April 5, 2002 UNT Inhouse publication: UNT Faculty Senate approves changes to senate’s bylaws and charter

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UNT Faculty Senate approves changes to senate's bylaws and charter

Faculty Senate members approved changes to the group's bylaws and to the senate's charter during the senate meeting March 13. The charter changes must now be presented to the faculty for approval before they are officially made.

The charter changes include a modification that a vacancy in the senate will be declared if a senator is absent from three senate meetings during a senate year (September-August), rather than three consecutive meetings as in the past. The other charter change creates a charter and bylaws committee. Though the charter gives specific charges to such a committee, the charter as it is does not establish the committee.

The bylaw alterations include changing the name of the University Committee to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate to better reflect the committee's function, adding a statement in the Curriculum Committee description allowing the application of assessment principles toward the review and approval of curriculum courses, and clarifying wording regarding the Oversight Committee of the core curriculum.

Senators also approved changes to a survey used by the Committee on the Evaluation of University Administrators that provides feedback from the faculty. The changes are designed to make the survey less confusing. Following discussion regarding the security of the survey's online version, senators voted 24-6 to continue the online version.

David Kesterson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, reported to the senate about the February UNT System Board of Regents meeting, including the approval of honorary degrees for Raymond Nasher and J. McDonald Williams and the regents' approval to seek Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board authorization of six new degrees for UNT's future College of Engineering, a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and a master of science degree in applied anthropology in the School of Community Service.

In other business, the senate:

heard a report from the Committee on Committees that new members were approved for the Executive Committee.
read a report distributed by the Mentor Committee regarding opportunities and predicted effectiveness of a faculty mentoring program.
heard a report from Suzanne LaBrecque, vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs, regarding approval by the University Curriculum Committee of several new courses and changes to two existing programs.
heard a report from Jeffrey Oxford, senate vice chair, about the recent Texas Council of Faculty Senates meeting, which was attended by 36 universities.
discussed a survey taken by Faculty Senate members regarding activities and accomplishments of the senate.

The Faculty Senate meets again at 2 p.m. April 17 in Wooten Hall, Room 322.