APPROVED: NOVEMBER 9, 2000

PRESENT:

ADSC: Sherman, Floyd, Schnell

LA: Stewart, Enger, Dillard, Neff, Meister, Severn, Wilkerson, Williams, Eaton, Berbrier,

ENG: Smith, Toutanji, Farrington

LIB: Warren

NUR: Redmon, Weed, Hays, Williamson

SCI: Christopher, Boyd, Baird, Newman, Ravindran, Hillman, Delugach, Friedman

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

LBAR: Waring

NUR: Cobb

SCI: George, Miller, Li

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

LBAR: Whatley

ENGR: Shen, Jarem, Gaede, Landrum, Hawk

SCI: Lawton, Pakhomov

0. President Joan Williamson called the meeting to order at 12:55 p.m.

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #421 were approved. Motion by Lloyd Hillman, seconded by Harry Delugach.

2. The Senate Executive Committee Report was accepted.

3. President Franz’s Report:

Dr. Franz talked about the 2000-2001 Board of Trustees Budget Presentation. He distributed copies of the presentation. Dr. Franz explained the contents of the Presentation package and took questions from the Faculty Senate.

Dr. Franz acknowledged that Ray Pinner is present and that he is now on board as the new Vice President for Finance and Administration. Dr. Franz asked Ray Pinner to attend and talk about the bi-weekly pay issue and answer questions related to that.

Dr. Franz acknowledged that Jim Smith brought forth the issue of problems with the new Purchasing System. He stated that he has appointed a task force. The task force will work on the issues and try to find solutions to the problems. Dr. Franz stated he will have at least one open meeting. Dr. Franz reported that there was input to the process because there was a committee that investigated this but it was in 1991. The recommendation made then was based on hardware and software then and it was purchased in 1993. The purchase was made based on a complete package for all areas. The requisition package is archaic. Some people like it because they are used to using it and do not experience many problems. Others dislike it and can’t use it. If the individual is well trained on the system they like it, if not they do not like it. The Committee will investigate the problem and try to solve it. Dr. Franz announced that in the interim Purchasing will accept paper requisitions.

Ray Pinner stated everyone should have received a memo explaining the bi-weekly pay plan. There have been many discussions in the last six months. The highlights from the memo are that the first paycheck under the new system will be December 20 for 8 days. Then the checks will be every two weeks thereafter. Mr. Pinner announced that payroll has run a test that is almost ready for distribution that will show individuals what their gross and net pay will be for the first two paychecks. This will be distributed early in December. He announced that there have been free planning sessions scheduled to help employees with financial planning. The next step will be training for using the new forms. The new forms are Excel Based spreadsheet type forms. This form will replace several other forms currently used. The final version is being worked on now. Mr. Pinner answered questions related to the bi-weekly payroll issue.

4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:

Dr. Radonovich reported he had three pieces of information. He attend the October 6, ACHE meeting and ACHE approved two new graduate program. They approved the MS in MIS and the Ph.D. in Biotechnology Science and Engineering. The Biotechnology Ph.D. is the first in the state and the first in the country with a Physical Science emphasis.

Dr. Radonovich reported he attended a SACS meeting on Wednesday. He reminded the Faculty that SACS reaccreditation will occur in 2005. Some changes in the practices are proposed. A draft document with the changes was distributed at the SACS meeting. We have an opportunity to give input. The Final version will be completed over the course of the next year. We would be in the first year of implementation of the new version. The new version has some improvements. The must statements have been reduced from 300+ to 60. We have more freedom in establishing who we are and where we are going and how we get there. Preparing a prospectus for improvement is the first step. We will likely begin next fall preparing for the visit. Dr. Radonovich stated he is encouraged by the changes. It is not less work but work resulting in a positive change. This is likely comparable to ABET and some of the Engineering Faculty suggested that other faculty might be able to learn from their experience and training for the ABET since it will occur before the SACS visit.

5. A. Senate Committee Reports:

1. Executive: The Senate Executive Committee met, worked on two bills for today and set the agenda for today’s meeting.

2. Faculty and Student Development: Dr. Smith reported the Committee has looked at the principal charge given to them and progressed with that and they are moving on to the next issue in the charge.

3. Finance and Resources: Peggy Hays reported the Committee is working on the charges given to them and she also attended the second ISUAC meeting. IS is working on a five-year plan for upgrading the network and has purchased some of the initial items (switches) for an upgrade for the campus network. She reported Don Halverstadt requested that departments notify him of significant network changes so he can be prepared. She also reported that the ISUAC is looking at new organizations requesting websites and how those websites are established.

4. Governance and Operations: Dr. Williams reported the Faculty Appeals Committee elections have been held and he received 108 responses. He announced the five winners for that Committee. He requested that his Committee meet immediately after this meeting to talk about the Committees that they discovered that do not have Current Senators on them and whether or not to put a Senator on those Committees.

5. Personnel: Dr. Boyd reported the Committee met once and they are discussing the development of a new FAR Form and the ACHE faculty database and a way to integrate the two of these. She received a copy of a memo from Dr. Radonovich that came from an ACHE Committee and they are planning the faculty database in phases and the first phase will be the teaching loads.

6. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr. Neff reported the Committee met once and discussed and approved some changes in grading for HPE courses and 100 level courses in specific areas. He stated he will be sending an email soon regarding the next meeting and the agenda for that meeting.

7. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs: Dr. Williamson reported in Dr. Miller’s absence that the Committee has developed a bill rescinding a resolution that is on the agenda today.

B. University Committees: No Reports.

C. Officer Reports:

Parliamentarian: No Report.

Ombudsperson: No Report.

President-Elect: No Report.

President: Dr. reported she will be attending the ACCUFP meeting in November in Troy. She reported this is a good place to find out what others are doing.

6. Gary Smith Question and Answer Session Regarding the University of Alabama System PAC: Dr. Williamson introduced Gary Smith. Gary talked about the additional $120M additional monies requested for K-12 in the budget. Because of all the requests on the money, there is only one place to get that money and that is from us. We will have a real struggle on our hands. Gary quoted from Howard Hawk’s presentation. Gary stated that money, votes, and personal relationships are what talks. Gary discussed the fact that a group has been formed called the UASPAC. He stated there is great strength in numbers. This is politically smart. This sends a clear message, levels the playing field and makes our voice count. Gary quoted some figures from the 1998 cycle and the political action group contributions and how these affected the legislation. We have strength in numbers. There are 22,000 faculty and staff on the three campuses, a combined 42,000 students plus parents, and 175,000 alumni in Alabama that we have good addresses for. Many of the alumni are already involved. If you take that group with 5% participation at $5/month and with the Ethics Law giving us a four-year window for building an account, that produces some $2.8M and this puts us on the playing field with the big boys. There are also private corporations that are willing to play. We can compete with and beat the big boys if we play the game the way they play it. There are four people on the Executive Committee for the UASPAC. They are active and working, raising money. Tuscaloosa already has 350 people signed on. Friends of the university campuses set this group up and are helping to get it moving.

7. Sense of the Senate Resolution Supporting the UASPAC: Because of the time constraint and the loss of the quorum this item will carry forward to the next Senate Meeting.

8. Senate Bill 284: Rescinding Senate Resolution 99/00-03: Establishment of Faculty Initiated Student Withdrawal: Because of time constraint and the loss of the quorum this item will carry forward to the next Senate Meeting.

9. President Williamson adjourned the meeting at 2:15 p.m.