MINUTES – Draft 9/8/05

Of the University of Central Oklahoma

FACULTY SENATE

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Education Building, Room 106

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Roberson called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.

 

ROLL CALL

Members present (28): Senator Beasley, Senator Bird, Senator Bizé, Senator Boling, Senator Dickson, Senator Dowdy, Senator Eckard, Senator Ferguson, Senator Hartmann, Senator Hepner, Senator Holt, Senator Law, Senator Lucas, Senator Martin, Senator McNeiland, Senator Mock, Senator Montes, Senator Moyers, Senator Nelson, Senator Roberson, Senator Rooker, Senator Singer, Senator von Minden, Senator Wallo, Senator Waters, Senator Webb, Senator Wright, Senator Zhu.

Members absent (4): Senator Cochran, Senator Hickman, Senator Smith, Senator Youll.

Recognition of visitors to the Senate: Vice President of Administration Steve Kreidler, Assistant Vice-President Jerry Legere, Dr. Donna Kearns, Dr. David Ford, Dr. Tana Stufflebean , Dr. Joan Luxenburg, Dr. Jan Hardt, Dr. Fakhrildeen Albahadily, Senate Student Secretary Ashley Meade.

 

Suspension of the Rules to Bring Forward an Item of New Business:

President Roberson requested unanimous consent to suspend the rules to move forward one of the items of New Business listed on the agenda.  Given that many of the nominees for the Appeal Committee on the Dismissal of Tenured Faculty were present at the meeting, the Senate agreed to his request.  President Roberson read a prepared statement that gave profiles of the nominees and his rationale for making the nominations.  Nominated by President Roberson were the following full professors: Dr. Joan Luxenburg, Dr. Jan Hardt, Dr. Kim Tullis, Dr. Jim Bidlack, Dr. Jennifer Endicott, Dr. William Wallo, and Dr. David Ford.  Vice President Beasley nominated Dr. Tana Stufflebean.  Nominations for alternates came from the floor: Dr. Fakhrildeen Albahadily was nominated by Senator Montes and Dr. Katherene Terrell was nominated by President Roberson.  Senator Webb moved that the nominees be approved by the Senate and the motion passed unanimously.

    A short recess took place as Senator (and out-going Parliamentarian) Montes had the newly approved committee members draw lots for “one year” or “two year” assignments to the committee.  Senator Montes then announced the results to the Senate: serving one year terms will be Drs. Luxenburg, Endicott, Bidlack, and Tullis; serving two year terms will be Drs. Wallo, Hardt, Albahadily, and Stufflebean.

 

APPROVAL OF THE April 21, 2005 MINUTES

The minutes were then approved without emendation.

 

Additional Special Orders of the Day – Approval of the 2005-2006 Faculty Senate Parliamentarian

President Roberson thanked the out-going Parliamentarian, Senator Montes, for his service to the Senate.  He then nominated Senator James Mock for the position of Parliamentarian for the 2005-2006 Faculty Senate.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

President’s Report:

President Roberson noted that his official report is available on-line at the Senate website.  He chose, however, to highlight a few items from his report. 

·         Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs Bill Radke is “acting” no more.  At the end of the September 23, 2005 Senate Executive Committee meeting with President Webb and Vice President Radke, President Webb offered the permanent designation of “Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs” to Dr. Radke, who graciously agreed to accept the position.  Accolades for the appointment were expressed by President Roberson and other Senators.  Additional recognition was given to Drs. Pat LaGrow and Dan Donaldson, both of whom were also offered official positions as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs respectively.

·         President Roberson elicited discussion concerning a request from Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Pat LaGrow to regularly attend Faculty Senate meetings.  It was noted that there was a precedent for administrative attendees (Dr. Ed Pugh had served as an official liaison for former President Nigh).  Senator Law spoke in favor of having the Associate Vice President attend.  There was general agreement that this was a positive development.  President Roberson said he would extend an open invitation to Associate Vice President LaGrow.

Vice-President’s Report:

Vice-President Beasley announced that the next deadline for submission of bills to the Senate would be September 8, 2005.

Web Master’s Report:

Web Master Hartmann noted that there have been several changes to the Faculty Senate Website, and that the senators should “refresh” their computers with the new URL.

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report:

Secretary/Treasurer Law reported that he has several “Faculty Senator” door signs available for the new senators.  He also asked that committee reports being sent to the Webmaster also be sent to him to facilitate the writing of the minutes. 

Parliamentarian’s Report:

Parliamentarian Mock announced that the mandated workshop for parliamentary procedures would be held 30 minutes before the beginning of the September 15th meeting.  Senator Law (a former President of the Faculty Senate) urged the senators to attend, given how important knowledge of procedure can be to the success or failure of bills before the Senate.  Former Parliamentarian Montes also noted that the Regents had officially approved the changes to the Constitution requested by the 2004-2005 Senate: henceforth, Senate Executive Committee members will take office immediately following the final meeting of the spring semester.

 

UNIVERSITY-WIDE  COMMITTEE REPORTS

Tenure and Promotion Task Force:

President Roberson:  progress is being made.  A suggested list of modifications (or “tweaks”) was distributed to the senators for future consideration and evaluation.

Building Committee:

Senator Law: the efforts to come to consensus on what is needed in a general classroom building are being forged.  Weekly meetings are taking place so that formal recommendations can be made to President Webb.

Academic Affairs Council:

Senator Montes: the council has not yet met.

Alliance for Institutional Advancement:

Senator Law: the Alliance has not been called into session since January 2004.  A direct inquiry to President Webb confirmed that the Alliance was conceived as an “ad hoc” structure for specific needs in the past.  Its continuance is uncertain at this time.

Alumni Association Board of Directors:

Senator Webb: no report.

Benefits Committee:

Senator Bizé: no report.

Budget Task Force:

Senator Hepner: the concluding operations of the 2004-2005 Task Force were “interesting”: the meetings simply stopped happening.  There was never any discussion of the issue of a cost-of-living pay raise for faculty (FSP 2004/2005-12); a smaller raise than that requested by the Senate was given, but news of it came by way of an announcement in The Edmond Sun.  President Roberson said the issue will have to be “reflected upon.”


Continuous Improvement Team:

CIT Facilitators, Former Senator Donna Kearns and President Roberson: there have been no recent meetings, so no report can be given.

CIT Prospective Students, Vice President Beasley: no meetings yet.

CIT Technology, Senator Dickson: the library will be the first UCO building to go “wireless.”  A “CIT Database Committee” is also in the works.

CIT Development/Continuing Education: President Roberson: projects are moving forward.  The Senate will be instrumental in helping formulate a plan of action regarding future “outreach” projects.

 

Faculty Merit Committee:

Senator Lucas: the committee has not met.

Faculty Enhancement Center Advisory Board:

Senator Youll: was not at the meeting; no report was given.

Globalization Task Force:

Senator von Minden: no report.

Information Technology Advisory Board:

ITAB Faculty Advisory/Strategic Planning, Senator Dickson: proposals are forthcoming from Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Donna Guinn.

ITAB Academic Affairs Group, Vice President Beasley: no report.

Parking Task Force:

Senator Bird: Parking permits have gone up to $80.  Senator Dickson asked about where these revenues we going.  Senator Law foreshadowed that a bill will be coming to the Senate calling for a moratorium on increases.

Research Advisory Council:

Senator Ferguson: A workshop on “grants” is being organized by the Faculty Enhancement Center.  The first session is already full.

Outreach Committee:

Senator Montes and/or Senator Webb: there has been no contact yet.

Faculty Handbook Editorial Board:

Vice President Beasley and/or Senator Montes: no report.

 

SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS

Academic Affairs:

Senator Montes: no report.

Part-Time Faculty Affairs:

Senator Law: a short gathering of the committee will take place after today’s meeting.

Alumni and Community Affairs:

Senator McNeiland: Homecoming plans are in development.

Budget Committee:

Senator Hepner: no report.

CPP&E:

Parliamentarian Mock: several bills are being discussed in emails.

Faculty Handbook Committee:

Vice President Beasley: the committee will be contacted electronically.

Faculty Welfare and Development:

Senator Wallo: the committee has lost one of its appointees (Former Senator Buxton who retired).

Information Resources:

Senator Dickson: no report.

Personnel Policies:

Senator Webb: no report.

Research:

Senator Ferguson: no report.

 

Student Relations:

Senator Wright: no report.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

There was no unfinished business discussed at this meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to declare the seat of Senator Sheldon Buxton vacant and call for an election.

President  Roberson announced that Senator Buxton has retired.  He therefore moved that the Senate declare the seat “vacant” and charge Parliamentarian Mock with the duties of conducting an election for the vacated seat in the College of Education and Professional Studies.  The Senate unanimously approved the motion.  Parliamentarian Mock detailed the timetable for this election; at soonest, the new senator will be approved at the October meeting.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Senator Hepner noted recent recognition of the UCO Policy Institute in the Metro section of The Daily Oklahoman.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Seeing that there was no further business before the Senate, President Roberson acknowledged a motion to adjourn 3:24 p.m.

 

 

Secretary/Treasurer Stephen Law  draft9/8/05