WHEREAS the present schedule for final exams, using three possible times per day over a Monday through Saturday period, allows a disturbing number of conflicts between different departmental exams and between departmental exams and those for other courses, and

WHEREAS the Student Government Association has expressed a strong preference for elimination of Saturday final exams, and

WHEREAS Saturday final exams cause additional complications in grading services and finishing all the necessary grading in time for the term's end, and

WHEREAS a task force convened by the Registrar found that a schedule with four time slots per day over a Monday through Friday span, along with policies for precedence in case of time conflicts and the existing deferred-exam policy for relief in case of three or more exams in one day, can deal appropriately with all these issues,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate supports the following change to a Monday through Friday five-day final exam schedule and recommends its implementation by Fall 2002:

There have been a couple of reasons to examine the timing of final exams:

Both of the preceding issues can be resolved by moving to the following Monday through Friday, four-slot daily schedule with hour breaks, keeping our current 2.5-hour exam blocks:

These issues can also be resolved through adopting a clear policy on priorities in case of conflict or "stacking" (i.e., more than two scheduled exams on the same day). Such a policy will prevent students from mediating conflicts between instructors. Principles for resolving these kinds of problems are:

In each case, the student may opt to take all exams at the scheduled time, but otherwise, these rules tell which exam should be deferred.

A draft schedule shows that a five-day schedule has only one possibility for conflict between departmental exams (pencilled in with French and Spanish opposite each other). The 3:30-6:00 p.m. slot would be used only for departmental exams, with two additional departmental slots in the evening times.

Through using 20 instead of 17 exam slots, the proposed schedule reduces the chance of three or four exams on the same day. Existing policy of using deferred-exam times in case of triple exams or worse in a single day could deal with that case, now made less common. The student and instructor could also make any other mutually acceptable arrangements.

In this light, the Planning and Operations Committee proposes that this new schedule be approved by February in order to be incorporated into the printing of the final exam schedule for next fall.

M E M O R A N D U M

To: J. Norman Baldwin, President, Faculty Senate

From: Senate Operations Committee: Members Holt, Miller, and Price

Re: Adding language to the Faculty Senate By-laws

The Senate Operations Committee recommends the following additions and changes to the UA Faculty Senate By-laws:

Make Article II, Section 8 to be Section 9, and in its place insert the following new paragraph describing the term "regular" faculty member (also see below the text in italics inserted into Article II of our bylaws).

"FACULTY HOLDING REGULAR APPOINTMENTS

A faculty member holding a regular appointment is someone who is tenured, tenure earning, or a temporary full- or part-time instructor at The University of Alabama. Temporary full- or part-time instructors are individuals who teach six hours or more per term on a continuing basis (three or more consecutive academic-year terms) who do not hold tenure or are tenure earning at another institution of higher education."

Article I. Senate Officers

In all elections of Senate Officers-President, Vice President, and Secretary-elections will be by the vote of the majority of the senators voting, in a meeting at which a quorum of the Senate is present. Nominations and election of the Senate President will be completed before the floor is opened for nominations for Vice President, who will also serve as the faculty ombudsperson, and the election of the Vice President will be made before nominations are received for the Office of Secretary. Any senator interested in serving in one or more of these offices may submit a written statement of intention, with any supporting argument, not to exceed one page in length, to the Secretary of the Senate by March 14 of the year in which he or she hopes to commence office. The Secretary will distribute each such statement and supporting argument with the agenda for the March meeting of the Senate. Persons may also be nominated for these offices from the floor at the March meeting. A motion to close nominations, or the equivalent, is out of order. Each candidate will have an opportunity to speak to the Senate about his or her candidacy, and the Senate will have an opportunity to ask questions of each candidate.

Note: I’m skipping the first three sections of Article II on Senate orientation, steering committee, and standing committees in order to save space. The new language is in italics in section 9.

Article II. Organization

Section 4. Special Committees.

Special committees may be created by the Senate as needed. Unless the Senate directs otherwise, special committee members and chairpersons shall be designated by the same methods as for standing committees. Persons eligible to vote in Senate elections who are not members of the Senate may be appointed by special committees as their consultants.

Section 5. Subcommittees.

Standing and special committees may establish such standing or special subcommittees as they deem useful. Persons eligible to vote in Senate elections who are not members of the Senate may be appointed by subcommittees as their consultants.

Section 6. Parliamentarian.

The Senate President will nominate a parliamentarian, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve as recommended in the most recent revision of Robert's Rules of Order except where these Rules are contravened by a rule adopted by the Senate. This person will be a member of the Faculty, as defined in the Constitution, who is not a senator; or a member of the retired faculty. It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to attend all meetings of the Senate and of the Steering Committee.

Section 7. Webmaster.

The Senate President will nominate a webmaster, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve as the producer and coordinator of the Senate's web site. This person will be a member of the faculty, who may be but need not be a senator.

Section 9. Offices.

The Senate shall maintain offices, in a room or rooms in the University assigned by the President of the University. The Senate offices shall be the location of the files of the Senate.

The Vice President will serve as the faculty ombudsperson--an impartial and confidential resource to assist faculty in resolving problems, complaints, conflicts, or other issues. As the ombudsperson, he/she will assist faculty in finding just and timely resolutions to problems. In so doing, the Vice President will act as a neutral resource rather than taking sides on issues.

Whereas Cornelius Carter was recently recognized as United States Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and by the Carnegie Foundation, and

Whereas this award was based on Professor Carter’s dedication to undergraduate teaching, scholarship, contributions to The University of Alabama and community, and support for current and former undergraduates, and

Whereas Professor Carter was the sole recipient of this award for research and doctoral institutions from a group of 384 candidates representing 272 research and doctoral, master’s, baccalaureate, and community college institutions, and

Whereas the Professor of the Year Award is recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious awards honoring professors, and

Whereas Professor Carter also received a University of Alabama National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award in 2001, and

Whereas Professor Carter has choreographed 52 dances since 1988, 28 of which have been produced and performed by professional or university companies including Harvard University, Tulane University, the American Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre, and Bates College, and

Whereas Professor Carter has taught master classes and set new dance works with dance companies and festivals in Russia, England, Denmark, France, Austria, Lithuania, and Iceland, and

Whereas Professor Carter’s students have received scholarships to Harvard Summer Dance Program, Jacob’s Pillow, and The Julliard School and have received internships with professional dance companies including Liz Lerman, the Dayton Contemporary Company, and the Cleo Parker Robinson Company, and

Whereas Professor Carter excels at obtaining faculty mentors for beginning faculty members, and

Whereas Professor Carter is widely known for maintaining high standards of performance while making dance classes fun and for going the extra mile to help students in their academic, professional, and personal life, and

Whereas Professor Carter’s infectious energy and spirit for his art has been an inspiration to students, colleagues, and members of the community,

Therefore be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama recognizes Cornelius Carter for his extraordinary gifts as a teacher, artist, and campus and community citizen. Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate commends Professor Carter for his academic accomplishments, for his devotion to his profession, for his commitment to his students, and for the recognition that he brings to The University of Alabama and the Department of Theatre and Dance.