Minutes of the Faculty Senate

May 4, 2001

President Sadler called the meeting to order. The Minutes of the April 6 meeting were approved, with one correction offered by Senator Grealy.

Nancy Willets, Director of the Parents Program, Alumni/Parent Relations encouraged Senators to attend the Parents Association Commencement event on Friday evening, June 8.

President Sadler reported a 40% response rate on Administrator Evaluations. Results will be forthcoming.

President Sadler reminded Senators that they recently received a letter regarding UPAC work on the Vision, Values and Mission statements. She encouraged Senators to comment.

President Sadler reported on the Faculty Roundtable with the Chancellor. The following issues were raised:

The importance of seeking to build diversity in the faculty and administration

Concerns regarding internal searches for both the Provost and Vice Provost positions.

Parking

Long range plans for maintaining the rapidly growing infrastructure of the University

The Universitys fourth tier academic reputation

Program priorities as we move beyond a capitol construction phase.

Provost Zaranka reported that as a result of the Roundtable, the search for a new Vice Provost will be an external search, as will the searches for the Vice Provost for Budget and the new Associate Vice Provost for Multicultural Affairs.

Provost Zaranka announced this years faculty awards:

The United Methodist Church University Scholar/Teacher: Dr. Tracey Ehlers

Distinguished Scholar: Dr. Robert Granfield

Distinguished Teacher: Dr. Maria Rivas

University Lecturer: Dr. James Davis

Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award: Jeff Keith

Evans Professor: Dr. Alan Gilbert.

Dennis Barrett of NCR presented 12 amendments to the Senate Constitution as a notice of motion. They will be voted on at the next Senate Meeting. Most are title corrections. He also presented information on the positions to be filled by election at the next Senate Meeting, and reminded committee chairs to submit written reports.

Discussion of the previous motion by Senator Reichardt to accept the revisions to the APT document as presented in the written, revised document was re-opened. Senator Chapman had seconded the motion in the April 6 meeting of the Senate. Considerable discussion ensued. The primary points are summarized below.

Concerns were raised about the need for the Collegiate Professor series. Provost Zaranka and Vice-Provost Hughes noted that only a very small number of faculty members might be in this series. It was noted that various reasons for need have been advanced. Some Senators said that it was hard to ascertain the compelling need for a new series in addition to the Clinical series. It was suggested that the Senate vote on the other changes to the document separately from the Collegiate series.

Senator Reichardt withdrew his motion to accept the document as a whole.

Senator Barrett moved that the Senate approve all sections of the APT revision except the Collegiate series and all other references to the Collegiate series. The motion being seconded, discussion continued.

There was discussion about the need for a definition of the term adjunct.

There was discussion regarding language in the Research Professor series that was deleted in the revision. Senator Stencel requested that the language allowing Research Professors to vote in departmental matters be reinstated. Senator Reichardt accepted this as a friendly amendment.

There was discussion of the language specifying the degree to which faculty members are involved in various activities and the difficulty in fractionalizing work assignments. It was noted that this language is in the current document and has not resulted in stringent use of percentages.

The question being called, the motion was approved (32 for, 0 against).

Senator Reichardt moved that the Collegiate Series be approved. Senator Chapman seconded the motion. Senator Reichardt requested a straw. President Sadler offered her opinion that the Senate has no provision for a straw vote. Senator Reichardt requested a non-binding voice vote. The voice vote appeared evenly distributed for and against the motion.

Senator Giles said that the Business faculty members were unanimously against the motion. Dr. Chapman said that the Collegiate serious could work to support faculty. It was noted that the Clinical Series might be sufficient to the Universitys needs.

Dr. Reichardt withdrew his motion, noting that a narrow passage of the Collegiate Series would be divisive.

There was some discussion as to whether the issue should be revisited at a later date. No motion was offered to refer the matter to committee. Provost Zaranka argued for the need for a different option for use in a small number of extraordinary circumstances. The Executive Committee will take this under advisement.

The time having elapsed, the Senate was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted 5/18/01

Cathryn C. Potter

Secretary, Faculty Senate