Faculty Senate Minutes

August 22, 2003

12:15 p.m.

Faculty Senate Building

Members Present – Barbara Hunt (President), Janice Giallourakis (Vice-President), Lea Evans, Missy Dodson (proxy for Melinda Rush), Shawn Dickey, Bill Parker, Jimena Aracena, Tom Velek, Brian Anderson, Rick Montalto, Ellen Jackson, Glenn Rhyne, Bobby Fugitt (secretary).

Members absent: Marty Hatton.

The meeting was called to order at 12:17, and the agenda was adopted.

The minutes of April 25, 2003 were approved with noted corrections.

Updates

a. Administrative Council report from Barbara Hunt – Policies and SACS was discussed at the last meeting. Concern was voiced at AC about asbestos found at the site of the former H&K building.

b. Administrative Council Report – given later in the meeting

c. Monthly meeting with the president – Barbara reported that the president realizes that faculty members are upset about their required attendance at

d. PIE Council report from Bobby Fugitt – Heard from various MUW administration officials about their goals for the forthcoming year. Items mentioned included recruitment and retention of students, campus safety, fund raising, increased pay for security officers and utilizing technology on campus.

e. Undergraduate Curriculum Committee – Brian Anderson listed the members of the committee and announced that the first meeting of the semester will be September 5, 2:00 p.m. in the Faculty Senate building.

Old Business

a. The Faculty Senate Constitution has been presented to Dr. Limbert for approval.

New Business

a. Dr. Parker and Dr. Aracena stated that MUW international students are a high-quality group that is at risk. We are losing students through our own mistakes. Barbara states that it is possible to add this as a special committee issue.

b. Barbara’s request for $350.00 in A-funds was approved.

c. Committee Assignments

1. Faculty Evaluation Committee – Bill Parker

2. Library Committee – Bobby Fugitt and Lea Evans

3. Social Committee – Ellen Jackson, Lea Evans and Glenn Rhyne

4. Faculty Welfare Committee – Melinda Rush, Glen Rhyne.

5. Awards Committee – Barbara Hunt and the Executive Committee

6. Specials Issues Committee – Tom Velek and Jimena Aracena. (The focus of this committee will be International students.)

7. Traffic and Parking Committee – Jack Miller and Supreetha Kuman

Issues of Concern

a. Although it was initially announced that attendance by faculty members was mandatory, it was later announced that attendance by faculty members is encouraged but not required. Many people did not receive the latter notice, in spite of the fact that it was emailed via the campus faculty listserv. Concern was voiced about the reasons for the seminar, and about how it will be paid for.

b. Various aspects of the university budget were discussed. Jim Fitzgerald and Richard Montalto will serve on the Budget Oversight Committee.

c. As the grant writer apparently does not write grants and does not research for grants to apply for, members questioned what the grant writer actually does.

Update

a. Academic Council Report – Janice stated that evaluations and the recruitment cycle were discussed. The VPAA search is going well, and the candidate pool is currently 14 members. Janice brought a copy of the MUW master plan. IHL has recommended a 12% salary increase over a three year period. The Alumni Association will produce a cook-book as a fund raiser.

There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 1:30.