A Finding Aid for the Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC) Records 1954-1987

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC) Records

Creator: Ferris State University. Representative Faculty Advisory Council.

Dates: 1954-1987

Abstract: The Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC) served as a representative faculty organization to advise the president. The records consist of administrative records such as correspondence, election materials, minutes and reports. There are also subject files on topics addressed by the council. The Council was replaced by the Academic Senate in 1987.

Language: English

Quantity: 12.0 cubic feet; 8 record center boxes

Identification: UA 31.1.1

Repository: Ferris State University Archives and Records Management Program

Historical Note

In 1956, when Ferris Institute first applied for accreditation from the North Central Association, one of the deficiencies noted was the lack of a faculty advisory board. President Victor Spathelf subsequently appointed faculty member Fridolf Johnson to serve as the chair of the Representative Faculty Advisory Committee, which met intermittently both to advise him to draft the constitution for the new faculty organization.

The constitution was written and ratified. The newly formed Representative Faculty Advisory Council (the name was slightly changed) first met on June 9, 1959. The Council regularly met on the first Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m - noon. Deans were asked to excuse members from any teaching responsibilities during that time period. Each division had two representatives. Additionally, there were at-large members and representatives from the administration and college service staff. Terms were for two years (except for a few initial one year appointments to set up staggered terms) and elections were to be held in the spring.

Fridolf Johnson, the head of the committee who wrote the initial charter, was unanimously elected as the first chair. Members of the initial council included: President Victor Spathelf, ex-officio (Administration), John R. Smith (Administration), Ardwin J. Dolio (Administration), Robert Hudson (College Service Staff), Charles Crawford (College Service Staff), Norman Peterson (Collegiate Technical Division), David McMullen (Collegiate Technical Division), James Tyree (Commerce Division), Milton Kelly (Commerce Division), Andrew Lindblom (General Education Division), Cooper Milner (General Education Division), Steve Bordano (Special Education Division), Guy Lagroe (Special Education Division), Karlis Kazerovskis (Pharmacy), Norris Dunham (Pharmacy), Sam Peticolas (Trades and Industrial Division), Walter Alley (Trades and Industrial Division), Fridolf Johnson (At-large), John Johnson (At-large), Ralph Smith (At-large), Shirley Young (At-large) and William Wolfinger (At- large). The council set out to create procedures and an agenda for action.

Spathelf noted in an address to the council on May 3, 1960 that the Council's functions included the appraisal, review and recommendation relative to problems presented to the body. Such problems could come from either faculty or the administration. In the earliest years some of the major topics included academic dishonesty, a faculty handbook, medical insurance coverage, parking and tenure procedures.

The RFAC had a number of standing committees during its existence, and designated seats on other campus wide committee. Additionally, there were task forces to address specific issues that were specific to a certain time period. After the formation of the union in 1972, some issues were removed from the scope of the Council.

When the Academic Senate was ratified by the Board of Control in May 1986, both the RFAC and the Educational Planning Committee ceased to exist as separate elective boards. The functions were assumed by the new Academic Senate.

Chairs of the Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC)

Year	Chair
1959-1960	Fridolf Johnson
1960-1961	Milton J. Kelly
1961-1962	Leroy D. Beltz
1962-1963	Sam Peticolas
1963-1964	Guy Lagroe
1964-1965	John R. Schauble
1965-1966	Richard K. Cronk
1966-1967	Raymond Ebmeier
1967-1968	Keith Fuller
1968-1970	Leland H. Smith
1970-1971	Robert Kosanovich
1971-1972	Herbert L. Carson
1973-1974	Stephen H. Wales, Sr.
1974-1976	Glendon L. Hynes
1976-1977	Patricia A. O'Brien
1977-1979	Gale H. Shoemaker
1979-1980	James A. Knox (died in office) and George G. Janzen
1980-1981	George G. Janzen
1981-1984	Glendon L. Hynes
1984-1985	William A. Lackey
1985-1986	Fred Parent
1986-1987	Bruce Beetley

Scope and Content Note

The Representative Faculty Advisory Council (commonly called RFAC) served as a faculty voice on a number of college issues from the mundane (parking) to the academic (policies on class withdrawals or transfer credits). Issues discussed both directed impacted faculty working conditions, such as rank and tenure, but also those which affected their ability to instruct such as student disciplinary policies or tuition policies.

Much of the work of the RFAC was sent off to committees, and then brought back to the committee as a whole for discussion and voting purposes. These records do not contain the individual work of the various committee. However, there are references to the activities of committees consistently within the minutes, newsletters and chairman's reports. Additionally, in the administrative records which list by year the committees of the university and their members (some of which are RFAC based and some which were administrative driven.

Within the first series, one finds the typical governance records. There is a complete set of minutes and agendas for meetings between 1960-1986. Some earlier minutes are also included. There is also an extensive correspondence file as kept by the individual chairmen. It is divided into incoming and outgoing correspondence. Under different chairman, different forums were used to communicate with the other faculty- the Chairman's Reports, the Intra-Council Memo and the News Bulletin. Each are filed separately within the series. During the early sixties, in order to get on the agenda, items had to be formally proposed to an agenda committee and copies of most proposals are found in the Agenda Items for Consideration file. This provides a window into important issues for that period. Two other major topics within this series are the election records and the charter revision records. The charter revisions include minor wording and the eventual creation/passing of the charter which dissolved the RFAC to create a true faculty senate.

Within the subject files, one finds topics that may be specific to a time period (such as the canceling of the Academic Honors Banquet) or a recurring issue (such as grievance procedures). There are a number of files relating to the faculty handbook (with issues produced between 1967-1987), which was sponsored by the council. Additionally, there are files which are related to outside events, either on a state or national level which the RFAC considered relevant. There are two files relating to RFAC representation on presidential search committees for 1970 and 1986.

Arrangement

The papers are divided into a two series.

• Series 1. Administrative Records.
• Series 2. Subject Records.

Access Information

Conditions of Access

The Representative Faculty Advisory Council Records are open for research to all users in accordance with University Archives and Records Management access policies. It is available in the reading room of the Ferris State University Archives.

Conditions of Use

Requests for permission to publish material should be directed to the University Archivist. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to Ferris State University. For more information, contact the University Archivist.

Subject Headings

Below are a list of names, organizations and subjects relating to the collection. Names have been taken from Library of Congress Authority headings whenever possible.

• Ferris Institute (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Representative Faculty Advisory Committee
• Ferris Institute (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1959-1963
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Representative Faculty Advisory Council
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Administration- 1959-1986
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)-Faculty-1959-1986
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)-Faculty- Societies- 1959-1986
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1963-1986

Related Materials

Educational Planning Committee Records. (UA 32.2.1)

Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should use the following format:
[Item], Folder, Box. Representative Faculty Advisory Council Records. Ferris State University Archives. Big Rapids, Michigan.

Provenance (Acquisition Information)

These records were donated in several segments by various individuals. The official office files were transferred over from Johnson Hall after the creation of the Academic Senate in 1987. Individuals who donated additional records include: Adnan Dakkuri (2004), Glendon Hynes (April 1991), Sam Peticolas (unknown date), John Schauble (unknown date) and Harry Swartz (September 1996).

Processing Information

The Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC) Records were processed to the folder level by Melinda McMartin Isler in April 2006. A finding aid was prepared in a word processing format and converted to EAD 1.0. A collection level MARC-21 record was prepared and placed in the library online public access catalog. Description based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2004).

Separated Materials

Duplicate university publications such as the FYI, catalogs and copies of board packets were compared against the appropriate collections and removed. Other materials including union materials and the Association for Michigan Collegiate Faculties, were separated into their own collections. Committee records were also removed to be processed as separate collections.

Technical Requirements

This collection consists of typed and handwritten papers. There is no specialized software required for viewing.

Content Listing

Series 1. Administrative Records. 1954-1987.

In this series are the typical governance records including rosters, charters, correspondence, election materials, minutes, newsletters and reports. Of particular interest is the series of folders relating to the charter revisions which eventually led to the creation of the Academic Senate.

These records are arranged alphabetically by subject title. Within titles, files are arranged chronologically.

Box	Folder	Contents
1	1	Agendas. 1959-December 1963.
1	2	Agendas. January 1964-December 1970.
1	3	Agendas. January 1971-December 1974.
1	4	Agendas. January 1975-December 1980.
1	5	Agendas. January 1981-September 1984.
1	6	Agenda Items for Consideration. 1961-1982.
1	7	Annual reports. 1979-1970.
1	8	Board of Trustees. Correspondence. 1975-1986.
1	9	Budgets. Correspondence. 1971-1986.
1	10	Budgets. Reports; worksheets. 1962-1986.
1	11	Bylaws. Undated.
1	12	Certificates of recognition. 1972-1986.
1	13	Chairman guidelines. 1973-1984.
1	14	Chairman. List. 1969-1986.
1	15	Chairman's Notebook. 1959-1963. Folder 1.
1	16	Chairman's Notebook. 1959-1963. Folder 2.
1	17	Chairman's Notebook. 1959-1963. Folder 3.
1	18	Chairman's Notebook. 1959-1963. Folder 4.
1	19	Chairman's Notebook. 1963-1964.
1	20	Chairman's Notebook. 1964-1965.
1	21	Chairman's report. October 1959-December 1972.
1	22	Chairman's report. January 1973-October 1982.
1	23	Charter; revisions. October 1958-December 1969.
1	24	Charter; revisions. January 1970-June 1972.
1	25	Charter; revisions. July 1973-November 1973.
1	26	Charter; revisions. December 1973-December 1976.
1	27	Charter; revisions. January 1977-December 1980.
1	28	Charter (Academic Senate). 1980-1984. Folder 1.
1	29	Charter (Academic Senate). 1980-1984. Folder 2.
1	30	Charter (Academic Senate). 1980-1984. Folder 3.

Box	Folder	Contents
2	1	Charter (Academic Senate). 1980-1984. Folder 4.
2	2	Charter (Academic Senate). Election ballots. May 1983.
2	3	Charter. Faculty survey. 1982. Folder 1.
2	4	Charter. Faculty survey. 1982. Folder 2.
2	5	Colladay, Carol. 1984; undated.
2	6	Committee assignments. 1960-1986.
2	7	Coordinator reports. 1963-1986.
2	8	Correspondence, incoming. 1962-1970.
2	9	Correspondence, incoming. 1970-1971.
2	10	Correspondence, incoming. 1971-1972.
2	11	Correspondence, incoming. 1972-1973.
2	12	Correspondence, incoming. 1973-1974.
2	13	Correspondence, incoming. 1974-1975.
2	14	Correspondence, incoming. 1975-1976.
2	15	Correspondence, incoming. 1976-1977.
2	16	Correspondence, incoming. 1977-1978.
2	17	Correspondence, incoming. 1978-1979.
2	18	Correspondence, incoming. 1979-1980.
2	19	Correspondence, incoming. 1980-1981.
2	20	Correspondence, incoming. 1981-1982.
2	21	Correspondence, incoming. 1982-1983.
2	22	Correspondence, incoming. 1983-1984.
2	23	Correspondence, incoming. 1984-1985.
2	24	Correspondence, incoming. 1985-1986.
2	25	Correspondence, outgoing. 1962-1970.
2	26	Correspondence, outgoing. 1971-1972.
2	27	Correspondence, outgoing. 1972-1973.
2	28	Correspondence, outgoing. 1973-1974.
2	29	Correspondence, outgoing. 1974-1975.
2	30	Correspondence, outgoing. 1975-1976.
2	31	Correspondence, outgoing. 1976-1977.

Box	Folder	Contents
3	1	Correspondence, outgoing. 1977-1978.
3	2	Correspondence, outgoing. 1978-1979.
3	3	Correspondence, outgoing. 1979-1980.
3	4	Correspondence, outgoing. 1980-1981.
3	5	Correspondence, outgoing. 1981-1982.
3	6	Correspondence, outgoing. 1982-1983.
3	7	Correspondence, outgoing. 1983-1984.
3	8	Correspondence, outgoing. 1984-1985.
3	9	Correspondence, outgoing. 1985-1986.
3	10	Correspondence, outgoing. 1986-1987.
3	11	Correspondence. Spathelf, Victor. 1965-1967.
3	12	Correspondence. Spathelf, Victor. 1967-1972.
3	13	Correspondence. Wenrich, William. 1984-1985.
3	14	Elections. Apportionment Committee  1972-1986.
3	15	Elections. Correspondence. 1963-1986.
3	16	Elections. Forms. Undated.
3	17	Elections. 1959.
3	18	Elections. 1960.
3	19	Elections. 1961.
3	20	Elections. 1962.
3	21	Elections. 1963.
3	22	Elections. 1964.
3	23	Elections. 1965.
3	24	Elections. 1966.
3	25	Elections. 1967.
3	26	Elections. 1968.
3	27	Elections. 1969.
3	28	Elections. 1970.
3	29	Elections. 1971.
3	30	Elections. 1972.
3	31	Elections. 1973.
3	32	Elections. 1974.

Box	Folder	Contents
4	1	Elections. 1975.
4	2	Elections. 1976.
4	3	Elections. 1977.
4	4	Elections. 1978.
4	5	Elections. 1979.
4	6	Elections. 1980.
4	7	Elections. 1981.
4	8	Elections. 1982.
4	9	Elections. 1983.
4	10	Elections. 1984.
4	11	Elections. 1985.
4	12	Elections. 1986.
4	13	Faculty club ( organization ). 1953-1959.
4	14	Faculty concerns. Correspondence to the President. January 1979-April 1984.
4	15	Ferris Torch. 1977; undated.
4	16	History. Undated.
4	17	Intra-Council Memos. Parent, Fred. 1985-1986.
4	18	Mailing lists. 1969-1984; undated.
4	19	Membership rosters. 1959-1986.
4	20	Minutes. March 1958-December 1961.
4	21	Minutes. January 1962-December 1963.
4	22	Minutes. January 1964-April 1965.
4	23	Minutes. April 1965-December 1966.
4	24	Minutes. January 1967-December 1970.
4	25	Minutes. January 1971-April 1972.
4	26	Minutes. May 1972-March 1973.
4	27	Minutes. April 1973-April 1974.
4	28	Minutes. May 1974-December 1975.
4	29	Minutes. January 1976-July 1978.

Box	Folder	Contents
5	1	Minutes. August 1978-December 1980.
5	2	Minutes. January 1981-December 1982.
5	3	Minutes. January 1983-December 1984.
5	4	Minutes. January 1985-December 1985.
5	5	Minutes. January 1986-November 1986.
5	6	Minutes. Cross file index. 1980-1984. A-D.
5	7	Minutes. Cross index file. 1980-1984. E-Q.
5	8	Minutes. Cross index file. 1980-1984. R-T.
5	9	News Bulletin. Publication. September 1962-December 1967.
5	10	News Bulletin. Publication. January 1968-December 1970.
5	11	News Bulletin. Publication. January 1971-December 1973.
5	12	News Bulletin. Publication. January 1974-December 1976.
5	13	News Bulletin. Publication. January 1977-December 1979.
5	14	News Bulletin. Publication. January 1980-December 1983.
5	15	News Bulletin. Publication . January 1984-November 1986.
5	16	Newsclippings. Undated.
5	17	Officers list. 1959-1960.
5	18	Policies list. 1982.
5	19	Procedures. 1960-1979; undated.
5	20	Reports. 1962-1964; undated.
5	21	RFAC Handbook. 1961.
5	22	RFAC Manual. 1967.
5	23	Stationary. Undated.
5	24	Senate Charter Committee. 1982-1983.
5	25	Oversized office sign.

Series 2. Subject Files. 1954-1986.

They contain files on topics that have come up before the entire RFAC, either from a committee report, an individual member or an outside suggestion. Topic files may include relevant meeting minutes, background materials, policies and correspondence.

This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Box	Folder	Contents
6	1	A Nation at Risk. Report. 1983.
6	2	Academic calender. 1970-1983. Folder 1.
6	3	Academic calender. 1970-1983. Folder 2.
6	4	Academic calender. Quarters vs. semesters. 1972.
6	5	Academic dishonesty. 1958-1985.
6	6	Academic honors banquet. 1983.
6	7	Academic probation policy . 1959-1975; undated.
6	8	Academic program review. 1981-1984.
6	9	Academic rank. 1973.
6	10	Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Plan. 1977-1979.
6	11	Alcoholic beverage policy. 1971-1983.
6	12	American Association of University Professors. (AAUP). 1973-1984.
6	13	Associated Student Government. 1975.
6	14	Association for Higher Education, National Education Association. National Conference on Higher Education. 1961.
6	15	Association for Higher Education, National Education Association. National Conference on Higher Education. 1962.
6	16	Association for Higher Education, National Education Association. National Conference on Higher Education. 1963.
6	17	Association for Higher Education, National Education Association. National Conference on Higher Education. 1964.
6	18	Association for Higher Education, National Education Association. National Conference on Higher Education. 1965.
6	19	Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties. 1974-1979.
6	20	Big Rapids, Michigan. City relations. 1986.
6	21	Centennial task force. 1978-1984.
6	22	Class bells and clocks. 1979.
6	23	Class withdrawal policy. 1965-1985.
6	24	Clock hour conversion policy. Undated.
6	25	College budget. 1980-1982.
6	26	College (non-Ferris) survey. 1967.
6	27	Commencement. 1971-1979.
6	28	Commission on the Future of Higher Education. 1983.
6	29	Committee on Instruction. Notes. 1970-1976.
6	30	Committee functions. Survey results. 1985.

Box	Folder	Contents
7	1	Committee structure. 1984-1986; undated.
7	2	Committee study. Undated.
7	3	Copyright; residual rights survey. 1971.
7	4	Cost savings report. Undated.
7	5	Continuing Education and Conference Center. Report. 1976-1977
7	6	Credit by examination policy. 1983.
7	7	Credit union report. 1983.
7	8	Departmental instruction lists. 1969-1970; undated.
7	9	Distinguished Teacher Award survey. 1980.
7	10	Event fees. 1975.
7	11	Examination week. 1969-1972.
7	12	Faculty club. 1971-1985.
7	13	Faculty compensation. 1967-1983.
7	14	Faculty compensation. Fringe benefits (health insurance). 1960-1979.
7	15	Faculty contract hours; workload. 1973-1979.
7	16	Faculty exchange. 1975-1976.
7	17	Faculty handbook (bound). 1971.
7	18	Faculty handbook. 1961.
7	19	Faculty handbook. 1967. Folder 1.
7	20	Faculty handbook. 1967. Folder 2.
7	21	Faculty handbook. 1971. Folder 1.
7	22	Faculty handbook. 1971. Folder 2.
7	23	Faculty handbook. 1971. Folder 3.
7	24	Faculty handbook 1976. Folder 1.
7	25	Faculty handbook. 1976. Folder 2.
7	26	Faculty handbook. Draft. 1985.
7	27	Faculty handbook. Draft. 1987.
7	28	Faculty handbook. Revisions. Undated.
7	29	Faculty meetings. 1962-1963.
7	30	Faculty rank and promotion. 1967-1977; undated.

810bHealth Education Task Force report. 1980.

Box	Folder	Contents
8	1	Faculty recruitment. 1973-1979.
8	2	Faculty wide committees. 1960.
8	3	Ferris State College's Role in Michigan's System of Higher Education.
8	4	Financial aid budget crisis. 1982.
8	5	Fourth quarter employment policy. 1962-1981; undated.
8	6	Freedom of Information Act. 1977.
8	7	Grievance policy and procedures. 1968-1973.
8	8	Grievance policy and procedures. 1973-1978.
8	9	Grievance review procedure. 1975.
8	10	Health Education Task Force. 1980.
8	10b	International education task force. 1979-1980.
8	11	Internships. 1976.
8	12	Leave of absence policy. 1962-1963.
8	13	Medical insurance. 1974.
8	14	Michigan Senate Select Committee on Higher Education. Report. April 1983.
8	15	Minority faculty recruitment. 1972-1973.
8	16	Nonreappointment procedures. 1973.
8	17	Notes. Undated.
8	18	Ombudsman. Faculty/student. 1972.
8	19	Parking. 1959-1981.
8	20	Personnel practices and procedures survey. 1969.
8	21	President. Ewigleben, Robert. Installation. 1971.
8	22	President. Wenrich, William. Performance evaluation. 1985-1986.
8	23	Presidential search committee. 1970.
8	24	Presidential search committee. 1983.
8	25	Print blocks. Undated.
8	26	Professional black employment in Michigan colleges and universities. Report. Undated.
8	27	Program planning. Undated.
8	28	Project Apollo. 1970-1971.
8	29	Proposal C. 1984.
8	30	Proposed or pending changes in curricula affecting intra-school relationships. 1976..
8	31	Questions. Undated.
8	32	Report of the Committee for the Status of Women. September 1972.
8	33	Representative Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC) tenure. 1972.
8	34	Representative governance survey. 1973.
8	35	Residual rights policy. 1967-1975.
8	36	Retirement funds (Michigan Public Employees Retirement System). 1974-1975.
8	37	Role of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. 1977.
8	38	Role statement. 1967-1983.
8	39	Sabbatical leave policy proposals. 1961-1964; undated.
8	40	Sabbatical leave policy. 1971-1978.
8	41	Safety issues. 1962-1973.
8	42	Seal. Undated.
8	43	Sick leave policy. 1958-1978.
8	44	Spathelf, Victor. Retirement reception. 1970.
8	45	Speakers policy. 1971.
8	46	Spousal employment. 1954-1971.
8	47	Starr Copy Center. 1981.
8	48	Student disciplinary policy. 1968-1983.
8	49	Student-faculty relations. 1969-1983.
8	50	Summer research grant program. 1974; undated.
8	51	Teacher evaluation. 1966-1985.
8	52	Teacher evaluation. 1966-1985.
8	53	Tenure review. 1958-1983.
8	54	Textbook policy. 1970.
8	55	Title IX. 1976.
8	56	Town-Gown. (Big Rapids, Mich.) Council meetings. 1986.
8	57	Tubercolin skin testing program. 1970.
8	58	Transfer credits. 1977.
8	59	Tuition policies. 1978.
8	60	Twelve month faculty. 1985.
8	61	University status. 1983-1985.