1. Introductions and Changes to
Membership Structure
Provost King welcomed new APC member Alan Jackman, incoming chair of UCPB.
Remaining new members will join the APC at its first fall meeting. Provost King
also described changes in the APC membership structure: the Vice Provost for
Academic Initiatives will become a permanent member and the two
faculty-at-large positions will be phased out and replaced by two Division
Chairs, selected in part to achieve a campus balance of members.
2. Humanities Commission
The APC discussed the final report of the Presidential Humanities Commission,
which will soon be distributed to Chancellors and the Academic Council for
comment. The report identified academic and funding needs in four major
categories: New Literacies (cultural and technological), Research (individual
and collaborative), Graduate Support and Employment, and Outreach. There was
consensus among APC members that in order for the report to be useful to
external groups, such as potential major funding agencies, its recommendations
should be integrated into a vision statement that would describe UC's
distinctive role in advancing the humanities. Potential funders would want to
know what singular thing their support could accomplish. APC members suggested
that among the recommendations, those that stressed "connections"
across disciplinary lines were the most compelling.
The APC also encouraged building on existing structures, particularly the
Humanities Research Institute. There was a request that the HRI be asked to
comment on the Commission's report, and to consider how some of the
recommendations could be incorporated into the Institute's agenda.
3. University Interactions with Mexico
Provost King described several recent developments that have caused UC to
consider whether more academic links can be made with institutions of higher
education in Mexico. He noted that UC has become the principal arm of the
Governor's initiative to improve relations with Mexico. This status coincides
with the creation of international hubs of University presence–the first of
which was California House in London, to be followed by a similar presence in
Mexico City, which will provide a home for EAP and other University-related
activities. Another development is the expansion of UC's agreement with CONACYT
(the Mexican equivalent to the National Science Foundation) to increase
opportunities for Mexican fellows at UC beyond the existing support provided
for faculty and student exchanges. And most recently, President Vicente Fox's
visit to California included several discussions about new ways the two
countries can benefit each other educationally.
Members noted that there are already strong academic ties with Mexico. For
example, in a summer program, first year UCSF medical students have the
opportunity to work with bilingual physicians from central California, learning
medical Spanish language skills while being taught an introductory course in
physical diagnosis. There are plans to explore duplicating this course in
Mexico. There are also plans to explore broad educational programs in HIV/AIDS
prevention and treatment, as well as others STDs and tuberculosis.
There were suggestions for ways there could be stronger ties in the humanities
and social sciences. For example, language classes that use international chat
rooms could be expanded to include Mexican students. In exchange for Mexican
students and professors participating in UC science programs, UC faculty and
students might be able to increase participation in Mexico in programs of
historical and cultural interest. There may also be methods of exchange for
services, such as translation services of outreach materials in exchange for
access to certain collections.
Provost King noted that when opened, the California House in Mexico City could
be helpful in identifying and linking new academic exchanges, in addition to
providing a home for EAP activities.
4. Health Sciences Planning Initiative
Vice President Michael Drake informed the APC that the Health Sciences
Committee's primary planning efforts are focused on enrollment planning for the
next 10-12 years. Planning for nursing enrollments is their first priority,
because there is a need to expand undergraduate programs rapidly, by offering
baccalaureate/RN degrees for the first time in nearly a decade. There will also
be an expansion of the number of community college transfer positions for
individuals who have obtained the associate/nursing degree. The primary role in
nursing education for UC will continue to be the preparation of teachers of
nursing students, researchers, and nurses in leadership positions. Planning for
other health sciences schools will follow immediately, including a review of
the agreement with the State about the distribution of medical residents in
primary vs. specialty fields.
5. Faculty Audit
Sheila O'Rourke, Executive Director in Academic Advancement at UCOP, joined the
APC to bring members up to date on the State's audit of University practices in
the recruitment and hiring of women faculty. The report was generally favorable
to UC, and the recommendations related to expanding faculty affirmative action
efforts that are already in place at many of the campuses. The challenge will
be to implement them uniformly across campuses and departments
There was general agreement that the audit had been handled in a positive way
on the part of the Office of the President, which led to productive campus
discussions internally, with the auditors and across campuses. There are many
good practices in effect that can be shared more widely. Executive Director
O'Rourke noted that there are proposals for systemwide meetings of department
chairs to join with others from their own disciplines (from within and outside
UC) who have been successful in recruiting women and minority faculty. Campuses
will be receiving revised recruitment and hiring guidelines, as well as the
University's response to the audit.
Senator Speier, who initiated the audit, wants UC to report again in spring
2002 to show results of the most recent faculty hiring. The audit also requires
a response from UC about the implementation of its recommendations within 60
days, six months and one year, along with biennial reports to the legislature.
6. Postdoctoral Scholars
Provost King noted that there have been discussions about which part of the
organization should have primary responsibility for issues relating to
postdoctoral scholars. Graduate Deans, Vice Chancellors for Research, and
principal investigators are all involved in various aspects of postdocs'
experiences at the university. Efforts are underway to define more clearly the
role of postdocs and their relationship to the university, as co-collaborators,
students, and employees. APC members agreed that the Council of Graduate Deans,
which has had a long-standing interest in postdocs, should continue to pursue
resolution of issues related to their welfare. Members acknowledged that often
the choice of a postdoc is closely tied to the narrow skill set a researcher is
seeking. However, they urged faculty to consider expanding the currently small
number of institutions from which they select postdocs and become more
sensitive to the ramifications of their choices in terms of eventually
producing a more diverse faculty.
7. Enrollment Update
Provost King summarized the discussions of a joint Senate-Administration task
force convened to discuss faculty issues in a State-funded summer environment.
While there are questions related to compensation, the deeper issues revolved
around how departments are going to function in this new paradigm: how to
create incentives for faculty participation, design a richer summer curriculum,
manage faculty participation in departmental decision making in a year-round
environment, and contribute to the larger goal of accommodating more
enrollments. The task force decided that a meeting with several department
chairs–including some who implemented successful approaches in summer 2001–would
help identify useful ideas for further dissemination. The APC could serve as a
forum for unresolved issues.