The following informational updates were provided to the committee chair by the Provost for distribution to the committee.
Information Items
Academic Year Faculty Availability in the Summer
Provost 01-14-2011 Update: I have asked the Deans to review
the letters sent to new students by the departments in order to look for
possible issues related to faculty summer workload. That is ongoing.
I’ve only asked the deans to let me know when the review is complete. I
did not ask them to report the results of the review. I believe that is
what I was asked to do…(as the minutes seem to confirm). If FAPC wants
additional information, please let me know.
Summer Pay Tax Withholdings / Extra Compensation
Provost 01-14-2011 Update (Summer Pay Tax Withholdings): I was planning to provide an update tomorrow to FAPC pertaining to the request to review Summer payments and the unintended results (higher withholdings) of combining Summer 1 and Maymester. If you (or Dr. Rose in his role as FAPC Secretary) could provide FAPC the following information, I would be grateful.
Here is what I understand about this issue:
We have to conform to payment dates determined by the system (USG’s new ADP) and payments must be on the first of the month.
An internal decision was made to combine the payrolls of Maymester and Summer I. However, this is an internal decision. Thus, FAPC is free to study the issues and make a recommendation to me about whether or not to separate the payments.
If Maymester payroll is separated from Summer I, then Summer I payroll will be delayed.
For individuals who teach Maymester and Summer 1, an increase in withholdings takes place if the combined paycheck elevates the tax status for federal and state taxes.
It would be interesting to know whether or not an increase in withholdings is “typical” for individuals who teach both Maymester and Summer I. If it is uncommon, rather than frequent…then FAPC would want to weigh the number of individuals disadvantaged by a delayed check against the number of people disadvantaged by a combined payment, before making a recommendation.
My understanding of this issue pales against Susan Allen’s knowledge. It might be a good idea to ask Ms. Allen to attend a FAPC meeting to respond to the questions that will arise. She could discuss with authority the ADP requirements as they relate to the pay schedule.
Provost 01-14-2011 Update (Extra Compensation): As for the “Extra Comp” issue (new requirement that we modify contracts rather than use an extra comp form), we finally received additional information from the system on Dec. 24th…so we are still working through the changes and determining what, if any, impact the changes will have on summer pay limits, staff workload, and our processes.
Student Opinion Surveys Concern - Student Participation Rate Provost 01-14-2011 Update: I’ll make sure that updates are provided to FAPC as these projects are underway. The “welcome back” message will go to all faculty, so FAPC members should see it in their INBOX next week.
Update on Provost shall ensure that all faculty receive appropriately detailed information about the observed reduction in the participation rates for student opinion surveys since conversion to an on-line collection system and the actions that are planned to address this concern action from 12-03-10 meeting
Provost 01-14-2011 Update: My “beginning of the semester” email to the campus was delayed due to our closure on Monday and Tuesday. I like to send that out after the first week of classes, when faculty have had a chance to settle back in to the semester. Additionally, I’m typically swamped with responses to parents and students who may not be 100% pleased with the grades they earned in the previous semester, or feel aggrieved in some way. So, my plan is to send that note next Tuesday. The “welcome back” message will include an update on the student opinion surveys along with other announcements. My hope is that this email, in addition to the spring visits to colleges, the December 2nd front page story in our campus newspaper, and reinforcing messages by the deans at their chairs’ meetings will combine to “get the word out” effectively.
Update on Provost shall review how SOS narratives are being managed and disseminated to faculty action from 12-03-10 meeting
Provost 01-14-2011 Update: On the topic of the SOS narratives and the language on the syllabi, I want to pull a small “writing” team together to develop the language to be included on the syllabi and the narrative used by faculty. That will take place in a week or so. I try to keep messaging/requests to a minimum during the first week and last week of each semester.
Update on Committee Chair shall share Motion 1 with ECUS for steering where Motion 1: To recommend that Student Opinion Surveys be administered to all classes with ten or more students. from 12-03-10 meeting
Update on Motion 2: To recommend to the Provost that standard language be developed that will appear on all course syllabi to inform and encourage students to participate in completing Student Opinion Surveys from 12-03-10 meeting
Provost 01-14-2011 Update: On the topic of the SOS narratives and the language on the syllabi, I want to pull a small “writing” team together to develop the language to be included on the syllabi and the narrative used by faculty. That will take place in a week or so. I try to keep messaging/requests to a minimum during the first week and last week of each semester.