UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
Faculty Senate
Approved Minutes
20 June 2001

1. Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m.

2. Roll Call:

Present: Dagenais, Gifford, Hill, Spector, Blackwell, Bowers, Brown, Comstock, Kimball, Matheson, Miller, Rogers, Shardo, Vest, Garmon, Ellis, Gray, Guest, Olsen, Wheeler, Boggs, Foster, Kayes, Painter, Wilson, Bracken, Hsu, Swofford, Broome, Weitzel

Absent (Excused): S. Cohen, Hanks, Hermanson, Kwiatkowski, Mozur, Longenecker, Bailey, Murray, Benoit, Townsley, Wesenberg, Beatty

Absent (Unexcused): Willis, Rowe, Broughton, El-Saba, Sylvester, Baker, Barik, M. Cohen, Figarola, McNair, Perkins, Pettyjohn, Temple

3. Announcements:

Chairman Rogers briefly discussed his presentation of the Senate’s resolution regarding appointment of new trustees (see minutes of May 23, 2001 meeting) to the Board of Trustees. He also reported that during the Executive Committee’s most recent meeting with President Moulton, finances and possible retirement incentives were discussed. A handout related to faculty vacancies was then discussed.

4. Agenda Approval and Approval of Minutes:

At this point it was determined that a quorum was present. The agenda for this meeting was approved. The minutes of the April and May meetings were also approved.

5. Announcements Continued:

Chairman Rogers indicated that some changes to the University’s health plan should be expected. It was also noted that no changes to the President’s Travel Fund procedures are expected. Everyone was thanked for their participation in this year’s Faculty Senate Annual Survey.

6. Committee Reports:

Planning and Development Committee: Senator Vest indicated that the Committee expects to consider tenure issues and establishment of an ombudsman program.

Policy and Handbook Committee: Senator Ellis stated that the Committee held a brief meeting and discussed student assessments, copyright issues, and a workload policy. The Committee decided to do additional work on the workload issue before bringing something back to the Senate. The Committee also expects to work on E College issues during the year.

Salary and Fringe Benefits Committee: Senator Boggs reported on the web page detailing benefits available to University faculty. She asked that everyone review and comment on the content. It was also stated that a complete description of health benefits is not yet available.

7. Reports From Caucus Leaders: None of the caucus leaders had a formal report. It was reported, however, that the Dean of the College of Engineering is resigning the position effective sometime during April 2002.

8. Old Business: There was no discussion of old business.

9. New Business: Chairman Rogers introduced a University Safety and Environmental Compliance Policy (a copy of this policy is currently available at http://www.southalabama.edu/fsenate/safety.pdf). Rogers indicated that Dr. Covey wants the Senate to consider placing this policy in the Faculty Handbook. After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to refer this issue to the Policy and Handbook Committee for further deliberations. This motion passed (19 for, 8 opposed).

Senator Weitzel stated that recommendations concerning intellectual property issues are undergoing a review process.

A motion was made and seconded to allow discussion and voting on an issue raised during this meeting. This motion passed.

A motion was made and seconded concerning the Senate’s concern over a lack of full disclosure of health benefits (inclusion on the web page has not been approved by the administration). The motion was:

It is the sense of the Senate that there should be a complete and current description of all health care benefits on the Faculty Senate Benefits web page.

This motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:

R. Bracken, Secretary