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The Faculty Executive Committee has produced a report about issues relating to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s reviews of courses in the African and Afro-American studies department and independent studies.

The Faculty Executive Committee has produced a report about issues relating to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s reviews of courses in the African and Afro-American studies department and independent studies. (The report is posted at http://faccoun.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20120726ReportFECSub_9_FINAL.pdf.
With Chancellor Holden Thorp’s encouragement, Faculty Chair Jan Boxill appointed the subcommittee in mid-May to examine and make recommendations about the reviews. Members were Steven Bachenheimer, professor of microbiology and immunology, School of Medicine; Michael Gerhardt, Samuel Ashe Distinguished Professor, School of Law; and Laurie Maffly-Kipp, professor and chair, department of religious studies, College of Arts and Sciences.
In addition to examining the University’s reviews, their charge included identifying questions or gaps in knowledge about events, systems, practices or structures that contributed to the academic issues in the department. The panel also recommended several next steps.
The report has been accepted by the Faculty Executive Committee, also chaired by Boxill, and will be shared with the Faculty Council for discussion this fall. Boxill briefed the Academic Affairs Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees about the report on Wednesday as part of her regular update.
Statements from Faculty Chair Jan Boxill:
“We are confident that the University administration is committed to addressing these issues, and we make these recommendations in the spirit of helping to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
“The purpose of this report was not to find fault with, or criticize, any of the officials who have investigated the academic misconduct that has troubled this campus for more than a year. We wanted to focus attention on issues that we believe still confront the University pertaining to the complicated relationship between our commitments to excellence in our athletic programs and our standing as one of the nation's premier academic institutions.
“No doubt, grappling with these issues will not be easy. But we believe that the University should give consideration to best practices at peer institutions addressing similar issues and, based on that analysis, devise steps to fulfill the University’s commitments in athletics and to protect its academic mission.”
Boxill also is director of the Parr Center for Ethics and senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy.
Statement from Chancellor Holden Thorp:
“I am grateful for the faculty’s involvement in examining our review of the academic issues in the Department of African and Afro-American Studies. I look forward to discussing the report’s recommendations with Faculty Executive Committee members, determining next steps and creating an action plan. I’m especially supportive of the recommendation that I appoint outside experts to help us examine the relationship between academics and athletics as we move forward. It will complement the other inquiries and activities in progress.”
Background:
 
go.unc.edu/Zb39D (departmental course review, independent study task force report, May 5)
 
http://www.unc.edu/chan/chancellors/thorp_holden/120720-afam-update.php (Chancellor Thorp’s message to faculty, July 20)
Contacts:  Mike McFarland, Karen Moon, News Services, 919-962-2091
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