Faculty Assembly addresses college needs

Library Center, 'capital campaign' discussed

Published 11/5/98

The former Dameron Building site, a possible change in the Library Center's availability and the feasibility of enacting a "capital campaign" were a few of the items discussed at the November Faculty Assembly.

Point Park College President Katherine Henderson addressed a crowd of approximately 38 full- and part-time faculty members on Tuesday, Nov. 3. After praising enrollment figures, Henderson said that the site where the Dameron Building had previously stood would not be developed.

The Dameron Building was demolished by the Dick Corp. on Oct. 24 and 25, and after the site was cleared, the college had plans to turn it into a parking lot and plant it with flowers and trees. However, due to the cold weather, Henderson said the planting would have to wait until spring.

Another issue Henderson brought up was the possibility of having a "capital campaign" to help raise funds for the school. Currently, there is a feasibility study being conducted that will determine whether or not Point Park will be able to collect enough money needed to refurbish and make repairs to the college.

The campaign's feasibility study is currently in its "silent phase," and Henderson said that fund-raising goals haven't been set yet.

Henderson also said the Playhouse task force, which has been evaluating the future of the Playhouse of Point Park College since early in the semester, told her that although its research isn't completed, it has already reached one conclusion: Eventually, Point Park will have to have complete control of the Playhouse.

"We have to control the facility absolutely," Henderson said, noting that due to the increased enrollment in the fine, applied and performing arts department, Point Park can't share the Playhouse with other cultural groups.

Another issue Henderson addressed was the school's ability to retain students, particularly those in their freshman year. Because class registration has begun, Henderson asked that advisers contact students who haven't registered in order to keep them from falling behind.

Henderson said freshman students are most likely to leave Point Park because the classes they are enrolled in are primarily required ones, which are subject to larger class sizes. One-on-one teacher interaction with students is not as likely to happen with large classes, and students at college for their first time may feel intimidated and want to leave.

After Henderson left, Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Rex Stevens also addressed the assembly and spoke about evaluation procedures.

Although Stevens said he had gone through evaluation procedures before, this was going to be his first at Point Park.

Sevens said that all faculty evaluations should have a distinct degree of separation between documentation and performance. The reason for this, Stevens said, is if the focus of an evaluation will be on documentation, then a professor's performance will complement the evaluation.

"I want to see the documentation speak for the person," Stevens said, adding that each department can choose how it documents performance evaluations.

Stevens also said that he has had discussions with Library Center administrators on closing the center on Sundays.

The reason for this possible policy change is because not many students attend the Library Center on Sundays, and it may not be worth it financially to keep it open.

"It's an expensive operation," he said.

Dr. Robert Alexander, associate dean of faculty, addressed the crown to inform them of several vacancies in various committees that were formed to create a self-study report for the Middle States accreditation process and said that several committees still need more members.

The faculty committee has three members, the governing board has four members and the assessment committee has one faculty member, according to Alexander.

"I hope there will be volunteers for these three committees," Alexander said.

Alexander also noted that the self-study report now has a due date of Aug. 16, 2000. Although the deadline is more than a year away, Alexander said the report should be done in the Spring or Summer 1999 semester because each report has to be circulated throughout the college.

Government and International Studies assistant professor Ed Meena motioned to pass a resolution that would address the maintenance department on conditions that Meena described as "despicable."

After saying he has seen filthy hallways and bathrooms at 8 a.m., Mark Farrell, chair of the natural sciences and engineering technology department, said the address should go to the physical plant office as well. The motion was overwhelmingly supported.

This was the third faculty assembly for the Fall 1998 semester. Previous meetings dealt with student retention and organizing committees for the Middle States accreditation self-study report. The next meeting will be on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.

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