Whereas, the delivery of comprehensive, cost-effective health care is of vital interest to the University of Alabama community; and

Whereas, apparent confusion exists concerning the possible addition of a health maintenance organization (HMO) to the University's insurance package; and

Whereas, modifications in the University's health care provision could adversely affect retirees and the catastrophically and chronically ill; and

Whereas, changes in the current plan could ultimately raise the cost and lower the quality of health care delivered to the University community; and

Whereas, the Financial Affairs committee of the Faculty Senate has been charged with investigating the funding of health care delivery on campus; therefore

Be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees and University officials involved in selecting a health care provider and/or designing a benefit plan proceed with caution and in a manner that includes taking the following steps:

1. Current and retired employees of the University be informed of the Trustees' intent to modify existing health insurance benefits; and
2. Information be disseminated throughout the University community concerning known costs and benefits of health care as delivered by health maintenance organizations vs. traditional health insurance plans; and
3. Representatives of the Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee and Faculty Senate permitted to attend deliberations of University officials concerning the issue of health care delivery.
4. Direct the president to write a letter to Dr. Sayers expressing the Senate's deep misgivings

12-Dec-95

Whereas, the Faculty Senate has adopted a procedure for awarding Distinguished Service Awards (DSAs) for truly outstanding service to the faculty and the University; and

Whereas, the procedure provides that the Faculty Senate may award one or two DSAs in any given year; and

Whereas, the Faculty Senate has awarded only four DSAs during the last 12 years; and

Whereas, the President of the Faculty Senate has received letters nominating four individuals for DSAs; and

Whereas, in the view of the President of the Faculty Senate, each of the nominated individuals has rendered extraordinary service to the faculty and should be considered for DSAs in the current academic year; and

Whereas, the procedure for awarding DSAs provides that under special circumstances and on the recommendation of the President, the procedure may be waived by a 2/3 vote of the Faculty Senate; therefore

Be it resolved, that the procedure for awarding the DSA be modified for this academic year (1995-96) in the following respects:

1. The nominating committee may submit resolutions recommending up to four candidates to the full Senate for consideration for the DSA; and
2. The full Senate shall consider and vote on any such resolution submitted to it.

21-Nov-95

Be it resolved that Provost Jim Taaffe work with the Faculty Senate on a plan for faculty involvement in the selection of nominees for the statewide discipline committees as defined by the 94-202 act regarding Articulation & General Studies.

21-Nov-95

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate sponsor a mentoring program for newly hired untenured faculty, patterned upon the President's letter of August 23, 1995 to the Senators, and to begin in the 1995-96 academic year.

29-Aug-95

The Faculty Senate recommends the adoption of the 11/09/94 draft of the "Principles and Procedures for Merger or Discontinuance of Academic Units.

13-Dec-94

The Faculty Senate finds the draft "Policy on Legal and Ethical Use of Computer Resources and Software" dated 9/22/94 unacceptable. It is inconsistent with the intent of the Faculty Handbook, and raises troubling issues of academic freedom, privacy and due process.

It is the sense of the Faculty Senate that existing Academic Misconduct provisions cover misuse of electronic networks and/or information technology, including illegal copying of software or data,improper use of university property, and violation of applicable federal and state laws. Such violations are subject to the rules appropriate for misconduct as put forth in the Faculty Handbook and the Student Handbook.

Furthermore, the draft policy was formulated without appropriate consultation with the faculty. Any specific University policy regulating the use of electronic networks and/or information technology by faculty, staff, and/or students should be formulated by an appropriate University Committee, a majority of whose members are current full-time faculty, and must be included in the Faculty Handbook.

13-Dec-94

Whereas the University of Alabama has no formal policy concerning raises in salary in conjunction with promotion, and

Whereas it is customary within the University community for academic promotions are accompanied by an automatic 10% raise in salary, and

Whereas policies concerning this issue appear to be inconsistent among the divisions of the University of Alabama,

Be it therefore resolved that the Faculty Senate calls on the University administration to establish a formal policy whereby all promotions from assistant professor to associate professor and associate professor to professor are accompanied by a mandatory salary increase of at least 10% in addition to any merit raises that otherwise would be granted in that year.

13-Dec-94

Whereas, after advice and counsel, the University's central administration has withheld $4.5 million of the current year's operating budget in anticipation of possible proration, and

Whereas these monies must be budgeted for non-recurring expenditures in 1994-95, if not used for proration, and

Whereas the University's central administration, Resources and Priorities Committee, Council of Deans, and other interested groups at the University are in the process of considering posssible uses for the withheld funds, if not used for proration, and

Whereas certain of the proposed uses of these funds appear to be mandatory rather than optional, specifically to provide funds of $760,000 for enrollment shortfall revenue loss (net of budget cuts made in light of the shortfall), and provide funds of $250,000 needed to comply with physical plant modifications required under the Americans with Disabilities Act,

Therefore be it resolved that, if these monies are not used for proration, the Faculty Senate of the University of Alabama recommends all due consideration be given to the following alternative uses:

Stated in priority order with dollar amounts suggested

1. Provide funds to bolster library resources in the amount of $680,000.

2. Provide funds of at least $2.25 million for a bonus to be distributed among all fulltime employees in equal dollar amounts.

15-Nov-94

Whereas it is the sense of the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs committee that the intention of the current section of the Faculty Handbook (Chapter 2, XXIV A.) is to avoid conflict of interest based on personal monetary gain, and because it suggests that faculty cannot use their own material in their courses, (including articles, handouts, syllabi, etc.)

Be it resolved that the text of the second paragraph of Chapter 2, XXIV A. ``Avoiding conflict of interests in textbook selection." which currently reads:

"In cases where a faculty member desires to use textbook(s), laboratory manuals, computer software, or other instructional materials which he or she has authored or from which he or she receives royalties, the faculty member shall submit this recommendation to the textbook selection committee..."

and

"Decisions on selection of textbooks or other materials authored by a faculty member, or from which the faculty member receives royalties, are effective for all semesters beginning in the subsequent 12 months..."

Be modified to read:

"In cases where a faculty member desires to use textbook(s), laboratory manuals, computer software, or other instructional materials from which he or she receives royalties, the faculty member shall submit this recommendation to the textbook selection committee..."

and 2

"Decisions on selection of textbooks or other materials from which the faculty member receives royalties, are effective for all semesters beginning in the subsequent 12 months..."

15-Nov-94

It is the sense of the Faculty Senate that no legitimate reason exists to revisit the faculty's decision of Spring 1992 to institute a plus-minus grading system

18-Oct-94

It is the sense of the Faculty Senate that the decision whether or how to grant exemptions from the plus-minus grading policy which was approved by the faculty is a matter of implementation and properly lies with the administration.

18-Oct-94

Whereas it is essential that the University should have such a policy; and it is a matter of highest priority that such a policy be instituted immediately, after appropriate consultation with the FS and the Council of Deans,

Therefore, Be it resolved that no merger or discontinuance of academic units take place until a policy is in effect that defines the rights and responsibilities of affected faculty.

20-Sep-94