ABSENT WITH PROXY:
     ADSC:     Porter, Schoening
     LBAR:     Harwell
     ENGR:     Leonard, Nordin, Feikema
     SCI:         Kunin

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
     ENG:     Chittur
     LBAR:    Buksa, Hanks, Bliss
     NUR:     Hays, Lethbridge

2.     Draft Minutes of Meeting #392 were unanimously approved as corrected, after a motion by Joy
        Haralick, seconded by Laurel Bollinger.

3.      The Faculty Senate Executive Committee Report was approved after a motion by Craig
        Hanks, seconded by Joy Haralick.

4.     A. Senate Committee Reports:

            1.      Executive: The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be Thursday,
                    December 11, 1997, at 12:30 p.m. in Madison Hall 110.

            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.  Meeting next Tuesday.

            7.      Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs:  No Report. Meeting tomorrow at 2:30 in MH to
                     discuss business form the previous meetings.

    B.      University Committees:  No Report.

    C.      Officer Reports:

            1.      Ombudsperson:  No report.

            2.      President:      Dr. Bower commended the Senate on passing the Sense of the
                    Senate Resolution last week.  He commended them on leading the charge and
                    making an impact at the System and State level.  He commended them on the fact
                    that they understood the RSA issue when many others id not.  Dr. Franz conveyed
                    the resolution to the Chancellor.  Dr. Bower read the letter that went to the
                    Chancellor.  Dr. Bower read a letter he received from Howard Hawk and a letter
                    from Pete Turnham responding to the resolution.  Dr. Bower read a letter from
                    Margaret Garner of UAB adopting the resolution and forwarding it to the United
                    Paperworkers Union.  Dr. Bower reported that Dr. Delugach and he went to a
                    legislative hearings in Montgomery on Wednesday.  There were twelve university
                    presidents in attendance and ten faculty senate presidents.  There was an
                    opportunity for the faculty senate presidents to speak very briefly.  Dr. Bower
                    distributed the budget requests from ACHE.  Some areas are receiving significant
                    amounts due to promises made in the past and they are now needed.  There were
                    not a lot of questions asked about the 8%.  The Legislature appears to be
                    responding to the pressure but we need to keep up the pressure.  Representative
                    Knight asked the Presidents to go on record to commit the RSA funds to Faculty
                    Salaries.  Overall it was a positive meeting.  The Legislators appear sympathetic
                    but we must keep up the pressure.  The Faculty Senate Presidents were counseled
                    in open session by Holmes to put pressure on Clark and Siegelman and the
                    Governor.

           3.      President-Elect:  Dr. Delugach added that having the faculty there made a
                    difference.  Hand written letters succinctly stating the facts is effective but
                    having the people present is even more effective.  When you write or call be
                    specific and use concrete terms.  If the institution touches the rural areas let Dr.
                    Delugach or Dr. Bower know or write to Clark, Siegelman or the Governor.
                    There is the opportunity this year to do something about the problem.  Dr.
                    Delugach reiterated Dr. Bower’s comments of the pain level has gotten high
                    enough that faculty are leaving.  Many institutions are being pressed on the
                    number of minorities and the diversity issues.  There is some problem with
                    vacancies also, areas are not able to fill vacant positions.  At the end of the
                    meeting Parker stated they were glad to have the Faculty Senate Presidents there
                    and wanted to make it a policy to invite them to the meetings.

5.     President Franz:
            · Not Present—away preparing for the Board of Trustees Meeting.

6.      Provost McManus:
            · Dr. McManus reported he attended a Council of President’s for Dr. Franz last week and
            worked on the Budget with ACHE.  Dr. McManus wrote a letter to the Commission
            explaining the financial problems.  ACHE is supportive this year.  Dr. Franz committed the
            first 6% to salaries of whatever money we may get.  We must keep hitting the Legislature.  If
            what we are told is valid the split equals about 8%.  We cannot let up pressure until the
            document is signed.  Dr. McManus reported that some programs are being put on the
            inactive status as a result of some recommendations from ACHE on standards.  He reported
            that we are giving the Board a tour tomorrow.  The Board meeting begins this afternoon and
            goes through about 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

7.      Sense of senate Resolution on the 1998-99 Education Budget:  Dr. Baird and Dr. Delugach
        moved the resolution to the floor.  There was some discussion regarding the reason for the 8%
        and why not ask for more.  The origination of the 8% was discussed.  The vote was 34 in favor,
        0 opposed, 0 abstentions.  The resolution was passed by acclamation.  The questions was
        asked of Dr. Bower What Happens Now?  Dr. Bower requested permission to send the
        resolution forward to the representatives.  He stated he would also talk to Gary Smith about
        whether there is anyone else that might sign on with us as they did with UAB.

8.     Senate Bill 262: "Amendment to Appendix B of the Faculty Handbook".  Dr. Dimopoullos
        introduced and moved the bill to the floor.  The Committee worked on an old bill and
        unanimously approved  the new bill to send forth.  Mr. Warren seconded.  There was a
        question of the bill already being done.  It was explained that it was referred back to Committee
        and the Committee rewrote it.  There was some discussion regarding the fact that there was
        something about this in the 1989 Handbook and it was purposely left out of the 1995
        Handbook.  Why should it be included now, what is different?  Why would the one be
        approved when the earlier one was not approved.  It was pointed out there is a difference with
        this bill.  The vote was 32 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions.

9.     President Bower adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m.