Skip to main content

Resolutions 1986-1987


Archived 1986-1987 Resolutions

Resolution 1986-1987-1 Abolishment of the Time-Shortened Degree Program

Whereas the Time-Shortened Degree Program described on Pages 60-61 of the 1986-1987 UCF Catalog is of doubtful academic validity, in that it

  • recognizes no objective means whereby a grade of “B” in a given high school course may be proven a valid measurement of a student’s accomplishment;
  • awards university credit for some high school courses without providing any systematic means for ascertaining that the high school courses are comparable to the UCF courses for which credit is awarded,
  • establishes a lower than acceptable standard of achievement; detracting from the academic quality of the University by creating an illusion of equity between the performance of a student who receives credit through the TSD and that of a student who has chosen a more demanding way of earning credit.

Therefore, the UCF Faculty Senate recommends that the Time-Shortened Degree Program be abolished.

Approved by Faculty Senate on November 6, 1986.
Approved by Provost Richard Astro on December 10, 1986.

Resolution 1986-1987-2 Special Student Admissions

Whereas in the University there have arisen three procedures whereby students who do not meet normal admissions requirements may be admitted to undergraduate study — the University Admissions and Standards Committee, the Athletic Special Admissions Committee, and the procedure followed by the Office of Minority Affairs; and

Whereas this system of overlapping committee is inequitable, owing to

  • the absence of a uniform procedure for appointing the respective committees;
  • the absence of a consistent method of monitoring the decisions of the committees;
  • the maintenance of procedures closed to public scrutiny;
  • the maintenance of official “back doors” to admissions open to some, but not to all;
  • the maintenance of a system that stresses the use of the student to enhance the profit and public “image” of the university more than it stresses the use of the resources of the university to help the student

There, the UCF Faculty Senate recommends

  1. that all special admissions be the responsibility of the University Admissions and Standards Committee;
  2. that the Athletic Special Admissions Committee and the Office of Minority Affairs be relieved of their authority independently to admit students; and
  3. all academic programs have the privilege of recommending to the University Admissions and Standards Committee that it reconsider an admission.

Approved by Faculty Senate on November 6, 1986.
Approved by Provost Richard Astro on December 10, 1986.

Resolution 1986-1987-3 Withdrawal Grades

Whereas current policy permits withdrawal from a course after the midpoint of a term in extraordinary circumstances by petition to the Office of Undergraduate Studies;

Whereas unsatisfactory academic performance is not considered to constitute extraordinary circumstances;

Whereas current practice provides a single withdrawal designation for all cases regardless of academic performance up to the time of withdrawal;

Whereas current practice may encourage unwarranted petition for withdrawal by students who are seeking relief from an unsatisfactory academic performance;

Therefore, the UCF Faculty Senate recommends that two withdrawal grades be established for those cases determined to be extraordinary by the Office of Undergraduate Studies: Withdrawal Passing (WP), and Withdrawal Failure (WE). The Office of Undergraduate Studies shall obtain a determination of pass or fail from the instructor after a determination of extraordinary circumstances. A grade of WE shall be treated in the same manner as an F for purposes of determination of grade point average and academic action. A grade of WP shall be treated in the same manner as a W.

Approved by Faculty Senate on December 4, 1986.
Approved by Provost Richard Astro and notified Dean Micarelli to proceed.

Resolution 1986-1987-4 Operation of Centers and Institutes

Whereas, the number of institutes and centers a UCF has increased to the point where all colleges are touched by their activities, and

Whereas, the variety has become so broad as to include degree programs, research, and community services, and

Whereas, the institutes and centers have created problems in the areas of budget, staff, and personnel

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate Chair should consult with the Provost and recommend the appointment of a task force to establish guidelines for the coordination, structure, and operation of institutes and centers so as to reduce problems. A majority of the members of the task force should be appointed from a list to be submitted by the Faculty Senate Chair, with other members to be selected by the Provost.

Approved by Faculty Senate on February 19, 1987.
Pending by Provost Richard Astro on April 9, 1987:

“…deferred until the appointment of the new vice president is in place. It appears CREOL will be located in the research park in the coming months.”

Resolution 1986-1987-5 Final Exam Period
(Returned to Committee)

Whereas, the Nineteenth Student Senate of the University of Central Florida has resolved (19-04) that “the Administration limit professor to giving only one test or exam, excluding make-up tests, for each class during the last week of regularly-scheduled classes and finals weeks” and

Whereas, concern for the use of effective evaluative tools and procedures is paramount with respect to accessing final course mastery, we do not support the limiting features called for in the Student Senate Resolution 19-04. Rather, the following procedures address the needs of faculty and students, and

Be it resolved that:

  1. The semester classes shall end at least three calendar days prior to the beginning of the “final exam period.”
  2. The due date for course grades shall be on the third working day following the end of the “final exam period.”
  3. The summer session calendar should include a “final exam period.”
  4. The course evaluation shall take place during the “final exam period.”

Returned to committee by the Faculty Senate on February 19, 1987.

Resolution 1986-1987-6 Structure of Graduate Studies

Whereas, Dr. Louis M. Trefonas, Dean of Graduate Studies has proposed the formation of a Graduate School to assume the functions of the Office of Graduate Studies and aid in the administration of the graduate programs offered throughout the university; and

Whereas, the broad scope of the proposal includes:

  1. Admission and maintenance of graduate school records.
  2. Dissemination of information concerning graduate programs.
  3. Development of graduate studies policy and review of graduate programs throughout the university.
  4. Liaison with Graduate Program Coordinators.
  5. Program development.
  6. Establish and direct policies to monitor graduate research projects, theses, and dissertations.
  7. Recruitment and financial aid for graduate students.
  8. Liaison with the Office of Sponsored Research; and

Whereas, there is little conclusive evidence that the proposed structure would facilitate the performance of these functions with greater effectiveness or efficiency than can be accomplished through the Office of Graduate Studies, the UCF Faculty Senate recommends that the proposal for a Graduate School format at UCF be denied.

Be it resolved that the following are recommended in order to strengthen the current structure:

  1. The current responsibilities of the Office of Graduate Studies with advice from the Graduate Council should include the eight items listed above.
  2. The Graduate Council be granted final authority over the development of policy dealing with university-wide and interdisciplinary graduate programs.
  3. The faculty members of the Graduate Council be elected at large from general faculty of their respective colleges. The elected persons must be members of their college’s graduate faculty.
  4. The Office of Graduate Studies actively promote more funding of the University Library, which is essential to the building and maintenance of a sound program of graduate studies.
  5. The UCF Graduate Policy and Procedural Manual — 6. Draft October, 1986 be revised to conform with existing structure of the Office of Graduate Studies.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on February 19, 1987.

Resolution 1986-1987-7 Funding for Sabbatical Leaves
(Not Approved)

Whereas the state now provides for two kinds of sabbatical leaves – one that is for half a year at full pay and one that is for a full year at half pay;

Whereas, the Faculty Senate and the Administration of UCF believe it in the best interests of the University to encourage the taking of sabbatical research leaves for a full year;

Whereas, the state allocates resources to allow for only half-pay for such one-year sabbaticals, and thus discourages their use due to the inability of many members of the faculty to bear the burden of half-pay for a full year;

Therefore, the Faculty Senate recommends that the University secure funding from the UCF Foundation and other sources to provide a third category of sabbatical leave. This category will allow for a minimum of eight (8) full-year faculty sabbatical research and creative activity leaves at three quarters of the nine (9) month contract rate of pay. Recommendations for the award of these sabbaticals shall be made to the President of the University by the Faculty Sabbatical Leave Committee. The awards shall be made on the basis of the quality of the proposed research project and the potential for substantial research progress by the faculty member during the sabbatical period. The creation of these sabbatical leaves shall not affect the funding of the university’s two existing sabbatical leave programs.

Approved by Faculty Senate on March 5, 1987.
Returned by Provost Richard Astro on November 24, 1987:

“While I am sensitive to the addressed need and so explored the resolution with Jim Parry, BOR Director of Human Resources, we were told by Mr. Parry that this proposal is a mandatory subject of bargaining with financial impact. Mr. Parry told us that the Board would not want individual universities to make unilateral alternate sabbatical arrangements. Sabbaticals will be considered during contract negotiations this academic year, and we have indicated to Mr. Parry that we support an enhancement of the current plan as stated in Resolution #7.”

Resolution 1986-1987-8 Sabbatical Leave Committee

The Faculty Senate recommends that individuals who are serving on the Faculty Sabbatical Leave Committee should not be candidates for sabbatical leaves in the year for which they are making recommendations.

Approved by Faculty Senate on March 5, 1987.
Approved by Provost Richard Astro on May 13, 1987:

“Request the resolution be broadened to include all University committees where one’s application for support would be compromised by membership on the committee. At the least, please consider the Tenure/Promotion committee and the Research Council.

Resolution 1986-1987-9 Voting on Faculty Hires

Whereas, previous Faculty Senate Action (Resolution 1985-86-3) is in need of clarification;

The Faculty Senate recommends that the hiring of all candidates for tenured or tenure-earning or continuing faculty positions must be approved by a majority vote of the faculty of the department in which their positions are to be housed. The vote must be a written secret ballot of the tenured and tenure-earning members of the Department. The ballots will be counted by the appropriate Personnel Committee and results forwarded to the chair.

Absentee ballots may be signed and deposited with the Chair of the Personnel Committee.

Approved by Faculty Senate on March 5, 1987.
Pending by Provost Richard Astro on May 13, 1987:

“I believe that faculty appointments should be made in consultation with a department’s professorial faculty, but I am not convinced that a resolution requiring a secret ballot by the faculty on all tenure or tenure/track appointments is the only way to insure the integrity of the hiring process. Instead, I am asking each college dean to furnish me with a description of how faculty hiring occurs which may include a secret ballot, and to indicate the means by which appropriate consultation is guaranteed. Effective immediately, Associate Vice President Neighbor will monitor all faculty hiring within the Office of Academic Affairs. Amond his function in this regard will be to insure the integrity of the hiring process itself.

Update by Provost Richard Astro on November 24, 1987:

“We have reviewed all stated hiring policies and practices and would like to meet with the Senate Personnel Committee to review our findings and to bring satisfactory closure to this resolution.”

Resolution 1986-1987-10 Incomplete Grade Policy
(Returned to Committee)

Whereas the current policy regarding incomplete grades leads to the potential for abuse, therefore, be it resolved that:

  1. A student must be in passing status at the time the incomplete is awarded and
  2. a letter grade (default F) which the incomplete will revert to providing no additional action is taken by the instructor must be submitted on the assignment of incomplete form and
  3. a listing of the requirements to be completed must be submitted on the assignment of incomplete form and
  4. a date by which the work in (3) must be completed must be submitted on the assignment of incomplete form and
  5. a copy of the assignment of incomplete form must be provided to the student and
  6. if no action is taken by the instructor by one week following the deadline to change an incomplete grade in the semester following the assignment of the incomplete, the registrar’s office shall change the incomplete to the letter grade submitted on the assignment of incomplete form and notify the instructor and the student of that change and
  7. no student shall be awarded a degree with an incomplete pending.

Returned to committee by the Faculty Senate on March 5, 1987.

Resolution 1986-1987-11 Clerical Support for Faculty Research

Whereas, a high level of performance expectation has been placed on faculty in the research area, particularly in the preparation and/or publication of manuscripts, papers, articles and other research material, and

Whereas, limited resources often prevent clerical assistance to faculty,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Office of Academic Affairs establish a mechanism to assist faculty in non-grant related research projects.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on March 5, 1987.
Approved by Provost Richard Astro on May 13, 1987.

Top of Page