9/18/2014 3:40 PM | Meeting called to order by Tim Daniels
In Attendance
Senators: Dr. Christie Hough, Dr. Shane Warrick, Dr. Timothy Wise, Dr. Neelie Dobbins, Dr. Ron Smith, Dr. George White, Dr. Matt Lammers, Dr. Charles Young, Dr. Copie Moore, Dr. Abdel Bachri, Dr. Charles Keller, Mr. Tim Daniels, Dr. Sara Day, Dr. Alec Testa, Dr. Denise Moseley
Absent: Dr. David Sanson, Dr. Svetlana Paulson
Visitors: Dr. Trey Berry, Mr. Brad Stout, Mr. Paul McLendon, Mr. Jasper Lewis
Approval of Minutes
Minutes from the April 24, 2014 meeting were approved; motion by S. Day; seconded by A. Bachri
Special Orders of the Day
- Observations of the President
- President Daniels gave a brief overview of the Faculty Senate’s charge based on the Faculty Senate Handbook
- Seating of new Senators
- Senator Ron Smith was welcomed to the Senate, replacing Penny McLawn
- Senator Sara Day was asked to encourage the seating of a senator from the College of Liberal & Performing Arts to replace Marek Dojs
- Election of Parliamentarian
- Wise nominated S. Paulson to serve as parliamentarian; no other nominations; voted in by acclamation
- Election to Standing Committees
- Recessed by college to choose one Senator for each standing committee; reconvened with the following results:
- Handbook: C. Hough, A. Bachri, S. Day, D. Moseley (chair)
- Budget: S. Warrick, D. Sanson, M. Lammers, G. White
- Parking: T. Wise, C. Moore, C. Young, R. Smith
- Reports by the University Administration
- There were no reports from administration
- Recessed by college to choose one Senator for each standing committee; reconvened with the following results:
Unfinished Business
- Progress of Handbook Committee on consideration of proposed new committees
- Moseley will meet with Stacy Clanton and Roger Giles to be updated on last year’s work.
- Handbook Committee will write the standards of the newly proposed Advising Committee to make it a new University Committee.
Reports of Committees
- Because the official letters of committee assignments have not been received for this academic year, there were no reports given.
Other New Business
- Questions for the Administration:
- Textbook Costs: Textbook costs are becoming a critical financial burden for some students. What efforts have been initiated by the administration with the bookstore to control the cost of textbooks?
- Berry expressed concern about the cost of textbooks and that it has become an acute issue on our campus. He would like to see the Faculty Senate take on this issue as a project for this year. Discussion ensued. A. Bachri agreed to chair an ad hoc committee to investigate solutions. Others agreeing to serve were N. Dobbins, S. Warrick, and C. Young.
- Academic Fees: Many academic departments are dependent upon academic fees to serve student needs. Examples across campus include technology fees, laboratory fees, and fees for nursing courses. Some departments on campus report they have yet to receive fees collected from students in January. Some colleges were told that the spring funds would be available no later than August 13, 2014, but report they are still waiting. Can fees be distributed to academic departments on a prompt, scheduled basis?
- McLendon explained the scheduling of distribution of funds. He stated that he did not have enough staff to get the funds distributed any earlier, in part because of auditing regulations. After some discussion, he stated the possibility of a % of rollover from the 70/10 accounts. T. Berry suggested that he come to the next Deans/Directors meeting and talk about a target date for a certain % of funds to be released. He will give a report back to the Senate at the next monthly meeting.
- Other Matters Brought before the Senate:
- Faculty Evaluation:
- White spoke to the Senate concerning his views on faculty evaluation, tenure and promotion, and annual summaries. As reported by the Faculty Performance Monitoring Committee, less than 50% of the faculty completed the evaluation process as laid out by the Faculty Handbook. It was discussed that, while this has been the focus of one of the Action Projects through AQIP, it should be a project through the Faculty Senate. More discussion of this topic will take place in future meetings.
- Faculty Evaluation:
- Textbook Costs: Textbook costs are becoming a critical financial burden for some students. What efforts have been initiated by the administration with the bookstore to control the cost of textbooks?
Next Meeting
10/16/2014 3:40 PM, Reynolds 205
Meeting concluded at 5:00 PM; Motion to adjourn by G. White; seconded by N. Dobbins
