May 11, 2005 Faculty Senate Minutes

Members Present:
Brett Elliott
Diane Dixon
Stan Alluisi
Chris Moretti
Margaret Avard
Ken Elder
Bryon Clark
Buddy Pierce
Lucretia Scoufos
Wayne Dixon
Brandon Burnette
Dan Althoff
Michael Miles
Jim Cunningham
Members Absent:
Stacy Weger
James Britton
Muhammed Betz
Andy Tiger
Dan Benco
Jane Elder
David Christy
Gerrie Johnson
Wayne Jones
Saudra DiPento
Toni Stiefer

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 by Chair Brett Elliott.

Approval of the Minutes
Margaret Avard made a motion to approve the April 13 minutes and Michael Miles seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

Committee Reports

University Affairs

Stan Alluisi handed out a survey regarding parking that will be sent out later. Stan reported that AVP Walkup said they will not do reserved parking for less than $100 per semester. AVP Walkup said that the gate costs $10,000 – 20,000. The money will be used to pay for the salary of additional personnel to patrol for parking.

Budget

Did not meet.

Committee on Committees

Diane Dixon submitted a year end report. There was a question as to who the changes to the Academic Procedures and Policies Manual need to go to. It needs to go to Mindy House. There has been a problem with changes being made in a timely manner.

Executive Committee

Brett submitted a year end report. He showed us a memo by President Johnson regarding the review of faculty salaries. Debbie Smarr contacted Brett about meeting with the President Friday at 11:00 to discuss the salaries. The administration only wanted to meet with Brett rather then the whole executive committee. Brett’s response was that he would not be the chair of Faculty Senate after Wednesday therefore Ken Elder should also be there. Brett and Ken will be meeting Friday with the President, AVP McMillan and AVP Walkup.

Planning

Dan Althoff submitted a year end report. The Planning Committee thought that their charge of recommending a policy that allows departments that make money from summer school to keep that money was a moot point. Bryon Clark thought it could be done. It was then thought that the extra money should go to the school rather then the department. There was a misunderstanding of the charge by the committee and this will be a charge for the committee next year.

Personnel Policies

Chris Moretti submitted a year end report. He also handed out a modified recommendation regarding tenure and promotion guidelines that was on last meeting’s report. There was considerable discussion about whether the Faculty Senate should endorse departmental guidelines for tenure and promotion. There was some discussion as to whether the Faculty Senate is equivalent to the general faculty. Michael Miles made a friendly amendment to change the wording for endorsement instead of approval. There also was a friendly amendment to delete “– they simply will not carry the weight of general faculty approval”. Stan Alluisi moved to approve the recommendation from Personnel Policies with the changes and Michael Miles seconded. There was some more discussion and then Lucretia Scoufos called to question. The motion passed (10 for, 1 against, 1 abstention).

There also was a discussion as to what to do with this recommendation. (How to present it to the administration?). It was decided that Brett and Ken will present it to VP Snowden at the meeting Friday.

Old Business:

Brett reported from the Faculty Advisory Council meeting with Tommy Beavers from HealthChoice. He asked about the complaint that there are few doctors in the network in the Sherman/Denison area. Tommy Beavers said there are over 100 doctors at TMC and WNJ on HealthChoice. Margaret Avard asked why aren’t they on the HealthChoice website. Tommy Beavers said that if you have a young healthy dependent, it is better to have them on independent health insurance.

Brett showed the Senate the memo from VP Snowden regarding the Faculty Senate concerns on the Academic Excellence Goal and the memo from Chip Weiner agreeing to move the Assessment Report due date to the second Friday in September.

New Business:

Bryon Clark recommended that next year the Faculty Senate look at increasing adjunct salaries.

Brett handed over the gavel to Ken Elder (chair– elect). The Senate applauded Brett for his leadership as chair for the last two years.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40.

Diane Dixon, Faculty Senate Recorder.