ADSC: Floyd, Sherman, Schoening

ENG: Hayes, Toutanji, Shen, Wells, Boykin, Nordin, Landrum, Wessling, Frederick

NUR: Brookman, Hays, Warren

ENGR: Swain

LBAR: Bollinger

NUR: McLeod

SCI: Hinke, Lawton, Li, Miller

LBAR: Hanks, Williams

LIB: Warren

SCI: Baird

2. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee Reports were accepted as presented. Motion by Dr. Meister, seconded by Dr. Wells.

3. A. Senate Committee Reports:

1. Personnel: No Report.
2. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr. Comfort reported the Committee is met February 18 and approved some new courses, approved deletions of some courses and approved some changes.
3. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs: Dr. Bliss reported the Committee met February 18 and took some actions on some bankruptcy cases and discussed the A, B, C, NC option. The Committee is still looking into this matter and will likely have a bill forthcoming.

2. University Committees: The Library Committee meets tomorrow. They will discuss the new addition and the RSIC issue.

3. Officer Reports:

1. Ombudsperson: No report.
2. President-Elect: No Report.
3. President: Dr. Delugach informed the Faculty Senate that the Senate President has other duties that go along with the title of Faculty Senate President (i.e., other committees, is a member of the Board of Trustees). The Board of Trustees meets here on May 6 and 7, 1999. Dr. Delugach asked the Faculty to give him or Dr. Franz any input for interesting items or ideas to present to the Board while they are here.

4. President Franz Report:

5. Provost McManus Report:

6. Mid Semester Progress Reports for Courses Numbered 0-299 at Third Reading: Dr. Bliss brought the bill to the floor and introduced it. He explained the S and U grading used in the past left some to be desired. The students were not given enough information to really know how they are doing. The bill is here today as you see with all modifications after the first and second reading. Dr. Brookman seconded the motion to move the bill to the floor. Dr. Meister requested a friendly amendment to add as paragraph four "Students will be informed that this midterm grade will not be part of his or her permanent record". There was some discussion and concern for the A, B grades giving a false sense of security. The suggestion was made for an S, C, D, F scale. The S does not tell the student how they are really doing. It was pointed out that there are all options given and the instructor can choose on an individual basis the best solution for his particular cases. The vote was 30 in favor, 6 opposed and 1 abstention. The bill passed at third reading and will be forwarded to the Administration for approval and implementation.
7. Confidentiality of Faculty Activity Report—Senate Bill 277 at Second Reading: Dr. Schenker brought the bill to the floor and introduced it. The Faculty Activity Report is to be on line in the very near future. There is an assumed level of confidentiality in the Handbook for the current way the Activity Reports are done. It is assumed those who have need will be the only ones who have access. Those who hold official copies of records would be the only ones with access to the electronic copy. It is expected there will be passwords and other appropriate measures used to provide safety and confidentiality of records. There was some brief discussion of any State laws governing this issue or preventing such security measures. There was some question and discussion regarding the reason for the database and the use and who will have access. There was some concern expressed for the standardization of such information and the ease of access this affords. The vote was 38 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstention. The bill passed unanimously at second reading. Dr. Delugach exercised the power of the office of President as stated in the Faculty Senate By-Laws and declared the bill passed at third reading since there were no oppositions and no abstentions.
8. Amendment to the Faculty Senate By-Laws III.K: Past President—Senate Bill 278 at Second Reading: Dr. Wessling moved the bill to the floor with a second from Dr. Landrum. Dr. Delugach explained the bill. The research of other institutions indicates that the knowledge of the past president is invaluable. It has been found that the system works better if the past president comes to the Executive Committee Meetings and is a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. This bill addresses that issue in making the immediate past president a member of the Executive Committee and giving him or her the honorary title of Faculty Senate Past President. There was a friendly amendment to add "during the year following his/her Presidency. This bill has no effect on any other office held by this individual". The vote was 38 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. The bill passed unanimously at second reading.

 

9. Dr. Delugach adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m.