MINUTES OF  THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OF THE FACULTY SENATE

Monday, September 26, 2011

Mason Hall D1, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

 

Senators Present:  Janette Muir, Star Muir, Peter Pober, Earle Reybold, Jim Sanford, Suzanne Slayden, Peter Stearns, June Tangney.

 

Visitors Present: Corey Jackson, Director, Equity and Diversity Services; Tom Kiley, Academic Initiatives Committee; Anne Schiller, Vice President, Global and International Strategies.

 

I.  Approval of Minutes of August 25, 2011:  The minutes were approved as distributed.

 

II.  Announcements

Chair Pober welcomed Corey Jackson to the meeting.  A draft Consensual Relationships Policy was distributed for the Executive Committee to review. Corey noted that they redid the whole policy. At the very end, we wish to be in accordance with the Faculty Handbook, Administrative Faculty Handbook, and the Classified Staff Handbook. Questions about general references to policies in the Faculty Handbook are better addressed to Brian Walther, who was unable to attend today's meeting due to illness.  Committee members are encouraged to send emails to Corey, and copy other committee members.  We will invite Corey and Brian Walther to the next Executive Committee meeting on October 31st.  

 

President Merten will address the Faculty Senate at the October 5th meeting; Dean Ed Rhodes (SPP) will offer brief remarks.  Christine LaPaille, Vice President, University Relations, will make a brief presentation on GMU branding.  Anne Schiller will join today's meeting at 2:30 pm to talk about the Korea Initiative.

 

Chair Pober also noted the incredible service of those former Executive Committee members who have left for greener pastures, thanking them for their work.  He welcomed Jim Sanford, who returns to the committee after a five-year absence, and new member Earle Reybold. 

 

III.  Progress reports, business, and agenda items from Senate Standing Committees

 

A.  Academic Policies – Janette Muir

The committee will meet next week.  One student emailed us to complain about the shorter add period, please let Janette know if there are other complaints.  Faculty mostly appreciate this change, especially those who teach classes with labs. 

AP/IB Credits/Guest Matriculations:  Provost Stearns noted that there are state constraints, that AP and IB classes are treated the same, however we may protest.   There is also the issue of the Governors' School:  should we be giving credit to things that are not critical to what we do here?  As part of a larger conversation, what does it mean to be educated here?  Quality of degree?  Students who arrrive with lots of credits but are not socially prepared to be freshmen.  Dual-enrollment is also part of the larger conversation. 

Honor Code:  We have a meeting scheduled with the new director of the Center for Academic Integrity, who wishes to bring faculty on board.

Songdo Campus and GMU credit for classes taken at other institutions there:  Provost Stearns confirmed that GMU students would not receive credit.

 

B.  Budget and Resources – June Tangney

Extramural Funding Data Review:  We will focus on the CHSS Policy requiring PIs to include 10% AY salary for each month summer salary requested.  This is a new policy and it’s not clear that it is consistent with practices in other units, nor whether it conflicts with OmB Circular A21. We will survey the Deans and Directors to see what their practices are.  

BPT Meetings:  They are trying something different for the second meeting, forming small working groups, so we were just not invited.  Provost Stearns replied that the group has changed its meeting pattern.  If you are at both sessions, the budget group has no time to meet by itself.  He offered to meet with June and Sr. Vice President Morrie Scherrens in lieu of the second meeting to provide updates.  June finds attending the meetings is remarkably helpful to understand the budget process; it has changed her perspective, and will follow up with Provost Stearns on his suggestion.

Survey of faculty work in independent study/directed readings/dissertations acknowledge by departments in evaluation/promotion/tenure process:  We have cleaned up the database. From Fall 2006 – Summer 2011 150,688 credits were generated outside of formal classroom teaching.  We will send the survey to all chairs to see how these are taken into account in terms of P&T, teaching load, etc. and where the tuition money ends up going.  There was some discussion of whether there is a standard formula for the number of classes per FTE.  It was noted that there are variations among lower and higher level courses, graduate courses, 15 was suggested.  There is a lot of teaching not counted in teaching load.

Summer Salary (cont.) In response to questions about the distribution of summer salary funding, Cathy Evans reported that all budgets were permanently moved (distributed) to the local units in FY 11.  No requests for additional funding were presented to the Provost’s Office for Summer 2011.  Each unit had its own say in how funding was distributed.   Is there any sense of the number of department to college level requests for funding? We have only heard concerns from 1 ½ departments.  One had decreasing enrollment over a period of years.  This issue keeps coming up, we realize it is a sensitive issue, but we need to see if a widespread issue.  (At the Provost’s request) we sent our summer school report to them for editing, and have not yet received it back, despite repeated inquiries.  Provost Stearns will ask Renate Guilford and Cathy Evans about this. 

Discussion:  The Faculty Handbook (Section 3.3. Summer Salary, pp. 58-59):  stipulates “Full-time faculty members assigned to teach a summer course shall be paid 3.33% per credit hour (10% per three credit course) of their nine-month salary.  If a course is valued at a higher or lower amount for workload purposes during the academic year, the summer payment will be assigned by the academic unit accordingly.  Every full-time faculty member who wishes to teach in the summer shall be afforded an opportunity to teach one 3-credit course (or equivalent) at 10% of their annual nine-month salary, assuming he or she is qualified to teach the course and that the course meets minimal enrollment criteria and appropriate scheduling, curricular, and pedagogical needs.  Furthermore, full-time faculty should not be excluded from teaching additional courses at 10% of their annual nine-month salary when no demonstrated financial constraints exist.”  The 10% summer salary requirement should be off-budget.  Assuming requests come in a timely fashion, amounts should be allocated to departments accordingly.  Instances also cited in which adjunct faculty assigned to teach a second course when full-time faculty member available.  Some faculty may not wish to teach during the summer.  Example cited in which course scheduler receives more requests than classes available for summer teaching;  those who receive 10% of summer salary for performing additional (non-teaching) duties fall to the bottom of the list, in an effort to make fair allocation of resources.  This practice violates the Faculty Handbook.  There should be resources available to comply with the Handbook. Decentralization of the summer school is not completely transparent, unclear how to request increases, to adjust budget process. Especially important when we are at 3rd percentile in cost-of-living in our peer group. 

In conclusion, Chair Pober summarized three points: 

  1. Renate Guilford  and Cathy Evans have not yet responded to our summer salary report. 
  2. If disparities exist at the unit level, to send to departments as the next place to address, not unit-wide. 
  3. What is included as "alternative 10%"?  P.I.s?  Administrative responsibilities?  To get taxonomy if it occurs and by dept.

 A suggestion was made to combine separate surveys to be sent to Deans and Directors into one larger survey.  The committee will study this issue, as sometimes it is better to send short surveys.

 

C.  Faculty Matters – Jim Sanford

Faculty Evaluation of Administrators Survey:  The Committee met on Wednesday and the comments were divided among pairs of members so that, for example, the two CHSS members of the committee would not read the comments about Dean Censer. 

Review of Consensual Relationships Policy: We will review draft distributed today.

Faculty Enrollment in Courses without Stipulating Admission:  Susan Jones reports if a faculty member is not a Virginia resident, they will not receive resident tuition.  We will follow up on this question.  You do have to go through Admissions procedures (in non-degree status), but without fee.  Unlike other states, Virginia has to pay for course, not just letting someone in.

 

D.    Nominations – Suzanne Slayden

Larry Rockwood is nominated to serve as Faculty Representative to the Student Space Advisory Services Committee.  Joan Bristol will continue to serve on the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee, correcting an error in Senate records, and asked Corey Jackson  to provide an appointee from the Equity Office to serve on the Salary Equity Study Committee.

 

E.  Organization and Operations – Star Muir

FS Election Results 2011-12 pending election of COS Senator replacing Senator leaving GMU.

Distribution of on-line course evaluation results – questions include how units identify them and who has access to comments referred to the Teaching Effectiveness Committee.  Does a unit have the right to vote and decline to use the paper version instead?  COS is not using the on-line version anymore, there was a very low response rate; now only used in mid-term evaluations of GTAs.

 An email from the DHRM was recently distributed requesting compliance with the VA Policy Monitoring of Electronic Communications and Social Media.  A faculty member reports that UVA and Virginia Tech issued statements saying they will not monitor email communications as a regular practice.  To send to Technology Policy Committee initially, and include University Counsel Brian Walther in the discussion.  The issue affects more than faculty, is university-wide.  Wants to see what Technology Policy  will do with it first, then perhaps to send on to another committee.  Earle added that the AAUP is very involved in this,  includes issues of research confidentiality, and will provide additional information. 

 

IV.  Other Committees/Faculty Representatives

Presidential Task Force on GMU Community-University Police Relations:  the report should be out next week. There will be a report from the Task Force as well as an edited version of the Tomlinson report. 

Presidential Search Committee is meeting this week. Unless something changes, we are about to move into the second phase of discussion.  There are open nominations presently being solicited.  Send (nominations/suggestions) to  me or June Tangney.  Also to clarify at Faculty Forum last week, there are four faculty members, three of whom elected, one has not yet attended.  If this person does not move forward, to see Provost Stearns.  There was a lot of good feedback received from faculty at the forum.  Earle will also forward AAUP information about presidential search process to the Executive Committee. 

Academic Initiatives Committee Spring 2011 report pending.

 

V.  Agenda Items for October 5, 2011

 

VI.  New Business, Updates and Discussion

Corey Jackson, Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity Services:

1) Retention of faculty of color & female faculty

Corey does not know whether his predecessor asked for Faculty Senate or Executive Committee input.  He asks for ideas for improving hiring and recruitment, feels it is a vital concern.  To involve Executive Committee as well as other committees.  You see people come and go, what are your observations?  Chair Pober suggested joint effort by Faculty Matters and Minority and Diversity Issues Committee.  Suggestions included request for salary parity data.  Earle  noted that this is her research area, and will share with Corey AAUP and other reosurces. 

2) Composition/Representation (in terms of race & ethnicity) of the Faculty Senate:  We have  provided Faculty Senate rosters  to Corey for AY 2006-2011.  Corey noted it is complicated by term length, as people come and go.  Data based on self-identification, in some years there were more than 50 Senators (as some served for one semester, not entire academic year).  When we narrow it down we will send data to Meg. 

Discussion:  The way the structure is set up, elections are by academic units.  Unless there are changes to the charter, not much this body can do.  When you look at university committee structure, we have more influence on it, not just Faculty Senate Committees, but also University Standing Committees.  Corey is open to work with academic units as well as committees.  We will send membership data for University Standing Committees to Corey.

 

Korea Initiative:  Anne Schiller, Vice President, Global and International Strategies  Professor Tom Kiley is also here on behalf of the Academic Initiatives Committee.  Anne distributed three documents which are also included in the Board of Visitors meeting book (September 28th).  See  (1) Mason in East Asia and the Korea Campus Project:  Office of Global and International Strategies Brief (Appendix 1);  (2) Introduction to the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) and Songdo Global University Campus (includes maps) (Appendix 2); and  (3)  Mason at Songdo:  Proposed Terms (Appendix 3).

Questions and Discussion:  Anne confirmed that since they are going to be Mason degrees, that they must meet GMU requirements.  There is no plan to have GMU students take courses in other institutions there.  Utilities will be paid for by the IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) for the first eight years.  At the conclusion of the eight years, would facilities become our responsibility?  Anne responded that they are working on this, it would have to be in the contract.  Are the Koreans concerned about being overrun by the Chinese?  No, they want Chinese students, they can charge them differential tuition.  The Provost noted that we are taking this (to submit a license application) to the Board this week because of timing of Board meetings. The Faculty Senate was not in session over the summer.  He does not intend to pre-empt faculty voice as long as can do so efficiently.  Anne explained that we need to turn in a license application by mid-October, the process takes six months.  Hopefully we will receive approval in Fall 2012, classes would begin in Spring 2013.  The academic year in Korea begins in the spring, there are no fall admissions.  Anne agreed to attend the next Faculty Senate meeting to answer questions and the documents will be distributed in advance.  There will be many questions, given the circumstances.  Professor Kiley had no questions.

(The Board did not vote on the license application at its September 28th meeting.  Anne answered many questions at the October 5th Faculty Senate meeting, but no vote was taken.  On October 6, the BOV held a special meeting and approved the request to apply for a license (only), not approval of the proposal.)

 

Update from Provost Stearns on the search for VP  for Enrollment Management:  When the Dean of Admissions left, decided to replace with (new position) Vice President for Enrollment Management.for overseeing recruitment and enhancing vigor of continuing education activity.  Will cost more money.  Position will pay off in terms of enhanced revenue.  This will scale back another position to cover additional cost (at least approximately), does not see overall increase in cost. Would a new dean of Admissions be hired?  Provost Stearns responded this is a possibility, for the new person to determine.

 

Academic Initiatives Committee:  (Recalling disagreement over the Academic Initiatives Committee report withdrawn at the last Senate meeting) concerned about leadership of this committee, especially in view of Korea Initiative.  Provost Stearns and Peter Pober met recently with them to discuss concerns.  They felt they could move on, and elected a new chair, Bob Johnston (SOM).  We're working under the presumption that they can work together.  Concern expressed that the Executive Committee is shepherding this Korean task after BOV considers it and noted that there is a functioning faculty-driven group which meets with them.  Is  Academic Initiatives a disfunctional committee?  Provost Stearns and Peter Pober noted they articulated this same concern and pledged to keep up with them.  There are a lot of concerns about expenditures, as well as upcoming major transitions at GMU.  How does this fit into the strategic plan?  Recruting out-of-state students is a high priority.

 

VA Retirement Plan  Updates :  The Governor’s Office released a statement that they will look at it again.

 

FS/AAUP request to co-host reception for BOV pending response from Tom Hennessey;  to ask again, “a wonderfully convivial opportunity.”

 

Respectfully submitted,

Meg Caniano

Faculty Senate Clerk

 

APPENDIX 1

MASON IN EAST ASIA AND THE KOREA CAMPUS PROJECT

Office of Global and International Strategies Brief

George Mason University has made clear its commitment to expanding activities in East Asia.  Mason’s 2010-2014 Strategic Plan states that Mason will “maintain strong emphasis on University activities” in East Asia, “developing additional collaborative opportunities in South Korea and China.”  It also notes that Mason will “add faculty strength on East Asia.” 

East Asia is a region of interest to Mason for many important reasons.  Chinese and Korean students are the second and third largest groups of international students at Mason.  Many hundreds more of Mason’s students are of Asian descent. Indeed, South Korea and China send higher numbers of their students to the US than any other countries in the world. In response to growing domestic interest in this region, Mason has introduced both Korean and Chinese to its language offerings. Mason has also sought to recruit East Asian faculty members and faculty members interested in East Asia.  These faculty travel regularly to Asia to conduct research, attend conferences, and teach short-term courses. Also close to home are large and dynamic East Asian ethnic communities.  More than 1,000 Korean-owned businesses currently operate in Annandale alone. 

 

Mason’s Expanding Interests in East Asia

 

South Korean and Chinese institutions are investing heavily in their higher education and research sectors and are attractive partners for Mason.  Among our newest partnerships is Mason’s Center for Infrastructure and Homeland Security’s joint training program in nuclear power safety with the Korean Electric Power Company (KEPCO). Mason’s Global Office has recently launched a partnership with the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to offer no cost semester and yearlong internships for US students in towns across Korea under the auspices of the TaLK Korea Program.  Mason also continues to be very active in China programs and study. The China 1+2+1 program brings us a high-achieving group of students and has fostered strong institutional links between Mason and its Chinese university partners. Mason also hosts Virginia’s original Confucius Institute, established in partnership with the Beijing Language and Culture University. 

Mason’s Center for Asia Pacific Economic Development (CAPEC) also seeks to expand relations with East Asian students, scholars, and business leaders. CAPEC currently offers undergraduate and graduate research travel scholarships to Taiwan each summer. A Mason campus in Korea would be helpful in expanding CAPEC programs, as Mason’s own faculty based at Songdo could receive students and serve as mentors or direct them to other relevant experts.  CAPEC also seeks to establish an internship/experiential program for Mason students. If Mason opens a campus in Korea, CAPEC could offer domestic students the opportunity for internships hosted in Korea.  A campus in Korea would also promote CAPEC’s Executive Visiting Scholars Program.

Mason has had a Korean Studies Center for several years and is currently soliciting private donors to support a building project would provide housing for the center. In addition, Mason expects to introduce a Northeast Asia Pacific Area Studies Program within the next few years. That program and the Korean Studies Center would complement one another in exciting ways.

 

Songdo and Mason’s Future in East Asia

·         Korea and China are sources of outstanding students for Mason. Global competition for East Asian students and scholars has increased dramatically. Mason must position itself to be as accessible as possible to these sought-after populations. A Korea campus will enhance Mason’s success in recruitment. It will also increase recruitment in other parts of East and Southeast Asia.

·         With a campus in Korea, Mason will be able to offer new opportunities in East Asia to US-based students and faculty. Current US students could choose Mason at Songdo as a study abroad destination.  Costs to student participants would be reduced as Mason faculty would already be available in-country.  Further, the Songdo facility will house our students safely and conveniently at a considerable savings over the usual cost of housing in countries such as this one.  Calculation of course equivalencies and transfer credit would be unnecessary as the courses offered would be Mason’s own.

·         A Korea campus would open new possibilities for multilateral academic research involving Mason and other Asian partners. One idea under discussion among several deans is the establishment of a new research center in experimental economics at Songdo in partnership with a top Korean university. Other universities, including SUNY-Stony Brook and the University of Utah have already had considerable success in attracting funding for joint research centers with Korean partners. 

·         Among local officials who have followed developments regarding Mason in Korea with great interest is Senator Chap Peterson.  The Senator supports the proposed campus as a long-term alliance between GMU and South Korea would positively impact northern Virginia’s economic development. He has been quoted as saying that “Given the number of Korean students in Fairfax County and our proximity to the nation’s capitol, GMU is in the ideal position to mount this project.”

 

            The opportunity to establish a campus in Korea fits squarely in Mason’s commitment to a dynamic world region, as well as our university’s intention to increase the “number of international students by at least 20%” and to link overseas study “more vigorously to numerous academic programs.” A permanent academic presence in Korea would also expand and burnish Mason’s reputation and brand. Over the years, through the good work of faculty and administrators and alumni, Mason has begun to acquire significant name recognition in East Asia. Mason can leverage that recognition as it begins recruitment for a new campus. A Mason campus in Korea would make Mason’s commitment to East Asia more tangible, strengthen our institution’s current relationships in the Asia-Pacific region, and create an attractive base for new opportunities with international partners in education, business, government, and more.

 

APPENDIX 2

 

Introduction to the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) and Songdo Global University Campus Prepared by the Office of Global and International Strategies

Overview of Incheon Free Economic Zone

Project Description: Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) is a 169.5 square-kilometer site (42,000 acres) intended for 850,000 residents. The  IFEZ project includes three areas: Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna (Figure 1).

Figure 1. IFEZ: Songdo, Yeongjong, Cheongna areas


IFEZ seeks to attract international businesses, high technology industries (IT, BT, R&D), education facilities including foreign schools and medical industry facilities such as hospitals to the Songdo area.  A Bio-Complex will be connected with Songdo Global University Campus and Songdo International Hospital.

 

Optimal Location: IFEZ is located in the middle section of the West coast of the Korean Peninsula, twenty five miles from Seoul.  Sixty one Northeast Asian cities, each with more than one million inhabitants, are located within three hours flight time. The Northeast Asia region has a total of 1.7 billion people and generates a quarter of worldly gross domestic product. (Figure 2).  Incheon International Airport, about 15 minutes’ drive from Songdo, is ranked No.1 by many noted global magazines.

 

 

 

Figure 2. Optimal Location of Songdo, IFEZ

Investments and Companies in Songdo:  About half the construction of commercial buildings, residential areas and infrastructure has been completed, and the population had increased to 44,000 — including 800 foreigners — as of February, 2011. As of 2010, 328 companies had established offices in Songdo including IBM, GE Healthcare, Celltrion, GM DAEWOO, Crucell Berna, Schenker, Lippo Limited, N-Hitech, DynamicWave Telecom, and others. Chadwick International has opened its first international school in Songdo. A second international school is expected to open shortly. Major recent investments have also  come from Cisco, the Samsung Group, the Lotte Group, the CJ Biotechnology Group, Korean Air, Valtion Teknilinen Tukimus keskus (VTT) or the Technical Research Centre of Finland, UN agencies, and Dong-a Pharmaceutical.

Demand for American Education in the Region:  Korea, along with China and India, ranks as one of the top three nations in terms of sending the highest number of students to the United States. In a 2008 survey by South Korea’s National Statistical Office, 48.3 percent of South Korean parents said they wanted to send their children abroad to “develop global perspectives,” avoid the rigid domestic school system or learn English. It would be attractive for parents and students if Koreans or other Asian nationals could pursue U.S. degree programs in a location like Songdo where living expenses are cheaper, but the quality of education equals that of campuses in America.

Description of Songdo Global University Campus (SGU): The offshore campus is located in a Global University Campus zone occupying 295,000 square meters (73 acres). This cluster comprises a shared network of facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, offices, libraries, cafeteria, student union buildings and gymnasiums. On-campus dorms, staff and faculty quarters and guest houses are also available (Figure 3).

 

The IFEZ authorities seek to attract up to ten foreign universities, each providing “their most competent academic programs.”  As a result, "the campus will be able to act as a comprehensive university as a whole.”  Each university will grant its own degrees and be responsible for its own academic administration. A special independent administration (i.e., Songdo Global University Campus Foundation or SGUF) will manage campus facilities. SUNY Korea (State University of New York) is opening in February 2012 and will offer graduate program in two areas of study: computer science and technology and society (www.sunykorea.ar.ku). In 2013, Belgium's Ghent University will begin offering undergraduate courses in biotechnology, environmental technology and food technology. University of Utah has signed an MOU and is planning to offer degrees in education.  Alfred University and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign also signed MOUs with IFEZ. Korean universities, too, have been successfully recruited. These include Yonsei University, Incheon University, and Gacheon University. The Seoul National University and Johns Hopkins University have also shown interest in building campuses at Songdo.

Figure 3: Sketch of Songdo Global University Campus

 

APPENDIX 3

 

MASON AT SONGDO: PROPOSED TERMS

·        Initial Term of Agreement: five (5) years, renewable.

·        Subsidy:  One million US dollars per year, for each of the first five (5) years.  This subsidy will not be reimbursed. 

·        Start-up Cost Contributions:

·                   Ten million US dollars will be provided to cover any operational deficits for    the initial term of agreement.

·                   To provide cash for ongoing campus operations, the start-up contributions will be provided prior to the start of the academic year.

·                   If the total operational deficits exceed $10M, IFEZA and Mason will further discuss in good faith the best course of business.

·                   Start-Up Contributions are to be repaid only in the event the program generates net income. Mason's total expenditures will not exceed the cost of net tuition revenues, IFEZA subsidy, and IFEZA start-up contribution.

·                   In years that generate net income, Mason pays 50% of net income, only until all Start-Up Contribution funds are recovered by IFEZA. 

·        Regulatory Approval:  The Songdo Mason campus can open only following approval by MEST, SACS, and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (“SCHEV”).

·        LLC:  Mason will create a Limited Liability Company to operate the Songdo campus, as permitted by special legislation.  The LLC will be insured as required by Korean law.

·        Infrastructure Contribution:

◦         Facilities. IFEZA shall provide Mason Songdo with the facilities and services necessary to operate Mason Songdo academic affairs, free of rent or other charges for five (5) years. The rent free period may be extended for up to three (3) additional years if the operations of Mason Songdo remain in deficit at the end of the initial five (5) year period. Necessary services will be specified in the contract.

◦         Utilities.  IFEZA shall provide utilities and maintenance service for Mason Songdo without any charges for five (5) years.

◦         Equipments and Materials. IFEZA shall equip the facilities with necessary office and classroom equipment, and furniture according to standards set by the State of Virginia.

◦         Library. IFEZA shall provide a collection of library books at the Songdo Global University Campus for use by the academic programs at Mason Songdo.  Such collection shall meet all requirements of all accrediting agencies of Mason.