Minutes of the General Faculty Council meeting - October 11, 2005
	Present were: Jean L. Collier, chair, Ellie Wilson, Lynda White (for Lotta Löfgren), Bill Keene, Ed Murphy (for John Wilson) Mark Ross, Gary Davis, Dawn Rigney, Robin Kuzen, Pam MacIntire, Carol Hunter, Phil Gates, Virginia Carter, Derry Wade, Prue Thorner.
1.	Chair’s Report: GFC brochures have been sent out to deans and department chairs. It will also go to the University News Office, and top administrators. Houston Wood, chair of the Faculty Senate, will be speaker at the November meeting and Gene Block will speak at the December meeting, so we will want to put together issues for discussion. Rules about contract renewal, the two policies we are supporting on benefits for general faculty and staff whose grant support has lapsed should be on the list, as should the need for clearly articulated criteria for promotion and retention.  Bill Harvey, the VP for Diversity will be meeting with Jean shortly. It was agreed that it would be a good idea to invite him to address the Council with the Equal Opportunity Officer in March or April. Jean will expect committee chairs to give reports on their committee’s activities at future meetings.
2.	Resolutions: Bill Keene reported that the next step will be to take the two resolutions on benefits for faculty and staff whose external funding has lapsed to Gene Block prior to the December meeting and he and Prue will work on this. Bill is also asking Houston Wood to bring the two resolutions to the Faculty Senate for their resolution of support.
3.	Carol Hunter reported on the Benefits Committee on which she serves. The issue of affordable housing has been considered by the BOV and the benefits committee acknowledges that affordable housing is a problem for faculty and staff. The University used to negotiate a reduced interest rate on mortgages with a local bank. Salaries are low and this makes it more difficult for newcomers to buy a house.  We could survey peer institutions to find out what they are doing, in collaboration with Employee Councils and the Faculty Senate. Bill will take this to the Faculty Senate to see if we can get their cooperation on this.
4.	Sustained Dialogue: Derry reported that some people in the School of Architecture may be interested in being moderators for this program which aims to improve inter-racial tolerance.
5.	Post-Katrina disaster symposium – no further action will be taken on this idea.
6.	No news is available on the new General Faculty Policy. This should be on the agenda when we meet with Gene Block.
	The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at noon in Newcomb Hall Room 481