University of South Alabama
Faculty Senate
2003-2004

Sept 17, 2003
University Library, Rm. 110
3:00 p.m.

Approved

MINUTES

 

  1. Call to Order:
  2. Present: Aronson, Brown, Bru, Coleman, Dickens, Donovan, DuPree, Figarola, Foster, Gamble, Giles, Godfrey, Gray, Haywick, Icenogle, Jefferson, Kovaleski, Lauderdale, Millner, Moreau-Johnson, Morris, Nowlin, Olsen, Pardue, Parker, Payne, Perez Pineda, Peters, Pillen, Robertson, Rubin, Ryan, Sachs, Sanders, Sauer, Smith, Spake, Tate, and Temple.

    Absent (Excused): Aldes, Barik, Cohen, Hanks, Longenecker, Powell, Pruitt, Rodning, and Teplick.

    Absent (Unexcused): Davis, Harris, Luterman, Manci, and Quinn.

     

  3. Approval of Minutes of the July 16th meeting:
  4. Minutes were approved without changes.

     

  5. Clay Hammac, SGA President
  6. Mr. Hammac mentioned one project that the student government will be looking into: academic forgiveness policy. SGA will be researching this topic in hopes of presenting something to the Faculty Senate sometime this academic year.

     

  7. Gordon Moulton, USA President
  8. Chair Brown congratulated Pres. Moulton on being named "Mobilian of the Year" by the Civitan of Mobile, and for his efforts on the tax initiative. Moulton talked about various on-going projects for the University: the new transit system, the Archaeology building; and the moving of clinical services from campus to the hospitals.

    Pres. Moulton also talked about what is happening in Montgomery. The University’s portion of the Teachers Retirement System is increasing about $3.5 million; the health insurance cost to the University has gone up 24%, due primarily to high utilization of the benefits, for about $2.8 million for University’s share; and PEEHIP, the retirement health insurance, which was formally paid by the state will be transferred to the University for about $2.5 million, totally about $9 million new costs for the University. USA Board of Trustees at their Sept. meeting had already approved a $2 million deficit for this year’s budget. Right now USA may receive the same appropriations from the state as they did last year, for level funding. The next fiscal year (2005) may be a different story, since the state budget will lose over $200 million one-time aid from the federal government. Also, if state Medicaid funding goes down, this will greatly impact USA hospitals. Right now there is no decision by the University’s administration to freeze faculty hiring, since they are needed to maintain the quality of education, though there will be no raises this year.

     

  9. Chair’s Report:
  10. Instead of a separate Chair’s Report, Chair Brown explained that he would address several matters in Old and New Business.

     

  11. Old Business:
  12. Update on the Survey (Bart L.)–Chair Brown reported that Academic Computing was too busy with beginning of the semester activities to get the faculty survey up and running, but hopefully the survey should be out by the last week of the month. In addition to the web survey, there will be a phone sampling of the survey to compare with the results of the web version.

    Update on USA Foundation–The Foundation still wants to meet with the Faculty Senate. Maxey Roberts was named Managing Director of the Foundation; Herman Thomas was added as the newest member to the board; the Foundation’s by-laws were changed to allow the Board to meet in their new headquarters; and the Foundation’s holdings have gone up $20 million since last spring. The Alumni Association is trying to keep the channel of communication open between the Foundation and USA administration.

     

  13. New Business:
  14. Chair Brown announced he will appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to review the President’s 5-year Term–The focus of the new ad hoc committee will be to evaluate the effectiveness of the President in advancing stated university goals and addressing faculty needs and concerns. The committee will be headed by the Vic-Chair of the Senate, and will be composed of the Senate’s caucus leaders. A&S and the College of Medicine will have two members each (including the Vice-Chair). Senate Vice-Chair Morris stressed that the purpose of appointing the committee is to affirm the faculty’s role in evaluating the performance of the University President.

     

  15. Reports from Standing Committees:
  16. Planning & Development: The committee met to discuss issues for the coming year. One of the focuses will be looking at the development of a University Master Plan, as required by SACS, that will be done by a university steering committee. The P & D Committee would like to look at what needs to be done across campus. Another concern was the need for a Faculty Club.

    Salary & Fringe Benefits: No report, but Chair Brown commented that the increased cost of health insurance may be a major topic.

    Environmental Quality: No definite chair, but the committee is trying to determine its focus.

    Academic Development & Mentoring: The committee is working on structuring the mentoring program. Bob Coleman was formally elected as Chair of the committee.

     

  17. Caucus Leaders Reports
  18. Allied Health–John Jefferson was named as caucus leader.

    A&S–Plan to meet within the next week

    CIS–No report.

    Cont Ed–Elliot Lauderdale was named as caucus leader.

    Education–Met in July to discuss various issues. Still looking for a new Dean.

    Engineering–No report.

    Library–No report.

    Medicine–No report.

    MCOB–No report.

    Nursing–Enrollment is up.

     

  19. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.