UWA FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 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. June Crawford, Dr. Manley Blackwell, Dr. David Bowen (for Dr. Mark Griffith), Dr. Richard Buckner, Dr. Richard Collison, Dr. Betty Cowan, Dr. Lee Day, Dr. R.T. Floyd, Dr. Tom Gonzalez, Mrs. Tina Jones, Dr. Judy Massey, Dr. Gene May, Dr. Richard Schellhammer, Ms. Martha Shirley, Mrs. Tricia Taylor, Dr. Joe Taylor, Dr. Jim Todd, and Dr. Bill Ward.

II.         Minutes:
A motion was made to approve the Sept. 18, 2001 minutes by Mr. Todd and seconded by Dr. Blackwell.  The minutes passed unanimously.

A.   New Business:
Dr. Beaird explained that the meeting would begin with new business because of the lengthy agenda.  She opened the meeting with a presentation from a VALIC representative.  Colleen Baird of VALIC spoke about the current stock market situation.  She stated that if a person has 3-5 years to retirement now is a good time to invest.  She reminded everyone that typically the after market of war is strong.  Her personal recommendation was to retain technology stocks.  Ms. Baird also distributed a booklet entitled “Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.”  She said that we should ask the Office of Financial Affairs for new tax bracket status.  She emphasized that one of the biggest changes is that in 2002 the government is increasing the amount that one can contribute to their retirement.  The “catch-up” provision is another significant change.  She also explained ROTH accounts.  According to Ms. Baird the booklet she distributed is very helpful to answer general questions.  Mrs. Taylor asked if Ms. Baird would be available for questions by phone.  She said that she would, and she also reminded everyone that she comes to campus every 6-8 weeks.  She might also be contacted via email at colleen_baird@valic.com.  Dr. Floyd noted that the information is also on the UWA homepage.  Following her presentation, Ms. Baird fielded questions from the Senate.

B.  Following the VALIC presentation, attention was turned to Faculty Evaluation Forms.  Dr. Beaird distributed the instructions that will appear in the Faculty Handbook for the proposed Faculty Evaluation Forms.  Dr. Judy Massey discussed the proposed Faculty Evaluation Forms with the senate.  Dr. Massey began her presentation by reading the committee’s charge.  One of the major concerns was creating the Faculty Evaluation Form and Faculty Service Report to parallel one another more closely.  For example, the proposed forms for Faculty Evaluation and Faculty Service are now the same.  She explained that sometimes the Class Evaluation Reports contradict the Evaluation Report rating.  The committee hopes to clear away this contradiction.  Dr. Massey noted that the Deans’ Council has approved the proposed forms pending the comments of the Faculty Senate.  Following explanation of her charge, Dr. Massey walked the Senate through the form changes.  Changes in wording of the proposed forms were offered to Dr. Massey.

Particular discussion centered around notification of faculty in the evaluation process. Senate members were in a discussion about how soon faculty should be notified.  Dr. Bowen stated that the present calendar will possibly be changed in the near future which will change these dates anyway.  Dr. Massey announced that the course evaluations would be moved to the end of each semester when Patricia Pratt's office finds more efficient software to handle the scan sheets.

Dr. Massey asked for changes that needed to be made to the dialogue that goes into the handbook.  Dr. Buckner asked that "three" be removed from text on page 3.  "Three" refers to the number of semesters under consideration and some faculty do not teach in the summer.

Dr. Schellhammer stated the "Section V. Other" still needed to be added to the service report.  Dr. Massey said that the description in the handbook would read "This section would include other information that faculty member deems necessary, not covered in other portions of service report."

Mr. Todd made a motion that the forms be accepted with the corrections.  Dr. Bowen seconded the motion and the motion passed.

The Faculty Senate reviewed the proposed Intellectual Properties document.  Dr. Bowen recommended that the section on "Who May Use the Intellectual Property" be struck from the document.  It was stated that faculty would cut down on doing special projects, if it was the sole property of the university instead of the individual.  Dr. Cowan said that it would cut out creativity by the faculty.

Dr. David Bowen made a motion that the document be passed with the corrections.  Dr. Betty Cowan second the motion and it passed.

III.         Adjournment:
Dr. Janis Beaird recommended that all remaining business be tabled until the next meeting.  It was agreed upon by all Senate representatives.  Dr. Richard Buckner made a motion that the meeting be adjourned.  Dr. Richard Collison seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.