Arts, Sciences & Engineering at Tufts University

Faculty Committees

Arts, Sciences & Engineering Standing Bylaw Committees

Executive Committee (AS&E) (Elected)


Executive Committee
Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering
Higher Education Initiative Review
2001-2002

Appendix A - The Fifteen HEI Working Group Reports

(These are not included here, but they were posted on the HEI web pages.)

Appendix B - The Four Stage 3 Reports

(These are not included here.)

Appendix C Other HEI-Related Materials Provided to the Executive Committee

Collected and Provided by Michaele Whelan, October 2001

Implementation

Fall 1999-Spring 2000

Strategic Planning for AS&E builds upon the priorities identified in HEI

  1. Identify the multiple sources needed, both through cost savings and enhanced revenues, to invest additional financial aid directed at increasing the number and quality of students of color, students from middle class families and a limited number of international students.

  2. Provide stronger support for individualized faculty development through differential teaching loads, more aggressive use of merit pay, innovative compensation packages and successful fund raising for faculty chairs.

  3. Invest in innovative curricula and programs, differentiating a Tufts liberal learning experience from other high-quality institutions.

  4. lnvest in implementation of innovative information technology, both to permit the scholarship and research necessary to maintain our Research I status, and to provide the best-quality, user- friendly student service environment.

Spring 2000-Fall 2000

  1. Walt and later Charles work with EPC on proposed curricular changes. In spring 2000, there is a transition of deans, from Walt to Charles. Jurisdiction issues with the LAU Curriculum Committee intervene. Changes to the curriculum are discussed on the floor of LAU and later A&S, but specifics remain stalled in the committees. Currently, the roles of EPC and the Curriculum Committee need to be resolved. Charles moves ahead with the recommendation to increase the efficacy of CTE, WTS and WAC. Ideas from the working group on the "Role of Public Service" aid in articulating the mission for the new UCCPS.

  2. Rob works with the Graduate School Policy and Program Committee to improve communication and community among graduate students. The importance of collective student services and advocacy for graduate students emerges and results in the Graduate Team in Dowling Hall. Rob builds on the HEI recommendations and begins to create a strategic plan for the Graduate School. In 2001, an external review of the graduate school occurs and specific recommendations are made.

  3. Bobble Knable brings students complaints about nickel and diming, lack of loyalty, being sent from office to office to have simple requests processed, lack of communication about important stages in their development to the planning group for the student services initiative. Dean Kristine Dillon and Dean Bruce Reitman work to resolve these issues through the class teams, E-mail communication, on-line registration and collective services, student leadership corps, new class orientation and increased opportunities for students to gather and build spirit: study break on the bridge, welcome back for seniors. These are ongoing efforts and the need to create a linkages between the curriculum and the residences remains a challenge for Dean Dillon.

  4. Dean Ernst and the HEI Committee on Faculty Development, Teaching brought forward for action proposed changes in the nature and activities of the faculty. For example, of the 14 committee recommendations, 3 were unanimously endorsed by A&S faculty (#1-3 on 12/6/99); 5 were endorsed as current guidelines by the academic deans(#4,7,10,11,12 on 11/18/99) and 2 accepted as general policy by the administration (#6,13); a subcommittee on #5 worked on codifying policies on hiring, contracts, titles, re-review and promotion of non-tenure track faculty and these were approved by academic deans and chairs; #8 on the creation of the rank of Professor of the Practice, intended for small numbers of field-specific experts, is discussed by A&S faculty in spring 2000 and results in being adopted by the Engineering School and is in continued discussion for A&S. Considering changes in the mix of teaching and scholarship and the reward structure for more senior faculty at different career stages (# 9) was voted in principle by the chairs (2/14/00). #14 is reflected in the faculty guide and in the deans' work with public relations.

Specific recent outcomes led by Dean Ernst include:

  • the Junior Faculty Research Leave Policy for pre-tenure faculty who have passed their second year review.

  • a Handbook on Policies and Procedures for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty. This handbook also set policies and procedures to implement the recommendations of the HEI committee including:

    • Recommendation 4: department review of non-tenure track faculty.

    • Recommendation 5: contract ladders for part-time and non-tenure track faculty.

    • Recommendation 7: when possible and educationally sound "bundle" part-time positions into full time positions.

  • Investigation of Tufts policy on deferral of tenure for maternity with the support of Academic Cabinet to reinvestigate Tufts policy and to make and implement recommendations for changes in Tufts policies when appropriate. New policies in this area should help in our retention of women and minority faculty.

  • a handbook for Programs and Policies for Postdoctoral associates

  • a Faculty Research Advisory group that has been instrumental in creating an interim report on the current research climate in Arts and Sciences including a description of our research strengths, barriers to research and desired future growth. This interim report will be the foundation to our strategic plan for research.

  • Increased visibility of Faculty and Student Research and Scholarship by making it a permanent feature of Tuftalk and working with public relations to get local, national and international coverage of faculty and student research and scholarship.


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