UAH FACULTY SENATE
PRESENT:
ADSC: Schnell, Wren
LBAR: Stewart, Givens, Enger, Bollinger, Meister, Waring, Martin, Wray, Wilkerson, Reeves, Neuschatz, Brunsma
ENG: Gaede, Pollock, Tippett, Karr
LIB: Moore
NUR: Redmon, Williamson, Reisenwitz, Bonilla
SCI: Li, Etzkorn, Hillman, Ames.
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
ADSC: Floyd, Pendley
NUR: Stanfield
SCI: Miller, Friedman, Ravindran
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
LBAR: Early
ENGR: Smith, Toutanji, Hawk
SCI: Christopher, Johnson, Ng, Loo, George
0. President Stephen Waring called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m.
1. Draft Minutes of Meeting #443 were approved. Motion by Rhonda Gaede, seconded by Melinda Redmon.
2. The Senate Executive Committee Reports were accepted. Motion by Melinda Redmon, seconded by Laurel Bollinger.
3. President Franz’s Report:
Dr. Franz reported the
students are moving into the new residence hall. There will be a dedication service in late October. Two wings yet to complete and once those are
complete we can have the dedication ceremony.
Dr. Franz reported the new facility is beautiful.
Dr. Franz reported enrollment
is good. He stated we are putting out a
press release. We are up about 4.7% in
credit hours and the headcount is up about 4.3%. This is due to recruiting efforts and retention efforts.
The Charger Café is looking
good. The patronage is up about
35%.
Dr. Franz stated he will send
a skeletal outline of the Shelby building out soon for discussion.
Dr. Franz reported on two incidents
that occurred on campus and the actions regarding those incidents.
Dr. Franz stated we do have a
new VPSA—Ms. Delois Smith.
4. Provost Radonovich’s Report:
Dr. Radonovich
reported we have a new Director of the Honors Program, Dr. Jerry Mebane.
Dr. Radonovich spoke about the changed to the math
curriculum. He stated there have been
difficulties for about ten years. Many
of our programs have need of math skills.
The individuals need to move sequentially in the math courses. A new course of Math 115 has been
established. It is a four credit-hour
course. We have offered two three
credit-hour courses for many years. We
will continue to offer those courses but they will be changed. This MA 115 four credit hour course will
offer three hours of lecture and two hours of recitation. This is a computer-based course with
software for pre-testing, quizzes, and helps.
The students may work at any computer.
The software identifies where the student needs work. The exams can be conducted at the workstation
as well. Tutoring is also
available. MA 119 and 121 will still be
offered but will use the same text and computer software as 115. MA 119 and 121 will be offered as three-hour
courses with three hours of lecture and one hour of recitation.
A new placement test
is also being used. It is web based and
a smart exam. The time may vary from
one half to one hour. The exam starts
at a level and works up or down depending on the skill and knowledge of the
student.
Science and
Engineering Faculty worked together to agree upon the contents and changes for
these courses and exams. The math
department has been very cooperative.
This method should improve learning and satisfaction. All this will be fine tuned over time and we
will examine other calculus courses and find the best way to achieve success.
5. A. Senate Committee Reports:
1. Executive: The report was distributed with the minutes. The report was approved.
2. Faculty and Student
Development: Ms. Redmon reported the
Committee met last week to review the Honors Statement. They have some questions for the Senate
Executive Committee and then they will see the bill through.
3. Finance and Resources: No
Report.
4. Governance and Operations: Dr.
Reeves announced the Committee will meet next week.
5. Personnel: Dr. Williamson
reported the Committee met last week and decided some of the things they will
look at this year. Some of the items
will be dealt with in cooperation with other Committees. They will look at salaries, the Wellness
Center, years of service and interrupted service, resignation procedures. The Committee will have some bills soon.
6. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr.
Karr announced the Committee will meet next week in Tech Hall.
7. Undergraduate Scholastic
Affairs: No Report.
B. University Committees: The Alliance
will meet next Friday at Moms.
C. Officer Reports:
Parliamentarian: No Report.
Ombudsperson: No Report.
President-Elect: No Report.
President: No Report.
Past President: No Report.
8. Information
Exchange: Gary Smith
Gary
Smith reported there is no proration this year. Next year, however, does not look so good. There are over $90M in corporate income tax
refunds owed that the state is not paying.
The debt will be carried into next year at 7% interest. The personal income tax is down. Those in the Governors’ race are talking
about 68,000 new jobs but they are not telling you about the 135,000 jobs that
were lost. Many of those 68,000 are coming,
they are not here yet. The textile
industry is down. There is about a $100M
drop in person income tax. There is a $10M deficit owed. The Stock Market problem caused a drop in
the retirement assets. The retirement
system lost over $1B. This will result
in an increase in the state contribution.
The state contribution will go up about 25% or $200M. PHIP is up about $70-80M. We will begin next year with a $50M
deficit. This makes for a difficult
year.
Gary
stated it is our job is to go out as individuals and as a group and sell
everyone on tax reform. Tax reform to
make the system fair and generate new money for education. Gary read some questions from a survey. Many of the responses were favorable to
education.
Gary
stated we have one shot to work on tax reform.
It needs to happen in March 2003.
This is the first year of the quadrennium. This is strategically important.
There is some talk of a special session in February for tax reform. The Higher Education Partnership is putting
together a pamphlet. If we do not do
something about tax reform, the future is grim for education. We can do it if we work together and sell
the public. The sympathy is there. This will take Higher Education and K-12 working
together.
What
can you do to help? The Alliance is
putting together a voter guide.
Register to vote, get everyone else to register. Know the candidates. Know the issues. There was a survey form from the Higher Education Partnership
compiled for the candidates.
Individuals can get out and contact those not responding to this
survey. The survey will be printed in
the voters’ guide. Get involved in
campaigns. Call Gary if you need to
know who needs help. Vote. We can make a difference. We played a large part in defeating Fob
James.
Gary
reports we are scheduling both gubernatorial candidates to come to campus.
Gary
reported that The University of Alabama has taken blocks of time and brought
candidates to campus to ask them questions.
They are working through the candidates. We are thinking of doing that here. We need your help. The
influence comes from you.
Be
an informed participant.
9. President Waring adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.