University of South Alabama Faculty Senate
2003-2004
Jan. 21, 2004
University Library, Rm. 110
3:00 p.m.

Approved MINUTES

  1. Call to Order–The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm.
  2. Present: Aronson, Barik, Brown, Bru, Cohen, Dickens, Donovan, DuPree, Figarola, Foster, Gamble, Giles, Godfrey, Gray, Hanks, Haywick, Icenogle, Kovaleski, Lauderdale, Millner, Moreau-Johnson, Morris, Nowlin, Olsen, Pardue, Perez Pineda, Peters, Pillen, Powell, Robertson, Rubin, Ryan, Sachs, Sanders, Sauer, Spake, Tate, Temple, and Teplick.

    Absent (Excused): Aldes, Coleman, Harris, Jefferson, Parker, Payne, Pruitt, and Watts.

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

  3. Approval of Minutes of the Nov 19th meeting
  4. The minutes for the November meeting were adopted with minor changes.

  5. Chair’s Report
  6. Due to his illness, Len Aldes will temporarily be replaced by Steve Teplick as interim chair of the Salary and Benefits Committee. A concern has been raised about the lack of parking for faculty and staff at the MCOB. R. Brown has passed the issue on to Bob Shearer, but will follow-up if necessary. AAPC met this past December about a new Student Academic Conduct Policy. There should be something to present to the Faculty Senate at its Feb. meeting. The Master Plan Steering Committee has met a couple of times and their work is nearly finished. The plan is scheduled to be presented at the March meeting of the USA Board of Trustees. At the past Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved a $30 million bond issue to finance campus improvements, including the new student services center, Stanky Field renovations, the new transit system, and renovations to the USA Health Services buildings. The USA Foundation met in Dec and heard presentations from Judy Stout on the University Honors Program and Michael Boyd on the USA Cancer Research Institute. USA Alumni Association has nearly completed it interrogatories of both the Foundation and the University Administration on their views of the proper organization and behavior of university foundations. The results will be posted on the Alumni’s website.

  7. Old Business
  8. USA Presidential Review–The ad hoc committee will be giving a formal response to USA Board of Trustees Chair Nix; it will be focusing on the Presidential Review and not on the progress of the University. There will be an open meeting on Jan 29th for input by faculty. By end of Feb, the committee will have a draft of the report, which will first be presented to the Faculty Senate, then to the Board of Trustees. SACS has a requirement that Board of Trustees should periodically evaluate the university president. It is the Senate’s hopes that this will be part of the formal process.

    Mentoring Committee Guidelines–After some discussion, the policy was adopted, as amended, by voice vote.

  9. New Business
  10. March meeting date–It was voted to move the meeting in March to the 24th, due to a conflict with Spring Break.

  11. Reports from Standing Committees
  12. Academic Development and Mentoring (Coleman) — The issues before the committee have already been covered under Old Business.

    Environmental Quality (Nowlin) The Environmental Quality Committee determined that at present, no standing University committee exists that specifically addresses environmental concerns on campus.  However, several years ago Dr. Margaret Miller chaired a committee that looked into the environmental well-being of "The Swamp" and concluded that at least for the present, all issues regarding its environmental integrity have been resolved.  Having closure on this issue, the committee plans to address several
    other concerns: e.g., cleaning up the pond adjacent to the Library, building nesting boxes for migratory wood ducks, and investigating the current condition of the University's recycling program.

    Evaluation–Only 230 faculty members participated in the current faculty survey. The results will be studied. Senator Gamble will follow-up this latest online survey with a telephone survey this spring. The next online faculty survey will not be until next spring (2005).

    Policy and Handbook (Hanks)–No report.

    Planning (Haywick)–The committee met 2 days after the last meeting to make a decision about a proposal for faculty club. Haywick was able to get a faculty club include in the new master plan. The support that the committee has received so far has been positive. The Townhouse, presently occupied by the graduate school, is a good prospect for a site. Problem is The Office of Development also wants that area. Now the committee needs to do some research to develop the concept of what a faculty club should be. It was suggested that the committee go through the formal process with the University’s Space Utilization Committee.

    Salary & Fringe Benefits (Teplick)–The committee met last week to come up with topics for discussion. One issue is to reduce the cost of health care. Another is to look at salary equity. They will also look at the possibility of revisiting the possibility of a dental plan.

    Technology Utilization (Pardue) -- No report

    There was a concern about how Banner/PAWS handles pre-requisites for people under different years.

  13. Caucus Leaders Reports
  14. AHP–Chris Watts replaces Theresa Smith as senator. The program may move to campus with in the next couple of years, probably in the USA Health Services Building.

    MCOB–The College has been interviewing candidates; no word on the Association Dean position.

    COE– Dr. Richard L. Hayes has been appointed Dean of the College of Education.

    Library–This is the first year of the special student fee for the library. The money will be split between the University Library and the Biomedical Library. Most of the money will go to computerized databases. Some of the money will go to replacing money that used to come from the USA Foundation for book purchases.

    COM–At a recent Medical College meeting, Moulton gave accomplishments while Kreisberg gave challenges facing the college. Promotion and Tenure procedures within the College of Medicine will be reviewed.

    CIS–Teams of 3 students from CIS need application projects. If any one has any suggestions, please contact the department.

    Nursing–Feb 6th is their 30th anniversary of the college and they will have a celebration honoring the event.

  15. Adjournment

The meeting was Adjourned at 4:35 pm.