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UWA FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Tuesday, September 16, 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. Thomas Ratkovich, Dr. Howell Sheffield,
Dr. Mark Griffith, Dr. William Green-Burns, Dr. Lauren Wells, Mr. James Todd,
Dr. Tina Jones, Mr. Carey Moore (for Dr. Richard Collison), Mrs. Patricia Taylor
(for Ms. Ann Ketchum), Dr. Nancy Kudlawiec, Dr. R.T. Floyd, Mr. Mark Brothers,
Dr. Lesa Shaul, Dr. Don Salter, Dr. Janis Beaird, and Mr. Jim Shelton.
II. Approval
of July 15, 2003 Minutes
Mr. James Todd moved that the minutes be approved as
presented. Dr. Griffith seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
III. Old Business
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Status of the Board’s Lawsuit
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Alabama Teachers’ Retirement System Visit
Dr. Schellhammer announced that a representative
from the Alabama Teacher’s Retirement System will visit campus on November
18th. A series of twenty minute meetings from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm are
scheduled. Dr. Schellhammer will e-mail members with a telephone number at
which the representative may be contacted in order to schedule a meeting.
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Campus Child Development Center
Dr. Schellhammer introduced Ms. Dionne Edison,
Director of the Child Development Center. Ms. Edison reported that the Child
Development Center is now operational and there are four children already
enrolled in the center. Two staff members have been hired and one UWA student
is working part-time. Ms. Edison noted that Child Care Management Services is
closing down due to budget cuts so students who have not already applied for
subsidized care will have problems getting on the waiting list. Ms. Edison
talked about some specific examples of how the center has already benefited UWA
students. Dr. DeVaney stated that the center is operating on grant money in
addition to bond money. The grant will continue but grant money alone is not
enough to operate the center. The center needs students in order to keep
operating.
IV. New Business
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Visit from AAUP State Representative
Dr. Schellhammer introduced Dr. Bill Trimble of
Auburn University, the president of the Alabama Conference of the American
Association of University Professors (AAUP). Dr. Trimble noted that AAUP is the
only national professional organization that professors have and that AAUP’s
fundamental interest is in academic freedom. Dr. Trimble cited several
instances where AAUP helped in disputes over academic freedom, denial of due
process, and governance issues. He mentioned that AAUP can play a critical role
in defining the responsibilities of the various constituencies within a school
such as trustees, administration, and faculty. Dr. Trimble urged individuals to
join AAUP for these reasons and to start a chapter if possible. Dr. Trimble
discussed requirements and procedures for starting an AAUP chapter and gave
several ideas and suggestions regarding the creation and promotion of an AAUP
chapter.
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President Holland’s Report
Dr. Schellhammer introduced Dr. Holland. Dr.
Holland began by speaking about enrollment figures. Total enrollment was
reported as 2388 students. Dr. Holland discussed the percent increases in
various enrollment categories. He reported a 4% increase in undergraduate
students, a 24% increase in on-campus graduate students, and a 205% increase in
online graduate students. There was also a significant increase in the size of
the entering freshman class, up 47 students over last year.
Dr. Holland next spoke about the budget. Dr.
Holland distributed a handout outlining Governor Riley’s proposed budget for the
Education Trust Fund. Dr. Holland noted $100,000 for job training has been
zeroed out. Due to the cuts in the state budget, some new costs would have to
be accounted for in the university’s budget. The university has 103 retired
faculty members using PEEHIP for health insurance. Up to now the state has
matched funds paid by UWA to PEEHIP for retired faculty members but that will no
longer be the case. Now the university will have to pay an additional
$243,000. Again, due to the cuts in the state budget, the university will now
have to pay for its own telephone costs amounting to between $200,000 and
$300,000. Dr. Holland said he was exploring ways to minimize the costs
associated with telephone usage. Other costs to the university that must be
accounted for are increased utility costs amounting to $80,000, $55,000 in staff
equity, and other costs associated with faculty and staff health insurance and
longevity. Dr. Holland noted that previous university administrations have been
committed to funding staff equity annually as well as completely funding
insurance premiums for faculty and staff. Dr. Holland expressed his intention
of maintaining this commitment. Dr. Holland noted that a 15% increase in
tuition might be required to cover these costs and that next year the funding
situation would be worse.
Dr. Holland discussed the upcoming visit from SACS.
The SACS visiting team has two purposes for their visit. The first purpose is to
determine by fact that there is a distinction between policy making and the
actions of the president. The second purpose is to examine the historic actions
of the board. The SACS visiting team has asked to interview fourteen people in
person or by telephone but anybody who has had dealings with the board may be
interviewed. Dr. Holland was asked if UWA could possibly lose accreditation
based on the problems with the Board of Trustees? Dr. Holland replied that it
was not likely that UWA would lose its accreditation. He pointed to the fact
that Dr. Jack Allen of SACS mentioned that the visiting team has spoken about
the many strengths of the University and that the only problem was with the
Board of Trustees. When asked about the status of the lawsuit concerning the
board, Dr. Holland responded that the legal situation is still somewhat unclear
at this point and that a ruling was not likely until February.
Dr. Holland was asked if the Board of Trustees does
not approve a 15% tuition increase, what is the likelihood of faculty and staff
being terminated? Dr. Holland replied that at the current time, the University
has a lot of momentum and that he would be opposed to cutting faculty and staff
positions.
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Valic Representative’s Visit
Dr. Schellhammer informed the members that a
representative from Valic will be on campus Friday, September 19th from 9 am
until 1 pm.
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Faculty Senate President’s Report
Dr. Schellhammer spoke about the new process for
reporting excused absences. Instructors will receive an e-mail from the Office
of the Provost listing students with excused absences.
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Faculty Senate Committee Assignments
Dr. Beaird stated that the copyright laws concerning
educators had been discussed at the Deans’ Council and it had been turned over
to the Library Committee that will be working to clarify what needs to be
included in all course syllabi.
Dr. Schellhammer stated that committee assignments
for the upcoming year along with the charges to the committees would be sent to
members via e-mail.
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Other
Dr. R.T. Floyd inquired about the status of the
university master calendar. Dr. Schellhammer stated that he was uncertain as to
the current status of the calendar.
V. Adjournment
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn
the meeting was made by Mr. Shelton and seconded by Dr. Beaird. The meeting was
adjourned at 4:54 pm.
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