UWA FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 3:30 p.m.
Wise Conference Room - Wallace Hall 213

I.          Roll Call

Dr. Janis Beaird called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Members present were Dr. Richard Schellhammer, Ms. Tina Jones, Dr. R.T. Floyd, Dr. Bill Ward, Mr. Jim Todd, Dr. Betty Cowan, Dr. Gene May, Dr. Manley Blackwell, Dr. David Bowen (for Dr. Mark Griffith), Dr. Tom Gonzalez, Dr. Richard Buckner, Dr. Richard Collison, Ms. Ann Ketcham (for Patricia Taylor), and Ms. Martha Shirley.

II.         Approval of Jan. 15, 2002 Minutes

A motion was made to approve the minutes of January 15 by Mr. James Todd.  Dr. Richard Collison seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.  Dr. Beaird announced that Dr. Lesa Shaul will now serve as the College of Liberal Arts representative, replacing Dr. Joe Taylor.

III.         Old Business

A.      Maternity Leave Policy

Dr. Janis Beaird reported that this item was discussed at the Deans’ Council meeting, and the Council has asked for an estimate of the cost to the institution for a six-week maternity leave.  Discussion concerning the ability of the Faculty Affairs Committee to produce such an estimate ensued.  Dr. Schellhammer noted that his Committee would try to produce such an estimate.

B.      Commencement Participation

Dr. Beaird again reported that this item was discusses at the Deans’ Council meeting.  She stated that the Council wishes that a written policy proposal be presented.  Dr. Beaird asked Dr. Bowen to write the proposed policy.  He noted that the difficulty in writing the policy lies in the fact that many of our sister institution’s commencement participation polices do not reflect the actual practice of the institution.  Dr. Bowen will continue with this project.

C.      Faculty Affairs Committee

Dr. Schellhammer reported that he could not find a statement in the Faculty Staff Handbook, which discusses the policies governing faculty taking courses and paying fees.  Therefore, he is unsure where to place a statement that notes that the Photo ID fee for faculty taking courses is waived.  Mr. Todd and Dr. Floyd suggested that such a statement would be better suited in the Faculty and Staff Benefits Brochure. Dr. Schellhammer said he will examine the brochure and bring a statement suggestion to the next Faculty Senate meeting.

D.      Constitutional Reform Seminar

Dr. Beaird reported that the seminar entitled the “Keys to Constitutional Reform” was held on February 11.  Approximately 40 people attended the event.  Dr. Bailey Thomson of the University of Alabama led the seminar.  Dr. Beaird said the seminar was very informative.  Ms. Jones added that a videotape of the seminar is available for classroom use.  Anyone wishing to view the tape should contact Ms. Jones.

IV.                New Business

A.      Presidential Search Committee

Dr. Beaird announced that an email had been sent to faculty and staff listing the Presidential Search Committee’s four nominees for Acting President. The nominees that were presented to the UWA Board of Trustees included Dr. Richard Holland, Mr. Clemit Spruiell, Dr. David Taylor, and Dr. Roy Underwood.  The Board of Trustees will select from this list of nominees on March 4.  Dr. Beaird then explained the process by which the Search Committee determined its nominee list.  Several members of the Senate stated that they felt the correspondence from the Search Committee was confusing.  Dr. Beaird apologized for any confusion or miscommunication that occurred.  She further expressed her gratitude for the input from the faculty.  Dr. Bowen and Dr. Buckner both asked if the Search Committee’s charge clearly stated that the selections will be made from the Search Committee’s list of four.  Dr. Beaird confirmed that this was how she understood the charge.

B.      URG – Faculty Senate Subcommittee

Dr. Beaird informed the Senate that the Dean’s Council had asked for an ad hoc committee for the University Review Group (URG) to review certain policies of the tenure and promotion process. The members of that committee would be Dr. Joe Wilkins, Dr. Neil Snider (Chairperson), and Dr. Ann Jones from the Dean’s Council and Dr. Day, Dr. Buckner, and Mr. Todd from the Faculty Senate. Dr. Beaird stated that the Committee would consider possibly moving the tenure process back one year  or consider including the option of immediate termination in the process. Dr. Bowen stated that he felt there had been a misinterpretation of the original intent of the policies.  He explained that the third-year tenure option was included in the policy to retain exceptional faculty members and for faculty who needed more preparation before tenure could wait, prepare, and receive tenure following the fifth year.  Mr. Todd suggested that all the material from the original URG Senate Committee be made available to the ad hoc committee.   He further suggested that Dr. Beaird might suggest that the Dean’s Council resurrect the old committee in which the Provost served as the chair.  Dr. Beaird said she would take the Senate’s concerns back to the Provost for his comments.

C.    Higher Education Day

Dr. Beaird reminded everyone that Higher Education Day will be held on February 21, 2002. The Office of Student Affairs has chartered a bus for faculty, staff, and students to travel to Montgomery.  The bus will leave between 7:30 to 8 a.m. and return after 5 p.m.  She concluded by encouraging everyone to attend the event 

V.          Adjournment

Dr. Bowen moved that the meeting adjourn.  Dr. Collison seconded the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.