UAH FACULTY SENATE

DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING #399

23 APRIL, 1998

PRESENT:

ADSC: Floyd, Schoening, Simpson

LA: Crouse, Bollinger, Dasher, Schenker, Hanks, Bliss, Sitaraman

ENG: Hayes, Leonard, Katsinis, Boykin, Wells, Swain, Bower, Wessling, Feikema

LIB: Warren

NUR: Brookman

SCI: Christy, Lawton, Lumpkin, Hinke, Richards, Kunin, Li, Zhang, Comfort, Miller, Lieu

ABSENT WITH PROXY:

ADSC: Porter

LBAR: Harwell, Waring

ENGR: Chittur, Ho Nordin, Frederick

NUR: Estes, Warren, McLeod, Hays

ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:

LBAR: Hutson, McDuffie, Buksa, Haralick, Williams

NUR: Lethbridge

SCI: Garstka, Baird, Delugach

1. President Bower called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

2. Draft Minutes of Meeting #398 were unanimously approved, after a motion by John Warren, seconded by Jack Ellis.

  1. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee Report was accepted as presented.

    2. 4. A. Senate Committee Reports:

    1. Executive: The next Senate Executive Committee Meeting is scheduled for April 30, 1998, 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.

                  1. 5. Personnel: No Report.

6. Undergraduate Curriculum: The Committee has approved changes and new courses. The Committee noted some duplication between Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The Deans are checking on this matter.

7. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs: No Report.
  1. University Committees: No Report.
  1. Officer Reports:
      1. Ombudsperson: No report.

2. President-Elect: No Report.

3. President: There will be another business meeting in two weeks (this will be the old Senate--1997/98) on May 7, 1998, at 12:30 p.m. in Administrative Science Room 114. This meeting will be to ratify the elections. Please be present or send a proxy.

The Education Budget is in Conference Committee. The $10M added by the Senate has been taken out. We need to put pressure on Lt. Governor Siegelman. They have to have two votes from each side, house and senate to carry any issue. We need another Senator on our side. We need the Lt. Governor to put pressure on the members to keep the $10M. Ask your representatives and senators to go to the microphone and speak out to keep the $10M in the budget.

The Administrative Council met Tuesday to discuss the budgets. Dr. Franz reported that all new money in the 1998/99 budget goes to salaries. There may be a moral as well as a legal obligation in this matter. Five percent increase goes to all meritorious employees (across the board). This applies to anyone not in the process of being terminated. Two percent of that five may be in jeopardy in future years because Mr. Bronner says the windfall may change and we may have to increase the institutional input to the retirement system. The plan is to add 3% to the VP units for equity and merit increases in addition to the 5%. The balance will be held at the President's level to address gross inequities in specific areas. One area that has been mentioned is the information services area, not just at the University level, but at the college level also.

There is an ad hoc group meeting to discuss ways to make research faculty appointments more attractive. They currently get a 30 day notice if the funding terminates. It is difficult to attract talent with that kind of factor involved. What is more attractive is not yet defined.

The deans and directors met today and discussed the budgets and salaries. Faculty will be considered line by line comparing with the Oklahoma State survey. The inflation figure will be calculated in the line by line comparison.

The bond issue was discussed. UAH should receive $4.8M. This will be used for two major capital expenditure projects. The Library expansion and a Sports Recreation facility. The Provost is seeking input for both of these projects.

Dr. Johannes reported at the meeting this morning on the SREC. This is a clearinghouse for distance learning. They have 77 undergraduate and 28 graduate courses. Anyone interested in proposing a course has two months to get the course through the appropriate channels of approval. The department approves it, then the university, then ACHE, then it goes to SREC. There are 105 classes out now. Fifty percent of the course content must be electronic.

  1. President Franz:
  1. Provost McManus:
  1. Sense of the Senate Resolution (Disposition of Senate Business during the Summer). Dr. Bower introduced and explained the resolution. Mr.Warren, seconded by Dr. Schenker moved the resolution to the floor. Line 13 was amended. The vote for the resolution was 33 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions.

8. Nomination of Senate Officers for 1998/99 by the New Senate. Dr. Bower described each office. Craig Hanks was nominated and declined the nomination. James Bliss was nominated for Ombudsperson and then withdrew from the nomination. Phil Richards self nominated for Ombudsperson. Dr. Frederick was nominated for president-elect by Dr. Wessling. Dr. Leonard seconded the nomination. Dr. Frederick was not present and will be contacted later to find out if he is willing to accept the nomination. Dr. Lawton was nominated and declined the nomination. A motion to close nominations by John Warren, seconded by Dr. Bliss. Ballots will be sent out to the entire faculty body for voting.
  1. Approval of Senate Committees for 1998/99 by the new Senate. A motion by John Warren, seconded by Dr. Hanks to approve the Committees as they were presented. The vote was 29 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions.

Business was suspended for a caucus of Senate Committees to elect Chairs for 1998/99.

The Committees reported the Chair elections to the President.

Faculty and Student Development (James Swain), Finance and Resources (Niles Schoening), Governance and Operations (John Warren), Personnel (Dan Schenker), Undergraduate Curriculum (Sharon Harwell), Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs (Craig Hanks)

10. President Bower adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.