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UWA FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 3:30 p.m.
Wise Conference Room - Wallace Hall 213
I.
Roll Call
Dr. Richard Schellhammer called the meeting to order
at 3:30 pm. Members present were Dr. Lesa Shaul, Dr. Thomas Gonzalez, Mr. Mark
Brothers, Dr. Richard Collison, Dr. Barry Green-Burns, Dr. Mark Griffith, Ms.
Patricia Taylor, Dr. Nancy Kudlawiec, Dr. R.T. Floyd, Dr. Thomas Ratkovich, Dr.
Don Salter, Mr. Jim Shelton, Mr. James Todd, Dr. Bill Ward, and Dr. Lauren
Wells.
II. Approval
of September 16, 2003 Minutes
Dr. Floyd noted two misspellings in the minutes of
the September 16th meeting. Dr. Griffith motioned that the minutes be approved
as corrected. Dr. Collison seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
III. Old Business
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Alabama Teachers’ Retirement System Visit
Dr. Schellhammer stated that all of the meeting
times scheduled for the RSA representative’s visit to campus have been
booked. Interested persons can place their name on a waiting list by calling
the RSA at 1-800-214-2158. Using the automated system, press 3, press 7,
which will allow callers to speak to a representative. The representative
will add your name to a waiting list and if enough people are added to the
waiting list, RSA will schedule an additional visit to campus by a
representative
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AAUP Chapter
Dr. Schellhammer said that a number of faculty were
interested in starting an AAUP chapter and that he will form a list of
interested people including those faculty members that are already members of
AAUP. Seven members are needed to form a chapter.
IV. New Business
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Provost’s Report
Dr. Schellhammer introduced Provost David Taylor.
Dr. Taylor began his report by speaking about the SACS special committee that
visited campus from October 15th to October 17th. He stated that the visit was
the result of recommendations made in the original accreditation report
concerning governance of the university. Specifically, the original visiting
committee was concerned that the board not be controlled by an individual or a
minority of board members and that there be a clear distinction between the
policy making actions of the board and the actions of administration.
Dr. Taylor stated that in response to the
recommendations made by SACS, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution stating
the actions of the board are made as a group and that no individual members
would act on behalf of the board. The board also passed a resolution regarding
the board’s day-to-day involvement in the university, creating policies
regarding communication between board members and university employees. SACS
responded by scheduling the visit of the special committee in October.
The committee consisted of three members, Dr. Fred
Obear of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Dr. Blanch Premo Hopkins, Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of South Carolina-Aiken, and Dr.
William Staples, President, University of Houston-Clearlake. Dr. Jack Allen of
SACS also attended the meetings. The committee arrived on October 15th and
interviewed twenty people including President Holland, Mr. Mann Minus, Dr. Doris
Oliveira, Mr. Thed Spree, Mr. Alex Saad, Dr. Tom Umphrey, the four
vice-presidents, the president of the faculty senate, a former president of the
staff senate, and a past president of the SGA. The committee also met with
three former UWA presidents, Dr. Asa Green, Dr. Don Hines, and Dr. Ed Roach.
Dr. David Bowen and a former provost, Dr. Pate, also met with the committee.
After the in-depth interviews, an exit interview was held on October 17th. The
exit interview was attended by the SACS committee members and the President’s
Council.
Dr. Taylor continued by paraphrasing the statements
of some of the members of SACS visiting team at the exit interview. Dr. Taylor
said that Dr. Obear felt that the committee received a remarkably consistent
message that there have been governance problems at UWA and that the problems
have not been addressed. Dr. Obear felt that the situation had deteriorated
since the time the original report and that the current situation is truly
unhealthy for the administration and faculty of UWA. While Dr. Obear felt that
the educational mission of the university had not been compromised, he said that
if the problems with governance continue, then the educational mission will
likely be compromised. Dr. Staples said that the current situation must
remedied.
No new recommendations were made as a result of the
visit of the special committee. The university will receive a draft of the
committee’s report in two to three weeks but will not be at liberty to
distribute the report. Once a final report is issued, the report can be
distributed. Notification of any sanctions to be made against the university by
SACS will be given in December.
At this point Dr. Taylor called for questions. Dr.
Bill Ward asked what kind of response, based on current information, will UWA
get from the governor. Dr. Taylor responded by saying that both the governor
and his staff understand the situation at UWA and that based on prior experience
with the governors involvement, the governor will make a difference. Dr.
Griffith asked which members of the Board of Trustees have terms that are ending
this December. Dr. Taylor answered that the terms of Mr. Nat Watkins, Mr. Paul
Hamrick, Mr. Bobby Keahey, Mr. Dwight Duke, and Mr. Terry Bunn expire this
December. Dr. Gonzalez asked when would new appointees actually be able to
serve. Dr. Griffith answered that traditionally people who are currently
serving on the board stay until the new appointees are approved by the
legislature, which could take until March of next year. Dr. Schellhammer asked
if the faction of the board headed by Mr. Minus have paid their legal fees in
the case. Dr. Taylor stated that at the last meeting of the Minus board, the
first item on the agenda was a resolution that all legal fees be paid by the
university. The resolution passed but the legal fees have not been paid yet.
The next item in Dr. Taylor’s report concerned
programs that are currently being offered by UWA in conjunction with Columbia
Southern University (CSU). Currently two degree programs and one add-on
certification program are offered. CSU provides technical support for these
programs. Dr. Taylor stated that enrollments in the on-line portion of these
programs have increased markedly and that the course evaluations for on-line
classes have been good. CSU provides technical support as well as marketing for
the on-line courses. A meeting will be held with CSU representatives, where
discussion will take place regarding the possible addition of more on-line
degree programs.
Next, Dr. Taylor stated that there is a possibility
that the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) would engage in a second
round of a program viability study. UWA currently has 29 programs, only one of
which is technically “not viable.” While the possibility exists that a second
round of the program viability study may be initiated, Dr. Taylor stated that
both the date at which such a study might begin as well as the number of
previous years over which graduation data would be collected is unknown at this
time. Dr. Taylor recommended that programs be monitored for any downward
trends.
Dr. Taylor talked about efforts underway to recruit
and develop programs for international students. Dr. Taylor reported that Mr.
James Mock of the new community Center for Regional and Economic Development is
working on many fronts. UWA is currently partnering with Shelton State
Community College and McElroy Trucking in truck driving school. Dr. Taylor
mentioned the Sasakawa Fellowships Program at San Diego State University in June
and encouraged faculty to be involved with this program. Dr. Taylor ended his
report by mentioning the policy on sabbaticals and encouraged faculty to take
advantage of the opportunity that UWA’s sabbatical policy provides.
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Faculty/Staff-Student Dating Policy
Dr. Schellhammer presented the Faculty/Staff-Student
Dating Policy. Dr. Griffith made a motion that the policy be approved as
presented and the motion was seconded by Dr. Shaul. The motion was approved
unanimously.
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Faculty Senate Committee Assignments
Dr. Schellhammer stated that assignments to the
various Faculty Senate committees have been sent via e-mail and that he will be
in touch with these committees, also by e-mail.
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University Day Care Report
Ms. Edison reported that there are currently eleven
students enrolled in the Child Development Center (CDC) and that she anticipates
that more children will sign up, with the possibility that there will be seven
or eight full day enrollees by next week. Ms. Edison reported on the progress
made in improving the CDC facility. UWA and the CDC are working to help provide
state mandated training for child care providers, training which the state no
longer provides due to budget cuts. Ms. Edison noted that if a UWA student
receives financial aid and also needs child care, then child care fees at the
CDC can be paid out of financial aid.
Dr. Shaul has studied the child care centers
available at other universities around the state. Dr. Shaul said that the CDC
at UWA compares favorably to other programs in the state and that UWA has an
excellent program. Dr. Shaul encouraged faculty to speak with their students
regarding the CDC.
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Other
Dr. Schellhammer mentioned that the Dean’s Council
has decided to include a statement regarding copyrights to the model syllabus so
instructors may wish to add the copyright notice to their own syllabi.
Dr. Schellhammer encouraged faculty to nominate any
outstanding UWA students for USA Today’s 2004 All-USA College Academic Team.
Forms are available at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2003-07-29-2004-college-allstars_x.htm
Dr. Floyd invited anybody who may be interested to
attend the ACUPF meeting in Florence, Alabama on November 14 and November 15.
V. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Dr.
Griffith and seconded by Dr. Beaird. The meeting was adjourned at 4:29 pm.
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