UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
                                                                                 Faculty Senate 2007-08
________________________________________________________________   

University of South Alabama
Faculty Senate
2007-2008
October 17, 2007
University Library, Rm.110

Approved Minutes

Present:         Aliabadi, Amare, Aucoin, Baggett, Britt, Brown, Bru, Burnham, Byrne, Carter, Crumb, Douglass, Engin, Estis,  Falkos, Fresne, Haas, Irion, Johnsten, I. Khan, Z. Khan, Li, Loomis, Meyer, Morris, Prendergast,  Prescott, Prokhorov, Romey, Sachs, Santoli, Simpson, Tate,Vrettos, Tony Wright.

Excused:        Dardeau, Doran, Green, Hamilton, Heins, King, Kinniburgh, Lauderdale, Major, Porter, Robinson, Rowell, Teplick, Woodford, Tootie Wright.

Unexcused:    Allison, Carnahan, McNair, Pérez-Pineda , Pettyjohn, Phelan, Sherman.

1.  The meeting was called to order at 3:03 P.M. by Chair Tate.  Quorum present.

2.  Approval of Minutes:

• Motion by Chair to approve minutes for the September 19 meeting; no changes or suggestions; unanimous approval.

3.  Chair’s Report:  Chair Tate summarized points from the written report which is available in its entirety online. Highlights are listed as below:

• Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting, Oct. 3, 2007 Committee Chair Eric Loomis and the Policy & Handbook Committee agreed to draft a memorial resolution honoring Mayer Mitchell for his many years of service and financial assistance to the University. Loomis also presented a rough draft of a resolution for revising the policy and procedures for non-reappointment of probationary faculty that he will be presenting to the Policy & Handbook Committee and will try to have a final draft ready to be presented to the senate at the Oct. meeting. Other items of discussion were as follows: USA Health Plan and fertility issues; the ad hoc University Club Committee; Town Meetings; and football.

• At this point there was a general discussion by the Senate regarding adding football to the USA programs.  Chair Tate outlined the changes in conditions from when we considered football back in 1999/2000 and where we are today.  Arguments for and against were presented by several members of the senate.  Chair Tate requested that a non-binding, straw vote be taken on the issue:  Would the Faculty Senate support adding a football team to the USA athletic programs, if it were done in a fiscally responsible way (i.e., with minimal financial support from the USA’s general operating budget)?   In favor: 29; against: 4; abstain: 2.

• Athletics Council Meeting, Oct. 10, 2007 Hal Williams reported about the results of an investigation involving the University’s men’s tennis team that came to light in Aug, 2006. Pres. Moulton gave a lengthy description of where we are in regards to football at USA.  SGA is currently working on plan to show the true support from students and determine what they would be willing to pay in the way of student fees. Also, before football can become a reality, the university would need to come up with a 4-year budget projection and take a realistic look of the costs. In other items, the Gender Equity Report was distributed. 

• Fringe Benefits Committee, Oct. 9, 2007 The USA Health Plan’s “Annual Valuation & Projections Plan” and “Financial & Utilization Review” were distributed.  There has been an approximate 7% increase in costs over last year’s expenditures.  If health costs continue to increase for the rest of the year, it is estimated that there will be a $1.3 million short-fall. The consultant believes the university can absorb the deficit for the next fiscal year (2008), but we may need to consider an increase in employee contribution for the next fiscal year.  The last increase in the base for employee contribution was in 2005. The Office of Human Resources is in the process of moving its offices over to the Research Technology Park Building 3.The Employee Benefits Fair will be Nov. 1st on-campus and Nov. 2nd at the hospitals. Human Resources will be moving to an on-line employment application system by the beginning of the year, and will also be covering student health services. 

• FS Executive Committee meeting with President Moulton, Oct. 15, 2007  Pres. Moulton once again talked on the topic of football at USA. He indicated that earliest a team would be able to play would be the fall of 2009, but more probably 2010.  We could possibly start recruiting team for next fall (2008) and could possibly have 25 scholarships initially available.  Also, as a side effect to a football program would be the inclusion of a marching band program, with the potential for more music scholarships. Other items of discussion were as follows: adjunct faculty salaries; the disbursement of the revenue generated by summer courses; and the question of daycare was raised.

4.  Old Business:

The Faculty Senate Town Meetings are going well.  The first two were well attended with the third meeting for Wednesday evening (10/17) at MCOB.  The last meeting will be at UComm on Thursday (10/18).  When the meetings are all over, a synopsis of the proceedings will be posted on the Faculty Senate web site.

5.  New Business:

● The Policy & Handbook Committee formally introduced a memorial resolution honoring Mayer Mitchell for his many years of service and financial assistance to the University.  Steve Morris (A&S) moved to suspend the rules in order to vote on this resolution.  Isabel Brown (A&S) seconded the motion.  A unanimous vote passed the resolution.

● The Policy & Handbook Committee formally introduced the Non-Reappointment Resolution.  This is an effort to bring the USA Faculty Handbook up to date with current AAUP guidelines. The original USA Faculty Handbook was based upon the AAUP guidelines, but has not been updated in years. There was much discussion from the general caucus and Chair Tate asks that all senators go back to their departments and get some sense of what faculty thinks so that this resolution can be addressed at the November meeting.

6.  Committee Reports:

●Academic Development and Mentoring (Steve Morris): Working on a survey questionnaire about orientation, mentoring, and tenure/promotion guidelines.
●Environmental Quality (Susan Santoli): No report.
●Evaluation (Tom Johnsten): In the process of revising Faculty Survey questions.
●Planning and Development (John Sachs): An ad hoc University Club Committee (including Sachs, Doug Haywick, & Nicole Carr) has been formed and has already met with President Moulton and Wayne Davis regarding the proposed building by the builders of the Grove Apartments.  The proposed 5,000 sq. ft. building, with various types of rooms for gatherings will be for the use of the University faculty, administration, departments, colleges and staff.  There are several details that remain to be answered such as the cost to be a member and the management of the building.
●Policies and Faculty Handbook (Eric Loomis): They are continuing to look into tenure/promotion issues.
●Salary and Benefits (Jean Irion): No report.
●Technology Utilization (Jie Li): Technology Fair is Oct. 26.  There are vendors and a special presentation from Apple at the Terrace.  Faculty members who use technology in a creative way and willing to share that with others on campus are encouraged to participate.  Li distributed an update of the University’s ADA compliance status.  

7.  Caucus Leader Reports:

●Allied Health (Zari Aliabadi)- Along with his advisory council, the AHP Dean is looking to make the three colleges (AHP, MED, NURS) as uniform as possible.
●Arts and Sciences (Tony Wright)- No report.
●Continuing Education (Elliott Lauderdale)-  No report.  
●Computer and Information Sciences (Michael Doran): No report.
●Education (Leah Kinniburgh): No report.
●Engineering (Ali Engin): The tenure track faculty members are discussing tenure/promotion issues.
●Library (Amy Prendergast): No report.  
●Mitchell College of Business (Greg Prescott): The recent accreditation review was favorable.
●Medicine (Kevin Green): No report.
●Nursing (Karen Hamilton): No report.

8. Meeting adjourned at 4:25 P.M.

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Last date changed: December 4, 2007
URL: http://www.usouthal.edu/usa/fsenate/records/minutes/20071017.html