Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 11, 2005 Dickey Hall Auditorium Ivory V. Nelson, Ph.D., President, Presiding Dr. Nelson convened the meeting 4:06 PM. I. REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT . . . Dr. Ivory Nelson The February Board meeting will be at the Urban Center. The area in which the Urban Center is located is quickly becoming of the most vibrant parts of the city. Comcast locating its new flagship office building at 17th and JFK Parkway is just one example of the vibrancy of the area. As the area around the Urban Center becomes more developed and vibrant, the Center will become more of an asset to the University. We put an RFP out for the bookstore. We have gotten some responses. Nevertheless, the bidders have some real concerns. One of the concerns is the changing of textbooks. In a small operation like ours when the books do not sell, the University eats the cost. Dr. Safford: One of our upper level classes had the opportunity to buy a new textbook that was better than any other textbook. Dr. Nelson: Let me note that we do have faculty on the selection committee for the new bookstore; however, the bottom line is that the books have to move off the shelves. Dr. Dadson: Does financial aid disburse cash or vouchers to buy books? Dr. Bynum: If a student has a credit on her/his account, the student has to be in attendance a certain amount of time. If the student is in school less than a month, the student receives a voucher. After a month, a check is run. Dr. Nelson: We cannot touch financial aid money; that was one of the problems of the last administration. Moreover, the faculty needs to adopt books in a timely fashion. And the University needs to hold students accountable for buying required texts. If I have to come back to you to come up with a standardized book adoption policy, I hope that you would be supportive in the development of such a policy. Dr. Ramdas: We need price competition and make further use of the used book market. Dr. Nelson: We have to respond with what the bidders have come up with. Dr. Bynum: We have narrowed it down to a short list of three book sellers, all of which use a high percentage of used books. Dr. Millette: Other colleges and universities sell other items such as paraphernalia. Dr. Nelson: The difficulty is location; there is no competition for the bookstore. Our students leave Thursday and don't come back until Friday. Dr. Nelson: The board passed 11 Academic Reform Initiatives. Everyone should have the handout, "Lincoln University Academic Reform Implementation and Preparation for Various Accreditations." An ad hoc committee for post-tenure review has to be established. Dr. Safford: Why not use the PTS committee? Dr. Millette: Why not use the committees we already have? Dr. Venerable: Generally, one committee ends up doing everything. Dr. Nelson: We could make use of the standing committees, however. Dr. Chapp: The WPE policy specifies 500 words. Dr. Nelson: Policy setting is the responsibility of The Board of Trustees. Dr. Siddique: This is telling us exactly what to do, on which date. This is not policy. Dr. Nelson: If you look what is happening, at what is happening at other universities, you see that Boards of Trustees are getting more involved. Dr. Thomas: All of the faculty agree that this is a critical area: writing. The students have to know how to write before they leave here. Dr. Prigg: Why is it on the English Department? Dr. Thomas: It only makes sense that writing be the English Department's responsibility rather than Chemistry, for instance. Dr. Nelson: When you give a writing assignment, you have to give feedback on the student's writing. Dr. Nelson: I think that every individual would say that I want Lincoln University to be on the top. I see my role as providing proper facilities, atmosphere, and remuneration. This is a 24/7 job for me. We must be truly committed to the students. We may disagree on the best way to get there; we have to agree on the need to get to the top. Dr. Thomas: When I first arrived at Lincoln what I found impressive was the commitment of the faculty. We can be better than Morehouse, or any other college or university. II. Action Items . . . . Grant D. Venerable, II, Ph.D., Vice-President for Academic Affairs A. The minutes from the December 7, 2004 meeting were approved. III. Discussion Items Dr. Safford: With regard to classes for freshmen and sophomores, there is a lack of classrooms. Faculty need to be consulted so that there is enough classroom space for freshmen and sophomores. IV. Announcements Dr. Roberts: My University Seminar 190 is open. Dr. Thomas: Dr. Grant D. Venerable II will present a Brown Bag Lecture entitled "On the Political, Sociocultural, and Economic 'Low Down' not 'Can' but 'Should' HBCUs Survive?" at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 in Dickey Hall Auditorium. Dr. Millette: I want to thank all my colleagues who have helped the people of Grenada in the wake of the hurricane. The meeting was adjourned at 5:19 PM. Respectfully submitted, Donald J. Bradt, Faculty Secretary