The Secretary called the roll.  The following Senators were absent:  Steven Miller, Ann McFadden, Phillip Johnson,  Perry Wheless, Dennis James, Virginia Wimberly

Approval of Minutes

The Senate, upon motion and second, unanimously voted to accept the minutes of the February meeting.

Election of Officers

The following slate of officers were nominated and elected by acclamation - Pat Bauch, President, Norman Baldwin, Vice President and Stephen MacCall, Secretary.

President's Report (Rob Ingram)

Distinguished Service Award Committee

The Senate has the authority of creating a Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award Nominating Committee.  The committee reviews any nominations for this award, the only award given by the Senate for service to the faculty, and can make recommendations to the Senate.  The committee has five members, none of whom can be current members of the Senate.

Rob proposed the following slate for this committee: Peggy Jessie, Community Health Sciences; Rona Donahoe, Geology; Bob Holly, English; Jim Richardson, Engineering; Amy Ward, Biology).  A motion was made to accept this slate, which was seconded, and passed unanimously.

Rob indicated that any nominations could be sent to him and that he would forward them to the committee.

Proposed Update of By Laws (attached)

The rules of the Senate state that changes in the by laws should be presented at one meeting of the Senate and voted on at the next meeting.  These proposals are the addition of description of the duties of the committees (Sec. III, Items #5-11) and minor wording changes.  The point was made that the Parliamentarian serves as a resource to the Senate but does not participate in decisions made by the Senate and should this be stated in the by laws.

Resolution from Planning and Operations (attached)

This resolution was presented with the wording changes noted and was passed unanimously.

Rob Ingram thanked the Senate for the opportunity to serve as the President this past year.  It was a broadening and learning experience for him.  He expressed his sincere appreciation for this opportunity.

Faculty Diversity Committee

This committee will address the problems of making new faculty more comfortable and welcome to this campus and to find a way to make faculty more aware of problems that need to be addressed.

New Telephone Rates

There was a complaint about the telephone rates charged on campus.  The University purchases the telephone service and then charges faculty and students for that service.  The money was being used for technology and other purposes.  The telephone rates have now been reduced to 16 cents per minute on weekdays and 10 cents per minute during evenings and weekends.

Vice President's Report (Pat Bauch)

The Mediation and Grievance Committee suggested changes to the Provost and she forwarded those to the Deans.  There was a memo from the Provost sent to Pat expressing changes that she wanted made.  Pat would like to pass these revisions and memo along with Pat's suggested response to the Academic Affairs Committee to examine.   The Provost will be informed that work is still in progress on this report and should be completed and forwarded by the Senate by the beginning of the fall semester.

The Evaluation and Reward of Teaching Awards - The Provost liked the idea proposed of a Faculty Development Center and asked the committee to come up with a plan.  This committee is meeting Wednesday, March 22.  Pat has asked Carmen Taylor to accept the chairmanship of this committee since Pat will be serving as President beginning April 1.  Carmen has accepted and Pat stated that Mike Roberts has been of great assistance to this committee.  Also, if anyone has suggestions or ideas relating to this project, please pass them along to Pat or Carmen.

Chancellor Thomas Meredith

A motion was made and passed unanimously to suspend the rules to allow Dr. Meredith to speak.

Chancellor Meredith began by thanking the Senate for its contributions and active support in the budget and other matters before the University.  Margaret Garner expressed the thanks of the Senate for his supportive actions in getting the Board of Trustees out in front publicly for the University system.  The Chancellor coordinates the Board contacting political and influential people on behalf of the University system.   The University of Alabama has continued with increase in enrollment where most institutions in the state have dropped in enrollment.  We also have excellent quality students and have had outstanding research advances.  A Purchasing Alliance was formed by the three campuses in the system with some outstanding money-saving results.  Insurance was purchased for all three campuses instead of individually which saved a lot of money and this continues to expand.  Strategic Initiatives brought together the three Presidents, three Provosts, three Faculty Senate Presidents and some staff members to decide what could be done to better utilize the talents on all three campuses to improve our state and nation in the areas of academics, administration and teaching and learning K-16.  This report is due in May.  Dr. Chuck Anderson is over technological advancement in the System Office.  The budget was restructured and this was not an additional cost.  Dr. Charles Nash heads up the P-16 initiative with the members from K-12, two and four year institutions appointed by the Governor to study ways to work together to improve education in our state.   There is certainly more advantages to education working together than to be divided into factions.  There is a K-12 feedback system which has reports sent back to the high schools stating the progress of the students they send to the University.  This determines if the high school has a particular problem in a particular subject but also serves to make the University aware if there is a problem with its procedures.  Alabama Research Alliance works to bring money to do research to produce new jobs, new businesses and research facilities.  The Legislative Update - Governor Siegelman has recommended a 5% increase this year for this campus plus a bond issue that produced 12-13 million dollars which will go to the new building (AIME building) on campus.  Dr. Meredith reminded everyone to continue to remind our legislators to keep higher education uppermost on their priority list.  Dr. Meredith will be heading up a protest of the across the board funding increase for higher education.  Research institutions are more expensive to operate.  The Councils of Presidents of all four-year institutions and ACHE approved.  So far there is no discussion in the Legislature to do this differently.   Higher education has more friends in the Senate than they do in the House.  There is a bill before the Legislature which will give K-12 teachers mandated raises from the educational budget.  If this bill passes, it would be at the expense of higher education.  K-12 teachers rank 23rd in the nation, new teachers rank 8th and University faculty rank 43rd.  If this bill passes, in three years we will be out of money - no raises and cuts will be likely.  Everyone is encouraged to call and write legislators to kill House Bill 204.   It is critical that this bill not pass.  Chancellor Meredith concluded by taking questions.

Secretary's Report (Norm Stein)

The reimbursement task force (Norm Stein and Bill Andreen) met with Reba Essary concerning travel and other university reimbursement policies.  Norm reported the following:

1. The University has decided that it will allow reimbursement to be requested in two steps when a department lacks current funds to make full reimbursement, but will have additional funds available.  Faculty in this position should file a voucher listing all their expenses, but they will initially be reimbursed at the level the department can fund.  When more funding becomes available, the university will make future reimbursement.
2. When meal fees are a separate registration  charge, the University will now pay in advance with documentation.
3. If the Faculty Senate writes a memo to Reba Essary, the University reimbursement committee will consider raising the maximum daily meal travel allowance, which has been set at $45.00 for approximately a decade.
4. The University will consider the policy regarding automatic reduction in meal allowance when a meal is shown on a conference report.   The Universiry will consider adopting a policy in which a faculty member will not experience an automatic reduction in meal allowance If there is a reason a faculty member cannot attend a conference meal
5. The university may also reconsider the policy requiring the filing an expense voucher within 60 days for reimbursement without tax withholding.
6. The request that the University reimburse the actual mileage rather than the standard 60 miles to the Birmingham airport was rejected.  Ms. Essary reported that this reflects state law.
7. Reba also said that her office might adopt a policy in which an initial decision can be reviewed by someone with greater discretionary authority.

Senate Committees

Rob reminded the committees that at the April Faculty Senate meeting a short annual report of the committee's activities should be available for the new committee.  If those are received in time, they will be attached to the agenda.

Academic Affairs  (Don Desmet & Carmen Taylor)

 The issue of students being paid to attend lectures and taking and selling notes is one this committee is addressing.  The University has formed a task force headed by Dr. Charles Osburn.  This is an issue they are also investigating.  The Academic Affairs committee decided to wait on the results of the task force.  If there are other related issues that needs to be considered in this area, please pass those on to Don or Carmen.  This committee is also looking at the computer support for the University.  There are some colleges that are in pretty good shape and others that have no support at all.  It is very much a fragmented situation.  Rob recommended to the Provost that this should be moved to a top priority on her agenda.

Financial Affairs  (Norman Baldwin & Robert McLeod)

This committee has received data from Institutional Research.  Salary compression and gender equity are some issues being addressed.  They are waiting on a legal report on licensing sweatshops.  They will pass this information along to the Faculty Senate.

Planning & Operations  (Marcia Evans & Jerry Webster)

Diversity resolution has been presented and approved.

Research & Service  (Bing Blewitt & Stephen MacCall)

No report.

Student Affairs  (Jim Taylor & Dexter Gordon)

The resolution being worked on by this committee is having the wording restructured and will be brought before the Senate at a later date.

Senate Operations  (Bill Andreen & Bill Motes)

No report.

University Standing Committees

Information Technology Committee (Stephen MacCall)

Candidates are being interviewed for an opening at Seebeck and should be finished in April.

Legislative Agenda Committee (Margaret Garner & Scott Bridges)

Margaret Garner reiterated what the Chancellor said that House 204 must not pass into law.  It is only a salary bill and salary is the only item it addresses.  The Governor has stated that he will veto the bill if it does not have a tenure clause.  Tenure is totally different for faculty and K-12 teachers.  Tenure for University faculty is a peer-reviewed process and goes through administrative channels annually until tenure is achieved.  K-12 is longevity - four years and those teachers are tenured.  University faculty raises are merit driven - K-12 raises are a percentage across the board no matter what kind of job performance you have.  If this passes, it will bankrupt the Education Trust Fund.  Higher education was a big factor in the election of Governor Siegelman and he should be for all education.  Another bill would have to be passed to undo this mandated raise for teachers should it pass.  There is no provision made if at the end of two or three years there is no money available.  A sincere plea was made for everyone to write and call to stop the passage of this bill.  Faculty must become involved politically to preserve The University of Alabama.

5:10 PM  - Meeting adjourned

Whereas, The University of Alabama Faculty is dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a learning environment which respects and enhances the potential of all members of its community, and

Whereas, the creation of this environment is central to The University of Alabama's mission to achieve excellence in research, teaching and service, and

Whereas both increasing international emphasis and increasing diversity are part of The University of Alabama's strategic plan, and

Whereas, The University of Alabama bears a special moral and ethical responsibility to promote diversity and inclusiveness, and

Whereas, acceptance of diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, or physical challenges are critical to responsible leadership and citizenship, and

Whereas, silence in response to individual and institutional racism, sexism, and bigotry, facilitates their perpetuation if not contagious expansion, and

Whereas, all faculty at The University of Alabama have an ethical obligation to promote a positive learning environment in their roles as educators and mentors and to act in ways that develop mutual trust, shared power, equitable benefits, and positive results for all, and

Whereas race exclusive units and departments still exist at The University of Alabama,

Be it resolved, that The University of Alabama Faculty Senate reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of tolerance of or respect for, if not celebration of, diversity in all aspects of University life, and to the dismantling of racism in all its forms, and

Strongly urges all faculty to redouble their efforts towards these ends, including

Direct challenges to all instances of prejudice, racism, sexism and bigotry, and

The promotion of a healthy, inclusive and welcoming university community which attracts a diverse student body, faculty and staff representative of our increasingly multi-cultural society, and

Endorsement and active support for all other initiatives towards these ends.

Proposed Revisions to Bylaws

Section 1. Senate Orientation.

Section 2. Steering Committee.

Section 3. Standing Committees.

1. There shall be standing committees on:

• Academic Affairs (11)
• Financial Affairs (9)
• Planning and Operations (5)
• Research and Service (5)
• Student Affairs (5)
• Senate Operations (3)

2. Subject to reasonable exceptions to accommodate the needs of the Senate and the interests of senators, each senator ordinarily will have one standing committee assignment. The number of members shall be approximately that indicated in parentheses for the respective committees.
3. After the orientation session and social occasion described in Section 1, the Secretary will ask each Senator to list preferences for assignment to the Senate's standing committees. After consultation with those who served as chairs of standing committees the previous year, the Secretary will assign each Senator to his or her first choice, if possible, and using second or third preferences where first preferences are unavailable. Senators who have indicated no preference by the second Tuesday in April shall be assigned to committees by the Secretary. All such assignments are subject to the approval of the Senate. The Secretary will distribute the tentative assignment of Senators to committees with the agenda for the regular April meeting. The first order of business for the regular April meeting will be to debate the assignment of Senators to committees, to reassign if necessary, and to confirm the final assignment by vote of the Senate. The President of the Senate will thereupon name convenors for each of the standing committees, and following the close of the regular April meeting each convenor will hold a brief meeting of each standing committee for purposes of establishing a place for meeting, if necessary, before the next scheduled meeting of the Senate steering committee. By the end of April, each standing committee will elect a chair or co-chairs from among its membership; if a chair is selected it may elect a vice-chair. Each chair or co-chair of a standing committee serves as a full member of the steering committee. Each standing committee will normally meet on the first Tuesday of each month from September through November and January through March, and at other times as desirable.
4. Standing committees will inform themselves, on their own initiative or pursuant to specific instructions from the Senate, concerning matters of current concern within their respective jurisdictions. Standing committees, directly or through their chairs are expected to seek and maintain continual dialogues with the vice presidents in charge of the areas of University affairs in which the respective committees have jurisdiction. Monthly meetings are an example of a mechanism for such dialogues. The committees shall make such reports and recommendations to the Senate as they deem appropriate or as the Senate requires.
5. Senators are expected to attend meetings of their standing committees. The absence of a Senator from a regularly scheduled committee meeting may be referred by the chair or co-chair of the committee to the Senate Operations Committee. Senators who regularly fail to attend committee meetings and do not provide for the attendance of alternates may be replaced on the committee.
6. Committee on Academic Affairs. The Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for considering issues which relate to instruction, curriculum, academic standards, academic freedom, collegiality, tenure and promotion, and other issues which directly affect the learning environment of the University and the quality of its intellectual life. Questions relating directly to research and service, financial issues, and student issues will, however, normally be referred to the appropriate committee of the Faculty Senate.
7. Committee on Financial Affairs. The Financial Affairs Committee reviews financial issues that are pertinent to the University community and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate concerning these issues.
8. Committee on Student Affairs. The Student Affairs Committee advises the Faculty Senate on issues related to the social and academic development of students.
9. Committee on Research and Service. The Research and Service Committee is charged with studying and making recommendations on matters that affect the research and service component of faculty life.
10. Committee on Planning and Operations. The Planning and Operations Committee studies the allocation of resources within the University and works to ensure communication between faculty and administration in relation to resource policies and allocations, advances proposals consistent with Faculty Senate initiatives and priorities, and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate pertaining to resource policies and allocations.
11. Committee on Senate Operations.

Section 4. Special Committees.

Section 5. Subcommittees.

Section 6. Parliamentarian.

Section 7. Webmaster.

Section 8. Offices.

Section 1. Meeting (Senate and Steering Committee).

1. 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. 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. 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.
2. Regular Senate meetings normally last until 5:00 and may last longer. Senators should clear their calendars until 5:15 on regular Senate meeting days upon such an expectation. Senators are expected to maintain their attendance until 5:00, or until the meeting is adjourned prior thereto.
3. The Steering Committee will hold a regular meeting one week before each regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate. Special meetings of the Steering Committee may be called by the President of the Senate, by the written request of three members of the Steering Committee or of five members of the Senate, by vote of the Steering committee, or by vote of the Senate.
4. All resolutions and original motions to be presented to the Senate must be in writing and should be mailed by the Senate Secretary with the agenda for the meeting.
5. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present before any vote can be taken.

Section 2. Agenda.

1. Except when the Steering Committee or the Senate orders otherwise, the customary order of business as described in Robert's Rules of Order will be followed.
2. The agenda will be distributed to members during the week in advance of the meetings by the Senate Secretary except when exigent circumstances make it necessary, in the judgment of the Steering Committee, to prepare or change an agenda so soon before the meeting that advance circulation is impractical.
3. The Steering Committee will employ whatever means are feasible and appropriate to give notice of pending agenda items to all members of the Senate.
4. The agenda will be placed on the Senate’s web page and will contain sufficient information, both in summary or "bullet" form and in detail, so that the issues to be debated in the Senate are clear. Each person or committee that propounds a motion or submits a report to be included in or with the agenda is responsible for providing a succinct summary of the issue(s) involved. The President's Report, reports from the standing committees, and reports from Senators about the activity of University committees should be included with the agenda if at all possible, so as to reduce the time used in Senate meetings for explanation and summary. The minutes of each meeting also will be placed on-line in "bullet" form, and in detail on the Senate's web page. Other documents of interest to faculty and/or pertinent to issues being debated in the Senate may also be placed on the Senate's web page.

Section 3. Access to Senate Meetings.

1. Any person may attend Senate meetings during other-than-executive sessions for the purpose of observing its proceedings.
2. Anyone other than a senator may address the Senate only on invitation by vote of the Senate or on invitation by the President of the Senate after an opportunity for the Senate to object and, in case there is objection, alter approval of the invitation by the Senate.
3. An executive session, from which all persons except senators are excluded, may be held by vote of the Senate. Motions to hold executive sessions will take precedence over other regular business.
4. The privilege of the floor, including the right to address the Senate on any pending question subject to applicable rules or parliamentary procedure, and non-voting membership on the Steering Committee, are extended to one delegate representing the Retired Faculty Association of The University of Alabama, one delegate representing the Professional Staff Committee one delegate representing the Office/Clerical/Technical Staff Committee, one delegate representing the Maintenance personnel Committee, one delegate representing the Student Government Association and one delegate representing the Office of Alumni Affairs.

Section 4. Minutes of Senate Meetings.

1. Minutes of all Senate meetings shall be furnished to all senators as early as possible.
2. Copies of minutes of open Senate meetings are to be freely available to anyone within or without the University of Alabama: first, within the University; second, outside the University on request and if available.
3. Divisional delegations are expected to adopt measures for effective and expeditious reporting of Senate actions to their constituencies.
4. The official minutes of all open Senate meetings shall be available for inspection by all persons eligible to vote in the election of senators. The official minutes of executive sessions of the Senate shall be made available for this purpose only to the extent as the Senate may approve.
5. Minutes of executive sessions of the Senate are confidential and are not to be released.
6. Minutes of the Steering Committee may be made available outside the University of Alabama only by a majority vote of the Steering Committee that is asked for such material.
7. Reports submitted to the Senate become part of the open-meeting minutes or executive-session minutes and are to be treated as those minutes.

Section 5. Committee Records.

1. All Senate committees shall keep records of their meetings and proceedings, describing in summary form all noteworthy matters considered and noting all committee and actions.

Section 6. Additional Responsibilities of the Senate Secretary.

1. The Secretary has responsibility for conducting all University-wide referenda regarding proposed amendments to the Constitution.
2. The Secretary is charged with keeping the official, up-to-date copies of the Constitution and Bylaws, and with assuring that a signed and dated notification of official approval by the Secretary is affixed to all copies of the Constitution and Bylaws.
3. The Secretary will call the roll of senators at each meeting of the Senate. Any absences in excess of two by a senator will be reported by the Secretary to the Senate Operations Committee.
4. It shall be a duty of the Senate Secretary to notify the deans of the divisions of the University of the need for regular and special elections of senators. In so doing, the Secretary will note the name of the Senator who previously held the position or of the need to elect additional senators.
5. It shall be the duty of the Senate Secretary to publish a calendar of Senate meetings for the academic year at the beginning of each fall semester. It shall contain the times and locations of Senate meetings and the listing of the dates upon which the Senate must take actions such as the naming of members of official bodies of the University or the appointment of committees to nominate award recipients.

Section 7. Senate Appointments to University Committees.

1. Senators shall be asked in the spring by the Secretary for their preferences of service on University standing committees. The President, assisted by the Vice President and the Secretary, shall tentatively assign Senators to University standing committees, giving as much weight as possible to the preferences they have communicated. Such tentative assignments shall be discussed, and modified if necessary, by the Steering Committee, and shall be submitted to the whole Senate for discussion, modification if necessary, and approval, before the list is timely transmitted to the President of the University.
2. All other University committee or task force appointments in the gift of the Faculty Senate, including appointments to search committees or review committees, shall be made by the President of the Senate in consultation, if possible, with the Steering Committee, and shall be communicated to the Senate at its next meeting. if time does not allow for such consultation at a regular meeting of the Steering Committee, the President may call a meeting of that Committee or, in an emergency, poll the Committee by telephone, by e-mail, in person, or in other available ways; at least two-thirds of the Committee must be polled. In the latter instance, the whole Steering Committee may, at its next meeting, refuse to confirm the appointee, in which situation another appointment must be made, subject to consultation with the Steering Committee.

I certify that this is a correct and accurate copy of the Bylaws of the Faculty Senate of the University of Alabama.

Marcus Brown, Secretary

April 9, 1997