University of North Texas
Minutes of the Meeting of the Faculty Senate
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 8, 1997
Wooten Hall, Room 322Absent: Nick Anghel, Sharon Jenkins, Cathie Norris, Jill Rhea, Linda Schamber, Amanda Spink, Don Staples
Guests: Michael Bruner, Communication Studies faculty; John Gossett, Chair, Communication Studies; Deborah Leliaert, Assoc. Vice President Marketing & Communications; Virginia Wheeless, Assoc. Vice President Planning; Kay Selby, Director, Academic Publications; Diane Schuessler, UNT Daily; Ashli Hurlbut, Student Association Representative; Nicole Scolaro, UNT Daily; Thomas Clark, Assoc. Dean, Music; Mary Rubright, Executive Assistant to the Provost; John Todd, Special Assistant to the Provost; David Kesterson, Vice Provost; and Blain Brownell, Provost
Opening: Charldean Newell, Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:10. The Chair announced the Faculty Senate Student Representatives and invited members of the press to introduce themselves.
Report of the Provost: Provost Brownell presented details on the Academic Budget. He described the process for making budget decisions. Final amounts for funding for new initiatives were presented. Figures on the FY98 Academic Affairs Budget and the College HEAF distributions were provided. Provost Brownell gave the rationale used in making budget allocation. He announced that plans to significantly increase the promotion raises exist.
Approval of Minutes: Senator Fisher, with second by Senator Byron, moved acceptance of the September 10, 1997 minutes. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote.
Old Business: Senator Newell read a thank you note from Gladys Crawford in response to the Senate resolution that recognized her fifty years of service and teaching at UNT.
The Chair announced that Senator DeLoach is acting Parliamentarian for the day's meeting. Senator Newell clarified parliamentary procedures for the process of bringing old business to the floor. Senator Newson moved to bring the Faculty Senate Budget Committee report off the table and to the floor and the motion was duly seconded. A motion was made by Senator Eaton and duly seconded to recommit the report. With the permission of the Senate, handouts prepared by the Faculty Senate Budget Committee were distributed with data on the E&G and General Use Fee Budgets that were obtained by the Faculty Senate Budget Committee. Figures from the Instructional Administration budget were included. Discussion followed encouraging the Faculty Senate Budget Committee to meet with the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Action Committee to discuss the issues in contention. The motion to re-commit passed 17 to 11 with a show of hands.
New Business: There was no new business.
Committee Reports:
- Senator Ron Wilhelm, Chair, Committee on Committees, moved the report of the Committee. Nominees included: Standing Committees- Faculty Senate Budget Committee, Frank Feigert (IV, 2000); Administrative Committees- Honors Day Committee, Craig Newman (IV, 2000) and J.B. Spalding (V, 1998); Student Life Committee, Mitch Land, (II, 2000), The motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
- John Todd presented an update on the work of the Master Planing Committee. Work of the subcommittees and preliminary reports were presented. Dr. Todd presented reports for the Academic Facilities Group and the Information Communication Systems & Satellite Campus Group. Roy Culberson reported on the Athletics, Recreation and Housing Group.
- Vice Provost David Kesterson presented requests for changes in programs and degree requirements from the Curriculum Committee. An item requesting a change from the College of Music was introduced. The proposal was for a plan to demonstrate oral presentation competency for Bachelor of Music Students. Senator Mark DeLoach spoke against the proposal, and Associate Dean of the College of Music Tom Clark spoke for the proposal. Senators Seligmann and Fisher added to the discussion, with additional comments by Dr. John Gossett, Chair of Communication Studies. The motion/report was rejected on voice vote. A show of hands was called for and the proposal was rejected 13 to 11.
Report of the Provost: Provost Brownell commented on recent events and reaffirmed the university's commitment to academic freedom. Vice President Diebel is a member of the formula study committee meeting in Austin dealing with infrastructure funding. The Provost is a member of the committee dealing with infrastructure and operations. Provost Brownell requested that members of Senate closely examine consequences and implications of budget recommendations that the body is considering.
Vice Chair's Update: Senator Allen presented a report on the work of the University Committee. Two items discussed with the president and provost were the University's refusal to release the marketing report pending a ruling from the Attorney General's office and the progress of revisions to the Faculty Handbook.
Chair's Update: Senator Newell reported that the Texas Council of Faculty Senates meeting will be attended by representatives of the UNT Faculty Senate. The next Faculty Senate Meeting will be November 12 in Room 322 Wooten Hall.
Committee of the Whole: No items for discussion were brought up.
Adjournment: Motion for adjournment, with second was made. The motion carried and Senator
Newell declared the meeting adjourned.
Charldean Newell, Chair
Diane Allen, Vice Chair
Mark Shanley, Secretary
Send comments or questions to Sue Young, syoung@unt.edu, at the Faculty Senate Office, Telephone (940) 565-2053.
