FACULTY SENATE
MEETING
February 20,
2001 - Ferguson Forum - 3:30 PM
Unapproved
Minutes
Secretary Steven MacCall
called roll and declared a quorum.
ABSENT: Harry
Price, Cornelius Carter, Bill Chaplin, Chuck Schmidt, Jerry Rosiek, David
Arnold, Michael Triche, Bill Andreen,
ALTERNATES: Giles
D’Souza for Jim Taylor
Minutes of the January 23
meeting were approved with minor corrections.
President's Report - (Pat Bauch) Pat
asked if there were any objections to the appointment to the University Mediation and Grievance Committee
of Nick Stinnet
(Human and Environment Sciences and Harold Bishop (Education), who had been
previously nominated by the Senate and agreed to serve. There were no
objections. The committee of Margaret Garner, Rob Ingram and Wythe Holt will
serve as a Nominating Committee to assist with the recruiting of new officers for the Faculty Senate
year 2001-2002. The President Pat Bauch
and Secretary Steven MacCall will not be available to serve next year. The establishment of proration has caused a reduction in the Faculty Senate budget
of $283.00. This amount will be
deducted from our operating budget since our budget does not contain itemized costs.
Vice President's Report - (Norm Baldwin) The ad hoc committee for
the Evaluation of Deans and Chairs
has met three times and formulated a tentative policy addressing the primary
concerns of the prior proposal. The
additional administrative cost of the evaluation and the timeframe for annual
reviews were primary concerns. This
committee will be lobbying deans to determine their objections/approval of the
new proposal. The ad hoc Distance Learning Committee approved
“quick entrance” (no review of
transcripts, ACT or SAT scores) for students who do not want to pursue a degree
but want to take distance-learning courses.
The Committee is also considering eliminating the registration fee for
those students not pursuing a degree but who are taking distance education
classes. A concern was expressed that
students could use this method to later enroll as a full-time student and
bypass the prerequisites required by the University. This is not a policy change of the University, but this concern
will be passed on to the committee.
Secretary's Report - (Steven MacCall) Letters to the Deans of each
school and college have been sent concerning the election of new senators.
It was requested that each senator that has completed their term check
with their departments to make certain they have a replacement. There will be an orientation for new
senators in April.
Action Items: Deborah Novak along with Gary Moynihan and Paul Ray
introduced a resolution honoring Dr. William Nichols whose untimely
death occurred in January. This
resolution with minor corrections (attached) will be sent with a cover letter to the
family of Dr. Nichols with a copy to Sid McDonald and The Board of
Trustees. This was approved by
unanimous vote of the Faculty Senate.
By-laws revisions - (attached) The Senate Operations
Committee brought forward two revisions to the
by-laws. Revisions have to be announced
at one meeting and voted on at the next meeting. These revisions were
previously introduced at the January meeting.
The creation of the Faculty Life Committee came about due to issues and
policies that did not fit neatly into the responsibilities of other
committees. There was also the need to
distribute the workload of the Senate more equitably. Six members will serve on this committee. This by-law change was approved with a two
minor revisions: the phrase
"domain of the Financial Affairs Committee" was changed to
"domain of other University Standing Committees." The phrase "one of the Faculty Senate's
most active and productive committees" was changed to "The Faculty
Life Committee has proven to be an active and productive committee during its
trial run." Discussion included
concerns about the number of committee members.
The
second resolution concerned the change in the January meeting date for the Faculty
Senate. The need to change the meeting
date revolves around the first day of classes following the holidays and the
need for committees to have time to meet and determine business for the Faculty
Senate meeting. The Senate approved
this resolution.
Faculty Life Committee - (Rob Ingram & Wythe Holt) The Faculty Life Committee
has been considering a Faculty
Mentoring Grant Program for some time. This committee wanted to formulate a mentoring program with flexibility
and standards not being put in place by other entities. This proposal includes: providing incentives for faculty to develop
innovative and informal ways of enhancing the opportunities for success of
non-tenured faculty, the development of mentoring activities, obtaining
feedback on their work, developing contacts with other faculty and, lastly,
increasing the rate of success among non-tenured faculty in achieving
tenure. A previous request for $50,000
for faculty development came from the Reward and Evaluation of Teaching
committee. By combining the mentoring
request for $50,000 with the faculty development request, brings the total
budget amount for faculty development to $100,000. (Rep. Tim Parker will be
presenting a $10,000 check for faculty development.) Further discussion from the floor included these points: some individual departments provide
mentoring; should this money be requested during proration; are colleagues
outside the University allowed to apply; and how will the money be spent? These
are details to be determined by the new faculty development office, should one
come into existence. Hopefully, this
program would encourage people to be innovative. The Senate was asked to be supportive of the intent of this
effort. If it is supported, it will
then go to the Provost. If it is not
supported, it will not go forward.
Funding for this program is uncertain in light of proration. The vote that this be presented to the
Provost was: the majority in favor with one "nay" and three "abstentions.”
The
UA System Strategic Planning Initiative
information presented by Margaret Garner was discussed. This initiative basically asks that all
three UA campuses have an articulation relationship providing for the review of
existing programs by the other two campuses regarding collaboration and the
establishment of new programs. The Faculty Senate previously requested a time
extension to the Systems Office.
Sandral Hewlett, chair of Academic and Planning Committee of the Board
of Trustees, met with Pat Bauch and Mike Wyss (UAB) concerning this
matter. She promised to look further at
this issue and meet again with Pat and Mike to discuss additional information and developments.
In
the planning process for the Strategic Planning Initiative document, there were
long intervals of time with the committee did not meet. This made it difficult
to provide input into the development of the document. The last meeting of the
Task Force was hurriedly called just prior to the document being presented to the
Board of Trustees. An ad hoc Committee
to Review the UA System Strategic Planning Initiative has been established,
per the request of the Senate President and the Provost. Its Committee members are: Margaret
Garner (chair), Director of Nutrition Education and Services, Family
Medicine; Provost Nancy Barrett; Ron Rogers, Asst. Vice President for
Academic Affairs and the Dean of Graduate School; John Dolly, Dean and Professor of Education; Jennings Bryant, Professor and Director of ICR, Communication, Telecommunication
and Film; Roy Ann Sherrod, Capstone
College of Nursing; Rob Ingram,
Ross-Culverhouse, Culverhouse School of Accountancy; Pat Bauch, Faculty Senate President and Professor, Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies; Salli Davis, Associate Professor and
Chair, English Department; Rona Donahoe,
Associate Professor, Geological Sciences; William
Dressler, Professor Department of Anthropology and School of Social Work; Robert Batson, Professor Industrial
Engineering;and Debra Novak,
Associate Professor, College of Nursing.
This
committee met and all related correspondence and documents were
dissimulated. The Graduate Council, the
Undergraduate Programs and Services committee and the Quality Council were
asked to review the Strategic Planning Initiative information and
documents. A number of faculty are
willing to review this material, also.
Possible responses to the initiative include an open forum, preparing
draft responses and canvassing faculty input.
It was requested that the senators also review this material to prepare
to answer questions from their colleagues.
Margaret and others have had two meetings with Chancellor Meredith and
Dr. Nash expressing concerns about the procedure followed and the lack of time
and opportunity for the faculty to review the initiative. The Chancellor agreed more time is
reasonable and extended the date to March 1.
In talking with the Chancellor, he suggested to Margaret that she
propose a plan. Part of her proposal
included the need for the entire semester to conduct a review, that the
Strategic Planning Initiative document go back to the original Task Force, and
that all three campuses respond to the Task Force. During the work of the Task
Force, UAH and UAB changed their
representation on the Task Force twice. Both institutions had an interim
Provost at the time.
Margaret
encouraged the Senators to refer to the Faculty Handbook, pages 10 and 11
dealing with curriculum. It can be found on the Faculty Senate Web Page. A proposal passed last year by the Faculty
Senate stated that any matter deemed important by the Faculty Senate can be
brought to a vote through a faculty wide referendum. The ad hoc Committee to Review the UA System Strategic Planning
Initiative will deal with the initiative diligently and firmly. It was recommended that comments from any
department or faculty that deals with problems and delays with academic
collaboration be forwarded to Margaret Garner.
At some point, it is a possibility that something will be put in place
to solicit this information. All
information and correspondence regarding this initiative is on the web site.
Academic Affairs - (Don DeSmet & Steve Miller)
Some proposed
changes in academic regulations (distributed)
originated in the Academic Affairs committee and the Undergraduate Programs and
Services committee. The following
issues are under consideration:
freshmen signing a waiver of confidentiality allowing the University to
keep parents informed of the student's progress, particularly during the
freshman year; issuing midterm grades for all freshmen; changing the standards
for withdrawing from class; academic forgiveness; eliminating the grades of WP
and WF; policy concerning withdrawal from the University; academic bankruptcy
and the review/revise course repeat policy.
One of the primary concerns is to find ways to increase freshmen
retention. A number of questions and
concerned were raised:
The biggest problem (so far) seems to be with the extended drop period. Some faculty have questioned this idea because in some courses a lot of effort goes into each student enrolled (grading homework, papers, etc.). If a student drops after 10 weeks this effort is, in a sense, wasted. I perceived another problem: Mid-term grades are proposed only for freshmen but, because some of the recommendations interlock, there may be some confusion about which regulations apply to freshmen only and which apply to all undergraduates. There has not (yet) been much objection to the idea of mid-term grades, but if it turns out in practice that these don't do any good, or are ignored, or aren't followed up on then I predict that there will be a lot of complaints.
There is also a feeling on the part of some faculty
that "administrators" may end up assigning grades (even if just WP);
they don't like this.
After
discussion of these changes, a sense of the body was requested. The vote was in favor of the Academic
Affairs Committee continuing to work with the Undergraduate Program and
Services Committee on this document in the direction they have taken. The
Senate will see the final draft and have an opportunity to comment on it before
policy changes are made.
Faculty Life Committee - (Rob Ingram & Wythe Holt) No report.
Financial Affairs Committee
- (Deborah Martin & Keith Woodbury) This committee spoke with the Provost concerning proration. Their report is on the web page.
Planning & Operations
Committee - (Marcia Barrett & Bill
Keel) ACHE draft data is under
"Miscellaneous Documents" on the web page. The senators were urged to review this vitally important
data. Sandra Woodley with ACHE will be
invited to speak to the next Steering Committee meeting on the progress that is
being made to report faculty workload data to the legislature.
Research & Service - (Bing Blewitt) The report of this committee
concerned a complaint by a University employee regarding merit raises. This committee directed the employee to the
proper channels.
Student Affairs Committee - (Rob Ingram & Dexter Gordon) - This committee will be meeting with the
Office of Student Affairs this week and will have a report at our next meeting.
Legislative Agenda Committee
- (Margaret Garner)
The
Legislative Breakfast Meeting had 65 attending but if this is to continue, more
faculty participation is needed. The
next breakfast meeting will be March 2 with the entire Tuscaloosa legislative
representatives being invited. A notice
will be sent out regarding this meeting.
Everyone was encouraged to review the information on the web sites to be
properly prepared to ask questions of these legislators. Letters, FAXs, e-mails to the legislators
are desperately needed. Drastic cuts in
the University's budget are possible. A
court case being reviewed at this time would exempt K-12 from proration. This would place the full impact of
proration (18-20%) on higher education.
The budget for next year proposed by the Governor retained a 6.2%
proration cut for the University.
Please contact your legislator.
March 6 is Higher Education Day in Montgomery. The last two years, 1,000
and l,200 have attended. A bus
departs at 7:30 AM and will return by 5:00 PM.
This will include lunch and a rally.
There
was further discussion concerning dismissal of classes during Higher Education
Day and support for higher education.
A
letter written by University employees to Governor Siegelman was read by Pat
Bauch (See attached.)
Meeting
was adjourned 5:20 PM.
WHEREAS the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama wishes to
honor the memory of Dr. William G. Nichols, a member of the faculty of The
University of Alabama, and to express its appreciation for his 29 years of
service to the University; and
WHEREAS Dr. Nichols joined the faculty of The University of Alabama
in 1971, teaching here until his recent death in January, 2001; and
WHEREAS Dr. Nichols served as associate professor of industrial
engineering, acting chairman of the Department of Computer Science from 1983 –
1986, and Interim Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering from 1999 –
2000; and
WHEREAS Dr. Nichols was active in the Tuscaloosa community,
particularly the First Presbyterian Church where he served as elder, deacon and
Sunday School teacher; and
WHEREAS Dr. Nichols
was recognized as a compassionate and dedicated teacher who worked tirelessly
and unselfishly with his students, peers and administrators
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama that it
extend to the family of Dr. William G. Nichols, including his wife, Claire Van Winkle
Nichols, his daughter, Amanda Claire Nichols, and his son, William Frank
Nichols, its heartfelt sympathy, express gratitude for his many years of
outstanding, dedicated service, and let this resolution be so noted in the
Minutes of the Faculty Senate.
RESOLUTIONS FROM THE SENATE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
CONCERNING BY-LAW CHANGES
WHEREAS the ad hoc Faculty Life
Committee of the Faculty Senate has addressed significant issues and concerns
that have not fit neatly under the jurisdiction of the current standing
committees of the Faculty Senate, and
WHEREAS the ad hoc Faculty Life
Committee has proven to be an active and productive committee during its trial
run, and
WHEREAS the ad hoc Faculty Life
Committee has helped distribute the workload of the Faculty Senate standing
committees more evenly,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the
bylaws of the Faculty Senate be amended to incorporate the Faculty Life
Committee as a permanent standing committees of the Faculty Senate.
Moreover,
be it resolved that the responsibilities of the Faculty Life Committee be
described in the bylaws as follows:
The Faculty Life Committee addresses issues relevant
to the general welfare and quality of life of the faculty. These issues fall outside the teaching, research,
and service roles of the faculty and outside the domain of other standing
committees. Such issues include, but
are not limited to, nonpecuniary faculty benefits, faculty rights, faculty
diversity, and faculty relations with the surrounding community.
Moreover, be it resolved that the approximate number of members of the Faculty Life Committee be six senators.
WHEREAS January marks the beginning
of Spring semester, and early January is an unusually busy time for faculty,
and
WHEREAS the bylaws of the Faculty
Senate prescribe the third Tuesday of January to be the January meeting date of
the Faculty Senate, and
WHEREAS this meeting date and the
demands of the beginning of Spring semester sometimes makes it difficult for Faculty Senate standing committees
to conduct business in preparation for the January meeting,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the
bylaws of the Faculty Senate be amended to establish the fourth Tuesday of January to be the alternate January monthly meeting date of the Faculty Senate.
Note:
Article III Section 1(3) of the Senate Bylaws specifies that the Steering
Committee meeting is conducted the week prior to the Faculty Senate
meeting. This resolution would
consequently make the Steering Committee meeting the third week of January.
IN-TEXT BY-LAW AMENDMENT REVISIONS BASED ON
RESOLUTION
II ABOVE
The Senate will meet on the third Tuesday, August through November and January through April and the second Tuesday of December at 3:30 p.m. in locations to be determined by the Steering Committee. If the third Tuesday falls during a time when the University is not in session, the Senate will meet on the second or fourth Tuesday, as the Steering Committee determines, and the meetings of Senate committees may have to be adjusted appropriately. If spring semester begins on a date that makes it difficult for Senators to prepare for a Senate meeting on the third Tuesday of January, the Senate may meet on the fourth Tuesday of January, as the Steering Committee determines. The Senate may meet also on the fourth Tuesday, August through November and January through April and the third Tuesday in December in order to finish the business of the month, and Senators should keep this date free on their calendars. If the Senate meets on the fourth Tuesday of January, it may meet also on the first Tuesday of February in order to finish the business of the month. The Senate will also meet at other times, including the summer months, and at locations, as decided by the Senate or the Steering Committee. The regular meeting times and locations shall be decided for the upcoming year by the Steering Committee at its August meeting, Senators will be appropriately notified, and the information will be published in Dialog and/or other publications deemed useful.
(Faculty Life Committee)
We
request that the Office of Academic Affairs make available approximately
$50,000 each year for competitive grants to support faculty mentoring and
development initiatives.
The money will be used to fund competitive grant applications from individual faculty and faculty groups.
Goals
of the program include:
Details
of the application and selection process will be worked out with OAA; however,
we envision the following: