UAH FACULTY SENATE
PRESENT:
ADSC: Schnell, Pendley
LA: Stewart, Bell, Enger, Dillard, Early, Meister, Waring, Heikes, Eaton, Berbrier
ENG: Toutanji, Fork, Gaede, Pollock, Farrington, Landrum, Hawk
LIB: Warren
NUR: Redmon, Stanfield, Williamson, Reisenwitz, Herrin
SCI: Christopher, Johnson, Boyd, George, Li, Etzkorn, Ravindran, Friedman, Miller, Hillman. Pakhomov
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
ADSC: Wren, Floyd
ENGR: Smith
LBAR: Williams
SCI: Baird,
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
LBAR: Whatley
SCI: Geary
0. President James Miller called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m.
1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #436 were approved Motion by Melinda Redmon, seconded by David Pollock.
2. The Senate Executive Committee Reports were accepted. Motion by Melinda Redmon, seconded by David Pollock.
3. President Franz’s Report:
Dr. Franz
reported the Council of Presidents received a commitment from the Governor of a
2/3 to 1/3 split for the budget. The
Governor’s budget that came out did not adhere to that but had approximately
28% committed to Higher Education. The
Faculty Senate Presidents, the SGA Presidents and the Alumni President was not
pleased with this and wrote letters from all the campuses in the System. Dr. Franz then read a letter that was sent
to Henry Mabry in which the Govern asked Mr. Mabry to do what was necessary to
make it right.
Dr. Franz
commended the Faculty on the success in the Credit Hour Production. He stated it is up approximately 5% over the
year.
Dr. Franz
briefly discussed a proposal to give money to the Research Universities in the
amount of approximately $10M for Applied Science. This is not money from the Education Trust Fund.
Dr. Franz was asked about the
bond money from last year. He stated it
is coming, the paperwork is in order.
4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:
Dr. Radonovich reported the
Student Credit Hour Production is up approximately 5% for this semester and
approximately 4% over the entire year.
He expressed thanks to all. He stated
the enrollment is recovering from the past economic downturn and the national
trend. The institution is responding
positively. There are sizeable
increases in some colleges. There was a
question of the national trend and how we compare with the national trend. Dr. Radonovich stated he just got that
information and the thinks we are growing.
He indicated the national trend for Nursing is going up. The National trend was down in Nursing while
we were growing.
5. A. Senate Committee Reports:
1. Executive: The reports were distributed with the minutes. They were approved.
2. Faculty and Student
Development: Ms. Redmon reported the
Committee continues to work on the Academic Misconduct issue..
3. Finance and Resources: Dr. Fork reported the Committee drafted a
letter regarding the parking situation at the Nursing Building. The Committee is collecting information for
the distribution of resources for Research Centers.
4. Governance and Operations: No Report.
5. Personnel: Dr. Boyd reported the Committee has a bill to consider at second
reading.
6. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr. Landrum reported he forwarded comments
on the System Strategic Plan. He stated
there is a meeting today between Nursing and Physical Education to resolve the
issue on one course that is still outstanding.
Dr. Radonovich reported he went to a Chief Academic Officers Meeting and
he asked Dr. Nash about the plans for the Strategic Initiation and Dr. Nash
will respond. Dr. Radonovich told him
he would have comments forthcoming. Dr.
Nash stated at this point the project is still ongoing.
Dr. Landrum stated that Dr. Emslie has been involved in the graduate
issues, and Dr. Landrum does not see the need to respond to that portion
believing Dr. Emslie is better qualified to address those issues.
7. Undergraduate Scholastic
Affairs: No Report but the Committee will
have a bill later on the agenda at third reading.
B. University Committees: No Reports.
C. Officer Reports:
Parliamentarian: No Report.
Ombudsperson: No Report.
President-Elect: No Report.
President: Dr. Miller reported the Board of Trustees will be meeting here in two
weeks and the Faculty Senate President is asked to address the Board. Dr. Miller welcomes suggestions and comments
for his address. Please send them or
tell him within the next week or so.
Past President: Dr. Williamson stated there is one point we
want to stress in the Constitutional Reform and that is that tax reform must be
coupled with the Constitutional Reform.
Dr. Williamson announced the Higher Education Day February 21. She stated buses and vans will go down to
Montgomery, lunch will be served and it is a great time to meet and greet the
Legislators. She stated we need a good
show of support.
Dr. Williamson reported she had been called from the Alabama Constitutional
Reform Committee and the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and the SGA are
sponsoring a town hall meeting on March 4 that will be open to the public.
6. Senate Bill 292
Revision to the Withdrawal Policy.
Dr. Farrington, seconded by Dr. Fork moved the bill to the floor. Dr. Farrington introduced the bill. He stated the Committee was trying to address withdrawals in a timely manner but give the students time to make an informed decision. The Committee did not believe it wise to go to the end of the semester. The tenth week give time for the midterm progress reports to be evaluated and a response given. Dr. Farrington moved, seconded by Dr. Landrum to call the question. The vote was 36 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention. The bill passed at third reading and will be forwarded to the Administration for action.
7.
Senate Bill 291:
Amendment to Appendix A of the Faculty Handbook. Dr. Miller explained the bill. Ms. Redmon, seconded by Dr. Waring moved it
to the floor. Dr. Boyd introduced the
bill. She stated is a clarification of
the review process for deans that happens every five years. Section C in the Handbook is amended to make
it clearer of who makes up the Committee.
Section D discusses the evaluation process. A Standard form is to be developed in the Provost Office and
approved by the Personnel Committee.
Section D another item is that all eligible faculty will
participate. The evaluation form go
directly to the Provost’s Office. Dr.
Waring spoke in favor of the bill.
Although the reviews in the past have not been troubled, there have been
comments of whether the review is fair and did the comments go to the
Provost. The Committee felt the
perception of unfairness could be eliminated with this bill. The bill asked for a standard evaluation
form available to the faculty. This is
a healthy improvement. There was one
friendly amendment to strike the phrase in line “Collected by the review
Committee. Dr. Landrum, seconded by Ms.
Redmon called the question. The vote
was 37 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions.
The bill passed at second reading and was declared passed at third
reading due to a unanimous vote.
Dr. Franz thanked the Committee for their work.
8. Sense of the Senate Resolution: Constitutional Reform—Dr. Miller explained this came out of the last ACUFP meeting. It was agreed the campuses would develop a Sense of the Senate Resolution and forward it to the governor. The last statement was added to ours to couple Constitutional Reform with Tax Reform. Dr. Waring spoke in favor of Constitutional Reform. He stated there is a danger of seeing this as a panacea. There is the danger of trying to find a quick fix. There is a danger of Constitutional reform without tax reform. Higher Education benefits from some points in the Constitution. There are some things that need to be protected. There is also the question of who makes the new one. Is it done piece meal or all at once? We need to keep informed of all issues. There was some discussion regarding lobbying against certain issues. There was a question or whether we should include how we would like this done. It was decided this might make the resolution too specific at this time. The Sense of the Senate Resolution was passed unanimously with one abstention. It will be sent to the Governor.
9. President Miller adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m.