Faculty Senate Minutes April 24, 2009

Attendance:

Faculty Senate Representatives	Name		College	Attendance
1.	Davis	D.	Arts & Sciences	Present
2.	Fowler	T.	Education	Present
3.	Garick	S.	Health & Behavioral Sciences	Present
4.	Hamilton	J.	Education	Present
5.	Haque	M.	Business	Present
6.	Harris	M.	Education	Present
7.	Jordan	T.	Health & Behavioral Sciences	Present
8.	Kincaid	K.	Health & Behavioral Sciences	Present
9.	Linstrum	K	Health & Behavioral Sciences	Absent
10.	McCallum	M.	Arts & Sciences	Present
11.	Owen	R.	Business	Present
12.	Reavis	D.	Business	Absent
13.	Walker	L.	Arts & Sciences	Present

     Others in Attendance: P. Black, C. Greig,  &  R. Stripling.

Approval of Minutes:

· No February minutes due to computer crash.  

Report Provost:

1. Travel to remote locations.

· Dean has flexibility in assigning additional points on faculty evaluations to faculty who teach at remote sites.

· Faculty may negotiate with deans for funding to support overnight stays at remote sites.

· In an emergency (weather, illness, fatigue), faculty may request funding for overnight stays but must fill out travel applications with justification for that funding “after the fact.”

2. Faculty Senate’s recommendations about Academic Program Coordinator job descriptions. Dr. Stripling stated that points A & B (below) are items that can be negotiated with the deans. For item #C, Dr. Stripling agreed but stated this would depend upon funding.

There were three recommendations from the Faculty Senate:

A. All consideration (i.e. course release or other consideration) be included in writing in the Academic Program Coordinator Job description.

B. Academic Program Coordinators be given 1 course release in each long semester (Spring & Fall) in programs with 30 student majors or more.

C. Academic Program Coordinators in programs with 75 or more student majors, be offered dedicated secretarial support for a minimum of 10 hours per week during each long semester (Spring & Fall).

3.  Budget

One end result of formula funding is that universities with the most growth receive more funding. This is a concern for our next funding. The 8.3 million exceptional item for downward expansion is expected to pass. In planning for our next budget three contingency plans have been made for different levels of cuts and same funding as last budget. Worst case scenario is cuts in faculty salaries, positions, and/or programs. Currently, this does not seem to be a likely scenario, because the Chancellor has stated no cuts in faculty salaries.

1. Chancellor’s Teacher Excellence Program

· Student participation was low, but results will be released.

· Dr. Stripling will review the process

2. Faculty Professional Development

· Funding is available and Faculty Senate is asked to make suggestions to a standing committee.

· Faculty Professional Development focus will incorporate university’s long-term goals.

Old Business:

1. Elections of Faculty Senate Representatives

· Due to the change in colleges

1.new college: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math [STEM]

2.reconfiguration of CASE into College of Education & Liberal Arts [CELA]

· STEM will keep McCallum as a representative

· CELA will keep Fowler, Davis, & Harris

1.Hamilton will be FS President next year and will not be a CELA representative.

· We do need to keep a record of representatives and rotation years.

2. Executive Committee:

· The Vice Chancellor of Technology for the University System will come to our campus to address technology needs and new campus.

· Amendment to Faculty Senate Constitution to reflect college restructuring.

1.Motion: To amend the Faculty Senate Constitution section 3.2:

“Twelve total senators, three each from  to include three representatives from College of Education & Liberal Arts; Business; Health & Behavioral Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math  shall be elected by their representative colleges.”  This amendment to the constitution is to take place immediately in order to allow time for colleges to adjust or elect senators.

·  Motion made by Hamilton; seconded by Reaves. Motion passed unanimously.

· Owen and Hamilton shared with the President and Provost the three motions from Academic Affairs committee:

1.The Faculty Senate requests that the Vice President of Academic Affairs mandate the following item be included on the agenda of all regular College faculty meetings: “Concerns and issues about the instructional environment and technology.” These concerns are to be communicated to the VPAA and Compiled for action followed by a timely response to the faculty.

2.The Faculty Senate requests that the President create a University Technology Committee that includes significant faculty representation. This committee will regularly review technology issues and advise the administration and Technology/Distance education on technology concerns, and will act as a primary communication link between faculty and Technology/Distance Education and the Administration.

3.The Faculty Senate request that the course approval forms (“Course Inventory Add/ Reinstate” and “Course Changes”) be altered to include: check box indicating when a course is to be cross-listed for undergraduate/graduate credit; a justification /explanation for the cross-listing and the differences in requirements be a stated requirement on the form; and appropriate graduate faculty qualifications are spelled out for the teaching the course.

3. Academic Affairs Committee: no report

4. Faculty Status Committee

· Currently deans do not have the flexibility to award anything under scholarship level 4 points or under final rating of three points other than what is on the current form.

· Motion: To change the scholarship and Creative Activity section of the faculty evaluations to include under “Scholarship Activities: 4 points each” Collaborative activity that makes a significant impact on the institution or discipline; and under Overall Rating: 3= Outstanding including one of the following: Collaborative activity that makes a significant impact on the institution or discipline.

· Motion passed unanimously.

5. Undergraduate Committee & Graduate Council

· Fowler presented and discussed the new syllabus template and the charts to assist faculty in knowing what and how to submit forms for program and course changes.

· Kincaid shared that she was working on further adjustments to the undergraduate syllabus template. Harris shared that she would work with Dr. Stripling and the technology department to put these items up online. Davis requested that it all be under “forms for faculty”.

New Business

1. Degree Planning & Student Services

P. Black and C. Greig came to Faculty Senate to discuss issues and concerns with Student Services and Degree Planning. Both stated that they are keenly interested in maintaining ongoing communications with faculty to address concerns.

Issues discussed:

· Faculty are often asked by students to sign documents for degree planning without truly understanding the purpose of the documents.

· Mistakes in reporting student absences impact financial aid and may result in the university being out of compliance with federal requirements for financial aid. This may cause liability issues.

· Must be in compliance with university rules, policies, and procedures, but faculty are often unclear about those, i.e., withdrawal, drop pass/fail.

·  Need to have a workshop for all faculty to clarify university rules, policies, and procedures.

· Need to have college level meetings to improve advising.

Unfinished Business for next meeting: Use of online social networking (tube etc.)

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Hamilton; seconded by Reavis; passed unanimously. Noon.

Submitted 5-15-2008 by M. Harris, FS Secretary/Parliamentarian