Absent: Majeed Alsikafi; Bing Blewitt; Ashley Evans; Selwyn Hollingsworth; Philip Johnson; Marvin Johnson; Rhoda Johnson; Ann McFadden; Rocky Durans; Dennis James; Margaret Lyons; Alvin Winters.

Margaret Rice, an alternate from the College of Education, attended for Richard Lomax; Paul Ray, an alternate from the College of Engineering, attended for Gary Moynihan.

The Senate Secretary called the roll and determined that a quorum was present.

A motion was made and seconded to have the minutes accepted, with two minor corrections. The motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made, and seconded, to suspend the rules to permit President Andrew Sorensen to have the floor and address the Senate. The motion carried unanimously.

President Sorensen discussed generally the University’s budget for the coming year and indicated that compensation and benefits were the highest priority. President Sorensen also discussed the efforts in which the University has engaged to help foster diversity.

Rob Ingram first turned to the issue of adding language to the Faculty Handbook concerning the franchise for university-wide faculty referenda. Rob reported that the Steering Committee had made some minor changes to earlier language to clarify the time frame and to modify the policy to accommodate referenda issues that required more than a yes or no vote. This language was attached to the agenda for the December meeting.

A motion from the Steering Committee to adopt this language and submit it to the provost was enacted by the Senate, with no negative votes and one abstention.

Rob next advised that the Senate needed to nominate two new members to the University Mediation Committee. Jeff Richetto, of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Paul Stuart, of the College of Social Work, were nominated and elected by acclamation.

Pat reported that the Evaluation and Reward of Teaching Committee met. The Committee has decided that issues involving student attendance to not relate to the Committee’s agenda and would be transferred to the Senate Academic Affairs Committee. Pat said that the Committee wanted to probe the depth of the University administration’s commitment toward rewarding good teaching. The Committee will raise certain interests with the Provost, including why the director of the teaching resources center had not been replaced, why the center had not been utilized as much as had been hoped, and to what extent the resource funds should be funneled into use of new technologies. Pat asked for ideas and input from the Senate.

Academic Affairs: No report, although Marion Paris has resigned from the Senate. Carmen Taylor and Don DeSmet will be co-chairs. Philip Johnson will replace Pete Morley, who has resigned.

Financial Affairs: No report.

Planning and Operations: No report.

Research and Service: The Committee will make a full report in the near future.

Student Affairs: The Committee is looking into issues with the Student Health Center and its new director. The Committee will talk with some students about how recent changes at the Health Center have affected students.

Senate Operations: No report. The Committee did, however, remind chairs of other committees to prepare a written description of their committee’s function and issues for the bylaws.

Legislative Agenda Committee: Margaret Garner left a written report. The Committee met with Chancellor Meredith to receive an update on the system-wide plans for the legislative session. The major goal is to assure that we continue to be given 1/3 of new monies from the Education Trust Fund. Of particular concern is that if the legislature approves a proposal to bring k-12 teachers to the national salary average without doing the same for teachers at colleges and universities, there will be no new money for higher education. The Legislative Agenda Committee Steering Committee is meeting this afternoon to begin a strategy planning process.

Rob reported that the Provost has now addressed the issue of uncompensated faculty summer work. She has agreed to send a memorandum to deans and department heads to be sensitive to this issue, before the summer. Rob commended the Provost for her concern about the issue.

Rob also noted that the Senate is pursuing the issue of University reimbursement practices. The Steering Committee will talk to the appropriate people and report back to the Senate.

Meeting adjourned at 4:45.