Report from Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting

August 21, 2008

1. Meeting of 21 August 2008

Attending: Gaede, Lawson, Etzkorn, Vaughan, Anderson, Heikes, Burnett, Reeves, Servern, Williams, Radonovich, Karbhari, Pritchard, Gholston, English

1.1 Faculty Senate President’s Report

Dr. Gaede distributed information on Short Term Disability.

Dr. Gaede reported the faculty survey results are to be sent out.

Dr. Gaede would like this year to have someone talk to the Senate from Enrollment (Rick Barth and/or Sandra Patterson), Jeff Sands from Advancement and BobbiJo Rissmann regarding Angel and Instructional Technology.

1.2 Reports from Administration

Dr. Williams thanked the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for their service. He reported he will give the “State of the Campus Address” tomorrow and take questions at the 4:00 p.m. Town Meeting. The ongoing issues are the changes in Administration and the changes in reporting and different responsibilities. He will put all this onto the blog with follow-ups. There are changes with Dr. Luquire, Advancement, Career Services, etc. He will work with Dr. Karbhari who will work with you and the Deans and Chairs on the various issues in Academic Affairs. We will get out and meet and dialogue. This will happen over several months. We will keep you informed on the building plans. The dorms are full. It will be mandatory for freshmen and sophomores to live on campus by 2010. We need more space—we are planning for dorm rooms, dining facilities, retail on campus and moving things around and opening up the UC for student activities.

There will be several committees for strategic planning. We will keep the committees small but engage faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Williams hopes by Christmas the Committees will have identified how to meet the goals. There will be a retreat of leaders in the spring.

Bill Killingworth has been appointed to look at the efficiency of the university. He has been appointed to examine the business practices. He has been instructed he can go into any area and examine how it is operating. He needs input. We will be asking you for input. We will be asking for input from all areas. Not all will be involved but we will solicit input from all. Be more aggressive in asking the administration to help you accomplish your goals. We will tick some people off but the job is to challenge people to see if they are doing their best. Dr. Williams suggested Dr. Gaede, Karbhari, and Williams should meet and discuss and pre-empt or avoid some issues. The Huron report will be on the web soon. Dr. Williams will announce changes on the blog and through Insights. There will be a “Why Not” web sight. Budgets will be online so that we are transparent.

There was a questions regarding where or what is the mechanism for voicing concerns regarding the parking policies and changes. Dr. Williams suggested talking to Ray and Mike and finding out.

Dr. Williams and Dr. Gaede stated there are two issues the Senate is addressing as a carry over from last year (Partner benefits and excused absences for University activities). The Senate should be active in the strategic planning where appropriate and the campus master plan.

Dr. Gaede stated the Faculty Senate will work together more with the Staff Senate. We will meet together once or twice a year. Dr. Gaede stated she would like the Faculty Senate to sponsor a Club H and Dr. Williams stated he would help with that.

Dr. Williams thanked Dr. Radonovich for all he did working with him and with the Senate. He asked that the Senate allow Dr. Radonovich to continue to come with Dr. Karbhari and Dr. Williams to the meetings.

Dr. Radonovich reported there are three dean reviews initiated (Dr. Luquire, Dr. Fix, and Dr. Raines). He reported he met with Linda Vaughan regarding the Handbook Review. He will want this group to go over the changes.

He reported enrollment is up about 2.7%. Business headcount is up significantly.

1.3. Committee Items and Chair Reports

1.3.1 Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Gail Pritchard).

No Report. Dr. Gaede informed Dr. Pritchard this would be a catalog year.

1.3.2 Personnel (Michael Anderson).

Dr. Anderson will be working on the Partner Benefits bill.

1.3.3 Governance and Operations (Jennifer English).

Make sure every Committee has Senate, Faculty and staff representation. Dr. Gaede would like to look into a Calendar Committee to take a look at things like the summer term length, coordinating with UAB and UA. Look at the IT Committee and the single sign on issues. Have someone look at Banner and make known what is available and what can change.

1.3.4 Faculty and Student Development (Andree Reeves).

No Report

1.3.5 Finance and Resources (John Burnett).

We will be working on the REU in the fall and what level the Provost will fund. Dr. Etzkorn asked why the Committee has not been doing those things the bylaws delegate.

1.3.6 Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (Deborah Heikes).

Take a look at t he withdrawal date, the academic action threshold and the attendance policy. Take a look at the full load for summer and why it is 12 hours and not nine. Talk to Dr. Severn.

1.3.7 The Agenda was set for the August 28 Faculty Senate Meeting.