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UWA FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 3:30 p.m.
Wise Conference Room - Wallace Hall 213
I.
Roll Call
Dr. Richard Schellhammer called the meeting to order
at 3:32 pm. Members present were Dr. Lesa Shaul, Dr. Thomas Gonzalez, Mr. Mark
Brothers, Dr. Richard Collison, Dr. R.T. Floyd, Dr. Barry Green-Burns, Dr. Tina
Jones, Dr. Thomas Ratkovich, Dr. Don Salter, Mr. Jim Shelton, Dr. Bill Ward, Dr.
Joy Cauthron, and Dr. Lauren Wells.
II. Approval
of October 28th , 2003 Minutes
Dr. Collison moved that the minutes be approved as
presented. Dr. Ward seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
III. Old Business
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Alabama Teachers’ Retirement System Visit
Dr. Schellhammer reported that the visit to campus
by the representative from the Alabama Teacher’s Retirement System took place
earlier in the day. Dr. Schellhammer was unsure as to whether or not enough
people had been placed on the waiting list to warrant another visit, but
encouraged those who wanted another visit to contact the RSA rep to be put on
the waiting list.
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AAUP Chapter
Dr. Schellhammer announced that an interest meeting
for forming an AAUP chapter was held. So far twenty faculty members have
expressed an interest in forming an AAUP chapter. The first official meeting of
the chapter will be in January. The issue concerning payroll deduction of AAUP
dues is still being investigated. Any faculty interested in more information
concerning the local AAUP chapter should contact Dr. Lauren Wells. AAUP’s
website http://aaup.org is a good source of
general information regarding AAUP.
IV. New Business
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ACUFP Meeting Report
Dr. Schellhammer reported that Dr. Floyd and Dr.
Gonzalez attended the Alabama Council of University Faculty Presidents (ACUFP)
meeting at the University of North Alabama. Dr. Floyd reported that much of the
discussion at the ACUFP meeting was in regard to a document detailing the
possible expansion of the powers of the Alabama Council on Higher Education
(ACHE). Among the proposed powers listed in the document were the power to
eliminate existing units within universities and the power to receive all state
appropriations for higher education. Concern was expressed regarding the
limited experience of ACHE council members in higher education. Also, alarming
is the fact that in previous years, proposed powers for ACHE have been written
into law by the legislature. The members of ACUFP wanted to alert all of the
other faculty senates that are meeting.
Dr. Floyd, Dr. Schellhammer, and Dr. Gonzalez met
with Dr. Holland regarding the issue. Dr. Floyd also stated that he has
communicated with Mr. Gordon Stone of the Higher Education Partnership regarding
this matter. At this point and time, the final outcome of the many ideas
regarding higher education in Alabama is uncertain. Dr. Schellhammer asked Dr.
Floyd to chair an ad hoc committee charged with monitoring any further
developments relating to the expansion of ACHE’s powers, especially any new
legislation which may be introduced in January. Dr. Lesa Shaul, Dr. Bill Ward,
and Dr. Gonzalez were appointed to the ad hoc committee.
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Senate President’s Report
Dr. Schellhammer began by reporting on the issues
discussed recently by the Dean’s council. The first issue was the use of a
database designed to match minority candidates and open faculty positions at
colleges and universities. The Dean’s Council approved the Faculty Student
Staff Amorous Relationship Policy. There was also discussion of the interesting
programs for interns provided by Disney. These programs carry educational credit
as determined by the American Council on Education. The Dean’s Council passed a
motion that UWA’s equal opportunity statement be modified to include sexual
orientation.
Dr. Schellhammer distributed the report of the SACS
Special Committee. Dr. Wells asked if there were any additional recommendations
stemming from the report. Dr. Schellhammer responded by saying that SACS will
make any recommendations at their annual meeting that begins on December 6th.
Dr. Schellhammer communicated that it was his opinion that the special committee
members want the Governor to appoint five people who know the university, who
appreciate the mission of the university, and who want to see good for the
university. Dr. Shaul inquired about any potential candidates for the board
positions that will be vacated in December. Dr. Floyd replied that there have
been a large number of people who have expressed an interest in being appointed
to the board. Discussion turned towards drafting a resolution related to the
Special Committee’s report. Dr. Collison moved that a resolution be drafted to
express that the UWA Faculty Senate supports the findings of the SACS Special
Committee and that the UWA Faculty Senate shares the special committee’s hope
that the problems can be resolved by the Governor’s appointments of five board
members who act in the best interest of the university. Dr. Shaul seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Schellhammer concluded his report by stating
that a meeting of the Board of Trustees has been scheduled for December 1st and
that all faculty members were invited to attend. The exact time and place of
the meeting are not known at this point.
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Other
Dr. Schellhammer introduced Ms. Joyce Brannan, Chair
of the Faculty Information Committee. Ms. Brannan distributed a report detailing
information concerning faculty salaries, teaching loads, and benefits at
institutions classified as Category 5 by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
Ms Brannan mentioned both the SREB and the Integrated Postsecondary Education
Data System (IPEDS) as sources and added that the IPEDS data was not as current
as the SREB data. In addition, SREB and IPED have not been able to agree on how
to tally faculty workloads. There is also much variation between universities
when it comes to computing faculty workloads. Nevertheless, both sources
indicated that average faculty salaries at UWA are at the lower end of the
scale.
Dr. Floyd mentioned a resolution passed by ACUFP in
the fall of 1999. The resolution stated that university boards of trustees be
allowed to have a limited number of trustees from outside the state of Alabama,
that newly appointed board members receive training, that faculty senate
presidents and student government association presidents be allowed to attend
board meetings, and that board members be held to the same standards regarding
conflicts of interests as are state employees. Dr. Floyd proposed that a
resolution of this type be considered again, possibly adding that board members
should be evaluated by university faculty and staff. It may be possible to get
a legislator to sponsor a bill regarding this matter. Dr. Floyd will distribute
the Fall 1999 resolution by email.
V. Adjournment
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting was made by
Dr. Ward. The meeting was adjourned at 4:37 pm.
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