Minutes of September 22, 2004
I. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. (38 Senators present).
II. Welcome to the new members of Faculty Senate...
III. Report of the Executive Officer – Mickey Byrd
We have heard several reports on the subject of retention. Whatever else we may face in the coming year, it will pale in comparison with the System's attempt to tinker with the way we are evaluated. Politicians love the political meat market and the choicest cuts today are Retention Roast and Graduate Rate Grillades. They are part of accountability. There is some muttering about the powers-that-be want us to lower our standards. They don't care. Rates will rise as our entrance standards rise, but will need to enlarge our student pool. We need also to look into the problem of having to conform to several accrediting bodies. It is possible that some accreditation requirements for a department harm other departments and do not really improve the accredited department.
Sen. Byrd has been approached by the Petroleum Club. We can talk about this at the end of the meeting.
At the end of last year, Dr. Byrd announced he had found Osama Bin-Laden in the Texas National Guard. This is true, but the documents on which it was based are false. He apologizes.
IV. The minutes of the April 21, 2004 meeting were approved (Berkeley, Ferstel)
V. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:
A. Committee on Committees: Steve Knouse, Chair.
There will be a slate of candidates for Senate Committees at the next meeting. After discussion it was agreed that Adjunct Faculty may serve on Senate committees.
B. Ways and Means Committee: William Rieck, Chair.
No report
C. Academic Planning and Development Committee: George Thomas, Chair.
The Committee will meet next month.
D. Governmental Concerns Committee: Christian Okoye, Chair.
No report.
E. Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee: Harry Bruder, Chair.
Have been watching the legislature. Increasing emphasis on graduation rates and retention rates. J. Gentry. Would it be appropriate to call upon FAC to look into difficulties that may come with such requirements? Bruder: The pressure is decentralized. Each President gets pressure. What the Senate might be interested in is we are doing here about the requirements. There will probably a shift toward greater attention paid to undergraduates, in areas such as advising, etc.
VI. Reports of Special Senate Committees
A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty:
This committee needs a new chair. We will have a new chair by the next meeting...
B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair.
Everything is coming along fine. Please send your committee reports to the Secretary electronically, so that Sen. Ferstel may load them on the web site.
C. Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Club:
Deferred till later
D. Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Grievance Procedures: John Greene, Chair.
No report
F. Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Student Housing Concerns:
No report.
G. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Keith Dorwick, Chair
The committee will include faculty, T.A.'s and students. It has not met.
H. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment
Has not met.
I. Ad Hoc Committee on Treatment of Women
Has not met.
VII. Reports of University Committees
A. Curriculum Committee: Paula Broussard, Chair.
No report
B. Faculty Grievance Committee: Gil Carner, Chair.
No Report
C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Melinda Oberleitner, Chair.
No report.
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: Joey Dudley, Chair.
No report
G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: James Flaitz, Chair.
Restructuring
H. Academic Technology Committee Keith Dorwick, Chairman
The committee has met and is planning a series of white papers. We hope to have these done by December.
VIII. Unfinished Business
None
• New Business
Dr. Cicardo: Reported on health insurance. FARO was 105% over in its payments. They are projecting a 15% increase in rates to cover this. This is only a projection so far.
Sen. MacDonald: A number of colleges have not elected adjuncts. Secretary
Flynn mentioned that some colleges had no adjuncts; one had no one who wished
to run, and several that had not been heard from. MacDonald reported that he
had heard there was no election in the
Sen. Gentry asked Sen. Bruce Turner to report on temperature and humidity conditions in the library. The University has been keeping the system running, with some exceptions, and more monitors have been installed, but we are sill not within the guidelines. We also have not gotten a consultant in.
Sen. Dorwick: In addition to the Academic Technology Committee, there are two other ad hoc committees dealing with Academic Technology, one on Infrastructure and one on training. Both have been staffed. Sen. Dorwick will report on these when he reports of the permanent committee.
Senator Byrd wished to present a motion. Secretary Flynn temporarily took the chair to allow him to do this. Motion: Moved that the Senate request of the Administration that Mickey Byrd be
Allowed to observe all the procedures of the Mediation Committee and the Grievance Committee during the academic year 2005-2005. A. Observation is for procedural purposes only. B. Confidentiality to be maintained. Seconded. Passed unanimously.
Sen. Gentry moved that the Faculty-Senate request that the Executive Officer also be allowed to interview mediators and grievance committee members for 2003-2004 to see what can be learned to improve the process. Seconded. By Sen. MacDonald. Passed.
Sen. Byrd reported that the Petroleum Club needs new members and is willing to work out a deal with us. The facility is in place and excellent. This could be an easier way to implement a faculty club-like facility, if all the details are worked out. A motion was made by Sen. Dorwick, seconded by Bruce Turner, that the Executive Officer be authorized to continue negotiations with the Petroleum Club, with the proviso that the fees be reasonable to faculty of all levels. Passed.
Questions were raised concerning paving over McNasby. This has not come up at University Council.
Sen. Berkeley mentioned that the University gets a kickback from Navigant
Travel Agency, and that guards at
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Flynn
Senate Secretary