UAH FACULTY SENATE
PRESENT:
LBAR: Brown-Givens, Meister, Coward, Heikes, Reeves, Colclough, Shuck-Hall
ENG: Anderson, Gaede, Jovanov Tippett, Karr, Frendi
NUR: Williamson, Newman,
SCI: Boyd, Cox, Ravindran, Friedman
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
ADSC: Bryson
ENGR: Kulick, Lin
LIB:
NUR: Lawson
SCI: Mecikalski, Newman
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
ADSC:
Pendley, Wren
LBAR: Jones, Eaker, Bollinger, Early, Neuschatz
ENGR: Smith, Frederick
SCI: Leahy, George, Paddison, Hillman, Pakhomov
0.
1. Draft Minutes of Meeting Number 465 were approved. Motion by Dr. Reeves, seconded by Dr. Williamson.
2. Senate Executive Committee Reports accepted. Motion by Dr. Reeves, seconded by Dr. Williamson.
3.
Dr. Franz report he was in
Dr. Franz thought the Faculty Senate would be interested in seeing the layout
for the fraternity and sorority houses. The
houses will be of 10 beds each and a common living area.
4. Dr. Radonovich’s Report.
Dr. Radonovich offered to answer any questions the Faculty Senate might
have had regarding Dr. Franz presentation and pictures of sorority and
fraternity housing, because Dr. Franz had to leave. Dr. Radonovich reported that the wives of
Mark Smith and Jim Hudson were donors. Sorority Housing was a positive force in their
lives and the want to see it on our campus.
There was a question of whether there will be house mother/father, and
the answer was no. These houses are
designed to provide a place to meet, a place to hold social functions, and a
residence for 10 suites. They will be managed
similar to dorms and the rates will be similar to the dorm. The Fraternity or Sorority as a whole have to
come up with funds $60,000. There was a
question regarding thee effect of these houses and the entrance for them on
enlarging the pool at UFC. Dr. Radonovich believes it could still be done.
Dr. Radonovich reported we made an Offer to Mr. Bush for Associate Vice
President for Enrollment Services. The written
offer will go out tomorrow.
Dr. Radonovich reported we are still having the Performance Indicator
battle regarding Licensure. We are still
battling on Engineering and Business. It
makes no sense counting the CPA. Bachelor’s
degree students do not qualify to take the exam. It is senseless to use this as
a measure and to set goals based on it. We
are not battling Nursing because it is already reported and we are not battling
Education because students have to get 100% on all three areas and it is published. As soon as we are successful in resolving
these issues I will send you a new and final version. The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is not
legitimate because no passage is required just that they take the exam. Some schools and departments have stopped
requiring the exam. Civil Engineering has
the requirement because of work on structures.
It is required for those who are in the HVAC area.
5. A. Senate Committee Reports:
1. Executive: The report was distributed with the minutes. The report was approved.
2.
4. Governance and Operations:
Dr. Williamson reported we have sent out the request for volunteers to
serve on University Standing Committees.
This is one of our two prong parts of shared governance. She encouraged the faculty to talk to young
faculty to advise them to get on these Committees and learn about university
business. After the spring break we
should have new senators. It is
important to have the faculty voice on these matters.
5. Personnel: No Report.
6. Undergraduate Curriculum: Dr.
Gaede reported they have one final item for the catalog and continuing to deal
with course approvals. Dr. Gaede
reported that the resolution that was passed regarding the student
classification would be amended to 0-30 hours is a freshman.
7. Undergraduate Scholastic
Affairs: No Report.
8. Finance and Resources: No
Report.
B. University Committees: Dr. Reeves
reported the Graduate Council will meet
C. Officer Reports:
Parliamentarian: No Report.
Ombudsperson: No Report.
6. Higher Education Day Report.
Dr. Karr reported Higher Education Day was last Thursday. He reported a bus went from UAH with about 39 people.
This was the second largest turn out for Higher Education Day. We were supportive of the Governor’s
budget. We were not supportive of taking
money out for other things. It was stressed
that next year’s budget should include 4% or higher if K-12 gets more. Everyone was encouraged to attend these
future events as it is educational and informative. It is also important that we have a good
showing because it does make a difference.
Dr. Karr and Dr. Reeves went to the House Chambers and sat in the gallery while they were in session. House members were debating some issues on the docket. The bill to take the money out of the trust fund was on the floor. The House and Senate were speaking against it. They voted yesterday 97-4. Some information was shared about one of the issues debated and the nature of the debates. It was expressed this was an educational experience.
7. Report from ACUFP Meeting
ACUFP—meets twice a year. The meeting
in the spring coincides with Higher Ed Day.
After the Higher Ed Day rally Dr. Karr and Dr. Reeves went to the ACUFP
meeting. They dad various people from the
Legislature and from ACHE and the lobbyist from the system. Gordon Stone was there. Person from ACHE could not answer
questions. Questions asked about program
duplication. Dr. Radonovich reported the
moratorium on new programs should end September ‘05 unless extended by the Legislature. He also stated that Core Liberal Arts viability
is being discussed in this meeting going on today and tomorrow. Core Liberal Arts programs that were given an
extension are going to be required to respond to the viability issue once
again. We do not know what we will do
yet. Music is one program and it is
essential to getting a Liberal Arts degree.
Dr. Radonovich believes having music on campus is more important than having
7.5 graduates per year. The possibilities
are to request an extension or waiver.
Exemptions and Extensions have been sought and granted in the past. It was asked if the numbers have ever been
challenged because they do not seem reasonable or logical. Numbers have not been challenged because it
is legislated state-wide. It was stated
it appears there is a conflict between the State Higher Ed and ACHE. The fight is with the Legislature.
Dr. Karr reported there was a budget presentation explaining the problem
with the budget. Years ago when we went
through proration all of education had to cut back. K-12 chose to cut one feature and Higher Ed
proposed to cut back on PEEHIP for retirees.
Last year Higher Ed had to come up with extra money to pay for
PEEHIP. K-12 did not. This year there is excess in the trust fund that
is being fought over. One issue is to
clear the books for Higher Ed by returning money paid for PEEHIP. This requires using the excess funding. Other elements are trying to use the funds. The Governor’s proposal is to use the money
to support the general fund budget.
Something has to happen with the general fund budget.
Dr. Karr reported at the ACUFP meeting all Faculty Senate Presidents
come together from around the State and compare notes. One of the things that is interesting is how the
Senate in some schools has had influence.
A&M went through the process of firing the President. The Faculty Senate took the position of not
endorsing any candidate for Presidency.
Wise for them because of the battle in the Board for who would be
President. UNA has a new president. The previous president was not someone they
supported. Some schools do not allow
faculty to speak to Board Members. In
some places all faculty are polled every year on the effectiveness of administrators
and the poll is distributed. Auburn has
a University Senate which includes administrators, faculty, staff, and
students. The Faculty controls the
senate as officers. Sometimes at some
places administration plays a role in the Senate and some do not. The
10.