392nd Meeting of the Faculty Senate
January 27, 2006
APPROVED
Present:
Senators Byrd, Curet,
Cutting,
Absent:
Senators Boggess (excused), Diaz (excused), Losiewicz (excused), Menger (excused), Merrell, Novoa
Opening Prayer:
The meeting was opened at 1:35pm with a prayer offered by Senator Oberle.
Approval of Minutes
for the 391st Meeting
Minutes of the 391st meeting were approved without correction with a motion by Senator Juarez and a second by Senator Curet.
Approval of Special
Session January 20, 2006 Meeting
Minutes of the Special Session were approved with corrections with a motion by Senator Juarez and a second by Senator Cutting.
President’s Report
Meeting with
President Cotrell (Jan. 11)
President Hampton reported that the meeting with Pres.
Cotrell centered on budget issues.
During the meeting
Senator Poyo asked about budget proposals that would leave unfilled faculty positions and asked if the administration was considering alternatives that would not place so much of the burden on faculty. Senator Pallansch stated that she did not believe that this was planned as a long term solution but that there would not be any hiring during the remainder of this fiscal year. This did not mean that open positions for next year would not be filled. Senator Poyo expressed the hope that unfilled faculty positions would not disappear permanently from the “wish lists” and proposals of the departments. Senators discussed the importance of department chairs monitoring the loss of faculty positions. Senator Cutting noted that this was the type of question that needed to be asked at the Chairs’ Meetings.
Senator Pallansch noted that as a budget director, she had not been consulted about how budget problems could be solved. Budget issues were staying with the Deans. Information was not being shared and consultation was not occurring with those actually dealing with departmental budgets.
President Hampton stated that he would talk with V.P. Manuel about this communication problem. Senator Byrd asked if the problem was universal. The Library Director had shared the communication that had been given to the Academic Council . As there were no representatives from SET and Business in the room, Senator Pallansch asked Pres. Hampton to send out a query to those representatives asking if their chairs were getting a chance to participate in budgeting decisions.
Senators discussed unfilled faculty positions and noted the need to document what positions were open but were not being filled.
Academic Affairs Committee Report
President Hampton reported that the revised Mission
Statement was endorsed by the committee and
will be sent to the entire Board. A
resolution was passed to change the name of the
To Do List
President Hampton passed out the Faculty Senate To Do List from Jan. 27, 2006 (see attachment) and discussed items which could be deleted because of work that had been completed. Issues that had been resolved, completed or answered were:
(From Existing Items section)
No. 2-- Faculty Handbook Changes—approval
There was discussion of this item and the need to make sure that procedures are being followed. One change which was approved regarding section 2.5.5 (Senior Faculty Review Committee appointments) still needs Faculty Senate approval. There was also a brief discussion about what Faculty Senate can and cannot change which included Faculty Senate ability to change its own bylaws.
No. 7--Senate Resolution on Presence of Administrators on Senior Faculty Review
No. 13--Committees Review of Senate Constitution and Bylaws -–no changes needed
No. 14--Length of Semester—in line with other institutions
No. 15-- Request of SACS report be available to faculty
No. 16--Request to see Board Charge re: Mission Statement Review
(From Items added section)
No. 2--Problems with Grievance Process in Summer—need to work on overall grievance process
No. 3--Employee Code of Conduct—faculty code of conduct is present in handbook
There were no Faculty Senate or University Committee reports.
New Business
Senator Maloney requested that Faculty Senate donate $200.00 to Women’s History Month events. Request was approved.
President Hampton also asked for Senators who would be willing to look at faculty workload issues. Senator Jacquemin noted that faculty workload needs to be documented in terms of how workload is evaluated that goes beyond class loads and how that evaluation is manifested in promotion and tenure decisions. This discussion will be continued at next Faculty Senate meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm with a motion by Senator Curet and a second by Senator Juarez.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marcella Lesher
Faculty Senate Secretary 2005-06