UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
Faculty Senate 2007-08
________________________________________________________________
University of South Alabama
Faculty Senate
2007-2008
February 20, 2008
University Library, Rm.110
Approved Minutes
Present: Amare, Aucoin, Baggett, Britt, Bru, Burnham, Carter, Crumb, Doran, Engin, Falkos, Hamilton, Johnsten, I. Khan, King, Lauderdale, Li, Loomis, Major, McNair, Meyer, Morris, Prendergast, Prescott, Romey, Rowell, Simpson, Tate, Tony Wright, Tootie Wright.
Excused: Aliabadi, Allison, Brown, Byrne, Dardeau, Estis, Fresne, Haas, Irion, Z. Khan, Kinniburgh, Perez-Pineda, Pettyjohn, Porter, Prokhorov, Robinson, Sachs, Santoli, Teplick, Woodford.
Unexcused: Carnahan, Douglass, Green, Heins, Phelan, Sherman, Vrettos.
1. The meeting was called to order at 3:04 P.M. by Chair Tate. Quorum present at 3:14.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion by Chair to approve minutes for the January 16 meeting; no changes or suggestions; unanimous approval.
3. Guest Speaker:
Vice-President for Research Dr. Russ Lea spoke about his support for increasing the enterprise of USA faculty’s scholarly work. He began by giving an overview of his previous experience and related that part of his job here at USA is to translate what the faculty are doing into excitement for others. He stated that he wholly supports faculty release. He gave an update on some of the things he has been doing at USA since his hiring:
- funding a graduate student to be a technical writer for faculty proposals;
- talking with faculty and listening to what research is going on in the various areas in order to link them together (inter-college/inter-department) when applicable;
- investigating how USA can utilize grants from the Department of Defense;
- working on a reward system for the Research Operations Council to ensure that his office remains anti-bureaucratic.
Dr. Lea then took questions from the floor. Upon being asked what a faculty member can subscribe to besides IRIS, Lea stated that his office is always sending out information to the Deans and various departments. If any faculty member would like to be put directly on the e-mailing list, just ask. When asked how a land grant analogy can be translated to USA, he answered that we must have an impact on the outside. He further stated that impact is something we can achieve.
4. Chair’s Report: Chair Tate summarized points from the written report which is available in its entirety online. Highlights are listed as below:
- Fringe Benefits Committee, Jan. 29, 2008
The year-end financial statement for 2007 was presented. There will be no change to the employee cost sharing amounts for 2008. There were two major topics of discussion (both brought forward by Jean Irion, chair of Faculty Salaries & Fringe Benefits Committee): 1) tiered premium rates and 2) consideration of enhanced coverage for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
- Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Feb. 6, 2008
The committee looked at the question about the replacement for Dr. Covey as V.P. for Academic Affairs, and also the question about student evaluations of faculty that was raised at the last faculty senate meeting. In other new business, there is the question of the role of instructors on non-tenure track lines, which has been referred to the Academic Policy & Faculty Handbook committee to pursue.
- University Planning Workshop, Feb. 18, 2008
Senior university administrators, faculty senate executive committee representatives and university board of trustee members meet to discuss changes to the university mission statement and goals for the next 5 years.
- Executive Committee meeting with President Moulton, Feb. 18, 2008
President Moulton will be forming a search committee for V.P. of Academic Affairs and there will be an interim person in the position until it is filled, but there is no decision of who it will be. Concerning student evaluations, though it is a university requirement that students in every course in every college, every semester, should fill out a student evaluation, how it is accomplished is up to individual colleges.
- Higher Education Day Rally, Montgomery, March 6, 2008
As indicated in the Governmental Relations Update email (2/8/08), the Governor’s budget for FY 2009 will receive a $380 million cut in the education budget. The majority of the cut ($186 million) comes at the expense of four-year colleges and universities. It is important to make legislators aware that funding higher education should continue to be a priority for the state’s budget.
5. Old Business:
- Student evaluations are still being investigated. Dr. Covey is willing to help departments move into a paperless system of administering evaluations.
- Chair Tate is still pursuing the Non-reappointment Resolution which has still not been brought forward.
6. New Business:
Elections- Secretary Britt will be sending letters to caucus leaders to let them
know how many senators are to be elected. In composing these letters, she will re-calculate how many senators each college will have based on the latest faculty census data and will be replacing senators who have more than 3 unexcused absences.
7. Committee Reports:
- Academic Development and Mentoring (Steve Morris): To date there have been 22 responses to the survey that was distributed to new faculty. They will be talking to Deans and they will also be looking into other institutions. A year end report will be compiled soon.
- Environmental Quality (Smoot Major): No report.
- Evaluation (Tom Johnsten): A little over 200 have responded to the survey to date. Caucus leaders are asked to encourage their members to respond.
- Planning and Development (John Sachs): There is still a commitment from the university to construct a University Club, but when it will be completed is in question. Phase 2 of the Grove is behind schedule. Fall 09 is the new projected completion date.
- Policies and Faculty Handbook (Eric Loomis): No report.
Salary and Benefits (Jean Irion): A written report that summarized the last University Fringe Benefits Committee was distributed and is available on the faculty senate web page under the FS&B page.
- Technology Utilization (Jie Li): No report.
8. Caucus Leader Reports:
- Allied Health (Zari Aliabadi): No report.
- Arts and Sciences (Tony Wright): No report.
- Continuing Education (Elliott Lauderdale): Dr. Sue Fishman has retired and Dr. Betty Wilkinson is a new faculty member.
- Computer and Information Sciences (Michael Doran): Newly appointed Dean Alec Yasinsac will begin June 1. Two faculty searches are going on now.
- Education (Leah Kinniburgh): No report.
- Engineering (Ali Engin): All 4 departments are conducting searches for new faculty and actively interviewing candidates.
- Library (Amy Prendergast): Two new librarians for Biomedical Library will begin on March 3rd. Andrea Wright will be responsible for technology and information resources, while Beverly Rossini is the new outreach librarian.
- Mitchell College of Business (Greg Prescott): No report.
- Medicine (Kevin Green): No report.
- Nursing (Karen Hamilton): No report.
9. Meeting adjourned at 3:52 P.M.
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