Faculty Exchange of Views
October 14, 2004
Jane Bryant explained that a number of transfer students who have attended schools that are on a quarter hour basis rather than on semester hours may find themselves short of completing the 36 general education semester hours graduation requirement as a result of converting quarter hours into semester hours. Bryant further explained that administration had resolved how to handle the situation to the benefit of the students. However, Bryant also explained that many of the students with this problem are not aware that there is a problem and may be surprised close to graduation when they become aware for the first time. Bryant suggested that it would be better for the students if they were made aware of the problem as soon as they enrolled at FCCJ and she further suggested that these students be notified in a timely fashion as soon upon enrollment as possible. After a brief discussion as to the benefits of notification and the possible routes to notification, the consensus was that it would be beneficial to notify the students as soon as possible if their transcript evaluation uncovered any possible shortage of credit hours in the general education area. The students could be encouraged to stop by the Student Success offices and discuss their individual case with a counselor or advisor.
Don Green stated that he would get with Tracy Pierce to find out what processes are in place now that could facilitate the resolution of this problem, and to discuss what else could be put in place if necessary to help resolve this issue. Green said he would get back to the Senate.
Don Green advised the Senate that the faculty group addressing policy issues related to implementing the SLS 1103 requirement for college prep students needed input regarding procedures for implementing the requirement. Jeff Hess was present at the meeting to answer possible questions. Wayne Bailey stated that several senators had agreed to work with Hess and his committee and Bailey gave Hess the name of the senators that he had appointed.
Tessie Bond introduced the recommendation unanimously approved by the Senate that the final exam schedule be retained as is and that administration extend final exams by two days to give those faculty members who needed to make up for lost instructional days additional instructional time. Bond explained that most of the faculty had already made up the time through a variety of ways and to extend the instructional calendar at the expense of the final exam schedule would create more confusion and chaos that it would help. Bond stated, however, that the Senate recognized that there were faculty who needed the extra time and therefore wished to help those faculty members meet their need. The Senate proposed that those faculty needing extra time could use their allotted two-hour final exam period for additional instructional time and arrange to have their final exam rescheduled for either December 20 or 21. This compromise would accommodate both the faculty who have already taken care of lost instructional days and those faculty who need additional time. It was also brought to administration’s attention that extending finals to December 21 would also require an extension on when final grades would be due.
Administration accepted the Senate’s recommendation and asked the campus presidents to ask their deans to work individually with faculty who needed the extra time and make the necessary arrangements for assisting the faculty reschedule the final exam and entering their final grades.
After discussing the FN grade, faculty brought up their concern over having no grade equivalent to the old NP grade that could be assigned to those students who were not failing class but were not quite at the point where they could receiving a passing grade. The biggest concern expressed was over students enrolled in college prep classes; especially those who were doing fairly well in class but did not pass the exit exams. It was agreed that this issue should be further discussed within the context of clause 4.01 in the QEP plan. Norm Will stated that he will talk to Charles Smires about this concern and to explore further discussion.
Don Green expressed an interest in having more Senate involvement with the QEP plan and the Project Renaissance initiatives. Green suggested that the Senate could play a more active role and possibly have senators involved as liaisons between the Senate and initiative groups.
Don Green reported that, based on the evaluation of late registration implementation, everything had gone well and that he had heard no complaints from either students or faculty. The data indicated that the greatest majority of students had registered prior to the late registration deadline. It was also reported that having a list of faculty willing to accept students during late registration helped very much with getting students into the right classes, and it was agreed that such a practice should continue and further refined.