APPROVED: MARCH 15, 2001

PRESENT:

ADSC: Schnell, Sherman

LA: Stewart, Enger, Dillard, Neff, Meister, Waring, Williams, Eaton

ENG: Smith, Toutanji, Shen, Gaede, Farrington, Hampton

NUR: Weed, Hays, Williamson, Cobb

SCI: Lawton, Boyd, George, Newman, Miller, Hillman, Li

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

LBAR: Berbrier

NUR: Redmon

ENGR: Jarem, Hawk

LIB: Warren

SCI: Baird

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

LBAR: Whatley, Wilkerson

SCI: Christopher, Ravindran, Friedman, Pakhomov

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

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #427 were approved. Motion by Rhonda Gaede, seconded by Peggy Hays.

2. The Senate Executive Committee Report was accepted.

3. President Franz’s Report:

Dr. Franz was in Montgomery.

4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:

Dr. Radonovich talked briefly about the Legislative Actions. He stated that people might want to get angry at the judge but she did not want to do this. She delayed her decision because she did not want to do this. This does not make sense.

The current prorationing is taken from deferred maintenance. Non academic units have taken the bigger cuts. Academic Affairs was protected and only took 2/3 of the $1.3M cut. We did not lay anyone off and we did not touch scholarships. There is a freeze on long term positions. We are currently working on long-term 6.2% cuts. There are a sizeable number of positions unfilled. Buildings are funded externally. A large portion of our funding is external. We receive about 1/3 from the state, 1/3 from tuition and 1/3 external. We could not take a 10%, 18%, or 26% cut. Highest priority this year is to protect Academic Affairs. The Governor will be here Saturday and the students plan to rally at the airport.

We are not a typical University. We have expensive programs and areas like our largest (Engineering). A large fraction of our students are in majors that are expensive.

Gary is giving good advice.

Promotion is not affected by the freeze. We should have a memory to bestow money later if we do not have is now.

There was a question regarding the lawsuit and a counter suit. The response was yes this is going on but we are not too excited about this.

5. A. Senate Committee Reports:

1. Executive: Dr. Williamson reported the Executive Committee report is before you. The main objective of the Committee in its last meeting was to finalize the draft of the Faculty Activity Report to place it on today’s agenda.

2. Faculty and Student Development: No Report

3. Finance and Resources: No Report.

4. Governance and Operations: Dr. Williams reported the Committee tried to derive a simple plan to present to the Executive Committee regarding the change in the Faculty Handbook. The Executive Committee did not like what was proposed by the Committee but derived the Bill that will be presented at Second Reading today.

5. Personnel: No Report. The Committee will have a Bill on the floor today.

6. Undergraduate Curriculum: No Report.

7. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs: No Report.

B. University Committees: Dr. Delugach reported the Education Technology and Distance Education Committee has met and is approaching the final stages of work on a new model of how Distance Education should work at the University. The synopsis is that Distance Education courses should count as regular courses. There should be a stipend of about $2500 for course development. The first time the course is taught there should be a stipend. After the first time the course belongs to the University and is treated as a regular course. There should be something coming out soon for review.

C. Officer Reports:

Parliamentarian: No Report.

Ombudsperson: No Report.

President-Elect: No Report.

President: Dr. Williamson talked briefly about the UASPAC and it’s importance. She had forms available for anyone interested. Dr. Williamson talked about March 6 as Higher Education Day and the need for people to attend. She stated she would like to see busses going. Dr. Williamson talked about the urgent need to contact Legislators before Saturday. Time is critical. Take action now. Contact the Legislators and voice concern.

6. Senate Bill 287: Faculty Activity Report/Self Evaluation Form

Dr. Williamson introduced the Bill as one that had come out of the Personnel Committee originally. The Committee had worked and revised the form and shortened it considerably. A copy of their revised form had been placed on the Web for everyone to see. A subcommittee of the Senate Executive Committee then looked at the form and revised it further. Dr. Williamson asked Dr. Boyd or Dr. Waring to talk about the changes to the form.

Dr. Boyd talked about the changes to the form. The form is half the length of the old form. The form uses bullets rather than alphabetical listings. There were many boxes before, there is only one now. There is no longer a tracking section. This form asked the faculty member to attach a Curriculum Vita. There is a summary of time allocation that could lead to discussions. The evaluation section was changed and the table there was revised from 5 categories to 3. There is a section of specified time allocation by the Chair. The form is perhaps easier and less time consuming to complete.

Dr. Williamson reminded the group that this form has two purposes. She pointed out the front cover page with the whereas statements and asked that individuals not get caught up in the items on that page since that was just an explanation page and would not actually go with the form. Dr. Williamson reported that the Committee had looked at other reports to make sure all the necessary information is contained in this report so that the faculty only have to provide the information one time.

There was some discussion regarding the five-year versus the one-year report. At least one college favored the five-year report because of information needed for their accrediting agency. Dr. Sherman and Dr. Schnell initially made a motion for an amendment to make the teaching and research and publications sections five years. They later revised their amendment to say the reporting period would be determined in each college by a faculty vote in that college.

Dr. Gaede called the question.

The vote was 18 in favor, 1 opposed and 5 abstentions.

Due to time constraints and loss of a quorum, the bill will be carried forward to the next meeting to be continued at second reading.

Senate Bill 288 will also be carried forward to the next meeting at second reading.

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