UAH FACULTY SENATE
PRESENT:
ADSC: Sherman, Floyd, Schnell
LA: Stewart, Dillard, Neff, Meister, Whatley, Wilkerson, Williams, Eaton, Berbrier,
ENG: Smith, Shen, Farrington
LIB: Warren
NUR: Redmon, Weed, Hays, Cobb, Williamson
SCI: Christopher, Lawton, Boyd, George, Li, Ravindran, Miller, Pakhomov, Hillman, Delugach
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
ENGR: Jarem
LBAR: Enger, Waring
SCI: Baird, Friedman
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
ENGR: Toutanji, Abushagur, Landrum, Hawk
SCI: Newman
0. President Joan Williamson called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m.
1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #420 were approved. Motion by John Warren, seconded by Peggy Hays.
2. The Senate Executive Committee Report was accepted.
3. President Franz’s Report:
Dr. Franz announced that the Convocation Notes have been distributed. He also announced that Ray Pinner has accepted the offer to return as Vice President for Finance and Administration. A Search Committee interviewed two very good candidates and Ray Pinner was made an offer and accepted.
Dr. Franz talked about putting Gary in charge of reviewing Web pages and asked that all work on improving department WebPages. He would like to see all faculty have a color picture and a vitae on the department WebPages. Dr. Franz took questions.
4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:
Dr. Radonovich announced that he is happy to be here. He talked briefly about the WX grade and the fact that it is going back to the Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs Committee. He reported that we are not able tot put the grade in place because of financial aid and scholarship issues. It is a well-intended action but it could do harm to students in the financial aid area. The Scholastic Affairs Committee will look at it and look at other alternatives. There was some question of why this is the case because all this was addressed early in the deliberations. Dr. Radonovich reported we need alternatives.
5. A. Senate Committee Reports:
1. Executive: The Senate Executive Committee met twice: Once to introduce Dr. Radonovich to the Committee and the second time to address Committee charges and set the agenda for today’s meeting. The report was included with the information packet to all Senators.
2. Faculty and Student Development:
Dr. Smith is looking into what kind of
issues are out there that faculty and students feel are not being
addressed. The Committee will address
issues of web-based utilization and the mechanism for faculty input into
nonacademic policies impacting faculty workloads.
3. Finance and Resources: Peggy Hays reported the Committee will
attempt the charge suggested by Dr. Williamson. She read the charge for the Committee from the Bylaws. She reported she also sits on the PRAC and
will report back to the Senate on this.
She reported the Committee will meet next week in the Nursing Building
at the 12:45 time. The Committee will
look at Distance Education policies, etc.
4. Governance and Operations: Dr. Williams reported the Committee
established last year a bill to insure all University Standing Committees
meet. The Committees have a co-chair
and any member can call for a meeting.
The Committee is looking into better organization and making sure
Committee meetings are held. The
Committee is also investigating a calendar of elections for University
Committees and Senate Committees.
5. Personnel: Dr. Boyd reported the Personnel Committee is looking at the Faculty
Activity Report Form and reviewing it and developing a new form. She asked that faculty give her input on
that. She reported she will hold the
senior faculty on the Committee to helping her with the tasks of the Committee
since she is a younger and newer faculty member. The Committee will meet in WH 117 next week at the 12:45 p.m.
time. The Committee will also look at
the reporting for ACHE and Legislation on that. The Committee will take the list of recommendations the Committee
from last year came up with and develop a form from that.
6. Undergraduate
Curriculum: Dr. Neff reported the Committee
has many ex-officio members from the Colleges and Dr. Fran Johnson is also an
ex-officio member. The Committee will
meet next week in MH 208. The Committee
already has business before them. Dr.
Neff reported he has a packet for the members.
They will be looking at the letter grade for the HPE courses. They will also be looking at intercampus
collaboration.
7. Undergraduate
Scholastic Affairs: Dr. Miller has agreed
to Chair this Committee in Dr. Waring’s absence this semester. The Committee has already has one meeting to
make decisions on at 50 readmits and bankruptcy cases. The Committee will meet in the next couple
of weeks to look at the WX grade and other issues. Anyone having suggestions should give them to a Committee
member. Some issues regarding the NC
Grading will also be investigated.
Advising issues will be another topic.
B. University Committees: No Reports.
A. Officer Reports:
Parliamentarian: No Report.
Ombudsperson: No Report.
President-Elect: No Report.
President: Dr. Williamson talked about how she came up with the suggested
charges for the Committees. She
observed there is a communication issues across campus and that a happier and
more informed faculty results in a happier and better educated student
body. The goal of the Faculty Senate
this year is to improve communication.
She talked about political issues and having a liaison for each
department so that we get information out faster and back to the appropriate
individuals faster. The goal is to
improve communication inside and across the State.
Dr. Williamson announced that if anyone had not heard issues they want
addressed to let her or some member of the Faculty Senate know so that they may
be addressed.
Dr. Williamson reminded the Committees that they can invite whomever
they wish to meetings. Anyone can write
a bill and can take a bill from any colleague and bring it to the Senate.
Dr. Williamson announced that the next meeting is at 12:45 p.m. here in
ADSC 114 on September 28. Howard Hawk
has asked to come and give a presentation and answer questions. Dr. Williamson reminded the Senate that all
Senate meetings are open to all and to invite people to come and hear
Representative Hawk.
Dr. Williamson also announced that the Chancellor is coming in January.
Dr. Williamson announced she is going to the Board of Trustees meeting
next week.
6. President Williamson adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m. Motion by Dr. Delugach, seconded by Dr. Meister