BOARD OF VISITORS
Academic Affairs Committee Meeting
August 29, 2002-8:30 a.m.
Board of Visitors Conference Room
MINUTES
Ms. Delores Archer , Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Roll call indicated that the following Committee members were in
attendance and that a quorum was present.
Committee Members Present: Ms. Delores E. Archer, Chairperson
Mrs. Teresa Carrington
Mr. Jack Ezzell
Dr. Caspa Harris, Jr.
Committee Member(s) Absent: Mrs. Maria Ortiz
Members of Norfolk State University (NSU) Staff Present: Dr. Alvin Schexnider, Interim Executive Vice President
Dr. Elsie M. Barnes, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Dorothy L. R. Jones, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Nuria Cuevas, Acting Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment
Dr. Curtiss Wall, President, NSU Faculty Senate
Other Board Member(s) in Attendance: Cpt. Fred Garner
1. CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Archer called for the approval of the minutes from the May 9,
2002, meeting. The minutes of the May 9, 2002, meeting were approved.
2. OLD BUSINESS
Accolades to Bill Thomas. Ms. Archer informed the Committee
Bill Thomas had been thanked for his role in making Norfolk State
University (NSU) a part of the $2 million funding Aerospace Program
Proposal, which was submitted in conjunction with Hampton University
and Old Dominion University.
Alignment of Current Faculty Salaries with the Faculty Salaries
Funded Through the OCR Accord. Dr. Barnes indicated faculty
salaries funded through the OCR Accord are basically in alignment with
those of the current faculty. However, department heads and senior
professors will command higher salaries. Also, the salaries for the
engineering faculty are more in alignment with faculty members in the
School of Business.
3. ACTION ITEM
Dr. Barnes presented the following action item(s) for consideration.
Approval of Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Academic Programs and
the Establishment of the Department of Engineering. The Committee
agreed to support the recommendation to approve the OCR Academic
Programs and the establishment of the Department of Engineering and to
present the recommendations to the full Board for approval.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Report from Faculty Senate President. Dr. Wall gave an
overview of the goals and objectives of the Faculty Senate for the
2002-2003 academic year and highlighted some concerns:
Objectives—The objectives of the Faculty Senate are the
following:
work with the Office of Academic Affairs in establishing and
monitoring the activities of the University-Wide Committees
participate in completing the Merit and Evaluation Pay Plan
participate in completing the revision of the Faculty Manual
continue dialogue about faculty concerns, which were initiated
with the Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs during the
summer
Concerns—The concerns identified are the following:
Faculty Workload. Dr. Wall indicated faculty workloads, especially in
the area of registration as well as increased responsibility in research
and grantsmanship, have increased over the past several years. It seems
the Colleague Student Information System is the source of many faculty
concerns. Therefore, it was recommended the University consider replacing
the current student information system with the SCT system, especially
since Governor Warner signed an agreement that enables Virginia's
state-related higher education institutions to license SCT products and
acquire SCT services at significantly discounted rates.
Virginia currently uses SCT Banner in more than half of its public
higher education institutions.
Considerable discussion ensued in reference to the Colleague Student
Information System versus the SCT Banner System. Dr. Harris indicated the
SCT system is an excellent system, and Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has
implemented it. He recommended NSU visit CAU to view the system.
Dr. Schexnider indicated NSU is reviewing its current student
information system for identification of appropriate solutions. Also, Mr.
Ezzell pointed out he has had discussion with Dr. Oladipupo, Vice
President for Research and Technology, who is well aware of and
understands all the issues.
Faculty Participation in Decision-Making Process and Faculty
Governance. There was a brief discussion regarding the difference between
faculty participation and faculty veto power.
Financial. Dr. Wall indicated concern about the increases in the
number of administrative positions and questioned whether some of this
work could be done by clerks. It was the consensus of the Committee that
the work performed by most administrators can not be done by clerks.
Dr. Ezzell assured Dr. Wall the Board always carefully reviews the
duties and responsibilities for new administrative positions.
Review of Revised Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Guidelines. Dr. Barnes provided an overview of Foundations for Quality
Enhancement, SACS' revised guidelines. She also accentuated the following
important dates:
2006: Compliance Certification
Reaffirmation Report-Institutional internal analysis of compliance with
each Core Requirement and Comprehensive Standard
2008: Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
(Reaffirmation Accreditation Visit) The plan addresses issues that
contribute to institutional improvements
Academic Competencies. Dr. Barnes provided an overview of the six
state-mandated competencies by the State Council of Higher Education for
Virginia (SCHEV)-Written Communication, Technology/Information Literacy,
Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning, Oral Communication, and
Critical Thinking-and discussed some of the variables affecting the
writing examination pass rate:
Small sample (N = 27)
Failure to complete English General Education Core Requirements (5
students)
No consequence for poor performance
High test anxiety (PRAXIS)
Lack of familiarity with writing evaluation tool
Keyboard versus Paper-and-Pencil Test
A score of "3" or above must be achieved in each category
Need to calibrate score rating
Mrs. Carrington, Ms. Archer, Mr. Ezell, and Dr. Harris commended the
University for its efforts in establishing rigor, "testing the
test" before administering it with consequences, and making it a
priority to graduate students who are "competent" writers.
Course Enrollment and Grade Verification Policy. Dr. Barnes indicated
the purpose of this Policy is to address the audit concerns regarding the
accuracy of course enrollment data and grade verification.
Outstanding Faculty Award Nomination. Dr. Barnes indicated NSU will
have five packets from which to select nominees to recommend to SCHEV for
the Outstanding Faculty Award Nomination. She stated our faculty members'
strengths are in the areas of teaching and public service. Teaching loads
are heavier than those at traditional research institutions; therefore,
research and scholarship may not be as strong.
Ms. Archer stated she serves on the State Selection Committee for
Outstanding Faculty Award, and the selection process is very rigorous.
Nominees must be exceptional in each of the three categories.
5. INFORMATION
Personnel Changes and Updates. Ms. Archer asked the committee members
to reference the organizational chart for the changes in personnel, as
outlined on the agenda for the Academic Affairs Committee.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
The Committee thanked Dr. Barnes for her most informative, candid, and
frank analysis of the Written Communication Competency and asked that she
present the information to the full Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Elsie M. Barnes, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs
_______________________________
Delores Archer, Chair
Norfolk State University
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Norfolk, VA 23504 USA
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