Roll Call: (Keith Woodbury) Roll called and quorum declared.

Absent: Bill Chaplin, Catherine Davies, Anup Agrawal, Jim Eddy, Debbie Novak

Minutes of March 20, 2001, meeting approved.

Pat Bauch, outgoing president, presented the new president, Norm Baldwin, with a gavel.

Norm Baldwin welcomed all new senators and asked each one to stand and give their names and departments.

The Faculty Senate Steering Committee nominated Bob Sigler as Parliamentarian. There were no nominations from the floor. By a unanimous vote, the Senate confirmed Bob Sigler as Parliamentarian and gave him floor speaking privileges. Bob does not have a vote.

The Tuition Increase resolution proposed by the Financial Affairs committee was initially drafted by Jim Otteson. The first section of the initial draft was softened and the amount of tuition increase percentage was debated. It was felt that the increase requested would carry an important message to the Board of Trustees. Additional messages were that a tuition increase must be granted to counter uncertain funding for the University, that the University must make strides to achieve the SUG and national average, and that a concrete, dependable solution must be reached to fund education in the State of Alabama.

It was moved that the amount of increase be 15% rather than 10%. Two main concerns were expressed by the Senate--the accessibility of higher education for all citizens of Alabama and the need to get the attention of the Board of Trustees for a permanent funding solution. A solution must be found to retain and entice quality personnel and to maintain a quality education. The University administration depends on the Faculty Senate for support for a tuition increase. Points were made that the amount requested is never granted and that a portion of the increase would be earmarked for financial aid. It was also suggested that the University overspends since the increase in funding in the last 20 years has increased from $55 million to $110 million. State funding 20 years ago was one-half of the University's budget and now it is one-third of the budget. The University is expected to take a leadership role and this resolution would be part of that leadership role. The Steering Committee unanimously supported the 10% increase; however, since the increase in tuition averages 5% a year, this would not be a dramatic message to the Board of Trustees which resists an increase every time it is proposed.

An addition to the resolution regarding property taxes was not approved. The Financial Affairs Committee will consider this issue in the future. Some opinions included that tax reform would dilute the message of the tuition increase resolution, that tax reform should be a separate issue, and that tax reform will not come without Constitutional reform. It is felt by some that the Presidents and Chancellors as one body are making a difference for higher education in the proration battle.

A motion for an amendment to the resolution to replace the 10% increase with a 15% increase over three years and modification of the chart and graph accordingly was approved by a vote of Aye 20, Opposed 13, and no abstentions. An amendment was proposed and seconded to add a Whereas clause "the state has not raised property taxes to fund education in a proper fashion." After discussion the vote was Aye 10, Opposed 18, and one abstention. The tuition increase resolution as amended passed by Aye 23, Opposed 10, and no abstentions.

The Constitutional Reform resolution was next discussed. Norm Baldwin provided examples of amendments that reflect the inefficiency inherent in the current Constitution of the State of Alabama. To make internal improvements in the State requires amendment of the current Constitution. The Constitution consequently has 705 amendments. The State of Tennessee's constitution is 22 pages and Alabama's is 750 pages. There was discussion of changing wording in the resolution including changing "almost" to "more than", "hundred-year old" to "century old" and adding "progressive tax reform". The Senate approved the resolution with one "Nay" vote cast and no abstentions.

Vice President - (Steve Miller) No report

Secretary's Report - (Keith Woodbury) No report

Guest Speaker, Pat Hermann, addressed the Faculty Senate regarding integration of the Greek system, which he has been working on this for eighteen years. A brief history was given about these efforts and included resolutions passed by the Faculty Senate in the 70's, 80's and 90's. According to a recent editorial in The Tuscaloosa News, fraternities and sororities are illegally supported by tax revenue. There have been many tireless workers involved in the advancement of Greek integration including Rob Ingram, Pat Bauch, and Norm Baldwin. The four recommendations made by Pat Hermann are: (1) that we return to the Greek Accreditation Program policy, which gathers data certification for eliminating racism, with a one-year window for compliance, (2) that the "white apartheid Greek system" disaffiliate with The University of Alabama, (3) that IFC and Panhellenic vacate their Ferguson Center offices this summer and (4) that the "white apartheid greek students" be given a one-year notice to move off-campus. The properties that fraternity and sorority houses sit on are leased for $100 per year. A study shows that each student subsidizes the Greek system an average of $50 per year through tuition and fees. The reasoning behind white apartheid is not to introduce blacks into a hostile situation. Extending a hand of fellowship could solve some of these problems. A well-qualified black student went though rush and was turned down by 15 sororities. Firm action is needed to avert problems and injustices such as this.

Pat Bauch is attempting to reintroduce to the Board of Trustees the Greek System and Diversity resolutions passed by the Faculty Senate last year. These resolutions were sent with a cover letter to Governor Siegelman, each individual member of the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Meredith, and Dr. Sorensen. The only response received was a brief notes from Governor Siegelman and Cleo Thomas thanking her for sending them the resolutions. She will attend the Board of Trustee meeting tomorrow and hand out copies of the letter and resolutions to each member since she was unable to be placed on the Board's agenda for this meeting. Hopefully, she will address the Board at their June meeting.

Margaret Garner of the Legislative Agenda Committee encouraged everyone to attend the final Legislative Breakfast in May and will send an email with more information. Also, everyone was encouraged to contact the legislators concerning equality in the proration cuts for K-12 and higher education.

Each committee met and elected co-chairs.

5:05 PM Meeting adjourned

WHEREAS The University of Alabama sets and maintains high academic standards for its diverse programs, and

WHEREAS these high standards require, among other things, recruiting and retaining quality faculty, developing and maintaining a technological infrastructure, providing strong library and information resources, and providing modern research facilities, and

WHEREAS University budgeting problems, such as the current crisis resulting from proration of the current fiscal year’s state education budget and reduction in the next fiscal year’s state education budget, are recurring, chronic, systemic problems, and

WHEREAS, the funding stream for the state education budget is tied to the erratic and unpredictable swings in the state economy through income and sales taxes, and

WHEREAS the University should increase its independence from these unpredictable economic swings and increase its ability to weather such budget crises by decreasing its dependence on political decisions and tax revenues,

WHEREAS tuition at The University of Alabama is the lowest in the University of Alabama System and ranked 21^st our of 28 in the Southern University Group (SUG)(see attached ranked list), and

WHEREAS a 15% annual increase in tuition in each of the next three years will move The University of Alabama an estimated 20% above the SUG average (see attached graph),

NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that The University of Alabama Faculty Senate recommends that the Board of Trustees increase student tuition by at least 15% per year for the next three years, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The University of Alabama Faculty Senate recommends that a commensurate portion of this increased tuition revenue be earmarked for increased financial aid.

Tuition of SUG Schools in Descending Rank Order

(Undergraduate Resident Tuition)

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Alabama is a mammoth document that is twelve-times the length of most state constitutions and contains more than 700 amendments, and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Constitution prevents self government through denying citizens and their communities the power of homerule, and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Constitution creates political and legal structures that work to the benefit of the wealthy at the expense of the general public, and

WHEREAS, this document provides an antiquated foundation for economic progress for the State of Alabama in the 21^st century, and

WHEREAS, reform of the Alabama Constitution will provide the foundation for tax reform that is essential for solving the recurring financial crisis in K through 12 and higher education,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama expresses its strongest support for reform of the Alabama Constitution and for tax reform, and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama applauds Governor Siegelman for his recent favorable position toward Constitutional reform and encourages the Governor and the Alabama Legislature to rally all of their political support, talent, and ingenuity to see that Constitutional reform becomes a reality in the State of Alabama.