Board of Trustees to discuss AFAM fraud and faculty retention

The full Board of Trustees will convene today for the first time since a report on academic fraud in the African and Afro-American studies department was released by the University.

University spokesman Mike McFarland said the board will discuss planned policy and procedural improvements for the department today.

The report — which found irregularities in oversight and course instruction within the department — has prompted the State Bureau of Investigation to look into potential criminal activity that might have taken place.

The board will also hear a report on faculty retention rates authored by former Student Body Vice President Zealan Hoover with the help of other student leaders on campus.

Hoover — who will present his findings at the board meeting today — said the student task force on faculty retention began work in May 2011 in hopes of finding low-cost or cost-neutral ways to improve faculty retention rates at UNC.

Decreased retention rates have been linked by University officials to a statewide salary freeze that has been imposed on all public employees, including UNC faculty and staff, since June 2009.

Hoover’s report makes several recommendations including increased funding for professors to attend conferences and putting more emphasis on student-faculty relationships.

Faculty adviser for the report Ron Strauss said there seems to be an increased interest from other universities in hiring UNC faculty.

“I think it’s admirable that students are trying to create a scenario where student involvement helps keep faculty on campus,” Strauss said.

He said he would ultimately advocate for increased salaries and improved benefits for faculty.

Hoover said he is encouraged by the board’s interest in his report, but believes legislative budget cuts could hamper the implementation of his recommendations.

“It’s very possible that the legislature will make it possible to increase tuition but not faculty salaries,” Hoover said. “We might have to look at increasing research opportunities instead.”

Hoover said looking to the 2012-13 academic year when he will work with Student Body President Will Leimenstoll to implement the report’s recommendations from a student angle.

At the board meeting, Carolyn Elfland, associate vice chancellor for campus services, will propose a $3 increase in special event parking on campus.

Last year, the board accepted a proposal to require the use of paid parking permits on campus after 5 p.m. The $227 per permit fee will be instated during the 2014-15 academic year as part of the most recent five-year plan to fund transit and parking projects.

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