UAHuntsville FACULTY SENATE

DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING #493

12 FEBRUARY, 2009

 

 

PRESENT:    

BA:                 Burnett, Bao

LBAR:            Bell, Pritchard, J. Johnson, Norman, Gyasi, M. Johnson, Heikes, Reeves, Seemann, Berbrier, Smith

ENG:              Anderson, Gaede. English, Gholston, Cassibry, Coe, Wessling, Lin

LIB:                Vaughan

NUR:              Showalter, Ferguson, O’Keefe, Linsky

SCI:                Mecikalski, Bishop,  Davis, Scholz, Edmondson, Zhang, Etzkorn, Ravindran, Miller

 

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

ENG:              Kulick

LBAR:            J. Smith, D. Ragsdale, Harwell

 

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

BA:                 Wilhite

ENG:              Banish

SCI:                Takahashi

 

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

1.                  Draft minutes of Meeting Number 492 were approved with an amendment.  Motion by English, seconded by Gholston.

2.                  Senate Executive Committee Report approved.  Motion by Linda Vaughan, seconded by Rose Linsky.

3.                  President Williams’ Report.

·        Dr.  Williams reiterated we are facing challenges at this university.  This is not news to you.  It started last summer.  Starting with open meetings where requested.  Start thinking about how to do things differently.  Trying to get a dialogue going.  Pleased you have put together a Committee to look at where to go and what to do.  There will be several million more dollars cut.  The financial situation is challenging.  These are real dollars gone and will not come back.   There are 43 jobs gone.  University Relations is gone.  Restructured Student Affairs.  Made changes in CNS.  Have no choice.  The System has mandated we will not operate in the red.  We must meet the budget needs.  We may be in proration again.  Do not hold out great hopes for the “stimulus package”.  Not recurring, only for 2 years.  We will not count on “stimulus package”.  Got to do something.  If we don’t do more with less and change—someone will do it for us.  Please come up with ideas.  We hired you because you are bright—come up with ideas.  Look at others and see how they operate.

·        There will be further cuts in personnel.  Must take decisions.  Have to do more with less—no choice.  Thank you for your Committee.  Need to start discussions yesterday.  Need decisions by March 2.  You as a group can find ways to do this. 

·        Provost and Ray working hard on budgets.  Deans have been given information on cuts.  As soon as have ideas will put on web.  Cannot count on tuition increase.  Get working with Board on data.  If cannot raise tuition will be further cuts—significant. 

·        Send ideas out—need more ideas and think about.  Not allowed to run in the red.  Have no choice—give ideas. 

·        Question:  Centers—are they a part of the realignment?  They are in the considerations.  We are working on a metric.  Looking at F&A.  Some cuts taken—others still to be identified.  Some areas shielded because if touched will harm the university.  We will keep information going out as we get it.  Have requests in for “stimulus package”. 

·        Applications are up 8%--want to see these become admits.  Research is up 16% in awards.  Advancement report is good.  Expect to see expenses up in Research and return on F&A.  All showing encouraging signs.  We must turn applications into yield.  We are spending on recruiting—down from others.  Need to be competitive.

·        Endowment base for scholarships challenged.  Board approved bond issue for Wilson Hall and selection of architect drawings for new dorm.  Approved signature authority for VPs, and NISP for Modeling and Simulation.

·        New UC—would love to have and look at in long term plan, but no money for it. 

·        Question:  Word “Charge—realign”.  Chancellor asked me to look at the university and see where changes are needed and are we serving     the community.  Examples—biotech, modeling and simulation, Hispanic community—we need to look at as we put together plans.  How do we best serve the community?  Is what we have now the best for the community and its needs and the needs of the students, etc. why not?  Wants to know what we already have and think about ideas.

·        Dr. Williams and Dr. Karbhari have spent time getting to know leaders in the community.  Met with Hospital leadership.  Reaching out to North Alabama health care management.

 

4.   Dr. Karbhari’s Report.

·        Dr. Karbhari reported a task force on health care should be reporting in the next few weeks.

·        Restructuring and budget issue closed related.  Opportunity to examine and ask questions if starting fresh how would we do it.  Give ideas.  Open meeting first couple of weeks of March. 

·        Co-ops—opportunity for all class levels.  Large source of financial aid for students.

·        DL Committee in place with Dawn Utley and Karen Clanton chairing.  Not for implementation but look at policies and issues.  We have been having sessions on Fridays.  Next Friday will be Don Bowyer and DL in Music.  Encourage all to attend.—get ideas. 

·        Budget models are being worked on with deans and it creates a model instrument for planning for next year.  Link what we do with what we get. 

·        Thank you for your help with the Open House.  And for working with Rick.  Appeal to students on a personal level.  Talk to students where you can. 

·        When we need an instrument to communicate with the faculty.  Not necessarily email.

·        We are getting quotes and looking at software that will allow us to set up schedules and look at overlaps and conflicts.  Need to have classes available and rooms available.  Coordinate classes.  Put under registrar.  Allocate space, etc.

5.         A.        Senate Committee Reports

                        1.         Faculty and Student Development

No Report.

2.                  Finance and Resources

No Report.

3.                  Governance and Operations

No report.

4.                  Personnel

No

5.                  Undergraduate Curriculum

No

6.                  Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs

We have a bill on the agenda today.

7.                  Faculty Handbook Committee

No Report.

 

B.         University Committees

                        No Report.                  

 

C.                 Officer Reports

1.                  President

2.                  President-Elect

3.                  Ombudsperson

 

6.                     Senate Bill 316:  64 Hour Policy (Second Reading):  This bill is about transfer hours and allowing them at any time.  Motion by Amy Bishop and Diana Bell.  The vote was 21 in favor and 5 opposed.

 

7.                     Sense of the Senate Resolution: Sharing Governance

                        Motion by Amy Bishop and Louise O’Keefe.  The vote was unanimous.

           

8.         The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.