Report from Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting

January 17, 2008

1. Meeting of 17 January, 2008

Attending: Boyd, Schnell, Lawson, Rountree for Heikes, Etzkorn for Burnett, Karr, Severn, Radonovich, Williams, Gaede for Kulick, Reeves, George

1.1 Faculty Senate President’s Report

Dr. Boyd reported that Richard Fork and Carmen Scholz have agreed to attend the Research Council and serve as the liaison for the Faculty Senate and the Faculty.

Gloria Greene will send out a follow-up Survey regarding changes to OSP. Dr. Schnell will review the survey form and give comments/feedback.

Gloria Greene and Chih Loo will come to the next meeting to present the information about the new effort reporting form for faculty.

1.2 Reports from Administration

Dr. Williams reported Rick Barth, the new Assistant V. P. for Enrollment Services is on campus. Sandra Patterson, the new Director of Admissions will be on campus next week. They are charged with putting together a plan quickly to keep a high quality student body and increase enrollment and retain the students we recruit and enroll. There was some discussion regarding increasing academic quality without discriminating against those who come from underprivileged backgrounds and educations.

Dr. Williams reported the VP for Advancement search is closing in on a final candidate. We have interviewed three and will invite one back for a second interview. We have very good candidates and we will try to make sure the individual is the right fit for us at this time.

The Provost Search is underway and names have been brought forward. They look good on paper and the Committee will begin reviews and interviews this semester.

Derald Morgan in his new assignment of Special Projects for the President will work with the Chancellor to increase engineering enrollment in the College of Engineering. He will work with the Engineering Initiative in Alabama. There will be an announcement out today or tomorrow.

Progress is being made to the Intermodal Facility.

The next building for renovation is Wilson Hall and then something for Madison Hall. This is all dependent on funding. We will need these renovations more as Rick and Sandra are successful in their plans and having a new presentation for campus to tie in with the new entrance and being able to bring prospects to campus.

There was discussion regarding a Performing Arts Center.

Dr. Radonovich reported the Diversity Plan is in but he needs to meet with Mr. Rieder before it can be released and implemented.

There was some discussion regarding recruiting and the Posse Foundation and the NFL Foundation.

Dr. Radonovich reported there is a final report including the Chancellor’s Address for the Diversity Presentation at the system level that has been distributed to Deans and Directors. It was suggested this be put on the Provost website. On March 26 there will be a meeting of a small group including the Provost and President from each campus and a person who works on the diversity for the campus to discuss the details of an aggressive plan for each institution in the system.

Dr. Radonovich reported from the System Academic Offcier’s meeting that the DNP NISP was approved as the second program. This is a collaborative program with UAB and now it will go back and include Tuscaloosa. The Deans are developing the proposal now. It will be a three way joint program.

Dr. Radonovich will be giving a presentation on the issue of Community Colleges and High Schools. He would like to resurrect this issue at the Faculty Senate level.

There was some discussion regarding the waitlist and why the list is wiped clean before classes begin for each semester.

WebCT—there was some discussion regarding WebCT and some problems with it. Everyone was encouraged to work with Bobbi Jo Rissmann on any problems with WebCT.

Committee Items and Chair Reports

1.3.1 Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Sharon George).

Dr. George reported they are reviewing two proposals for new courses from HPE.

1.3.2 Personnel (Michael Anderson).

No Report. The Committee will meet and look at the Faculty Handbook.

1.3.3 Governance and Operations (Rhonda Gaede for Jeffrey Kulick).

Dr. Gaede reported the Committee will look at the follow-up survey for OSP and review the results. They will solicit officer nominations for next year.

1.3.4 Faculty and Student Development (Andrée Reeves).

The Committee will look at resources for faculty not doing as well in the area of teaching.

1.3.5 Finance and Resources (Letha Etzkorn for John Burnett).

Dr. Etzkorn reported the Committee finished the REU proposals. There were 29 proposals submitted. The Provost funded 10 and 6 were funded by the Space Grant. The Distinguished Speakers Series will be next. There was some discussion regarding funding and the criteria and feedback for the REU proposals.

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1.3.6 Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (Clarke Rountree for Deborah Heikes).

Dr. Rountree reported there are two issues for the Committee. Finishing the NC Grading bill and working on the Attendance Policy.

1.3.7 President-Elect—Kader Frendi

No Report.

1.3.8 Ombudsperson—Gerald Karr

No Report.

1.3.9 Bill 312 The Attendance Policy was presented. Two friendly amendments were made. Add “University” to line 16 and remove the “s” on regard. Dr. Gaede called the question, seconded by Dr. George. The vote was 7 in favor and 1 opposed.

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1.4.1 The Agenda was set for the January 24 meeting.