Meeting:                Faculty Senate Meeting, November 13, 2002, Wooten Hall, Room 322

Absent:                   Jeff Allen, Bruce Bond, Azzedine Boukerche, Gene Cho, Steve Cole, Henry Harris, Mary Harris, Ann Jordan, Kimi King, David Shiner, Margie Tieslau, Robert Wallace

 

Guests:                   David Kesterson, Provost; Phil Diebel, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs; Suzanne LaBrecque, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs; John Todd, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs; officers of the Staff Council

 

Opening:               Jeffrey Oxford, chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 2:08 P.M. and invited Provost Kesterson to report on the academic budget and to provide his general update, since Phil Diebel was not yet present.

 

Report of Provost Kesterson:  Provost Kesterson noted the FY03 Budget Themes of salaries, research, the College of Engineering, distributed learning, diversity, administration web-based systems, enrollment/formula funding initiatives, intercollegiate athletics, and the category of miscellaneous.  He noted that he would speak in regards to the following academic budget items.

1.        The first academic budget priority is faculty salaries/pay raises, with a budget line of $1,334,052.  A two percent merit/variance/promotions line is $167,450.  Promotion from assistant professor to associate provides a $3500 increase in salary, with $4700 for promotion from associate to full professor.

2.        The second priority is research, with a total budget line of $186,934.  A senior science professor is targeted with a $90,000 salary.

3.        The College of Engineering total budget line is $110,000.  The initial amount of $73,000 (not a realistic figure) was set for the dean (50% FTE), $15,865 for an Administrative Services Officer (50%), $11,135 for recruitment and office equipment, and $10,000 for M&O and travel.

4.        The Center for Distributed Learning budget line is $24,408, with $15,000 for a 50% FTE graduate assistant and $9,408 for adjustments to existing staff salaries.

5.        A total of $300,000 was set for the Diversity Faculty Reserve.  A total of $238,000 was set for faculty lines, plus $60,000-70,000 for diversity initiatives.  Faculty lines include programs in CDHE, SLIS, KHPR, PADM, PHIL, and HIST.

6.        Miscellaneous items not addressed in the budget themes are the following items related to faculty/teaching:  a COE lecturer in sports management (($35,000), a COBA assistant professor in accounting ($86,000), M&O for new faculty ($7,356), miscellaneous part-time needs ($30,000), SCS part-time faculty ($20,000), for a total of $178,356.  In addition, $131,268 is set for academic administrative support, including converting a SOVA lecturer to associate dean ($50,000), an increase in SLIS FTE of CSS IV for  UNIX support ($20,268), an honors program assistant director ($56,000), and the honors program M&O ($5,000).

7.        An amount of $250,000 was set for the continuation of enrollment/teaching incentives.  The following amounts were set for various schools/colleges: $6,051.28 for Arts and Sciences, $17,114.72 for Business Administration, $48,274.83 for Education, $32,835.14 for Music, $52,810.62 for Merchandizing/Hospitality Management, $48,656.83 for Community Service, $39,500.12 for Library and Information Sciences, and $4,756.46 for Visual Arts.  Incentives are given for doctoral hours, master’s hours, and tenure/tenure track faculty teaching undergraduate courses.

 

In summary, the total increases in academic budget items include $1,501.502 for salaries, $186,934 for research, $111,000 for the College of Engineering, $24,408 for distributed learning, $300,000 for diversity, and $309,624 for miscellaneous, for a total Academic Affairs budget of $2,432,468.  In addition, $25,000 was set for continuing enrollment initiatives.

Senator Cox asked for the total percentage the academic budget has in the total budget.  Kesterson responded that 45% goes to faculty salaries.  (In a follow-up E-mail message of November 13, Phil Diebel provided figures that vary according to how the FY03 total of $67,870,194 for Faculty Salaries might be interpreted:  52.6% ($129,056,435) as a percentage of our E&G Appropriation from the state, 44.6% ($152,037,802) as a percentage of our E&G Budget with Institutional Funds, less non-cash budgetary transactions of cost sharing and interdepartmental transfers, 20.1% ($337,305,923) as a percentage of total Budget funds, less non-cash budgetary transactions of cost sharing and interdepartmental transfers.)

 

Report of Phil Diebel:  Chair Oxford then invited Phil Diebel to update the Senate on the status of ORP versus TRS and to give a fiscal outlook for UNT in this Legislative Session.  Diebel noted that he would speak on the issues of 1) the funding outlook and 2) ORP versus TRS options.

1.        Diebel stated that in the years he has been at UNT (since 1981), he has not seen a situation where the Republicans were in total charge.  There are unknowns related to the person who will chair critical positions.  In any case, there is a budget deficit.  The Legislature may possibly take the cap off college tuition.  Enrollment increases at UNT have been helpful.  The College of Education has experienced a great increase in master’s enrollment.  House Bill 1839 provided 67 million dollars, with one-half going to 21 Higher Education Assistance Funds (HEAF) IHEs.  The other one-half goes to Primary University Funds (PUF) IHEs  IHEs must have 15 million dollars in funded research and development for two consecutive years to earn funds from this source (UNT will have 11.42 million).  UNT has asked for several special state budget items, which likely will not be funded.

2.        Most faculty members are in ORP.  One of the primary reasons for this decision is transferability of those retirement funds.  Many faculty members are interested in switching from a contribution plan to a defined benefit plan; however, federal law has disallowed such a move.  In 2001, 403 federal plans were amended to allow such a transfer; yet, state law does not allow transfers.  There may be possible options granted, which include a one-year window to allow purchase of service credit, or allow ORP members to transfer into TRS, or keep ORP and begin contributions to TRS.  Jack Martin is working on this concern for UNT.  Other IHEs are in the same position.

 

Introduction of Staff Council Officers:  Jim Coffee, Chair of the Staff Council, introduced 15 of the elected officers of the Staff Council who were present for the Senate meeting.  Chair Oxford expressed appreciation for their attendance and leadership.

 

Approval of October 9, 2002 Senate Minutes:  The minutes were approved as circulated, with amendments for minor edits.  A comment by President Pohl referred to HUB vendors are referred to as “Historically Underrepresented Vendors” (HUV).  We have been advised by Purchasing & Payment Services that the official title is “Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB).”

 

 

 

Old Business:  None

 

New Business:  None

 

Committee Reports:

1.        Committee on Committees.  Senator Tarlton presented nominees for Senate committee positions.  Committee reports come as motions; Senator Benjamin seconded this motion.  The following persons were presented in a written report:  Bertina Combes for Evaluation of Administrators; Stephen Slottow for Mentoring; Barbara Rodman, Kent McGregor, and Mary Harris for Oversight of the Core Curriculum (nominated by the EC); Butch Rovan for Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants; Gus Seligmann for Athletic Council; Doris Coy for CPAS Council; Frances May for CDL Advisory Board; Russell Elleven for Traffic Appeals Court; and Becky Glover and Tom Barton for University Writing (nominated by the deans).  Persons nominated who were not in the written report include Tyson Gibbs for Status of Women; Johnny Sue Reynolds for Scholarly Misconduct; Eric Fritsch for International Education; and Alan Mayper and David Schwarz for University Writing.  Nominees were approved as presented.

2.        Faculty Awards Committee.  Senator Miles seconded the motion for approval of this written report.  The report provided information about awards presented.  For the Minnie Stevens Piper Award, the 2001-2002 winners were Christy Crutsinger, Frank Feigert, and Lou Pelton.  For the J. H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award, Lou Pelton was the winner for 2001-2002.  For the President’s Council Awards, Earl Zimmerman and Patricia Moseley were the 2001-2002 winners in the teaching category, with Cliff Hardy in the service category.  Undergraduate Instruction Grants for 2001-2002 were awarded to Mike Fanelli, Angela Wilson, Teresa Golden, Gopal Ganesh, Dick White, Harry Williams, Juliet Getty, Marcia Staff, Melinda Mayer, Gerald Knezek, Rhonda Christensen, Grant Miles, John Ed Allen, Elizabeth Bator, Peyton Roden, Nasrazadani, David Tam, and Randall Guttery.  The report was accepted as presented.

3.        Faculty Workload Committee.  Committee member Johnetta Hudson provided information about the committee’s written report, stating that the report provides information about how the committee updated policy statements, and about a survey of faculty related to work load.  She stated that the committee’s first task was to make policy language more clear, as noted in the written report by bold type for new language or lined-out indicators for deleted language.  Chair Oxford noted that further changes related to faculty workload may be needed next year.  Senator Cox seconded this portion of the report.  It was accepted as presented.  Hudson then noted that the Senate had reviewed the provided written survey instrument at an earlier Senate meeting; after revisions suggested at that time, the Senate EC reviewed the current version.  This survey is to be administered soon.  Senator Miles seconded the motion for this part of the report. Senators provided several suggestions for improvement of the instrument.  It was suggested that the survey be E-mailed to all faculty.  Senator Pelton noted that not all faculty members have GroupWise E-mail.  Chair Oxford pointed out the need to encourage faculty to respond.  The report was accepted as amended.  Hudson asked if the survey needs to come back before the Senate after revisions.  Discussion followed related to this question.  It was suggested that Carolyn Carter could send out the revised questionnaire to voting groups.  Senator Miles cautioned that not all 100% faculty are on this list.  Provost Kesterson cautioned that the Senate should not forward this questionnaire to faculty below the lecturer line.  Senator Miles suggested going to departments to ask for distribution to 100% faculty members.  Chair Oxford suggested the Faculty Senate website, the Chair’s newsletter, department chairs, and WebCT for dissemination.  Senator Cox responded that this might results in multiple responses from some faculty members.  Chair Oxford then suggested using print-only options, which would not include WebCT.  Senator Miles suggested that more response is desired, thus there should not be overdue concern about multiple responses.  It was decided that the Committee will determine how to disseminate the questionnaire to the widest possible 100% faculty audience.  The report was accepted as presented, with amendments to the form.

 

Vice-Chair’s Update.  Senator Pelton provided a PowerPoint presentation for information from the EC’s meeting with administrators.  He focused on the following issues/questions:

1.        Acquisition of the Texas Wesleyan Law School.  Discussion is under way related to the possibility for UNT to purchase the TWU Law School, since the bid from TCU was not accepted.

2.        Administrators’ responses to faculty evaluation of administrators.  In addition to the Faculty Senate Evaluation of Administrators, some academic unit charters call for additional evaluations.  Members of the Senate Executive Committee discussed with Provost Kesterson potential strategies for improving the faculty response rate to the Senate evaluation of administrators in order to generate sufficient responses so that those evaluations may be of value to the provost.

3.        Foundation Funds appropriations.  The Foundation is an autonomous board; however, the UNT President has some influence on who is elected as members.  Pelton asked senators to E-mail him if they desired details about how the Foundation funds have been distributed.

4.        Research Park.  There has been $9,000,000 allocated for re-bidding of renovation for the Park.  One lab now exists at the Park.

5.        College of Engineering Dean Search.  Candidates are being interviewed at this time.  Senator Windsor noted that three names have been submitted to President Pohl.

6.        Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer search.  Three candidates have been identified.  President Pohl suggested the University of California at Santa Cruz as a model.

7.        Potential for UNT commencement changes.  Possibilities include eliminating the August commencement, or moving to no centralized commencement with three de-centralized ceremonies.

8.        Faculty Work Load.  Pelton deferred his report on this topic to Chair Oxford.

 

Chair’s Update.  Chair Oxford asked Senators to review his October Senate Newsletter for current issues.  In relation to faculty workload, he noted that President Pohl has suggested a tenure-track teaching line, as well as a tenure-track research line.  He urged maximum participation in the workload survey that will likely go out the end of January.  Related to the College of Engineering dean search, the Faculty EC will meet with the finalists early in December.  Related to the Provost search, Oxford is the Faculty Senate representative on this committee.  The ad for this position will appear in the Chronicle the end of November or the first of December.

 

Committee of the Whole.  Senator Plummer suggested that Phil Turner has done an outstanding job in leading the committee in the search for a dean for the College of Engineering.

 

Senate Chair Oxford adjourned the Senate at 3:35 P.M.

 

Respectively submitted by Frances van Tassell, Senate Secretary