The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. (48 Senators present).
II. The minutes of the October 22, 2003 meeting were approved.
• Report of the Executive Officer – Mickey Byrd
Proposed meeting dates Jan 21, Feb. 18, March 24, April 21. A question was asked concerning a conflict with advising. It was decided trying to avoid the open advising period only led to other problems. The dates were approved.
The Ad hoc Committee on Graduate housing has been at work and will bring important matters before the Senate at a later date. Senator Byrd commented on the recent election. He has been going to University Council meetings and Council is still resistant to changing the Personnel evaluation method. As we increase the selective admissions standards we increase retention rates, which is the good news. The bad news is that we also lower the available pool of students so the years 2005 on may be dark unless we increase our focus on retention even more.
IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:
A. Committee on Committees: Terry Clement, Chair. No Report
B. Ways and Means Committee: William Rieck, Chair. No Report
C. Academic Planning and Development Committee: George Thomas, Chair. Are considering whether to continue examining electronic instruction or move on to something else. No Report
D. Governmental Concerns Committee: Christian Okoye, Chair. No Report
E. Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee: Harry Bruder, Chair.
There are now 8 active FAC representatives from 8 committed institutions. They discussed a move by the System to put in place procedures to follow when a program is discontinued It apparently goes beyond policies for retrenchment and discussed procedures for determining whether a program will be discontinued. Particularly worrying is the attempt to define things that have always been taken of by tradition, with no problem. FAC has also been attempting to get more liaison with the System administration. Also they surveyed the representatives there concerning local procedures for post-tenure review. The representative are to investigate their campus for concerns regarding financial exigency guidelines and procedures for removing tenure for cause. Southeaster presented a petition protesting federal moves like the Patriot Act and the effect of this on libraries and on academic freedom. Presented a three page letter, which FAC reworked to one page and endorsed. Sen. Bruder took Sen. Womack's concerns over drop to the meeting Dr. Clausen suggested Sen. Womack take a demonstration of the fiscal soundness of the suggested changes and present them to the person who oversees such procedures for the House Appropriations Committee. The representatives understood the problem but felt DROP was not blindsiding people and that the procedures were explained.
V Reports of Special Senate Committees
A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: James McDonald, Chair.
Committee moved that the Faculty Senate request the administration to include the names and contact information of adjunct faculty in the Blue Key and departmental Web pages Seconded. There might be a problem with midsemester or single semester hires or with the schedule for revising staff. Passed. Also committee would like a complete list of adjuncts. The Senate Officer will get this. Also are concerned that adjuncts still in the Ph.D. program get paid less money that T.A.'s and get no fee waiver.
B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair. No report.
C. Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Club: Joe Riehl, Chair.
Met with Director of the Student Union. There is
presently little chance for space for a Faculty Club in the Union
, with in the next few months there will be talks concerning extending
the
Questions were raised concerning disposal of the Hawkins House. Leslie Bary moved that the Senate ask the Committee on the Faculty Club to investigate the precise terms on which the Hawkins House was left to the University, so that we may know what rights the faculty as a body may have to the building, and consider whether we can and/or should have access to it for use as a Faculty Club, for faculty housing, or other purposes on which the faculty may agree. Istvan Berkeley seconded. Passed
. D. Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Student Housing Concerns. Karl Volkmar, Chair Written report Attachment 2. Sen. Ferguson moved to adopt Version 2 of the Committee's Resolution. Seconded. Passed unanimously. Sen. Bary moved we accept it as a Senate Resolution Passed
F. Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Grievance Procedures John Greene, Chair. The committee is meeting and making progress.
VI. Reports of University Committees
A. Curriculum Committee: Paula Broussard, Chair. Written Report. Attachment to come.
B. Faculty Grievance Committee: Ron Heady, Chair. Written Report Attachment 3
C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Melinda Oberleitner, Chair. Written Report, Attachment 4
D. Library Committee: Allan Jones, Chair. No Report
E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis Deaton, Chair No Report
F. Parking and Planning Committee: William Dudley, Chair. No report
G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: James Flaitz, Chair. No Report
VII Lewis Gale gave a presentation on the formation of a Committee on Financing Professorships
VIII Unfinished Business
IX New Business
X. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Flynn
Senate Secretary