Faculty Senate Minutes: 11-14-2008

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	Present
5.	Haque	M.	Business	Present
6.	Harris	M.	Education	Present
7.	Jordan	T.	Health & Behavioral Sciences	absent
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:   R. Cruz-Cano, B. Nutter, T. Gandy, G. Parongamali, T. Wagy, & R. Stripling.

Approval of Minutes:

· Motion to approve 10-10-2008 minutes by Hamilton; seconded by Davis.

· Motion passed unanimously.

Report Provost:

Dr. Stripling presented the A&M Texarkana policy for hiring a foreign national for a tenured/tenure track faculty position. This policy requires that the supervising Dean take one of three actions following the first year assessment: 1) Recommend immediate university sponsorship of foreign national faculty member’s permanent residency; 2) Delay the decision regarding a recommendation for university sponsorship; or 3) Recommend the university not sponsor the foreign national faculty member’s petition for permanent residency. For the first type of recommendation the timeline requirements would be met. For the second type of decision, the university would have to complete the recertification process. Recommendations will be based upon faculty evaluations (see policy for details). The system does not allow appeals of a negative recommendation.  The policy outlines the communication of all requirements and responsibilities to prospective candidates prior to hiring and to faculty member after hiring.

Dr. Stripling explained the rationale behind the new requirement that faculty members post all scholarship and service online. This procedure was designed to assist the university in reporting these accomplishments.

Announcements:

VPAA grant proposals are due Monday, 11-17-08.

New Business:

Posting Faculty Scholarship and Service Online

Points of discussion:

1. Faculty are concerned that this is an additional requirement to the evaluation criteria, after the start of a semester. 

2. Faculty have had difficulty with the posting due to technology problems.

3. Administration need to document scholarship and service at different points during the year.

Motion: The Faculty Senate recommends the systems for annual evaluations and administrative reporting be combined into one data entry format. Motion made by Fowler; Seconded by Reavis; Motion passed.

Reports:

1. Online Course Syllabus Format Committee

a. Gandy presented the proposed on-line syllabus format.

b. Motion to send this proposal to the curriculum committees by Harris; seconded by Davis.

c. Motion passed unanimously.

2. Executive Committee

a. Fall meeting with state council of faculty senates and system senates was discussed by Hamilton and Owen.   

b.  Monthly meeting with Dr. Rathburn was presented by Owen.

3. Faculty Status Committee: No report at this time.

4. Academic Affairs Committee

a. Harris reported on the Faculty Social held Nov. 13, 2008. The event was attended by 80 faculty members from Texarkana College & A&M Texarkana. Seating arrangements encourage people from similar or related disciplines to form discussion groups. Dr. Stripling presented on the Texas College Readiness Standards. Feedback on the event was positive, with the suggestion that more time be allowed for group discussions. Harris reported that the event was funded by both institutions and that both administrations were interested in having more joint events.

b. Motion was made by Fowler: Faculty Senate recommends that the university form a committee to address staff development events. Seconded by Harris. Motion passed with one abstention.

5. Undergraduate Committee

a. Fowler reported that UCC has discussed various problems with the process of curriculum proposals.

6. Graduate Council

a. Harris reported that GC discussed the similar [to UCC] problems with the process of curriculum proposals. The two committees will collaborate to find solutions to these issues.

b. Harris reported technical problems with the Curriculum Review websites have been resolved. She was scheduled to address the Deans’ Meeting today, to propose specific solutions to the process issues [assignment of tasks to staff and faculty].

Unfinished Business for next meeting:

· Travel issues, technology issues,  & program coordinator Job description.

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Hamilton; seconded by Kincaid; passed unanimously. Adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Submitted 12-1-2008 by M. Harris, FS Secretary/Parliamentarian