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Faculty Council to meet remotely on March 11 |
The Faculty Council will meet this Friday, March 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. The meeting will be held remotely only and streamed live at this link.
In addition to hearing from the chair of the faculty, chancellor and provost, the meeting will cover these topics:
- COVID-19 update
- Campus climate, racial reconciliation and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UNC
- Salary equity report by the Status of Women Committee
- UNC Faculty Assembly update
- Several committee reports
A preliminary meeting agenda is available online.
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Award Nomination Deadline |
2021-22 Faculty Council dates |
September 3
October 1
November 5 (with General Faculty)
December 3
January 14
February 11
March 11
April 8 (with General Faculty)
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Faculty Election to be held from March 31-April 12 |
All members of the voting faculty will receive an individualized ballot for the 2022 UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Election via email on March 31. The full slate of candidates will be posted on the Faculty Governance website by March 29.
The annual election is a way for faculty to influence policy on issues related to the University’s core research, teaching and service missions. Committees that are vital to the advancement and support of faculty will be included on the ballot, such as the Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure; the Faculty Grievance Committee; and the Educational Policy Committee.
Many thanks to all who have agreed to run for election so far. Results will be posted online shortly after the election concludes on April 12.
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Nominations for the Jefferson Award requested |
The Honorary Degrees and Special Awards Committee invites faculty to nominate colleagues for the 2022 Thomas Jefferson Award. Established in 1961, this award is given annually to a faculty member who embodies the ideals that Thomas Jefferson is best appreciated for: the promotion of freedom, tolerance and education. Any active member of the faculty is eligible, including those participating in the phased-retirement program. Please consider a worthy candidate and submit a nomination by midnight on April 4, 2022.
The committee acknowledges the complicated history and legacy of Thomas Jefferson. When Professor Lloyd Kramer (History) accepted this award in 2021, he addressed this legacy. Below is an excerpt from his remarks; the full remarks can be found here.
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Despite Jefferson’s obvious and deeply disturbing racist flaws, I believe we have to think with Jefferson’s other ideas while we also think against his racism; and I believe that acceptance of the Jefferson Award also requires an acceptance of the ambiguity and complexity that are at the center of both history and a liberal arts education. |
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Committee on the Status of Women will discuss salary equity with Faculty Council in March |
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At the March Faculty Council meeting, Professor Misha Becker (Linguistics), will present the annual report of the Committee on the Status of Women. Over the past many years, the committee has focused its efforts on salary equity at the University. The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) has conducted five salary studies and the committee conducted a study of its own in 2019. These studies revealed that male faculty, on average, earn more than female faculty and that white faculty, on average, earn more than faculty who are African American, Latinx, Native American, or identify as belonging to another racial category. Professor Becker will discuss the committee’s findings and suggestions for realizing salary equity at Carolina.
In November 2021, the committee compiled a document titled “Best Practices for Equitable Salary Increases in the Annual Raise Process: A Guide for Department Chairs and Deans,” which advises department chairs and deans on allocating raises equitably and using a merit-based raise distribution to correct inequities in their units.
The report underscores that, while change at the departmental level is significant, it is crucial that senior leadership at the University focus on this issue as well. Achieving faculty salary equity across gender and racial/ethnic groups is integral to several strategic initiatives of the University’s strategic plan Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good. Recognition by the senior leadership that salary equity is a necessary component in the success of the strategic plan is vital to promoting cultural change.
The committee examined how peer institutions are addressing gender and racial salary inequity. In 2015, the University of California at Berkeley undertook a comprehensive salary equity initiative. By pouring significant funds into this issue, they were able to narrow the gender and racial/ethnic salary gap among faculty.
The committee plans to introduce a resolution on salary equity for faculty at the April meeting of the Faculty Council. The resolution is expected to make recommendations for a sustained initiative to identify, address, and diminish faculty salary inequities.
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The 2022 Carolina Engagement Week will be held from March 21-25 to explore how state and local community leaders across the state are combining their community-specific knowledge, research expertise and proven methods for change to create a positive social and economic impact for all.
During this week-long celebration of public engagement, you can explore and attend multiple sessions and topics that you’re most passionate about. Choose from a mix of virtual sessions, in-person events and online content that allow you to dig deep into North Carolina’s capacity for solving problems and creating new opportunities that matter most to its people. And, along the way, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to get engaged yourself. Events will be focused on:
- History and Culture
- Economic Development and Community-Building
- Disaster Preparedness and Response
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Education
- Government
- Health and Environment
This celebration brings into focus a wide range of rural-to-urban, coast-to-mountain perspectives, practical insights and case studies of place-based research presented through a variety of formats including workshops and training, talks, posters and web stories. To learn more and register for sessions click here.
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In February, UNC-Chapel Hill launched the Heels Care Network website at care.unc.edu. The site serves as a hub for mental health and well-being resources available to all Carolina students, staff and faculty, including links to 24/7 support and suicide prevention resources. It also features a live chat and a link to an anonymous care referral form for anyone to report concerns they have for a student. |
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The Stone Center’s African Diaspora Lecture |
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Join the Stone Center for their annual African Diaspora Lecture on March 8 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Dr. Jennifer A. Jones.
Dr. Jones is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Latin American and Latino Studies (by courtesy) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research stands at the intersection of the sociology of race, immigration, and politics.
Register at this link.
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Library expands free New York Times access to all current Tar Heels |
Carolina faculty and staff can now join students in enjoying free access to The New York Times. The University Libraries, with support from the Kathrine R. Everett Law Library, has partnered with The New York Times so that UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff can access NYTimes.com and the NYTimes.com mobile app at no charge.
Visit the Library’s New York Times Academic Pass information page to learn how to set up an account and log in. Faculty and staff will receive an academic pass valid for four years. Student passes are valid until December 31 of the graduation year they indicate.
While New York Times Academic Pass does not include NYT Cooking or crosswords, it does provide access to historical backfiles. Carolina community members also have access to The New York Times in Education. This collection of materials highlights how The Times can support curricular and extracurricular learning. Sign up using your unc.edu email address.
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Highlights from February Faculty Council meeting |
The Faculty Council met remotely on February 11, 2022. A recording of the meeting is available online.
This meeting was Professor Christopher Clemens' (Physics and Astronomy) first in his new role as UNC-Chapel Hill's Provost and Chief Academic Officer. He spoke about the work of the transition team and his plans for the Provost's Office.
Professor Ronald Strauss (Dentistry) gave a COVID-19 update. Since January 1, 3000+ cases of COVID-19 have been reported among students and 400 among employees. The positivity rate on campus and the number of students in isolation and quarantine have dropped significantly over the past few weeks.
Vice Provost Digital and Lifelong Learning Todd Nicolet gave an overview of Project Kitty Hawk. The UNC System launched this initiative to create a non-profit startup company that can help System institutions put academic programs online. This project is aligned with North Carolina's educational attainment goal to have two million North Carolinians complete a post-secondary degree or credential by 2030.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Amy Johnson gave a presentation on student mental health as a follow-up to the Mental Health Summit. The Heels Care Network was launched on February 9; it serves as a hub for mental health and well-being resources available to Carolina students, staff and faculty.
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Additional Events and Announcements
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Upcoming faculty governance committee meetings
Please consult our online calendar for updates, meeting times, and locations. All meetings are open to everyone, including members of the public, unless held in closed session in accordance with state open meeting regulations. Meetings may be added and are subject to change on short notice.
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March 7
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 21
March 23
March 24
March 25
March 28
March 30
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Committee on University Government
Faculty Executive Committee
Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure
Committee on Fixed-Term Faculty
Committee on the Status of Women
Committee on Community and Diversity
Buildings and Grounds Committee
Faculty Council
Faculty Athletics Committee
Faculty Executive Committe
University Committee on Copyright
Administrative Board of the Library
Advisory Committee
Educational Policy Committee
Faculty Information Technology Advisory Committee
Faculty Welfare Committee
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