UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Faculty Senate

Unapproved Minutes

20 September, 2000

 

1. Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 3:03 p.m.

 

2. Roll Call and Agenda Approval:

Present:

Dagenais, Gifford, Spector, Bowers, I. Brown, R. Brown, Cohen, Comstock, Kimbell, Kwiatkowski, Matheson, Morris, Mozur, Payne, Rogers, Shardo, White, Ryder, Vest, Rowe, Bailey, Broughton, Ellis, McIntosh, Strange, Olsen, Sylvester, Murray, Norman, Wheeler, Benoit, Cepeda, Kayes, Perkins, Townsley, Wesenberg, Wilson, Beatty, Bracken, Hsu, Swofford, Broome, DeWitt, Temple, Weitzel

Absent (Excused):

Hill, Blackwell, Miller, Teplick,

Absent (Unexcused):

Hitt, Garmon, Parker, Baker, Boggs, Cox, Derbin, Sternberg, Stevens, Stubbs, Tuck-Muller

 

3. Approval of Minutes:

The minutes from the July 19, 2000 Faculty Senate meeting were presented and approved with minor corrections to the roll call.

 

4. USA Southerners:

The USA Southerners gave a brief informational presentation about their functions and services.

 

5. Presentation by Dr. David Feinstein:

Dr. Feinstein, Dean of the School of Computer and Information Sciences, was present to discuss the proposed computer and software access requirement (discussed during the July meeting). Dr. Feinstein discussed results of a student survey, availability of tutorials and several related topics. He also indicated that currently computer services has no plans to provide enhanced services. Numerous questions were asked and opinions expressed, but no consensus was reached. Chairman Rogers then stated that the Senate’s role concerning the proposed computer policy is unclear.

Senator Sylvester made the following motion (seconded by Senator Swofford). This motion will be voted on at the next Senate meeting.

Motion: The Senate votes to support the computer and software access requirements proposed by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Another motion to be voted on during the next meeting was offered by Senator Cohen.

Motion: Any money saved or gained by closing or phasing out computer labs should be devoted to additional computer related support.

6. Report from the Chair and Communication from the President:

Dr. Shearer indicated that the President had no direct communications at the time.

Chairman Rogers reported:

The administrators/faculty retreat is still scheduled for October 13, 2000.

Policies concerning the Presidential Search Process have been approved by the Board of Trustees.

Increased enrollment has little net effect upon the overall budget.

The faculty handbook is now online.

 

7. Reports from Standing Committees:

Evaluation Committee:

Senator Wesenberg reported that the Spring 2000 survey results soon will be available on the Senate web site.

Planning Committee:

Senator Dagenais reported that his committee had not met recently but the they were looking into the University committee structure and graduate student stipends. Several space and facilities items were also discussed including:

Bids on the library addition and renovation should be opened around November 1.

The track is to be redone at a cost of approximately $2.7 million.

Phase one of the Mitchell College of Business renovations should be completed by October 1.

It has been recommended to the President that new intramural fields be developed.

Old Shell Road will be expanded to four lanes between Hillcrest and the post office. This project should begin in the Spring of 2000.

Construction of an Archeological Research Center has been proposed. This will be near the maintenance building west of the Humanities building.

There is general talk about a campus transit system.

Senator Dagenais also stated that Dr. Covey has expressed concern about funding priorities.

Policy and Handbook Committee: Senator Brown discussed the following:

Policies concerning Faculty Service and Development Awards - a motion was made to adopt the policy as written - the resolution will probably be voted on during the October Senate meeting.

Intellectual property rights issues will be discussed in the future.

Salary and Fringe Benefits Committee: Senator Townsley discussed the following:

A web page concerning employee benefits is being developed.

President Moulton has stated that equity pay adjustments have been approved.

A voluntary dental program may be provided by Mutual of Omaha. Meetings to explain the plan will be held in the near future.

It was noted that there are two points of the vacation policy that differ from a previous Senate resolution.

Equity pay raises were also discussed. No resolution or other action was taken.

 

8. Reports From Caucus Leaders:

The following caucuses have met or have scheduled a meeting with their respective Dean: Allied Health, Arts and Sciences, and Continuing Education.

The Library representative indicated that there was a concern over non tenure track hires - including reclassified positions.

The Nursing representative expressed some concerns about the new sick leave policy.

The following caucuses have not met with their respective Deans: Engineering, Mitchell College of Business

The following caucuses had no report: Computer and Information Sciences and Medicine

 

9. Old Business:

Senator Richmond Brown stated that consultants will be on campus soon to study further the football issue. Phone surveys of various groups will follow. It is probable that a report will be presented to the Board of Trustees by approximately February 2001.

 

10. New Business:

Senator Bailey questioned whether faculty are being ranked during the faculty evaluation process.

 

11. Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 4:39 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by:

R. Bracken, Secretary


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