Currently, the Faculty Relations Committee, the only University-based body that hears faculty dispute resolutions, hears only grievances that involve terminations, suspensions or transfers of faculty. The committee then makes recommendations to the president. Committee Chair Richard Freer said that about two or three times each year, faculty members ask various committee members to assist them with less formal complaints. Freer sought the Faculty Council's advice on whether an informal dispute resolution procedure is needed.
Provost Billy Frye said he welcomes a discussion on whether two or three ombudspersons are needed for such a purpose, given the understanding that such people would be well respected senior faculty members who would not act as advocates for the complainant, but as mediators between the complainant and his or her college or school. Frye also said separate ombudspersons for the health sciences areas and for the rest of the faculty should be appointed, because issues affecting health sciences faculty are vastly different from those affecting other faculty.
President Bill Chace said he supports the idea of appointing ombudspersons for faculty dispute resolutions because the only other option available to faculty in such cases is the hierarchical structure of their college or school.
In other business, Tom Lancaster of the political science department reported that several Faculty Council members met recently with Marion Creekmore, vice provost for International Affairs at Emory and director of programs at The Carter Center. Lancaster said Creekmore is enthusiastic about implementing two Faculty Council suggestions: pairing an Emory faculty member for one year with a Carter Center program to acquaint the faculty more intimately with The Carter Center's work, and establishing a Carter Center column in Emory Report.
Council President Luther Smith thanked the Program and Budget Committee for increasing the annual budget of the University Senate and Faculty Council from $3,000 to $25,000. Smith said the extra funds will allow the groups to hire a half-time secretary and will allow the Senate's committees to work much more effectively.
Carlos Gonzalez, a member of the Commission's Student Concerns Committee, said the committee will sponsor a panel discussion titled "What Do Students Want Today?" as part of next month's Alumni Assembly. The session is scheduled for March 23 at 4 p.m. in White Hall.
The Commission is seeking nominations for new representatives for 1995-96. To nominate faculty, staff or students for the Commission, contact Cristina de la Torre at 727-6435.
Council President-Elect Kay Pendleton said the three staff members now on the Senate "cannot adequately represent the staff perspective on controversial issues" such as domestic partnership benefits. The Council's proposed amendment to the Senate's bylaws would increase the number of staff representatives from three to 11 and add two alumni members.
The Council also elected officers for 1995-96. The officers, whose terms begin April 1, include: Joy Burnette, School of Medicine, president-elect; Jacqueline Langham, Facilities Management, secretary-elect; Jay Harris, Facilities Management, parliamentarian; Mae Nelson, School of Medicine, historian; and Barbara Cunningham, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, treasurer.
--Dan Treadaway