Faculty Senate Minutes: 9-12-2008

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	absent
5.	Haque	M.	Business	absent
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	present
10.	McCallum	M.	Arts & Sciences	present
11.	Owen	R.	Business	present
12.	Reavis	D.	Business	present
13.	Walker	L.	Arts & Sciences	present

Others in Attendance:  R. Cruz-Cano, V. Govindaswamy, A. Mojiri,  & R. Stripling.

VPAA Briefing:  Dr. Stripling

Topic:  The development of A&M-Texarkana procedures for the Employment of Foreign Nationals

1. Background Information:

· The system does have a policy. There is no one way all system universities apply this policy, or one set of procedures used by all system universities.

· Currently A&M Texarkana has no policy or set of procedures other than the system policy.

· Last year for the first time A&M Texarkana tried to support two faculty members with sponsorship and we learned the process as defined by the system and US government.

· The hiring university must certify no one in the US can meet the standards and expectations of the job. Paperwork must be completed within 18 months from the time of the hire letter for the Homeland security. If that timeline is missed, law allows for another timeline. From the difficulties of last years attempt to meet this process, A&M Texarkana and our lawyer decided we should develop our own set of procedures that are aligned with the system policy.

· Significant issues:

o Communication to the foreign national faculty clearly addressing the timeline for sponsorship and all expectations to achieve recommendation to sponsor.

o Costs to the University for the Sponsorship.

o Foreign national faculty could decide to leave the university after the university has sponsored them and invested the $10,000 fee for that sponsorship.

2. Dr. Stripling presented a proposed procedure for hiring Foreign Nationals, which Administrative Council has reviewed.

3. Dr. Stripling requested that Faculty Senate review the issue and the proposal and give her feedback. She explained that it may take significant time this academic year to finalize these procedures. Dr. Stripling responded to questions from FS.

Approval of Minutes:

· Motion to approve 8-27-2008 minutes by Reavis; seconded by Davis.

· One correction: delete: “for Friday, September 12^th in room 227.”

· Motion passed unanimously.

Elections:

· FS Vice President

o Confidential written vote resulted in the election of John Hamilton

· FS Representative to Graduate Council

o Motion to elect Harris; seconded by McCallum. Motion approved unanimously.

It was determined that election of the chairs of both standing committees: Academic Affairs and Faculty Status will be determined by the actual committees. Result of sign-up for these committees:

	Business	A& S	ED	HBS
Academic Affairs	Haque	Davis	Harris	Jordan
Faculty Status	Reavis	Walker	Fowler	Linstrum Kincaid

Old Business:

1. From Academic Affairs:

Issue: Should be have a committee to redesign our constitution into a FS Constitution and FS Bylaws?

· Motion:  FS will table this issue for a year. Motion made by Reavis; seconded by Davis. Motion approved unanimously.

2. Harris presented the basic design of the FS Website and the Curriculum review website. They should be open next week.

3. Chancellor’s request for Evaluation questions to be used for the Chancellor’s excellence award

· Motion:  FS Executive Board should develop and submit these questions to the Chancellor. 

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

· Background & Discussion:

· Chancellor’s requests each university contribute questions for this faculty evaluation. Garick attend a meeting this summer to address the Chancellor’s proposed award.  She reported that special funding will be used for these awards (not out of each university’s funds); Participation is voluntary. The evaluation instrument will be piloted at College Station and Kingsville.

· We’d like to know more details about the criteria.

· Owen has set up a discussion board for faculty input.  Everyone should encourage faculty to respond on this discussion board.

New Business:

1. Action on the proposed A&M Texarkana procedures for employment of foreign nationals.

· Motion:  FS will take no action on the proposed A&M Texarkana procedures for employment of foreign nationals at this time and explore this issue at the next FS meeting so we can hear from all interested parties.

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

· Discussion Comments:

FS needs the following information:

ü the process and timeline

ü costs of sponsorship and costs of search

ü how other system as well as Texas  universities handle this issue

If a committee is formed, it needs to include faculty members who are foreign nationals as well as faculty members who are not foreign nationals.

All policies and procedures must be clearly articulated in writing to candidates, and may need to become part of the explanation of tenure policy and procedures.

FS needs further discussions addressing two currently articulated policies:

· the use of the Dean’s discretion to recommend immediate application of sponsorship

· In the absence of a campus rule or set of procedures, the system policy applies.

FS would appreciate more information from the Academic Council and their perspectives on this issue.

2.  Jordan brought forth a concern from a faculty member:

Issue: How are the Organizational Excellence Survey results aggregated?

Discussion: FS representatives are asked to review the website presentation of the Organizational Excellence Survey so that we can discuss this topic next meeting.

3. It was decided to address the remaining “new business” at our next meeting. Agenda items should go to Owen.

4.  Meetings will be on the second Friday of the month, at 9:45 am.

Motion to adjourn by Davis; seconded by Linstrum. Motion passed unanimously.

Submitted 9-12-2008 by M. Harris, FS Secretary/Parliamentarian