The Faculty Senate analyzed its options regarding the policies and procedures for annual review, re-appointment and advancement of non-tenure track faculty at a Tuesday night meeting.

The proposal would be in addition to the existing non-tenure track faculty policy.

Confusion arose two years ago when the Faculty Senate created new non-tenure track faculty positions. The policies regarding these positions did not match those of the existing adjunct positions. The Non-Tenure Track Transition Taskforce was created to work with the provost’s office to create a new policy.

“A lot of differences weren’t recognized and addressed [two years ago],” said David Hopper, chairman of the taskforce.

The new positions of lecturer, senior lecturer, clinician, and senior clinician were in conflict with the adjunct positions already in existence. Differences occurred in appointment length and renewal, annual review, responsibility, limitations of position numbers, the appointment process and position titles.

The taskforce recommended the Provost’s office and Faculty Senate adopt a single policy governing the new non-tenure track appointments and the existing non-tenure track adjunct appointments.

“It didn’t make sense to the [taskforce] to treat one set of non-tenure track faculty differently than another set,” Hopper said.

The question was raised whether existing positions would continue in their same capacity if changes were made to the existing policy.

According to current policy, “no changes to status, title and privileges of persons already holding continuous adjunct non-tenure eligible faculty positions shall be made unless requested by such a person.”

The senate will vote on the issue at next month’s meeting.

ISU Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde spoke to the senate about the athletic department’s role in the university giving statistics about student athletes and the athletic department’s revenues.

Van De Velde said 23 percent of Iowa State’s athletes are on the dean’s list, requiring a 3.5 grade point average. Forty-two percent are on the Big 12 Conference Honor Roll, which requires a 3.25 G.P.A.

The ISU athletic department’s budget is the lowest in the Big 12 although it offers 18 varsity sports, which is the Big 12 average.

“We’ve done a lot with a little [amount of money],” Van De Velde said. Challenges facing the department are tuition increases, remaining competitive with other schools, keeping up infrastructure and adhering to Title IX, he said.

Van De Velde said the biggest challenge is remaining competitive while remaining within the budget.

The Faculty Senate will meet at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at 7:30 in the Gateway Center.