The Executive Committee of Faculty Senate discussed complications raised from the shortened grading deadline for rescheduled finals in the fall 2007 semester Tuesday.

Due to security threats at NIU and the subsequent university closing, some finals scheduled for Monday were rescheduled for Friday.

Because of the rescheduling, the grades from what originally were Monday classes were due under a shorter-than-regular time line, said Earl Hansen, associate professor of technology.

Hansen brought up concerns over the teachers’ ability to give students fair grades with reduced final exam grading time.

“I don’t think we’re giving the [students] a fair chance,” he said.
The desire to have a prompt turnaround for grades to be ready before graduation is the driving force behind the short deadline, Faculty Senate President Paul Stoddard said.

The committee also discussed whether to recommend or revisit the current salary increments policy. In 2007, Faculty Senate recommended half of salary increment funding be used across the board and half used for merit raises.

If faculty members are doing their job, they should not be penalized for inflation, Stoddard said.

However, the committee who debated concerns about the raise value different aspects of performance and involvement by faculty.

Bringing in grants results in more money than being the best teacher, Hansen said.

“The reality is that research gets the lion’s share,” Stoddard said.

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