FACULTY SENATE MEETING

Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - Ferguson Center - 3:30 pm

uncorrected minutes

Roll was called and quorum declared.   Absent:

February 20 minutes were approved with noted corrections.

Steve Reeves from The Tuscaloosa News, Joanna Hutt from Dialogue, and Emily Kraft from The Crimson White were guests.

President's Report - (Pat Bauch) The Delayed Rush report was received from the Office of Student Affairs and is available for review by anyone wishing to do so.  As President of the Faculty Senate, Pat will be writing a response to the Office of Student Affairs stating that we do not think that the evaluation of the purpose of having delayed rush was mentioned at all in the report.  In other words, there is no mention of diversity.  This letter will be posted on the web site for input from senators.  Wythe Holt volunteered and has been appointed to assist the Student Judicial Board in their interviews for panel members.   An Amicus Curiae brief is being filed on behalf of all the Faculty Senates in the State by the Alabama Council of University Presidents (ACUFP).  This brief will be posted on the Faculty Senate web site. 

Vice President's Report - (Norm Baldwin)  The ad hoc task force for the Evaluation of Deans and Chairs is in the process of visiting with individual deans and others for their feedback.  Norm presented President Pat Bauch with a gift from the Faculty Senate to honor her service as president of the Faculty Senate this past year.  She represented the Faculty Senate in an outstanding manner and the gratitude of the Faculty Senate was expressed with a standing ovation. 

Secretary's Report - (Steven MacCall)  Steven reported on the progress of the senator elections and made a note to the new secretary to list "Pending Business" on the web page.

A suspension of the rules for an out of order election of officers and a suspension of rules for Hank Lazer to speak and answer any questions about the academic changes being implemented was approved.  The Academic Affairs worked very closely with the Undergraduate Office to bring about these academic changes.  Hank Lazer reviewed the issues of withdrawal, academic forgiveness and other issues involved in those academic changes.  The ten-week time span for withdrawal was discussed at length.  The Faculty Senate voted to approve with three abstentions and one nay.

The election committee reported their recommendation for Norm Baldwin for President.  There were no additional nominations made.  Norm Baldwin was voted President of the Faculty Senate for the 2001-2002 year.  There was no recommendation for Vice President from the election committee.  Steve Miller was nominated from the floor.  Steve Miller was elected Vice President of the Faculty Senate.  The election committee recommended Keith Woodbury as Secretary of the Faculty Senate for the 2001-2001 year.  Keith was elected to serve in this position.

Rob Ingram proposed that the Faculty Senate Diversity Leadership Council be recognized as a free-standing committee with a link to the Faculty Senate.  This would be similar to the state of the Legislative Agenda Committee and would be a formal reporting action link back to the Faculty Senate.  It was suggested that a sitting senator serve as liaison from the Faculty Senate to the committee.  After discussion, the Faculty Senate voted their approval. 

 The tuition resolution was composed by Jim Otteson and requested a 25% tuition increase per year for the next five years with a portion earmarked for financial aid for students that qualify.  The purpose of this resolution was spurred by proration and to increase tuition to the level of other comparable institutions in the state.  Discussion included questioning the long-term strategy of such an increase: should all state institutions jointly work out some strategy, this is not only an economic issue but a moral issue,  that the resolution needs revision and that the message of such a resolution is to the Board of Trustees and administration that some solution to funding must be found.  Quality education and research cannot be maintained without proper funding.   Wythe made a motion to return the resolution to the Finance committee for revision.  The Senate vote approved with 19 in favor, 9 opposed and no abstentions.

 The Resolution to Support Principles of Proration by University Presidents (attached) states that the Faculty Senate supports the Presidents Resolution which expresses the support of the Presdents for equal proration for K-12 and higher education.  This was approved by the Faculty Senate and will be mailed to Governor Siegelman, the Lt. Governor, all Legislators with copies to Dr. Sorensen and Dr. Barrett.

 Margaret Garner brought forward a resolution from the Legislative Agenda Committee urging membership in the UASPAC organization.  The resolution (attached) was approved by the Faculty Senate.

 The Resolution of the Faculty Senate Concerning UA System Strategic Planning Initiative will not be considered at this meeting.  It has been referred to the Information Technology Committee.  Pat has written two letters to the Chancellor's office with no response received.

 Annual reports must be ready for the new senators. 

 Wythe brought up health care costs as an issue to be considered by the new Senate. 

 The Legislative Agenda Committee urged everyone to attend the Legislative Breakfast.  Pat and students are working on "Adopt a Legislator" for the future.

 Meeting was adjourned.

                RESOLUTION SUPPORTING UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS’ PROPOSAL TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS IN PRORATION

WHEREAS, the members of The University of Alabama Faculty Senate are the official representatives of the University's faculty, representing approximately 1,000 full-time and part-time faculty teaching over 19,000 students and supported by 3,000 non-faculty employees;

WHEREAS, high quality faculty and staff are needed at all levels of education from K through university to educate Alabama's residents and to continue economic development in the State;

WHEREAS, faculty and staff members at all levels of education deserve competitive compensation and fringe benefits;

WHEREAS, during periods of economic difficulty each faculty and staff member deserves fair treatment and protection;

WHEREAS, failure to provide faculty and staff at all levels with adequate compensation and fringe benefits in a fair and just manner would adversely affect the ability of our educational institutions to attract and retain quality professional educators to educate the students of Alabama;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate of The University of Alabama expresses its support of and agreement with the PROPOSAL TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS DURING PERIODS OF PRORATION as submitted to Governor Siegelman and Alabama State Legislators on March 1, 2001 by The Presidents and Chancellors of Alabama's Public Universities.

                             THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FACULTY SENATE

 WHEREAS,  It is the belief of The University of Alabama Faculty that the economic        development and quality of life of all Alabamians are related to the quality    of higher education in the state, and

 WHEREAS,   faculty believe that their work of teaching, research and service is important         and merits strong state support, and

 WHEREAS,   the University of Alabama System Political Action Committee (UASPAC) has been developed to lead the effort to protect higher education in general and the University of Alabama System universities in particular,

 THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED THAT:   The UA Faculty Senate applauds and supports the goals of UASPAC  to support higher education in becoming a strong and viable force in the development of Alabama in the 21^st Century.