Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 5, 2004 Dickey Hall Auditorium Dr. Nelson convened the meeting 4:06 PM. I. REPORT FROM THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION . . . Mr. Abraham Hoff, Jr., SGA President Mr. Hoff expressed his gratitude to those professors who help students academically outside of the classroom. He also praised those professors who made textbooks available in the Langston Hughes Memorial Library on reserve. In addition, Mr. Hoff highlighted the students' involvement in the fundraising campaign for victims of the recent hurricane in Grenada. II. REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT . . . Dr. Ivory Nelson Dr. Nelson noted the approximate $300,000 decline in operational funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and that Lincoln University was working very assiduously to restore this funding and increase it to the level of $15,000,000 this fiscal year. He also highlighted his efforts to obtain the same state funding obtained by Cheney State University in a Civil Rights settlement that Lincoln University's previous administration had failed to obtain, which brings Lincoln University request to the legislature to $21,000,000. Dr. Nelson then focused on technology: Lincoln University has 136 new computers, 106 of which will go to the Urban Center and 30 of which will go to the LLC. Dr. Nwachuku asked about the availability of software for disabled students. Dr. Nelson said that would be worked into the budget. Drs. Prigg and Herring mentioned the condition of the campus' lawn. Dr. Nelson explained that Physical Plant's resources were stretched thin, but that this issue would be addressed. Lastly, Dr. Nelson directed the body's attention to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services Memoranda authorizing the renovation of University Hall and the War Center and the construction of the New Science and General Classroom High Technology Building and the International Cultural Center. III. Action Item Grant D. Venerable, II, Ph.D., Vice-President for Academic Affairs The minutes from the September 7, 2004 meeting were approved. IV. Discussion Items A. Modeling the Fall 2005 Teaching Schedule Dr. Venerable explained that the Office of Academic Affairs would make up the Fall 2005 schedule of course because we would be down two buildings and that we would have to teach during a larger expanse of the day. B. Upcoming Planning and Assessment Workshop (PAWS) Dr. Venerable: Strategic planning is done in order to implement policy. All the new construction came from earlier recommendations from faculty and students. Dr. Prigg asked if the homework for PAWS would come from chairs or the faculty and the department. Dr. Venerable: It will come from the faculty and the department-faculty need to be in the loop; they need to give input. Dr. Dade: I think that some of the concern among faculty is with regard to the level at which faculty input is solicited Dr. Nelson: The policy directions of Lincoln University is the responsibility of the board. They tell me the policy issues that would they like to address. There are some boards that will not only give you the policy direction but they will become very prescriptive. The classic example of avoiding detailed policy directives is when we changed our tenure guidelines. The board did not change one word of the document on tenure that came from the faculty. Some faculty and students expressed the concern that projects such as PAWS would take away from the focus on the classroom. Dr. Venerable emphasized the importance of faculty input in the process. Dr. Babatunde emphasized that any restructuring of curriculum recognize the importance of critical languages, which are those languages designated as such by the U. S. government. V. Announcements A. Introduction of Woodrow Wilson Lecturer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Melvin Leaman: Miss Callie Crossley will be at Lincoln University from February 28 to March 3, 2005 as a 2005 Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Educator. Some of the topics Ms. Crossley will address include media literacy, race and media, women and media, and documentary film making. The meeting was adjourned at 5:28 PM. Respectfully submitted, Donald J. Bradt Faculty Secretary