APPROVED: APRIL 12, 2001

PRESENT:

ADSC: Sherman

LA: Stewart, Enger, Dillard, Waring, Whatley, Wilkerson, Williams, Eaton

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

LIB: Warren

NUR: Redmon, Hays, Williamson, Cobb

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

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

ADSC: Schnell, Floyd

LBAR: Berbrier, Neff, Meister

NUR: Weed

ENGR: Hampton

SCI: George, Li, Miller, Pakhomov

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

ENGR: Jarem

SCI: Lawton

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

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #428 were approved. Motion by Peggy Hays, seconded by John Warren.

2. The Senate Executive Committee Report was accepted.

3. President Franz’s Report:

Dr. Franz reported UAH is number one in Baseball and number one in Classical Studies. Shane Bjornlie, a History major has been accepted for doctoral programs in classical studies at Princeton, Leeds, and Toronto.

The Library and Recreation Center are coming along in their development. Both should be operational fall semester. March 26 the NSSTC Building will hold its grand opening. We are pressing ahead with the Residence Hall. The Foundation considers this a very high priority and will underwrite the operations of it for an indefinite period. There is no impact on the budget/proration, etc. Arrangements can be made for anyone who wishes to see drawings.

Dr. Franz reported he was very pleased with the great turn out on Higher Education Day. There was a great turn out from Faculty, Staff and Students. We received strong support from some of the Senators, especially Tom Butler, Jeff Enfinger, and Lowell Barron. This is the most unified and effective we have been. Dr. Franz talked about the laws regarding proration. He discussed the current issues with the Alabama Supreme Court and the proration issue.

There were some questions regarding whether we can handle the cuts. Dr Franz reported we will handle them and work through them but not without great pain and anguish. It removes necessities and opportunities. He reported we will work to protect the quality of the education for our students. We will protect faculty and staff from layoffs under normal circumstance. We will protect the modesty of the tuition increases. The top priority is to protect students and help them get the classes they need, and provide quality education for them. We must protect the high quality of the institution.

4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:

Dr. Radonovich was not present.

5. Ray Pinner’s Report:

Mr. Pinner presented information from the September 2000 audit. He discussed the types of funding, revenues, expenditures and balances. He discussed the sources of funding. Mr. Pinner explained the various fund balance categories. He reported the Legislative Fiscal Office requested a report on the fund balances. He talked a little more about the areas of fund balance. The Legislative Fiscal Office has asked for explanation and clarification on the fund balance. We are most efficient in spending on primary mission, instruction, research, public service, and building funds.

6. A. Senate Committee Reports:

1. Executive: The Executive Committee Report is part of the package you received. The Committee set the agenda for today’s meeting.

2. Faculty and Student Development: No Report

3. Finance and Resources: No Report.

4. Governance and Operations: The Committee has a bill on the agenda for 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: No Report

C. Officer Reports:

Parliamentarian: No Report.

Ombudsperson: No Report.

President-Elect: No Report.

President: Dr. Williamson went on record thanking Dr. Franz and Dr. Meredith for their work with the Legislature and the proration issues. Dr. Williamson reported ACUFP has developed a legal brief regarding the proration issues. She read a small excerpt from the document.

6. Senate Bill 288: Dr. Williams moved to take the rest of the agenda out of order and take Senate Bill 288 for consideration ahead of Senate Bill 287. Waring seconded the motion. Dr. Williamson explained the changes to the Faculty Handbook and the necessity for the changes. Dr. Williams explained the bill. Dr. Redmon proposed a friendly amendment to add clinical and research faculty to line 6. The amendment passed Dr. Redmon called the question. The vote was 25 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. The bill passed at second reading. Because the vote was unanimous Dr. Williamson declared the bill passed at third reading. It will be forwarded to Administration for action.

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

Dr. Williamson introduced Senate Bill 287 and explained the changes since the last meeting. There was some discussion regarding the three categories of the Chair Evaluation portion. There was some discussion regarding the three categories in the current version versus the five categories in the old version. Dr. Hawk called the question. The vote was 17 in favor, 2 opposed and 0 abstentions. The bill passed at second reading.

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