GENERAL FACULTY MEETING
April 28, 1997
I. Call to Order.
PRESIDENT JOHN M. PALMS: Even though it is a rainy day, it is 5 minutes after 3:00 p.m.,
and it is my pleasure to call to order the spring meeting of the General Faculty of the University
of South Carolina.
II. Approval of General Faculty Minutes - August 28, 1996
The minutes have been distributed on the World Wide Web. Any additions or corrections
to the minutes as they have been posted? If not, do I hear a motion that they be adopted as so
posted?. All in favor say aye. Opposed - nay. So they are adopted.
III. Report of President.
PRESIDENT PALMS:
I think most of you are aware that what really concerns us as far as the legislature is
concerned is our budget. The House has completed work on the higher education budget, and it
is now in the Senate. Currently there is a 3-1/2% base pay raise in that budget, effective July 1.
There is also a bond bill, the total of which is $250 million. There is almost $15 million in it for
our campus, which is very important as we address the deferred maintenance on this campus and
continue on with our master plan.
The next major focus on us is this campaign in which we are engaged. It is in the quiet
phase. In this quiet phase this year we are trying to raise $45 million, and we are making a lot of
progress. We will have a major donor announcement on Wednesday. We will also have a major
dinner and meeting on this campus on Thursday, at which time close to 700 volunteers are
meeting for a dinner, and listening also during the afternoon to a presentation that is being made
by Mr. Steve Forbes from Forbes magazine about philanthropy, giving, obligation, and all those
good things.
There is a heavy agenda for me to solicit all donors above $1 million. There is a long list.
If I solicit one a day, I wouldn't be through for at least over a year, and they are continuing to
grow that list. So there are good feelings about what is happening so far. You've probably read
that when the trustees met in Greenville with the members of the Board of Education Foundation
and the Development Foundation, at that luncheon Mr. and Mrs. James Pearce announced a
$1 million cash gift to institute five additional Carolina scholarships, fully endowed. We would
like to have lots of gifts like that. That has set an example for South Carolinians, and I hope that
that kind of a gift will be coming from many more donors.
On the way out, I hope that you will get a copy of the President's Annual Report. This is
a report about your research. It highlights faculty research the kind of research projects that we
are involved in. I appreciate the cooperation of the 28 profiled faculty, who helped us create a
profile of what is best regarding research at this University. This does not mean that the rest of
you were not worthy of the same kind of coverage, but I think it exemplifies really what sets us
apart from all the other institutions in the state. And certainly what is necessary to make us in
the future worthy members of the Association of American Universities. So I want to thank you
for that.
That is sort of the end of my report. We have some wonderful awards to give today, and
I want to call on my distinguished new provost who is doing an outstanding job (his birthday was
yesterday by the way) to make the awards. Thank you. Jerry.
IV. Report of the Provost.
PROVOST JEROME D. ODOM:
Thank you very much, President Palms. Before I start giving out awards, naming some
people, let me just tell you that this is very meaningful thing for me. Because I know personally
most everybody that is getting an award today. I know most of the emeritus faculty. I think it
speaks volumes about this University: the quality of the people that have been on the faculty
here over a number of years and the people that are getting awards today. So, I am pleased to be
able to take part in this ceremony from this side of the lecturn. The professor emeriti are listed
on the back of your program. We contacted the individual and asked them if at all possible to be
here today. Some, of course, could not be here for a number of reasons. But there are a number
of people who will be here, and I would like to call their names and have them come up on the
stage and receive their certificates at this time.
Allen D. Bushong - Geography
David Claybrook - Biological Sciences
Gene Ferguson - Music
R. B. Hilborn, Jr. - Engineering
Gunther J. Holst - Germanic, Slavic and Oriental Languages
J. O'Neal Humphries - Medicine
William P. Kremel - Government & International Studies
John J. O'Neil - Art
Kathryn Green Pearson - Nursing
James B. Radziminski - Engineering
William S. Rawson - Business Administration
V. Awards.
PALMS - Jennifer Jolly is going to give the award for the National Honor Society Golden Key,
right?
JENNIFER JOLLY:
Each year the Golden Key National Honors Society recognizes a faculty member who has
distinguished himself effectively combining on going research with undergraduate instruction.
The Golden Key Faculty Award for Creative Integration of Research and Undergraduate
Teaching honors faculty who actively engage students in scholarly research. This year's recipient
greatly impressed the committee with his genuine interest in the lives of the undergraduate
involved in his research. He feels it is very important undergraduates not only be doing the dirty
work in the lab but that they actually form hypothesis and answer they questions through their
research. He has co-authored several publications with his undergraduates. He is an Associate
Professor in the College of Science and Mathematics and he received his degree from the State
University of New York at Stonybrook in the field of ecology and evolution. The Golden Key
Honor Society is proud to recognize Dr. Thomas J. Hilbish as the recipient of the 1997 Faculty
Award for Creative Integration of Research and Undergraduate Teaching.
PROVOST ODOM:
I would like to announce the Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty Advisory. Would
Professor Thomas P. Cafferty from Psychology come forward. Professor Cafferty, an Associate
Professor in the Department of Psychology, he was the Director of the Undergradate Program
from 1991 to 1995. During which time he was instrumental in setting up new advising
procedures in that department. He served as a faculty academic advisor in the Honor's College
from 1991 until 1993, advising all honor students majoring in Business, Social Sciences, and
Marine Science. This has given him a broad perspective on advising issues across the
University. Also from 1991 until 1993 he chaired an Ad Hoc Committee on Advising in the
College of Liberal Arts, exploring means of improving advising in that college. When not
advising Professor Cafferty teaches Social Psychology on the Graduate and Undergraduate level.
Congratulations.
PRESIDENT PALMS:
It is now my pleasure to announce the Outstanding Freshman Advocate award. Each year
the Outstanding Freshman Advocate Award recognizes a member of the University community
who has enhanced significantly the academic professional and personal lives of freshmen. A real
challenge today. It goes to an individual who has gone beyond his or her duties to help freshmen
succeed. The recipient this year is Professor G. James Burns. Jim will you come forward. Jim
is director of USC's Provisional Year Program and an English instructor. Throughout his 17
years at the University, Jim has been an advocate, advisor, and allies to students beginning their
education at Carolina. He is motivated by the desire to see them succeed and instills in them
their own desire to succeed. His mentoring style matches no nonsense expectations with strong
encouragement and guidance. Julie Johns an Honor College student and last year's winner of the
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, had this to say of Jim: "He made me feel like I had the ability
to do anything and never let me get away with anything but my best. He never lets you sell
yourself short or take credit when it is not due. As a teacher he builds minds, as an advocate and
mentor he builds character." Jim's commitment to students is particularly evident in his fine
work with the Provisional Year Program, but that commitment does not fade when they leave the
program. Jim stays in touch with them throughout their time at Carolina. It is a strong indication
of his positive affect on students that they continue to stay in touch with him and visit him after
they graduate even. On behalf of the students whose freshman year Jim has made better and
whose futures have become brighter because of his work, it gives me great pleasure to present the
Outstanding Freshman Advocate Award to G. James Burns.
PROVOST ODOM:
The Russell Research Award for Humanities and Social Sciences is being awarded today
to David E. Willer from Sociology. David, would you come forward please. David is a
professor of Sociology and Director of the Carolina Laboratory for Sociological Research. He is
a fellow of the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences and recipient of a
National Foundation Faculty Fellowship as well as an Exxon Mid-Career Faculty Fellowship.
He is associated with the Netherlands Inter-university Center for Social Science Theory and
Methodology where he was a visiting scholar in 1996 at Grunigan. His study was supported by a
visitor?s grant from the Netherlands Science Foundation. Currently, he is a member of the panel
for the Sociology program at the National Science Foundation. At USC he was a participant at
the First Research Planning Retreat and has served on diverse University-Columbia and
departmental committees. David told me, when I asked him to come to my office, that he was an
undergraduate Physics major. His most recent work uses elementary theory jointly with status
characteristics to find relations between power and influence. Since coming to the University 9
years ago, he has received seven National Science Foundation Grants supporting his research.
Also when David came to my office, he asked, can I use this money for anything that I want to.
I didn't really want to commit myself on that, but I said, "I think so, David." Right away he told
me he was donating this to the South Carolina Honors College. So congratulations David.
The recipient of this year's Russell Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
goes to Dr. James M. Tour of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Jim, would you come forward
please. Jim Tour's research speciality is in Organic and Materials Chemistry. In just eight years
at the University, Jim has published over 85 papers in Chemistry's most respected journals. He
has built the largest research group in the department. He has 14 graduate students and 3 post-
doctoral associates. His research is funded by a broad array of agencies including the National
Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Energy, and the Federal
Aviation Administration. His success in making molecular wires is recognized as the number
one achievement in Nanow Electronics. One of the most exciting cutting edge areas of research
dealing with the electronics is the ultra small regime. His work in this area has inspired research
and development around the world. Jim is the recipient of numerous research awards including
the prestigious NSF Presidental Young Investigator Award and the Exxon Educational
Foundation Research and Training Award in 1994. At a personal here is that I was Chair of
Chemistry when Jim was hired, so I feel a little responsible for Jim being here today.
Congratulations, Jim.
The recipient of the USC Educational Foundation Award for Health Sciences is Thomas
K. Borg from Medicine. Tom Borg has actively promoted cardiovascular research in the State of
South Carolina. Through participation in the South Carolina Heart Association he has served as
campaign chair, a member of the Research Awareness Committee, chaired the Peer Review
Committee, and recently was elected to the Board of Trustees. He has received the research
award from the South Carolina Affiliate of the American Heart Association and was recently
awarded a Senior Research Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health for studies in
molecular biology. Dr. Borg also received in 1989 the USC Educational Foundation Research
Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. If there ever was a person who could double
dip, Tom is the person. I said that because Tom recently spent a sabbatical in the Department of
Biological Sciences working with Frank Berger and has been a great supporter of molecular
biology all over this campus.
The recipient for the USC Educational Foundation Award for Humanities and Social
Sciences is Dr. Thomas J. Rice of the Department of English. Dr. Rice was not able to be with
us today. Dr. Rice has published on the canonical authors and works of 19th and 20th century
British literature, concentrating in his eight books and nearly 100 essays, articles, chapters,
conference papers, and public lectures on the English novel and its pre-eminent authors, Charles
Dickens, James Joyce, D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Wolfe, and Iris Murdock. Tom is unable to be
here today to receive this award personally because he is currently lecturing at the invitation of
Russian Academy of Science at a number of universities in Russia. Professor Rice requested that
I thank both the University of South Carolina and its support of innovative research. The rumor
is that he is lecturing on chaos theory in Russia.
The recipient of the USC Educational Foundation Award for Professional Schools is Dr.
Daniel C. Feldman from Business Administration. Dan Feldman is judged to be one of the top
three empirical researchers in the field of Career Management in the country. He operates by
identifying topics that are of critical importance but that are not understood or adequately
developed within the field. He then pioneers the theoretical development for understanding the
phenomenon and follows this development with empirical assessments. The result is that there
are substantial number of theories, concepts, and models within management for which Dan
Feldman's work is foundational. Since 1989, when he joined the University family, his research
has focused on layoffs and the aftermath of downsizing. That work culminated in the publication
of book with the title "Coping With Job Loss,": How individuals, organizations and
communities respond to layoffs. This book was named one of the four outstanding books in all
fields of management by the Academy of Management in 1992. Congratulations, Dan.
The USC Educational Foundation Award for Science, Mathematics and Engineering this
year goes to Dr. Robert C. Thunell of Geological Sciences. Bob Thunell has published over 90
papers in top flight national and international journals dealing with the multi-disciplinary field of
paleo-oceanography. Over the last two decades Bob has been a leader in this demanding area of
research. One of the newest in oceanography. This field strives to understand how the earth and
its integreted biological and physical environments respond to global climate change. He and his
students have pioneered the study of linking modern oceanographic processes with the record in
deep sea marine environment sediments. Deciphering this record requires imagination,
creativity, and perseverance. Bob's work spans the world from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf
of Mexico to the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. It also extends back in time from the
last 100 years to the last 100 million years. I would also like to say that Bob has served as Chair
of the Department of Geological Sciences for several years. He embodies the characteristics of
what we all look for: a good teacher, a good researcher, and a good administrator.
Congratulations, Bob.
The USC Educational Foundation Oustanding Service Award goes this year to Augustus
Rodgers in the College of Social Work. Gus Rodgers has been a member of the faculty of the
College of Social Work since 1971. In these years he has established an exempliary record of
service within the University and outside within the community. He has been a member of
virtually every major committee in his college. He has served on numerous committees
university wide and he has been actively involved in community and civic affairs since 1964. He
has served as President of the Black Faculty and Professional Staff Association, and as director
of the National Black Family Summit. He has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the
United Way of the Midlands, and he has served on the Board been elected vice-chairman and,
then chairman of the South Carolina Interfaith Community Service Agency. Gus Rodgers
outstanding service was also recognized in 1996 when Governor David Beasley presented him
the Order of the Palmetto.
There are four recipients this year of the Michael J. Mungo Teaching Undergraduate
Teaching Awards. Would the following please come forward: John K. Adams from Music,
Ronald R. Atkinson from History, Chaden Djalali from Phsyics and Astronomy, and Walter H.
Peters, III from Engineering.
John Adams is a graduate of Yale University and a member of the faculty of the School
of Music since 1964 teaching piano performance and piano literature. He has given debut
recitals in New York, London, and Amsterdam, and, performed concert tours in 16 foreign
countries. He is the creator of piano portraits a multi-media presenatation on the lives of great
pianists. Professor Adams students have received wide recognition at home and abroad
including 20 winners of the USC concerto aria competition since 1964. Congratulations, John.
Ron Atkinson began teaching African History at the University in 1984. He received his
PhD from Northwestern University, and he brings to the classroom the experience of having
lived and work in and written about east, west, and South Africa. He has most recently spent the
majority of time from 1989 to 1994 working in black education in South Africa in a project
supported by some 70 funders including a 1.7 million grant from the USC Agency for
International Development. Ron has also won the prestigious Amoco Award on our campus and
is widely recognized around the campus for his excellent teaching. Congratulations, Ron.
Chaden Djalali received his PhD from the University of Paris in 1981 and joined the
faculty at the University in 1989 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and
Astronomy. He has been teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He has been
heavily involved in improving our large physics undergraduate courses the introductory courses
and how they are taught. Since joining the University he has successfully carried his research in
experimental Nuclear Physics. And, I should tell you that Chaden and I have had many long
discussions about teaching and he is sincerely devoted to making undergraduate physics
understandable to all students. He works very hard at that. Congratulations, Chaden.
Wally Peters has been a faculty member in the College of Engineering at the University
since 1980. He has challenged his students to learn to be learners. He first started teaching at
Auburn University in 1970. He has tricked many students into learning concurrent engineering
design and systems analysis when they were given the responsibility of cooking the pig at the
Biannual Wally World Pig Picking. Congratulations, Wally.
Congratulations to all of these individuals.
The last award is considered the highest award on our campus. It is the Amoco
Outstanding Teaching Award. This award again is one that means so much to faculty because of
the large involvement of undergraduate students in the selection of the award. As most of you
may know, nominations are received but then a very elaborate procedure occurs where faculty
and students visit an individual?s classes, talk to other faculty colleagues. The recipient of this
award this year is an oustanding teacher, and outstanding advisor, and an outstanding person.
Would Richard M. Showman from Biological Sciences come forward? Rich Showman has
distinguished himself in both undergraduate and graduate education. He has been very active as
a teacher, an advisor in the South Carolina Honors College. He has taught both beginning and
advanced courses and is consistently regarded by the students as among the very best professors
they have encountered at this University. Rich has received numerous awards that recognize his
excellence in teaching and advisement, including the South Carolina College Teacher of the Year
in Science in 1987, the Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award in 1988, the Michael J.
Mungo Teaching Award in 1996, the South Carolina Honors College Distinguished Honors
Teachers Award in 1996, and the College of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Advisor of
theYear Award in 1996. Rich has also received numerous citations by the Division of Student
Affairs for influence on undergraduates. Rich is also the Assistant Chair of the Department of
Biological Sciences and does an excellent job of supporting the chair in that department.
Congratulations, Rich.
PRESIDENT PALMS - Let us give one more round of applause to all our recipients. I have not
been notified of any committee reports.
VI. Committee Reports.
None.
VII. Old Business.
None.
VIII. New Business.
PROFESSOR JERRY DOCKERY (Lifelong Learning) - Dr. Palms, I have a resolution in
support of the Frances Marion University faculty would that come under Annoucements?
PRESIDENT PALMS - No, that would be under New Business, and if you will identify yourself,
you can make your proposal now.
PROFESSOR JERRY DOCKERY (Lifelong Learning) - I passed around some of the
background for this resolution there weren't enough copies for everyone. Some of you may have
read in The State newspaper this past Saturday morning that the President of Francis Marion
University abolished the Faculty Senate, abolished all faculty committees, and dismissed the
Chair of the Faculty of Francis Marion University. This resolution is then a response to that:
Whereas, shared governance is a cornerstone of sound academic practice, and
Whereas the President and Board of Trustees of Francis Marion University have
eliminated shared governnace at Francis Marion University,
Be it Resolved that; The Faculty of the University of South Carolina support the Faculty
of Francis Marion University in their efforts to restore shared governance to their institution and
call on the Council of College Presidents, the Commission on Higher Education, the Governor of
the State of South Carolina, and the State Legislature to offer their efforts in an attempt to resolve
this crisis before it results in further damage to Francis Marion University and to the State of
South Carolina.
PRESIDENT PALMS - Are you making this in the form of a motion?
PROFESSOR DOCKERY - Yes sir.
PRESIDENT PALMS - This is in order. Is there a second to this motion? Motion has been
seconded.. It is open for discussion. Any discussion regarding this motion? Are you ready to
vote? All those in favor of this motion signify by saying aye. Opposed same no. Let the record
show the vote is unanimous in favors of this motion.. Thank you.
IX. Good of the Order.
PROFESSOR JOHN SAFKO (Physics & Astronomy) - I am, of course, speaking like a preacher
does in church. I am very concerned with the attendance at this meeting. If we take out the
award winners, the emeritis faculty, it would be pretty lonesome in this room to a stranger. I
really feel that the faculty needs to pay more concern. There very important votes to pass
unanimously but without discussion but other things could have happened at this meeting that
might upset members of faculty but they weren't present. I just want to say that for the Good of
the Order.
PRESIDENT PALMS - Any additional statements? You are welcome to some refreshments
after meeting.
X. Announcements.
None.
XI. Adjournment.
PRESIDENT PALMS - Do I hear a motion to adjourn the meeting? All in favor aye. So have
it. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Thank you very much.
9
This page updated 20 August 1997 by the Office of the Faculty Senate,
and copyright 1997, The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.
URL http://www.sc.edu/faculty/general/old/apr97.html