Report from Executive Committee Meeting
26 SEPTEMBER, 2002
Attending: Franz, Radonovich, Williamson, Reeves,
Schnell, Meister, Smith, Redmon, Waring, A. Johnson
Absent: Karr,
Hillman, and Miller
Dr.
Waring reported he attended his first Board of Trustees Meeting. He will give a more extensive report at the
full Senate. He reported there was a
presentation by Chancellor Portera in which he set forth the agenda for the coming
year. He has an ambitious agenda. His priority is raising faculty
salaries. He plans to find efficiencies
within the System. He will pursue a
reallocation study. He is doing a
benefits packages study.
Dr.
Waring asked for feedback regarding the Faculty Senate Presidents of Tuscaloosa
and UAB giving presentations to our Faculty Senate.
Dr.
Waring stated the Executive Committee had received information regarding
University Committees and he will ask
for reports at the Senate Meetings from the University Committees and will ask
do they meet.
Dr.
Waring reported the Committee received a copy of a proposal from C. Wood and he
would like feedback. Dr. Waring and Dr.
Franz will gather more information on this topic.
Dr. Franz reported that Dr. Portera gave a strong talk. Dr. Franz stated we are more efficient here in many areas. He stated Dr. Portera did mention course load and release time and looking at those throughout the system. The Chancellor plans to look at utility rates and the possibility of lowering those for the institution.
Dr. Franz reported Dr. Portera talked about Research Expenditures and numbers ($36M-UAH; $190M-UAB; $24M-Tuscaloosa). He talked about salary increases in percentages. He talked about our relationship with K-12. He talked about the growing graduate programs.
Dr. Franz distributed a draft of the plan for the Applied Sciences Building. This will have a ripple effect.
Dr. Radonovich reported the Summer 02 end of funds is coming in and the efficiency and effectiveness are excellent. We are in excess of our goals. The rewards will be shared with the colleges. The dollar amounts will go to the colleges for their excellent work. The faculty taught more efficiently, they were more careful about the courses taught, and the times they were taught. Thanks to you and to your deans.
Dr. Radonovich reported regarding the Degree Revocation. There was a 1997 degree revoked at the last Board Meeting. The Faculty Appeals Committee met and reviewed the claims of plagiarism and failure to meet the originality clause. In January 2002 a hearing was held. There was a unanimous decision of the Committee. The Provost agreed and sent the recommendation to the President. Dr. Franz wrote a letter to the person and waited a couple of months. The Board approved the revocation at their last meeting. This is the first time this has occurred. We will need to take corrective actions to prevent future occurrences. There are a couple of changes already in the Graduate Handbook. There is still more to be done.
There was a question regarding disseminating information to the Graduate Faculty and perhaps a meeting of the Graduate Faculty.
The Supervisor and Committee responsibilities need to be clarified.
Dr. Radonovich distributed a copy of an email from a student at Tuscaloosa regarding the US News and World Report.
Dr.
Johnson asked the Committee about Mr. Halverstadt talking to the Executive
Committee regarding the Computer Security changes. There was also a question regarding Phyllis Hollins and Ray
Pinner talking to the Committee regarding various issues (i.e. Health insurance,
etc.). There was some discussion
regarding putting the Resource Manual on the web as well as having a hard copy
available.
Dr.
Waring made a request to the Provost regarding someone to work with the
Committee to put this on the web. Dr.
Radonovich stated he didn’t have the staff resources for it.
Dr.
Williamson discussed the “Voter’s Guide”.
She stated that Riley and Siegelman have committed to come to
campus. There will be an open forum for
questions.
Ms.
Redmon reported the Committee needs help to implement the Honor Code. When the Committee brings the bill back for
third reading they would like to bring a companion bill for implementation. There were several suggestions. Dr. Franz suggests the Committee edit the
statement on the application form.
Include something to encourage faculty to reaffirm with students in
their classes. Ms. Redmon will work on
this and get something ready for the next Senate Meeting.
Ms.
Redmon reported that there will be a turnitin.com demo for faculty.
The agenda for the upcoming Faculty Senate Meeting was set.