College of Earth & Mineral Sciences, Fixed-Term & Research Faculty... Meeting Minutes – November 11, 2013

College of Earth & Mineral Sciences, Fixed-Term & Research Faculty Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes – November 11, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 10:05am in 433 EES Building. Present were Stevie Rocco,
Eliza Richardson, Dave Shelleman, and Bill Syrett. Sharon Miller joined a few minutes later. Erich
Schienke, Todd Bacastow and Tim White were absent. Dennis Bellafiore attended to provide guidance
and instruction concerning the development and implementation of proper information gathering
techniques (the “focus group” concept previously mentioned in the October minutes).
Stevie updated the group on a couple items. First, she has spoken further with Tom Canich
about the move to a totally electronic review process for FT&R faculty. His experience with the attempt
to do the same with tenure-line faculty several years back was not pleasant-- “miserable failure” was one
descriptor. It was suggested and agreed that we should seek FT&R faculty buy-in before we push this
along further, which could be included as part of our information gathering. Also, Stevie was unable to
get a response from the dean concerning the focus group plan of action, but should be able to talk with
him before our next meeting. The remainder of the meeting was run by Dennis, and it is assumed that
with the dean’s blessing we will be using Dennis’ expertise to help define issues important to FT&R
faculty, both positive and negative.
The basic design of our information gathering will flow from “inputs” through the “process” and
then to “outputs.” Defining inputs and outputs was among our initial tasks, and we decided that the
entire cohort of FT&R faculty will be the input group, while the dean and manager of personnel, in
communication with Executive Council, would be the output group. The input group (FT&R faculty) is
a diverse population with primary tasks ranging from teaching to research, administration, and
information and technology. Many, but not all are paid on soft money, some are 36-week and some 48week contract positions. Because tenure-line faculty have one well-defined path toward success within
their careers, it was suggested that some of them have a rather poor understanding of the many faces of
FT&R faculty. This is especially important when considering those tenure-line faculty involved in the
promotion process of FT&R faculty.
Dennis then lead us in what is called the affinity process, which is one proven and efficient way
to gather information or ferret out concerns of a group. Much more detail is included in a separate
mailing (FTRFACFocusGroupDesign.docx), but the short version is that we were able to categorize
approximately two dozen FT&R-relevant questions into seven main groups. Once we did this it was
determined that we failed to address issues that relate much more directly to people from different
cultures, and we were left to consider what those concerns may be, along with exploring how to best
engage the entire group of FT&R faculty, not just those who are unhappy with some particular facet or
facets of their job.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 9 at 10:30 am in 433 EES Building. The
meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.
Respectfully submitted,
William J. Syrett, Secretary