In Attendance: Senators Beasley, Begley, Brewer, Broughton, Call, Cetin, Crofton, Culpepper, Dressler, Driver, Elwell, Foreman, Gutwirth, Hulick, Jacobs, Landini, Magee, Janice Morgan, Jay Morgan, Michael Morgan, Muscio, Pervine, Pilgrim, Powell, Rudolph, Schell, Strieter, Waldman, Wall, Wattier, and Watts

Absent: Senators Barrett, Bokeno, Jeanquart-Barone, Maxwell, and Steve White

The Faculty Senate convened in regular session on Tuesday, October 5, 1999. The minutes of September 7, 1999, were approved as written. President Call recognized Senator Jay Morgan as Senate Parliamentarian.

Academic Policies—Janice Morgan, Chair, reported that the committee met and formulated a response to the proposal on academic restructuring of the university reiterating the goals of the senate. The senate approved a resolution asking the administration to consult affected academic units regarding collegiate affiliation before the plan is adopted and advised that the final affiliation be approved by a majority of the affected members. The senate also resolved that the final plan be submitted to the University Academic Council for review and recommendation.

The committee also set up an e-mail poll and forum for suggestions of concrete and affective changes to the proposal. Dr. Brockway will be apprised of the results and a report will be given to the senate at the next meeting.

Board of Regents--Regent Rudolph outlined actions of the board at the September 17 board meeting. Achievement grants were renamed incentive grants and the sick leave bank proposal was adopted. The board has also discussed next year’s tuition rates; another meeting will be called to set rates. The board has appointed an International Studies Committee to research ways to increase enrollment.

Regent Rudolph attended a trustees conference at Northern September 26-27. CPE President Gordon Davies spoke. State appropriations are anticipated to only increase by 2.4-3 percent for the next biennium.

Commenting on the proposed reorganization plan, Regent Rudolph noted the board’s intention to grandfather current tenure and promotion criteria into any restructured units.

The administration is committed that no faculty will be placed at a disadvantage due to any reformulation of policies. President Call asked Senator Muscio to make sure that the entire plan be given due consideration before the University Academic Council.

Finance--Chair Schell presented budget reports on three agenda items: 1) tuition increases, 2) reorganization budget reallocations, and 3) impact of regional education centers; i.e., cost effectiveness of satellite campuses.

Governmental Affairs—Chair Wattier asked faculty to monitor pre-filed bills associated to their expertise. A link is provided on the senate’s governance page. COSFL will monitor a collective bargaining bill.

Handbook & Personnel—Vice President Elwell presented a committee report that recognizes the Faculty Handbook as containing official board approved policies and procedures. This is in agreement with a board statement. The committee's stance to a board directive to separate policies and procedures within the Faculty Handbook is that the policies are sufficiently labeled. The committee will continue to update the Handbook as changes are approved in accordance with SACS requirements, but does not want to do a complete review of the Handbook at this time. As policies are set by the Board of Regents, the provost and senate will implement with agreed upon procedures.

In other business, the committee set its agenda for the coming year. The committee will act in accord with the senate resolution of December 2, 1998, asking the faculty to note to the committee any possible violations of handbook procedures. Changes to the handbook will be updated online. The committee reaffirmed its intention to monitor administrative performance.

The committee will study the deletion of a reference to the Faculty Handbook on faculty contracts.

President Call charged the committee to maintain and improve the Handbook to increase its clear application to the way the university is governed. Regent Rudolph noted that what is listed and dated is board policy and is expected to be followed.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Dr. Powell will serve as vice chair of this committee and be responsible for reports to the senate. The committee has several items on its agenda.

Insurance and Benefits—Chair Jacobs reported that the committee forwarded the sick leave proposal for administrative review. The committee will meet on October 20 to elect a new chair and proceed to agenda items. He told faculty to route items through their collegiate representatives to the committee.

Graduate Studies—Chair Muscio reported that the committee had not received anything from the provost.

Library and Academic Support—Dr. Brockway will follow up on a CPE request for program information. This was offered as an information item on the council’s agenda.

Executive—President Call noted Dr. Alexander’s intention to attend all future executive committee meetings. Dr. Brockway attended last week’s meeting and the committee noted a productive session. President Call reported that Dr. Alexander has contacted him concerning meetings of the President’s Cabinet. President Call suggested that the senate VP should be included.

The executive officers have studied the board minutes of June 18 and concluded that the Faculty Handbook does contain policies that govern faculty responsibilities and activities. As presented in the report of the handbook and personnel committee, the committee will address further issues.

President Call reported that the university attorney has suggested changes to the Post-Tenure Review Policy and that the revised document will be presented to the senate for review. The goal of the Provost's Office is to take the finished item to the Board in December.

The executive committee presented a proposal to publicly evaluate President Alexander. The senate supported this with one abstention. The Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee will develop an evaluation instrument and conduct the evaluation this fall.

New business—It was noted that the board of regents voted to eliminate the salary distribution policy as outlined in the Faculty Handbook. Senator Schell asked that when the document outlining the relationship between the Racer Foundation and the university is prepared, it be furnished to the senate. President Call responded that the relationship and governance of the foundation is under the direction of the board of regents.

The senate adjourned at 5:15 p.m.