Meeting: Faculty Senate Meeting, September 11, 2002, Wooten Hall, Room 322

Absent: Jeff Allen (on leave), Azzednie Boukerche, Yvonne Chandler

Guests: Scott Andrews, Executive Assistant to the Provost; Mark Strazicich, Assistant Professor; Anissa Breaux-Schropp, Compliance Offier; Milton Howell, Associate Vice President for Facilities; Hale Newcomer, Professor in Marketing & logistics; Bill Kamman, Professor, History; Felicia Coleman, Academic Publications; Michelle Hale, In-House Editor; and Sabrina Goldenberg, UNT Student; Provost Kesterson; John Todd, Special Assistant to the Provost; and Chancellor Lee Jackson.

Opening: Chair Oxford called the Senate to order at 2:00 on September 11, 2002. New senators were introduced (Group III-Dennis Mueller-Physics, Group VI- Mary Harris-TE&A and Kyle Roberts-TAC, and Group VII-David Hill-KHPR). Senate members were reminded of the need for caucusing immediately at the close of this meeting.

Senator Oxford then introduced newly installed UNT System Chancellor Jackson, providing a biographical sketch of Mr. Jackson’s accomplishments.

Chancellor Jackson welcomed senators and spoke of his very busy schedule, already, noting that his time thus far has been spent with meetings. September 10 was his first full day in Denton. He expressed his desire to "lead not by rhetoric but by problem solving," continuing by saying that he has "no stealth plan for major changes." He will address five general themes that are themes or excellence. He noted that we have limited unrestricted endowment funds to support our budget in the midst of challenging times, thus endowments will be an area of target. He continued by stating that we must clearly define our view of what a system is. UNT Denton will always be the flagship in the UNT System. He mentioned upcoming legislative issues, especially that of formula funding. He noted that UNT needs full funding for growth and for salary adjustments and that he will request reimbursement for indirect costs of research. The legislature has, in the past, focused on Texas AM and UT Austin for such reimbursements.

Chancellor Jackson then spoke about the proposed de-regulation of tuition, noting that this could result in a decision on the part of legislators to end full formula funding. De-regulation would make it easier for institutions to raise tuition. UNT has asked for two million dollars in special item funding to boost the North Texas at Dallas campus (System Center). There seems to be little legislative encouragement for improvements for this year. An issue of concern is group health insurance costs. We also need to work toward system equity, so that UNT has parity with other systems. It is important to note that the System Center enrollment has grown every semester.

Another item of focus is capital campaign funding. The $154 million acquired is excellent, but UNT may soon need another campaign, since we have no unrestricted funds from the recent campaign.

Jackson then explained that his leadership style and interests are different than those of Chancellor Hurley’s, noting that he certainly is not an expert in military history. He is more focused on the use of technology than was Hurley.

In the fiscal picture for UNT, Jackson has yet to obtain a complete picture of UNT spending practices, observing that most of our spending is toward instruction. He noted that the legislature may ask all IHEs to make budget cuts. He will be reviewing internal cost controls and may look at departmental efficiencies, asking the questions, is a department self-sustaining. He is interested in learning if departments are effectively using their available development offices.

Chair Oxford then noted that President Pohl is away on business thus is not available for his report.

Approval of June 12, 2002 Minutes. Senator Hastings noted that she was present at both the May and June meetings, but was noted as absent; Jeff Oxford should be noted as absent. With those amendments, the minutes were approved as distributed.

Old Business: None

New Business: None

Committee Reports:

1. Committee on Committees: Senator Tarlton presented the report of this committee. The following persons were nominated: Robert Benjamin and Lea Dobson for Academic Affairs, Barbara Cox for Status of Women, Jill Dupont and Tony Baker for Curriculum, Nadia Disuse for Faculty Awards, Steve Forded and Alan McClung for Faculty Load, Sharon Jenkins for Faculty Research, Michelle Walker for Faculty Salary Study, Bruce Nacre for Fine Arts, Purina Beckman and James Kennedy for Mentor, Douglas Root and Dee Knight and Donna Emmanuel for Scholarship, Youn-Kyung Kim for Teaching Fellows/Assistants, Mitty Plummer for University Election, Jeanne Tunks for University Library, Seifollah Nasrtazadani for Graduate Council, Jack Baier for Athletic, Kathleen Swigger for Scholarly Misconduct, Marian O’Rouke-Kaplan and Christy Crutsinger for Honors Day, Paul Hutchison for Student Code of Conduct Appeals, Joan Clay for Traditions, and Mike Kozak and Donna Emmanuel and Eileen Hayes for Traffic Appeals. Nominees presented from the floor were Michael Kozak and Lisa Kennon for Curriculum and Stefan Karlsson for Scholarly Misconduct. The report was approved as presented.
2. Curriculum Committee: John Todd presented this report for Suzanne LaBrecque. Request for new courses from the School of Library and Information Sciences, the College of Music, the School of Visual Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, and the School of Community Service were presented, as approved by the University Curriculum Committee. Changes in existing core curriculum courses were presented for the College of Arts and Sciences. A new Interdepartmental Certificate was presented for the College of Arts and Sciences. Changes in programs were presented for the School of Community Service and the College of Education.

Information Items: Provost Kesterson informed the Senate that the search for a College of Engineering Dean is well under way. Dr. Phil Turner serves as chair of the search committee. Of the 34 applicants, all who were deemed to be excellent candidates, ten finalists were selected and are now participating in two-way videoconference interviews. The VP for Research and Technology Transfer search is under way, with Art Govern currently filling the position on an interim basis as Vice Provost for Research. President Pohl is moving forward to establish a search committee for the position of Provost.

The UNT academic enrollment reached 30,256 for Fall 2002. The anticipated enrollment was 29,000. We will soon have shuttles running to classes in Research Park, as there are presently problems with getting to classes on time from the Gateway and Research Park.

Vice Chair’s Update: Senator Pelton reported on the August 7, 2002 Executive Committee meeting with President Pohl and Provost Kesterson. The following items were discussed.

1. Business Services will move to Research Park in January of 2003. Some services are moving there soon. Computing Services are targeted to move January 2004. Some services will remain in the GAB. The first academic departments are targeted to move in January 2004.
2. The issue of evaluations of international degrees for F-1 students was discussed. John Todd presented a report to the EC from Neal Tate, stating that the standards have been revised to better accommodate such degree evaluations.
3. Provost Kesterson provided the EC with an update on current administrative searches. At that time, no search committee had been formed for the Associate VP for Research and Technology Transfer. Richard Rafes is serving as Interim Vice Chancellor/Vice President of Administrative Affairs.
4. In reference to the July 30, 2002 article about the UNT System Center, discussion was held at the EC meeting about re-evaluating incentives to faculty to teach at the System Center. President Pohl will request special funding for the next biennium. TIF funds are a possibility. There is a capacity issue related to classes delivered at night at the SC.
5. The $40,000 in scholarships for System Center students was discussed. Administrators noted that these scholarships are specifically for System Center students, from private funding.
6. President Pohl provided data about contract reviews. One attorney has been hired to handle all contracts. A reorganization of this department has been recommended, with better use of electronic means to expedite the process.

Vice-Chair Pelton provided a handout noting dates for committee reports to be submitted to the Executive Committee.

Chair’s Update: Chair Oxford discussed the Senate Effectiveness Survey. He noted that the first Faculty Senate newsletter is now available and has been sent out. He will be sending out the Faculty Senate minutes electronically to all faculty members. He introduced Chris Patel, the new student worker in the Faculty Senate Office.

Oxford asked that if senator is interested in serving on search committees, he/she should contact a member of the Executive Committee, or make a recommendation for a member.

This summer, Steve Miller worked with a sub-committee of the EC to review the UNT nepotism policy. If two persons are immediately related, they cannot serve on the same committees. Provost Kesterson referred the EC to the Faculty Handbook Committee if recommendations for change are desired; recommendations must be in by mid-October.

Chair Oxford reminded senators of the change in attendance policy regarding Faculty Senate attendance. Any three absences vacates the position; the policy no longer states that absences must be consecutive.

Committee of the Whole: Senator Miles, as chair of the Elections Committee, noted that there are many upcoming Senate vacancies. He encouraged senators to vote and asked that any questions about the voting process be sent to him but any questions about the technology be sent to Carolyn Carter in the Senate Office. He reminded senators that a person must have two nominations to be placed on the ballot.

Adjournment: Chair Oxford adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m. and asked senators to caucus to select members of the Committee on Committees.