., health insurance, dental insurance), the addition of curricular and advising responsibilities, the alteration of final exam schedules, the amending of contract language, the extension of the work year, the establishment of 8:00 a.m. classes, and the levying of parking and internet fees.

Obviously, most faculty believe that an independent organization would best serve our interests. It is perhaps the ability to bargain collectively that accounts for the excellent salaries among public school teachers in the area. Median salary for teachers in the Lower Merion School District is $74,897 (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19, 1999).

No disrespect is meant by the above characterization. Indeed, our regard and affection for Villanova is multifaceted. However, the need to assert our independence is clearly evident. We do not wish to have others continue to speak for us, no matter how well meaning. Nor do we wish to see our collective voice further weakened by having to promote our interests through an organization with several competing constituencies.

Crucial to our professional effectiveness is the designation of an independent body to represent our needs and desires. If we truly want to revitalize Villanova University, what more far reaching, invigorating step could we take than strengthening the faculty?

Proposed Reorganization of University Senate

A. Introduction. The Governance Plan now under consideration for Villanova University comes out of a two and one half year process of study, review and consultation undertaken by a Joint Working Group consisting of members of the Executive Committee of the University Senate and the Rules and Review Committee of the University Senate at the formal request of Villanova's Board of Trustees. This brief summary emphasizes those parts of the plan most directly affecting the faculty's role in governance. For the complete Working Group report, please go to the University Senate folder at http://unit.villanova.edu/helpdesk/Newsgroup.htm or request a copy from Dorothy A. Malloy, Vice President and General Counsel, 206 Tolentine Hall, telephone number (610) 519-7857.

B. Consultation. During the course of this review, the following faculty members met at various times with the Working Group in their capacity as members of the Executive Committee or Rules and Review Committee:

The Committee also met and consulted with Dr. Thomas Greene, Faculty Member, History Dept.; Dr. Rodger Van Allen, Faculty Member, Theology & Religious Studies Dept.; Dr. Robert W. Langran, Faculty Member, Political Science Dept., and Dr. John R. Johannes, Vice President for Academic Affairs, regarding the faculty's perspective due to their active involvement in governance issues. Dean Kail Ellis, as a member of the Rules and Review Committee, also brought an academic/faculty perspective to the discussions. The Committee also solicited and received comments from the faculty members of the University Senate (Michael Burke; Timothy Feeman; Lowell Gustafson; Susan Mackey-Kallis; Gaile Pohlhaus, Joseph Schick, Harry Strack, Walter Tymon, Burke Ward) and the Faculty Senate (William J. Barnhurst; Victor Brooks; John D. Caputo; Walter E. Conn; Linda Copel; Rick Eckstein; Trudi Graves; Lowell Gustafson; Karyn Hollis; Michael Hones; Edward Kresch; Michael L. Levitan; Howard Lurie; Harry Strack; Robert Styer; Joyce Willens).

C. Structural Change. The new structure changes the nature, composition and administration of University Senate Committees dealing with faculty and academic policy. A new Committee on Faculty (name to be determined), merging the Faculty Council and the former Faculty Affairs Committee, addresses issues of faculty welfare and consists solely of faculty members. This Committee's charge will also include consulting with and advising the University Rank & Tenure Committee on policy matters in order to encourage interaction between the two groups and increase faculty representation by including the opinions of faculty of all ranks. The Academic Policy Committee is retained with a significant increase in faculty representation to 15 elected faculty, which constitutes a majority. The Rank and Tenure Committee is deleted as a standing committee of the University Senate to recognize the purely academic role of this working committee in the University structure and to streamline the University Senate.

In addition to the existing direct reporting line for University Senate business to the Executive Committee of the Senate, both the Committee on Faculty and the Academic Policy Committee have an explicitly recognized direct line to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and, through the VPAA, to the President (with an informational reporting obligation to the Senate Executive Committee) with respect to primarily faculty matters. All recommendations to the VPAA (or through the VPAA to the President) would receive a response within a reasonable time with a rationale for the action taken. If the Vice President does not accept a resolution of the Committee using its direct line to the Vice President, then that Committee may forward the resolution directly to the President. In the event that a direct line committee using its direct line access receives a negative response from the President, the committee may raise the matter with faculty or student representatives (as

the case may be) of the appropriate committee of the University's Board of Trustees with the request the matter be raised at a Board committee meeting. The determination as to whether a matter is primarily a faculty matter rests within the whether a matter is primarily a faculty matter rests within the discretion of the respective Senate Committee. The Academic Vice President and the President retain their prerogative to seek full Senate review of matters so directed to them through a request to the Senate Executive Committee to add a matter to the Senate agenda for discussion.

Under the proposal, the Committee on Faculty administers elections for faculty Senators and faculty members on the Academic Policy Committee and the Committee on Faculty. All faculty serving on the University Senate, the Committee on Faculty and the Academic Policy Committee are elected directly by the faculty and apportioned by constituency. In order to enhance the cohesiveness of the faculty voice and to have the benefit of faculty leaders in the University Senate, the Committee recommends that all faculty members who are University Senators (except the Law School faculty senator) also serve either on the Committee on Faculty or the Academic Policy Committee. Faculty continue to be represented on all of the other remaining committees of the University Senate. Moreover, the Committee recommends that the Chair of the University Senate always be a faculty member with a reduced course load in order to recognize and enhance the faculty leadership which is central to the success of the University Senate. The Committee further recommends that the Chair of the University Senate serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Senate. The Working Group believes these changes with respect to faculty address the significant concerns some faculty have raised regarding the present multiplicity of faculty governance bodies with highly overlapping functions (University Senate, Faculty Senate/Council, Faculty Affairs Committee, Academic Policy Committee, and University Rank and Tenure Committee) which may tend to dilute the faculty voice. The new governance plan changes existing committee structures in such a way as to unify, centralize and strengthen the focus of faculty input and provide effective interchange and cooperation with the administration.

At the same time, the Plan fully integrates faculty leadership into every component of the University Senate through faculty representation on all other remaining Senate committees (Executive Committee, Rules & Review Committee, Athletic Advisory Committee, Committee on Mission and Social Justice, Student Life/Student Government Committee and Budget Committee). The Plan charges a faculty member to lead the Senate while retaining a community governance culture with representation of all constituencies (faculty, students, administrators, staff and alumni) continuing in the full University Senate to address major matters of University-wide significance.

"Man does not live on bread alone" and a Platonic professor should seek intellectual nourishment not the passing cuisine of the day. But in fact, most faculty members have an Epicurean streak and appreciate good hearty food! The Staff and Faculty Dining Hall in Dougherty is a favorite place for many, and the most enjoyable part of the experience is the accommodating service of Kitty Fogarty and Floss Croll.

As one faculty member characterized Floss and Kitty, "They greet you with their gentleness and smile, and are always eager to please you! It's like having lunch with someone who really cares about you." A recurring theme is summarized in the following quote: "It's like going home to eat lunch with Mom." Kitty and Floss know everyone's favorite foods and they are always sure you "eat your vegetables!"

Floss Croll and Kitty Fogarty have cared deeply for the community for many years. Kitty has been here since 1957 and Floss since 1979! The Faculty Senate is pleased to honor their friendship and commitment to serve with the Fall 1999 Facultas Award.

F A C U L T A S

is the newsletter of the

Villanova University Faculty Senate.

Please send any contributions to

SAC 202, mking@email.vill.edu

F A C U L T A S

Faculty to Decide on Governance Plans

Toward Faculty Strength and Autonomy

Proposed Reorganization of University Senate