UAH FACULTY SENATE

DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING #440

14 MARCH, 2002

PRESENT:

ADSC: Pendley, Schnell

LA: Stewart, Bell, Enger, Early, Waring, Whatley, Heikes, Eaton, Berbrier

ENG: Smith, Toutanji, Gaede, Farrington, Fork, Pollock

LIB: Warren

NUR: Redmon, Herrin, Williamson

SCI: Christopher, Johnson, George, Etzkorn, Friedman, Miller, Pakhomov, Hillman.

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

ADSC: Wren, Floyd

LBAR: Williams, Meister

NUR: Stanfield

SCI: Boyd, Ravindran, Baird

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

LBAR: Dillard

ENGR: Landrum, Hawk

NUR: Reisenwitz

SCI: Li, Geary

0. President James Miller called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m.

1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #439 were approved Motion by Melinda Redmon, seconded by Rhonda Gaede.

2. The Senate Executive Committee Reports were accepted. Motion by Jack Schnell, seconded by Melinda Redmon.

3. Ray Pinner’s Presentation:

Mr. Pinner presented his annual overview of the fiscal report of the University. Mr. Pinner presented information regarding funds and the various types of funds, the various sources of income. He reported on the revenues, expenditures, and net results. Mr. Pinner reported on restricted and unrestricted funds. Mr. Pinner had pie charts and bar charts regarding revenues and expenditures. Mr. Pinner had charts for funding history from 1997 to 2001 and ratios from a ten-year span from 1991 to 2001. Mr. Pinner reported gifts and grants are up approximately 7% and state appropriations declined by 6%. Mr. Pinner presented a chart showing the trend in the decline in the state appropriations. He also presented a graph indicating our tuition versus the national average and we are still below the national average. We are in the top three in dollars in research, instruction, and public service. We are below average in administration. Mr. Pinner presented one chart that presented funding sources showing that Federal dollars are more than State dollars in our facilities for the campus. It also indicated the number of bonds sold for facilities purposes is high.

4. President Franz’s Report:

Dr. Franz thanked and congratulated the Faculty on the successes in recruiting and retention over the past year and reported the overall credit hours are up approximately 5% for the year. Dr. Franz reported many had a part in the success and it is great. He stated the Faculty Senate played a role in the success by passing bills that helped.

Dr. Franz reported the SGA and others are working on getting exciting activities to the campus. The group Alabama will be here April 13.

Dr. Franz reported the ATO won Chapter of the Year in the national awards. The reason for winning was the good students in the group. This group was featured in the presentation to the Board of Trustees when they were here. Diana Bell also gave a presentation regarding the Writing Center when the Board was on campus.

Dr. Franz reported the Residence Hall is getting a roof. The NSSTC work is on schedule. He discussed the Weather Forecasting and Research Office there and its benefit. Congressman Cramer was here last week and toured the facility. The NMR addition to the Material Science Building is nearing completion. Most of these buildings and additions were done through partnerships and individual donations. Very little University funds were used on any of these buildings and additions. The Library addition is now complete. The Fitness Center is doing well. We have 60% of the faculty and staff as members. There are new bike racks being installed around campus and bike traffic has increased. These came as a result of student requests and suggestions. The Student Center will undergo a change in the summer. The Spragins Hall Pool area will be redone to provide classroom and office space. Dr. Franz referenced the headline of the Newspaper and the coming Shelby Hall for the campus. He reported there will be a Task Force of Administrators that will expand to include Deans and others to plan this building. It is still in the embryonic stages now. Dr. Franz reported the contract has been signed to acquire the high bay area of Technology Hall and the parking on the west side of the building. This was a gift purchase and Eugene Sapp was instrumental in accomplishing this acquisition.

Dr. Franz reported the budget is being passed out of the House with an approximate 2% increase. He discussed the need to plan ahead for possible future prorationing due to items in the budget (i.e. teacher pay raises) this year and the unknown of funding for these items for the following year. Dr. Franz discussed again the need for dealing with salary increases and the exact dollars are unknown and depends on the actions of the Legislature. Dr. Franz is discussing this issue with the Chancellor and anything we are able to do will be due to the recruiting and retention success of this year.

Dr. Franz expressed appreciation and thankfulness to Gary Smith and others for their hard work in the Legislative Session to defend fairness and to kill unwise and destructive bills that were on the floor.

4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:

No Report.

5. A. Senate Committee Reports:

1. Executive: The reports were distributed with the minutes. They were approved.

2. Faculty and Student Development: No Report.

3. Finance and Resources: No Report.

4. Governance and Operations: No Report.

5. Personnel: No Report.

6. Undergraduate Curriculum: No Report

7. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs: No Report.

B. University Committees: Dr. Waring reported the Faculty Appeals Committee has completed is work on a degree revocation case and will write a report to the Administration and the Graduate Council.