Inside Iowa State
November 20, 1998
Jischke urges senators to develop post-tenure review policy
by Linda Charles
The Iowa Board of Regents is likely to ask the faculty to develop a post-tenure review policy, President Martin Jischke told the Faculty Senate Nov. 10.
Responding to questions from the senators, Jischke said he believes the board would like to see the faculty develop a policy of post-tenure review. He noted that the regents have pointed out that Iowa State is the only one of the three regent universities without such a policy.
"I believe the board feels the policy would be best developed and received if it were developed by the faculty," Jischke said.
"I do not believe that they have preconceived ideas about what the policy should be," Jischke added. "I don't believe that they have a policy that they are ready to hand to us.
"My own personal view is that efforts to ensure the continued accountability of all of us at the university are quite desirable and appropriate. I believe they should protect the academic freedom of the faculty, and for that matter, students as well. I believe the idea of post-tenure review is something the senate would be wise to continue to study."
Jischke told the senators that he endorses the revised promotion and tenure policy and will recommend it to the State Board of Regents at its next meeting. The new promotion and tenure policy was approved in a general faculty vote last spring, then modified this fall after review by Provost John Kozak.
Jischke commended the faculty on the new definition of scholarship, which has been expanded to include creative activities and teaching and extension/professional practice.
Sexual harassment
In his opening comments, Jischke told the faculty he hopes it is "quite clear" that the university is prepared to punish those who violate the sexual harassment policy.
"When sexual harassment occurs, the consequences can be quite devastating, to the victim, to the perpetrator and ultimately to the university and its reputation as a welcoming place for people to study or to visit," he said.
"When sexual harassment involves faculty harassing students, the damage to the university is even more substantial because I think it is seen by most as a particularly egregious violation of the trust that society bestows upon us in our efforts to nurture students and to teach them well," he said. "Our own experience here is that when it occurs, it truly undermines the climate for education."
Jischke called on faculty to speak out when they first see signs of sexual harassment. "Please, speak up when things start to happen, not after it's all over," he said.
McCarney contract
Jischke also was asked to expound on the reasons the university extended the contract of football coach Dan McCarney in light of the team's losing record. Jischke said McCarney was evaluated on how he looked after the welfare of the student athletes, the team's competitive success, whether he followed all the rules, whether he was a good representative for the university and how well he worked with the athletic director. Jischke said McCarney had done an excellent job in four of the five criteria.
Interacting with students
Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Hill also spoke at the senate meeting, pointing out ways faculty could help students beyond the classroom. Hill suggested faculty:
- Interact one-on-one with students, setting aside an hour
or two a week when students could meet with them informally,
for example in the Maintenance Shop, to further discuss class
topics.
- Join the Conversational English program, to help
international students with their English.
- Serve as adviser to a student group.
- Serve as a mentor to a student, through one of the
college programs or the athletic department.
- Volunteer to help with Veishea planning.
- Become involved in one of the learning communities on
campus.
The next senate meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, in 260 Scheman.
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