Report from Executive Committee Meeting
24 JANUARY, 2002
Attending: Drs. Williamson, Waring, Landrum, Hillman, Radonovich, Franz, Fork,
Schnell, Boyd, Williams
Absent: Dr.
Miller, Smith
Dr.
Miller was not present; therefore, Dr. Waring presided over the meeting.
Dr. Franz reported Governor Siegelman deserves credit for the tax packages that further prevented proration. He reported the Governor’s budget allows for approximately a 3% increase in the base budget. This would not result in a 3% salary increase when it is extrapolated out over faculty and staff salaries. It is a positive step however because it is not a decrease. We still have to see what the Legislature does with the budget.
Dr. Franz and Dr. Radonovich were asked about the Faculty Activity Report and the status. They reported that they had tried to merge the recommendations from the Faculty Senate and from the Deans. They had developed a one year document. The Deans were attached to the cumulative multiple year document. Some feel it is important to be able to look at multiple years for the purposes of raise recommendations. There are also some that have accreditation issues related to the multiple year document. Dr. Franz and Dr. Radonovich will look at the multiple year document one more time and see what can be extracted. One idea is to have a standard curriculum vita that would serve the purpose of the Faculty Activity Report and would serve as a base for other uses. It would need to include the teaching data. All agreed that his has been a point of division and contention between the faculty and the deans. Dr. Franz and Dr. Radonovich are committed to spending time to come up with something that is workable to all.
Dr. Franz reported they have accomplished a better deal for retired faculty at the Recreation Center. They will now be able to have membership for half price.
Dr. Williamson asked Dr. Franz about the Faculty and Staff Senates sponsoring and Town Hall Meeting somewhere on campus for a seminar on Constitutional Reform. It would be a two to three hour meeting/seminar at no cost to us. We would need to supply the facility with multimedia capability. Dr. Franz expressed his main concern is that Tax Reform be part of the Constitutional Reform. There are parts for the Constitution that it is important to us to keep in it.
Dr. Radonovich reported he has researched the plagiarism issue and he is willing to do what the Faculty Senate Executive Committee recommends regarding the purchase of the software to deal with this issue. He stated it is a growing and important issue that needs to be dealt with and he reiterated the need to inform the students of the policy we develop early in the process.
Dr. Redmon was not present but called in her report that the Committee is writing a letter to Dr. Radonovich to ask him to purchase turnitin.com for the plagiarism issue. The Committee is also working on the wording for the Honor Code policy proposal.
Dr. Fork reported the faculty on his Committee would like to see a kind of Faculty Activity Report Form for Center Directors. They would like to know how funds are distributed and the effectiveness
of the use of the funds. They would like to know how decisions are made. Dr. Franz pointed out this could be divisive. Dr. Fork pointed out there is the potential for a perception of unfairness. It was suggested the Finance and Resources Committee meet with Dr. Greenwood and get the information first before presenting this to a larger group.
Dr. Fork distributed a letter to Dave Brown regarding the handicapped parking next to the Nursing Building.
No Report.
Dr. Boyd distributed copies of Senate Bill 291 and explained the revisions. Dr. Williams moved, seconded by Dr. Williamson to move the bill to the floor at first reading. The bill passed unanimously at first reading and will be placed on the agenda for the Faculty Senate Meeting at Second Reading.
Dr. Landrum reported he looked at the Strategic Planning Initiative. It appears the strong collaboration language of “must” and “will” was taken out and replaced by language stating where the faculty felt it was in the best interest they would seek collaboration. He stated they do emphasize information sharing so that it would be easier to determine if collaboration would be beneficial. Dr. Franz asked the Senate to consider the importance of the collaboration language. Dr. Landrum will send an informal email to Dr. Radonovich as a recommendation.
1.3.6. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (James
Smith)
No Report.
The agenda for the January 31, 2002, Faculty Senate Meeting was set.