Guests: David Kesterson, Provost; Earl Zimmerman; Emile Sahliyeh; Daryhl Ramsey; and Laura Vallarius

Opening: Juliet Getty, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 2:00. She reminded senators of the June Senate meeting and that the Senate would then not meet until September.

Approval of Minutes: April 10, 2002 Senate minutes were approved as presented

Old Business: None

New Business: Elections of Officers - Chair Getty called for nominations for Senate officers for 2002-2003. Senator Jordan nominated Jeff Oxford for Senate Chair, seconded by Lou Pelton. Senator Newell moved to close nominations and approve Senator Oxford by acclamation. Motions carried.

Senator Miles nominated Lou Pelton for Vice-Chair, seconded by Senator van Tassell. No nominations were made from the floor. The nomination of Senator Pelton was approved.

Senator Oxford nominated Senator van Tassell for Secretary. No nominations were made from the floor. The nomination was approved.

1. Committee on Committees: Senator Luce presented a written list of committee nominees, noting the following corrections: Joyce Rademacher represents TEC, not TE&A; George Morrison represents CDHE, not TE&A. Thirty senators were nominated for Faculty Senate Committees vacancies; 11 senators were nominated for Administrative Committees vacancies. All nominations were approved. Senator Luce urged senators to participate in committees, as there remain many vacancies.

Chair Getty then requested an alteration to the printed agenda, to accommodate presenter’s schedules.

2. Faculty Salary Study Committee: Earl Zimmerman and Margie Tieslau, co-chairs of the committee, presented a written and oral report of the committee’s findings. To complete a study of faculty salaries, the Oklahoma survey was not use as some discrepancies have been noted with that survey, especially the sample size used in that study. Administrators wish UNT to be compared with like Texas IHEs (UTA, Houston, Tech). The committee awaited data until March from the Planning Office before bringing the report to completion. The committee polled department chairs regarding faculty salary concerns. The committee considered cost-of-living concerns, using web links to compare Denton, Arlington, Houston and Lubbock. They expanded the Denton and Houston areas to surrounding suburbs, as indicated on page three of the printed chart provided. The committee took the average UNT salary and compared it with the other institutions, by program. UNT fared better by program, yet less well overall. In summary, in comparison with like IHEs, UNT ranks are 2-5 thousand dollars in deficit. Item 4, page 5, of the printed report, was presented, as follows: "The Vice President for Academic Affairs should take the initiative to instruct deans of all colleges and schools to examine in detail salary equity issues, especially as they relate to gender an ethnic origin. This must take place at the department level with considerations of merit history and time in rank." The committee attempted to obtain time and rank data from Human Resources, but those data are not kept, so the committee recommends that departments consider time and rank issue. The dean of Arts & Sciences has charged chairs with analyzing salary equity, especially be gender.

Senator Tarlton asked why librarians were not included. The committee did not receive data from the Planning Office for Library Science, Hospitality Management, Material Science, and Geography. The report can be amended to include Library Science.

Senator Wallace asked if the committee will next consider the new College of Engineering.

Senator Windsor noted that calculations seem inconsistent, referring to figures about the average salary for full professors at the other three IHEs; in addition, the figures about the College of Business where it appears that salaries went down rather than up seem inaccurate. The Excel calculations will be checked to determine the reason for the discrepancies.

The committee will appreciate comments on its approach to the study of faculty salaries.

The report was approved with corrections to the College of Business data.

Chair Getty thanked the committee for its detailed work.

3. Academic Affairs Committee. Chair Getty informed Senators that the Sub-Committee Recommendation to Increase Faculty Involvement will be held until fall to allow for discussion with deans and administrators.

Emile Sahiyeh reported on the committee’s proposed Policy Governing the Awarding of Honorary Degrees. New guidelines are proposed, which include the establishment of an Honorary Degree Committee. This committee will consist of ten members, four recommended by the Executive Committee, from the Faculty Senate; four to be named by deans/administrators; two to represent the Alumni Association; and the President of the Graduate Student Association. Any nominated candidate must excel in scholarly work, professional/occupational accomplishment, community/social service record, or public service record. Any recommendation must have 2/3 approval of the committee and must be approved by a majority of the Faculty Senate. Honorary degrees shall not be awarded to members of the UNT community, or to individuals who have direct authority over UNT.

Senator Newell asked if the membership of the committee can be required to represent various academic areas. There are no requisite representations; however, professors on the committee must have attained excellence in their respective field.

Senator Wallace asked why the restrictions regarding politicians. Politicians may be nominated, but not anyone who has direct authority over UNT institutions.

Chair Getty noted the charge to the Senate Executive Committee, to name persons for the committee from the Senate.

The committee report was approved. Chair Getty thanked the committee for its hard work.

4. Faculty Load Committee. Senator Hudson presented the written report. Senator Newell suggested edits to item one, noting that "How well are these meeting needs" could lead to a response that was not intended.

Senator Miles suggested more specific wording be devised. Senator Glover suggested that "well" might not provide an in-depth response. Senator Weiller suggested a more definitive term, such as "how well" to give more definitive parameters. Senator Windsor suggested three sets of needs (teaching, research, service).

Chair Getty noted that the Senate may have to wait on part of the report, as more edits are needed. Any questions used for a survey must be approved by the University Planning Office.

5. Faculty Senate Budget: Michael Monticino presented the report, noting that the charges to the committee were fairly generic. The following are the recommendations of the committee. 1) Encourage the Executive Committee to define quantitative targeted objectives for the following year, soon after the university budget has been decided. 2) The Faculty Senate Budget Committee and Executive Committee should meet early and frequently with the University Budget Committee. He commended administration for its willingness to meet. 3) Develop orientation sessions and materials for new FSBC members regarding the university budget process. 4) The FSBC and Senate President should present the Senate’s budget objectives to the University Budget Committee at the same time the deans present. 5) Faculty incentive initiatives should be developed to reward faculty for advancing university priorities. 6) Other comments in the report address faculty who teach at the UNT System Center at Dallas. The report was approved as presented. Chair Getty thanked the committee.
6. Oversight Committee on the Core Curriculum: Darhyl Ramsey presented a written report, noting that it is time to begin the assessment of Core courses. The committee’s charge for this year was to establish ground rules and a plan of action. The committee anticipates the following three levels of decisions for Core courses: 1) meets EEOs, 2) needs significant remediation because of serious deficiencies, 3) removal from core. The courses scheduled for fall 2002 include the following: 1) English 1310 and 1320, 2) MATH 1100, 3) biology, chemistry, physics, and geography. For spring 2003, courses included will be the following: 1) visual and performing arts ART 1300 and 2360, DANC 1200, THEA 1340, 1375, 2340; 2) humanities AGER 2250, ENGL 2210, 2220, PHIL 105., 1400, 2050, 2310, 2330, 2500; 3) communications COMM 1010, 1440, 2020, 2040, 2060, FREN 1010, 1020, 3040, 2050, GERM 1010, 1020, 2040, 2050, GNET 2060, JOUR 2310, LANG 1010, 1020, MGMT 3300, RHAB 3000, SMHM 3450, SPAN 1010, 1020, 2040, 2050, SPHS 1020, 4) wellness DANC 1100, PHED 1000, PSYC 2580, SMHM 1450.

Information Items: Vice President Kesterson presented the VPAA report. He commended all committees for their thorough reports and supported the recommendation of meeting with the University Budget Committee, stating that it will be even more important next year in light of budget restrictions. He looks forward to the spring reports from the Core OC.

Beginning in 2005-2006, SACS will have a new assessment process. In the past, the standards have been objective rather than subjective, with more external than internal standards. With the new process, when we raise our standards, we will be required to demonstrate how we meet our standards. Questions such as "How is our core working?" and "How have we judged how it is working?" will be asked. Texas A&M volunteered to be first up for the new SACS standards. There will no longer be 300 standards and "must" reports under the new standards.

The University Budget Committee has completed budget planning and presented the plans to the University Planning Council. The budget will not be final until the Board of Regents meets and approves it next week. Two percent of the total budget has been allocated for merit raises but is in a pool for faculty and staff and not in designated formats. This does not equate to a 2% salary raise. From the 2% pool, monies will be allocated by the colleges and schools.

Provost Kesterson wished all senators well for the summer.

Senator Wallace asked if there is any news from the North Texas Research Park. Much is going on. Congressional funding to retrofit the Texas Instrument facility is being sought for next fall; this request is on our representatives’ docket.

Senator Plummer asked when the dean search will begin for the College of Engineering. Very soon. Nominations for the search committee are in place and a dean has been asked to chair the committee. President Pohl has reviewed the nominations and made suggestions. The membership will be confirmed and submitted to the committee chair next week, with hopes that the committee will begin its work late in May or early in June. An advertisement has been drafted for the search committee to review. It is hoped that a person may be hired by Jan. 2003.

Vice Chair’s Update: Senator Oxford reported that President Pohl was away at the time of the Executive Committee’s meeting with administrators due to the death of his mother. Vice President Kesterson was in attendance. The following topics were discussed. 1) Renovation of the Texas Instruments facility. This site is part of the proposed UNT Research Park. The plan is to relocate Business Services units to TI by October 2002, since little renovation is needed for those offices. The three engineering academic units are scheduled for move to the TI building by fall 2003, with other administrative offices later. 2) Plans for the dean and administrative assistant for the College of Engineering. The first step is to recruit faculty for 2003-2004. The dean should be in place early in 2003. New lines will come from enrollment increases. There is no plan to usurp other faculty lines. 3) Faculty concerns regarding money going to the College of Engineering. Dr. Kesterson stated that, given where we are with the budget and state revenues, there is no way to do the College of Engineering within the current budget. We must have external monies. 4) Faculty salaries. Two percent of the total budget has been allocated for a pool for faculty and staff raises, to be based on merit and variance.

Chair’s Update: Chair Getty submitted congratulations to the elected Senate officers for next year. She expressed thanks to the Senate for trust and support over the 2001-2002 year, as well as to faculty and administrators. She encouraged continued participation in Senate business, as the Senate does make a difference in the culture of the university as it represents faculty concerns. She noted that in July the officers will decide on appropriate charges to Senate committees for next year and asked for suggestions or concerns related to committee work.

In relation to the upcoming SACS re-affirmation of our existing accreditation, the focus will be on Institutional Effectiveness. We are heavily involved with Core Assessment, but will provide tangible evidence of meeting outcomes for all programs, not just those in the core. All programs need quantitative measures of meeting departmental identified outcomes. The associate deans and chairs will be working on these evidences.

Regarding the online faculty survey, with the due date Friday, at this point only 10% of potential respondents have completed the survey. Chair Getty encouraged senators to participate.

Senator van Tassell asked that Senator Moseley be commended on her service to the Senate, as she is retiring and moving away. The Senate confirmed the recommendation.

Adjournment: Chair Getty adjourned the meeting at 3:25.