Meeting:                 Faculty Senate Meeting, September 8, 2004, Wooten Hall Room 322

Absent:                  Benjamin, Grable, Harris, Levin, Little, Parberry, Parks, Reidy, Tam

Guests:                  Melissa Myers, NT Daily; Gus Seligmann, History; James Conover, FIREL; Kay Selby, Dir., Academic Publication; Jean Keller, Dean, COE; Norval Pohl, President; Wil Bermudiz, NT Daily; Donna Asher, Asst. VP, Academic Affairs; Herman Totten, Faculty Executive Assistant to President; Paul Dworak, Director of Compliance; John Todd, Dir., Institutional Research and Accreditation; Howard Johnson, Provost; Suzanne LaBrecque, Vice Provost; Jesse Davis, SGA

Opening:               Frances van Tassell, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm

                        Chair van Tassell welcomed new senators:  Kamakshi Gopal, Elizabeth Figa, Rick Reidy, Milan Reban, Emile Sahliyeh, Laura Stern, Beth Durodoye, Doris Coy, Dale Yeatts, Keith Turner, John Murphy, and Grant Miles

Chair van Tassell thanked Senator Harris for agreeing to serve as parliamentarian for the year.  In the absence of Senator Harris, Chair van Tassell appointed Senator Staff to serve as parliamentarian during the meeting.

Revised Agenda:  Chair van Tassell announced that the order of agenda needed to be changed since President Pohl would arrive at the meeting late.  Upon motion by Senator Pelton, second by Senator Roberts, the revised agenda was approved on voice vote.

State Employees Charitable Campaign:   Dean Jean Keller asked the senators to ask their friends and colleagues to participate in this year’s SECC campaign.  The campaign will run from October 1, to October 31.  In the past, 18% of UNT faculty and staff have participated.  The goal this year is a very ambitious 37%.  The campaign will conclude with a university wide celebration in November.

Approval of Minutes:  The minutes of the June 9, 2004 were presented.  Upon motion by Senator Coy, second by Senator Sahliyeh, the minutes were approved as presented.

Presentation:  Chair van Tassell presented a certificate to immediate past year Senator Pelton commemorating his commencement speech on August 2, 2004.

Old Business:  None

New Business:  Chair van Tassell reported that seven task forces will be appointed in support of the Provost’s Academic Plan.  The majority membership on each task force will be faculty members.  Senators were asked to volunteer and to ask their colleagues and constituents to volunteer. 

Committee Reports:

Committee on Committee:.  The report was presented by Senator Tarlton.  Acceptance was seconded by Senator Jordan.  The report was approved on voice vote.

Charter and Bylaws Committee:  Senator Barton, chair, of the committee presented four proposed bylaw changes for first reading. The proposed changes will be voted on at the October meeting.

University Curriculum Committee: Associate Provost Suzanne LaBrecque presented the committee report.  Senator Jordan seconded approval of the report.  Comments from the group included the need to consider the costs associated with adding new courses in a time of declining resources.  The report was approved on voice vote.

Vice Chair’s Update:  Vice Chair Miles provided a report on the Faculty Senate Executive committee’s meeting with administrators. Topics for President Pohl:  Women’s Issues – There were several committees previously; it is not clear which are still active. President Pohl is supportive and offered help in getting information. Cassandra Berry is working on consolidating the efforts. The EC will work with her to ensure that the Committee on the Status of Women is involved.  Special Recognition Award – What is the award, what were criteria, etc?  The award is given for long term service or a special single event.  The award can be given to anyone (student, faculty staff, alum, friend of UNT). The award was traditionally given at Honors Day and goes through the Honors Day committee. The specific criteria and process were not clear. Pohl expressed a need for a full listing of awards and criteria in a central location.  What process is being used to investigate recent breaches of integrity (e.g. fraud)? Audits at the fraud level only (i.e. not “top to bottom”) and examine processes that were violated.  At convocation, faculty members were encouraged to report suspicions of breaches of integrity.  Is there a process for this?  Pohl’s response was “not really.”  The administration is trying to strike a balance between chronic complaints and real issues that need to be addressed.

Topics for Provost Johnson:  Update on promotion and tenure appeals – Provost Johnson said the appeal process is moving forward.  The EC noted that the policy manual (section 2 F) does not require a written response from the Provost on tenure denial. Johnson stated that he did speak with respective Dean’s about each case.  The EC suggested moving up (&/or enforcing) deadlines to allow appeals to begin in spring if possible.  Update on Dean Searches (COBA, SOVA, SLIS) -- First search for SOVA dean was unsuccessful.  COBA and SLIS searches have started.  UNT will use search firms for COBA and SOVA.  One college audit in underway; others will be conducted when new deans are hired. Status of Excellence and Equity monies - Excellence monies should now be back to Deans (due yesterday).  Johnson noted that the criteria were provided by the deans and not by him.. Johnson is working on criteria for equity distribution and several possibilities under discussion. Money is still in the budget for these adjustments ($1.4 million). Next external review of Academic units – COE is scheduled for an October visit, with report due in November.  Other visits are on hold until dean searches are concluded. Role of the Senate Faculty Handbook Committee – The committee’s role is twofold:  monitoring (policy changes, etc.) and providing information not specifically covered under policies.  The Chancellor is moving toward a revision of policies, with a goal of having major policies left as policies and other matters being moved to a category of procedures/practice. The EC stated that the Faculty Handbook committee is still valuable and should continue.  Hiring and evaluating permanent lecturers – Johnson reported that past practice was not clear.  It appears that such appointments should have been renewable for up to 5 years only.  The Provost’s inquiry revealed 22 positions currently on the books exceeding 5 years.  EC encouraged the administration to use processes for hiring and evaluating permanent lecturers that are similar to processes for hiring and evaluating tenure track faculty.

Chair’s Update: Chair van Tassell reported that she and Vice Chair Miles were meeting with schools and colleges to share the Senate’s goals for the year. These goals include:  1) Second Annual Town Hall Meeting; 2) Implementation of the UNT Ombudsperson; 3) Progress on the Provost’s Academic Plan; 4) Stage II of RCM; 5) Involvement of all Faculty; 6) Involvement of Senators and 7) answering the Question “Why have a Faculty Senate?”

Provost’s Report:  Provost Johnson presented his vision for the UNT Academic Plan for Distinctiveness and Excellence. He emphasized that the plan will be a road map that will put academics at the heart of the UNT enterprise. He stated that the plan must be focused on what makes UNT distinctive.  Faculty input is essential to the success of the plan. 

Provost Johnson shared part of a presentation he will use when meeting with department chairs on September 17.  The presentation addressed documentation issues related to promotion and tenure decisions.  Provost Johnson said that he also planned to meet with chairs of the departmental promotion and tenure committees.  Discussion ensued regarding the need for guidance on the issue of promotion and tenure documentations.  Provost Johnson stated that he hoped to be able to provide the additional guidance soon.

President’s Report:  President Pohl reported that the Coordinating Board has adopted categories of institutions and measures of accountability.  The proposal places UNT in a category of emerging research institutions along with Texas Tech, the University of Houston, UT-Dallas, UT-Arlington, UT-San Antonio and UT-El Paso.  Proposed measures of accountability that would result in differential funding include the following:  1)  Participation (headcount--gender and diversity and FTEs--gender and diversity); 2) Graduation rates (after 5 years); 3) Excellence (percentage of lower division credit hours taught by tenure and tenure track faculty and the ratio of FTE students to FTE faculty); 4) Research (ratio of federal R&D money to FTE tenured and tenure track faculty and the total dollars for R&D); 5) Institutional Efficiency  (percentage of budget spent on administration and space utilization).

He noted that the Coordinating Board’s recommendations will be sent to the legislature when it convenes next spring.

Committee of the Whole: 

No business was presented.

Group Caucuses

The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Marcia Staff, Senate Secretary