In attendance: Norm Baldwin, Keith Woodbury, Margaret Garner, Rob Ingram, Marcia Barrett. Bob Sigler, Bing Blewitt, Wythe Holt, Bill Keel, Steve Miller, Don Desmet, Pat Bauch Guest: Jonna Hutt, Dialogue

The minutes of March 13^th Steering Committee were approved.

Bob Sigler will be Parliamentarian for 2001-2002.

The Resolution Supporting a Tuition Increase from the Financial Affairs Committee was presented with some modifications in the text and additional data in the form of a chart. (attached) Discussion included: the percentage of a requested increase, the impact of the direction from the Governor to Auburn University that they would not be permitted to increase tuition to cover proration, the speed needed to pass this resolution, and the importance of this statement being forwarded quickly. With a slight change in wording, this resolution passed unanimously.

The Resolution Supporting Constitutional Reform was presented in two different versions. The resolution with emphasis on tax reform benefiting Alabamians as a whole rather than the resolution that focused on proration was preferred by the Steering Committee. There were some suggestions for minor changes in the wording: change the number of amendments to almost 700, change "almost 100-year old" document to "century old" document and capitalizing "the" in The University of Alabama. It was also recommended that any resolution passed by the Faculty Senate be dated and signed by the President of the Faculty Senate. The resolution passed unanimously. The names that this resolution should be sent to will be determined.

Pat Bauch has requested that she be placed on the Board of Trustees agenda for their next meeting. She will speak to them regarding diversity resolutions sent to them a year ago.

If the responses to the Committee Preference Form have not been received from senators, they will continue on the same committees as last year. Maintaining a balance of gender, interests and departments on committees is a priority.

A representative to serve on the Student Judicial Board was needed to replace Wythe Holt. Bob Sigler volunteered to fill this position. This position assists the present Judicial Board select the next Judicial Board. The meeting will be April 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM in 358 Ferguson.

The Evaluation of Deans and Chairs committee continues to meet with deans previously opposed to this proposal and others to get feedback and support for this effort.

Everyone was encouraged to send in annual reports. These are included in the packets for the new senator orientation.

A distribution list of those senators that have difficulty with e-mail attachments will be in place by the first fall meeting.

Vice President's Report - (Steve Miller) No report.

Secretary's Report - (Keith Woodbury) A report concerning senator elections was given. Communications, Social Work and Community Health Sciences have not held elections at this time.

Academic Affairs - (Desmet & Miller) No report.

Faculty Life - (Holt & Ingram) No report.

Financial Affairs - (Woodbury) This committee is discussing a resolution concerning tax reform but there has not been a decision to bring anything forward at this time.

Planning & Operations - (Barrett & Keel) Most refurbishing has been delayed due to proration. The renovation of Foster Auditorium and Graves Hall are at the top of the list. Wilson Hall is scheduled for demolition.

The status of the proposed ACHE bill is unknown. It has been under revue and the unit/workload has been eliminated. Ron Rogers is very willing to meet with the Steering Committee/Faculty Senate to answer any questions they might have concerning ACHE. The question concerning waivers for programs was raised. It was recommended that the Steering Committee look at the status of this bill immediately beginning with a meeting with Ron Rogers as soon as possible. Several statements given by Sandra Woodley from ACHE have proven to be inaccurate. The Academic Affairs committee met with Ron Rogers and the concern is that there is no intervention possible. There are thirteen or fourteen programs that are applying for waivers. If a waiver is granted, there is a review after three years. At that time, if the program is not viable, it is gone. There would be only extremely rare extensions of a waiver. In the past, ACHE created the Faculty Council and they were given a number of issues to get information and at the meeting another entirely different agenda was followed. The Faculty Council was discontinued. ACHE is an agency of the Legislature and the Legislature would have access to any information gathered by ACHE. It is a priority to look at the language of the bill as it progresses. It is believed that the bill has not been introduced at this time. Another point to consider is if the University does not comply, what are the ramifications and legalities that would result from lack of compliance. It was decided to have a meeting within the next two weeks with Ron Rogers, Norm, Margaret, Steve, Marcia, Keith and Wythe.

Research & Service - (Blewitt) No report.

Student Affairs - (Gordon & Ingram) No report.

Senate Operations - (Baldwin) Any introduction or change in the by-laws must be presented at one meeting and voted on by the Senate at the next meeting. It was recommended that the Faculty Governance Document be reviewed by the Academic Affairs committee. Those issues not agreed upon with faculty and administration should be determined and other revisions should be made. This document was put on hold while the Faculty Handbook was being revised and it is recommended that this be a priority for next year. There is no established time frame for review of the Handbook. The Faculty Governance Document is a working agreement between faculty senate and administration with policies and procedures stated in this document. Bill Andreen drafted this document in the past and is on the Senate web site. Discussion also included problems between faculty and administration at other state institutions and what type support should our Faculty Senate give. It was decided that nothing official should be done but to share information, documents and personal support.

Wythe Holt is willing to serve on the Senate Operations Committee and will assist with the Faculty Governance Document.

Provost Barrett has invited officers and Steering Committee members to a luncheon on May 3 at the University Club at 12:30.

Legislative Agenda Committee - (Margaret Garner) The Strategic Initiative Committee has not met for two weeks. They are waiting for reports from the Graduate Council, Information Technology Committee and Undergraduate Programs and Services Committee. There will not be a report for the Faculty Senate meeting next week. They will not be ready for a public forum. It was asked if the new Senate would be comfortable with Margaret bringing reports to the new Steering Committee and the Steering Committee serve as another source of advice on how to proceed. This was agreed upon. Reports could be reviewed and be ready for a public forum in the fall. It was asked if the Board of Trustees should be requested to withdraw their endorsement. That was not a viable option. It was formulated that Pat would monitor the progress of the Board with Sandrall Hullett presenting information to the Academic Affairs section of the Board. The Faculty Senate has not approved the strategic initiative and are in the processing of evaluating and working in good faith to determine future course of action.

Norm expressed appreciation to officers and members of the Steering Committee for past service.

5:15 PM Meeting adjourned

WHEREAS The University of Alabama sets and maintains high academic standards for its diverse programs, and

WHEREAS these high standards require, among other things, recruiting and retaining quality faculty, maintaining and developing a technological infrastructure, and providing modern research facilities, and

WHEREAS budget problems, such as the current crisis resulting from proration of the current fiscal year’s budget and reduction in the next fiscal year’s budget, are recurring, chronic, systemic problems related to the unstable funding stream tied to the erratic and unpredictable swings in the state economy through sales tax, and

WHEREAS the University should decrease its independence on these unpredictable economic swings and increase its ability to weather such budget crises by decreasing its dependence on political decisions and tax revenues,

WHEREAS tuition at The University of Alabama is the lowest in the University of Alabama System and ranked 21^st in the Southern University Group (SUG)(see attached ranked list), and

WHEREAS a 10% increase in tuition over the next three years will move The University of Alabama above the SUG average but still below the national average,

NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that The University of Alabama Faculty Senate (UAFS) calls on the Board of Trustees to increase student tuition by 10% per year for the next three years, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UAFS recommends that a portion of this increased tuition revenue be earmarked for increased financial aid for those who would otherwise qualify for admission to the University but for whom the increased tuition makes them unable to attend.

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Alabama is a mammoth document that is twelve-times the length of most state constitutions and contains 665 amendments, and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Constitution prevents self government through denying citizens and their communities the power of homerule, and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Constitution creates political and legal structures that work to the benefit of the wealthy at the expense of the general public, and

WHEREAS, this almost 100-year old document provides an antiquated foundation for economic progress for the State of Alabama in the 21^st century, and

WHEREAS, reform of the Alabama Constitution will provide the foundation for tax reform that is essential for solving the recurring financial crisis in K through 12 and higher education,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Alabama expresses its strongest support for reform of the Alabama Constitution and for tax reform, and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Alabama applauds Governor Siegelman for his recent favorable position toward Constitutional reform and encourages the Governor and the Alabama Legislature to rally all of their political support, talent, and ingenuity to see that Constitutional reform becomes a reality in the State of Alabama.