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May 1, 1996 Minutes


Present at 37th Senate: Bible, Caverly, Ford, Glassman, Horne, Hunter,
Kurtz, Middlebrook, Parkin-Speer, Pascoe, Sawey, Stedman, Swinney, Weller,
and Winek.

Present at 38th Senate: Bible, Bourgeois, Caverly, Ford, Hays, Horne,
Hunter, Parkin-Speer, Pascoe, Sawey, Simpson, Stimmel, Weller, and Winek.
Absent: McGee.

Guests: Profs. Wilbon Davis (Computer Sci.) and James Irvin (Chemistry);
Mike Moore, Sandra Akridge.

CONTENTS:

85 STAFF RECOGNITION
32 PARKING: (1) COLLECTION AND USE OF PARKING FINES
(2) DAVIS LETTER
50 ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FACULTY
87 ADMISSIONS POLICY (Prof. Horne)
82 SPONSORED PROJECTS--(Washauer Letter)
49 EVALUATION OF DEANS (Draft PPS from CAD)
90 COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES REPORT (Prof. Irvin)
64 MACE BEARERS FOR MAY GRADUATION
02 SENATE MINUTES OF 4/24/96
NEW ITEMS
EXPIRATION OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SENATE

ORGANIZATION OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH SENATE
BRIEF ORIENTATION (Prof. Swinney)
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PLANNING OF SUMMER SCHEDULE
OTHER BUSINESS

The meeting was called to order at 4:02, Chair Swinney presiding.

85 STAFF RECOGNITION

After discussion, the Senate adopted the following statement:

"The Faculty Senate agrees with the Staff Council that University
staff employees are a vital part of this University and should be
recognized in ways other than the Service Award Program.
Therefore, we recommend that a small number of significant staff
awards, to be recommended by the Staff Council and approved by the
President's Cabinet, should be made at the annual fall convocation at the
same time that the faculty awards are presented.
The Senate believes this practice would help promote a sense of
community and collegiality throughout the University."

32 PARKING: (1) COLLECTION AND USE OF PARKING FINES

A memo has been received from Exec.VP Abbott regarding the income
from parking fines and listing the 32 auxiliary non-pledged accounts which
have claims to this revenue. Parking fines FY1995 were $693,393.50. The
list of auxiliaries did not indicate the amount received from parking
fines, just their total expenditures ($1,193,430.88), which come from other
sources as well. Parking permit revenues were not included, so we do not
have a clear picture of total revenues generated by the parking division.

The income and out-go streams are missing in these data. It seems
like monies go into a "general pot" and go out for other things as needed.
In addition, the auxiliaries listed were vague, including such areas as:
"Institutional Expense," "Institutional Relations," "Fringe Benefits
(Other)."

After much discussion and "head-scratching," a motion was passed.
The Senate should request the following information: What are the receipts
for parking permits? How much of the total parking fines/receipts goes
into auxiliary services? What is the rationale for spending whatever it is
that we spend on these non-parking auxiliaries? What is really included in
the functions of the categories which are so vague? [Note: The Senate was
not opposed to spending parking revenues on other categories, but the
report seemed to raise more questions than it settled. The Senate has had
parking problems on its agenda at least since the early 1960s, according to
the early 1960s handwritten minutes. Perhaps more parking revenues should
be dedicated toward alleviating the problem, multilayer garages, or
whatever.]

(2) DAVIS LETTER: Prof. Davis

Prof. Davis noted that parking has always been a problem in the 30
years or so that he has been here, but today it is the "worst ever." Some
areas are more affected than others on a daily basis. (1) Until recently
faculty could park in green (student) spaces. If a student is 15 or 30
minutes late for class while looking for a space it is a little less
serious than a faculty member who is similarly late for the same reason.

(2) The first week of each semester is a "fiasco." Students park
everywhere with impunity. A number of suggestions surfaced.

A motion was made to recommend to the Parking Committee that we
return to the old policy of allowing faculty to park in green spaces. The
motion passed with 8 ayes, 3 nays, and one abstention.

A motion was passed to invite Exec.VP Abbott, Chief Megerson, and
Steve Prentice to a May or June Senate meeting to discuss the situation
regarding funds and parking space availibility. An add-on motion to ask
them to bring the number of red tags issued in each building and the number
of red spaces in the vicinity of each building was approved. [Red tag
sales by building should be available on our computer base.] A motion to
recommend that part of the CoGen lot become red was tabled.

A motion to recommend a "no tolerance" policy for illegally (theft
or fraud) obtaining a tag was defeated. [It was pointed out that anyone
found with a stolen tag can be prosecuted for theft, if the owner of the
tag presses charges.] A motion to recommend a ban on persons involved in
obtaining a tag illegally from ever applying for a parking permit was
narrowly defeated.

50 ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FACULTY

Last fall a letter was received from Prof. Dennis Dunn
(International Ed.) suggesting the possibility of forming an association of
retired faculty who could participate in teaching/consulting programs in
other countries. After discussion, the Senate approved a recommendation to
the Administration that they look into this possibility. An amendment was
passed to the preceding motion that this be done without adding
administrative costs for any organization formed.

87 ADMISSIONS POLICY (Prof. Horne)

Prof. Horne introduced the question of current "contract" or
probation admissions policies for athletes and nonathletes. Up to 30 slots
are reserved for athletes who do not meet SWT's admission standards but do
meet the lower NCAA standards. We do not know how many or what kinds of
admissions policies are available to nonathlete contract students. A
motion passed to ask VP-SA Studer for this information.

82 SPONSORED PROJECTS--(Washauer Letter)

At an earlier Senate meeting, Prof. Washauer (Math) explained a
situation he had encountered in University Advancement and Office of
Research and Sponsored Projects while trying to obtain foundation funding
for a research project. From a telephone poll of foundations, it appears
that the University was mistaken regarding some assumptions of what
foundations would consider.

UPPS 02.02.02 (section 03.04) which outlines the responsibilities
of the Vice President for University Advancement was examined and found to
be a little brief. Prof. Swinney presented a draft to revise this section
to include such items as, "The Vice President will establish and maintain a
record of the funding policies of foundations in order to best facilitate
the needs of faculty and staff seeking funds. The submission of more than
one proposal to any particular foundation will not be disapproved unless
there is knowledge that multiple submittals are deemed inappropriate by
that funding source."

The Senate approved the idea that Prof. Swinney discuss the
proposed draft with VP-UA Hill and Assoc.VP-AA Tangum and bring this back
to the Senate.

49 EVALUATION OF DEANS (Draft PPS from CAD)

The Senate has received a draft from CAD for a new UPPS (8.??)
which will cover an "Annual Evaluation of Deans." This will return to the
agenda.

A memo from Dean Beck (Ed.) on faculty input in chair evaluations
was distributed.

90 COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES REPORT (Prof. Irvin)

Prof. Irvin presented the C on C Report indicating appointments to
the 19 Faculty Senate committees. He noted a couple of appointments yet to
be made, the addition of Librarians to two committees, and that student
members were not yet designated. He thanked Sandra Akridge for compiling
the data from which the Committee worked.

The Senate accepted the Report with thanks to the Committee.

64 MACE BEARERS FOR MAY GRADUATION

The new Senate chair [Jon Bible] will do this for the morning
ceremonies and the vice-chair [Charles Pascoe] will lead the afternoon
ceremonies.


02 SENATE MINUTES OF 4/24/96

The minutes were approved as read. The Senate gave the Secretary
an ovation and a gift as a sign of appreciation for hardship duty. The
Secretary was almost speechless. [Thanks again, folks! It got me through
the grading of final exam essays.]

EXPIRATION OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SENATE: At 4:37 the 37th
Senate adjourned.


ORGANIZATION OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH SENATE:

BRIEF ORIENTATION (Prof. Swinney)

(1) Prof. Northcutt (Math) sent the Senate a memo from the
Budget Committee regarding various areas of fiscal concern. Requests were
made for the Senate to obtain information on these topics.

(2) A handout was distributed indicating 41 Academic Affairs
Strategic Plan Initiatives for FY97. Amounts from "permanent funds" and
"one-time funds" were indicated for each project, along with an explanation
of the need.

(3) Prof. Swinney distributed packets of documents to all
Senators. These "CARE packages" contained the Constitution of the Faculty
at SWT, the Standing Rules of the Faculty Senate (how-to-do the details),
the Senate annual calendar, etc. Prof. Swinney wished the Senate well and
said something about a golfcourse as he left amidst tremendous applause for
years of hard work and integrity.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Chair of the Senate: Prof. Jon Bible
Vice-Chair: Prof. Charles Pascoe
Secretary: Prof. Ramona Ford
Newsletter: Not necessary with weekly e-mail system in place for
minutes, i.e. faster and more detailed.
CoFGO: Prof. Hunter explained that there were two meetings a year
of representatives from Faculty Senates around the State. Each reports on
issues dealt with by his/her Senate. It is also an opportunity to meet
legislators and discuss concerns in higher ed.
Prof. Hays was elected as the new representative.

PLANNING OF SUMMER SCHEDULE

The next meeting is May 15th from 3:00-5:00. [Subsequently it was
moved to Monday May 13th.] Senators were requested to turn in their summer
schedules so that the once a month meetings of June-August could be
determined. ExecVP Abbott and Police Chief Megerson will be invited.

OTHER BUSINESS

(1) Prof. Tilton will have a meeting with the Board of Regents
this week regarding the cancellation of his NASA/JOVE contract. The Senate
has an interest in this regarding implications for future faculty
contracts/agreements. Not all the facts are known to the Senate and
faculty. The Senate will get tapes and transcriptions of the earlier
hearings and information from the Board meeting.



Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.


Ramona Ford
Secretary