Faculty Senate Steering Committee Meeting Minutes Zoom.
April 14, 2020
Attending: Barb Dahlbach, Rona Donahoe, Chapman Greer, John Vincent, Andre Dunham, Joy Burnham, Andrea Glenn, Ibrahim Cemen, Mirit Eyal-Cohen, Ignacio Rodeno, Riner Schad, Christopher Lynn, Matthew Hudnall, Dan Meissner, Ajay Agrawal, Si Blackstock, Amy Traylor, Kabe Moen, Steven Yates.
Absent: Jenni Cox, Janie Hubbard, Past President Donna Meester, Parliamentarian Rob Riter.
Faculty Senate Steering Committee Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2020 were approved with corrections.
President’s Report – (Rona Donahoe) The Provost has reviewed the proposed tenure clock extension policy. The Deans of each college are to distribute the proposed policy to their faculty.
End-of-year committee reports are due by Friday,May 8, 2020. These will be posted on the Faculty Senate web page.
Rob Riter has agreed to serve as Faculty Senate Parliamentarian for 2020-21. Sarah Miesse has agreed to serve as Faculty Senate webmaster for 2020-21.
President Donahoe attended the zoom meeting of the institutional University/Huntsville Board of Trustees Meeting. The roll call, UAH President, UAH Faculty Senate and UAH SGA presentations were sent to the Board prior to the meeting. There were no tuition increase proposals other than one by UAB medical and dental schools.
There was a proposed change to Board Rule #406 under the Financial Affairs report giving authorization to transact business on behalf of the Board. The last revision to this rule was in April, 1995. The April revision would provide contractors unaffiliated relationship with the Board. It would provide a heightened review process for certain contracts not procured through the competitive bid process. This is already covered under Rule #406 for hospital contracts, any goods or services exceeding one million dollars and any consulting or professional contract exceeding $250,000. The implication is that additional contracts would be under a heightened review done quarterly. It was suggested all contracts be reviewed by the Systems Office before sending to the Board of Trustees.
Investment Committee Rule #404 deals with investment policies and guidelines. An approved amendment dealing with liquidity and capital reserve funds would establish liquid assets with 60% in short term holdings defined as less than thirty days. The Systems Office will begin monitoring University operating accounts. Under the Compensation Committee President Bell proposed a salary of $265,000 plus for Vice President for Student Life Myron Pope.
The Physical Properties Committee had six items for UA – Colonial Drive enhancements, Bryant-Denny Stadium renovations exceeding budget by more than one million dollars, Peter Bryce central parking east, University Medical Center addition for MRI, master service agreements including testing and inspection agreements.
The Real Estate Committee reported the purchase of #904 Anna Avenue completing acquisition of Anna Avenue property by the University of Alabama. The property is a 1/3 acre lot with less than 4,000 square feet listed at $800,000.
The water tank on the east side of campus will be moved and a review will be made of the tank emblem to assure it fits with UA’s aesthetics.
President Donahoe sent a reminder that the Economic Interest form should be filled out annually if the salary is greater than $50,000.
The proposed parental leave policy is on hold due to limited business operations caused by Covid19.
There are five finalists for the UA Provost position. Links and public presentations are available online. The “Meet the Candidate” web site with space for înput, comments and submission form.
Due to Covid19 UA has made the decision to have first term summer courses taught online. The decision has not been made concerning second term courses. Many faculty members are preparing to teach summer courses online. The Systems Office has not received any complaints about the move to online instruction and teaching.
Concern was expressed about the Faculty Handbook being posted in two different versions with revisions not compatible on both. One version was removed leaving the pdf the only one posted.
No response has been received concerning grandfathering requirements for promotion from associate professor to professor.
The Faculty Senate Meeting on April 21, 2020 will be conducted on Zoom. There is a total of 85 senators in the Faculty Senate for 2020-21. Chapman Greer has set up the meeting to break into committee meetings for discussion of issues for the coming year and to elect Committee co-chairs.
Vice President’s Report – (Chapman Greer) The Greater Education Task Force is moving to develop models in three different groups – core plus hybrid model, pathways model and standard distribution model. Finalization of these will be forwarded to the Provost for approval. The task force will then bring it forward to the Faculty Senate. Three models have been developed giving options for review. Any comments should be sent to Chapman Greer. The task force will meet on May 8, 2020. A trip to the University of Vermont for a summer institute on June 2, 3, and 4 has been temporarily cancelled. Other avenues of communication are being reviewed.
Secretary’s Report – (Barb Dahlback) The correct list of Faculty Senate committees have been emailed. There are three vacancies to be filled, two in HES and one in Law. The Steering Committee was asked to review the Committee assignments and membership percentages. These were approved along with the UA Standing Committee assignments as submitted.
Information Technology & Strategic Communications – (Matthew Hudnall & Dan Meissner) The Committee is reviewing an issue of public site interfacing for Banner. It replicates many of the functionalities of MyBama. It does not have the DUO authentication. That creates a back end way for anybody to access payroll and other critical information. The committee brought this to the attention of OIT which in turn upgraded the site for Banner users. The committee wishes to bring before the Faculty Senate a proposal to have DUO authentication used more broadly across campus. This may be too much to implement in the current environment of limited business operations on campus caused by Covid19. It is much needed especially in the disconnected and remote access currently in place. Last week a phishing email was sent to 2,000 informing them they were out of storage space. Fifteen of those gave up their credential. The Nigerians through that number accessed four UA mail boxes. One had no sensitive data, one had personal sensitive data and two were breached receiving Social Security numbers and information on a small number of students. None of the four were regular users of DUO. A compromise would be enforcing DUO on email. This would be an interim step toward more security. Some electronic devices are incompatible with DUO causing constant authentication renewals. There are other options available for non-compatible devices. There is an issue with the Faculty Senate list serve receiving messages from upper administration and President Rona Donahoe. Vice President Chapman Greer has not been able to log into Qualtrics.. These problems will be referred to the proper area for assistance.
Research & Service – (Ajax Agrawal & Si Blackstock) The policy for disclosure of external activities has been circulated. Activities outside UA when UA is not aware of those activities must be reported. Financial aspects and other benefits may be involved. There are rules is various places such as the State level and the University level. There is not a systematic way or a centralized method to review all proposed and grant activities to reveal conflict of interest situations. There was an international incident bringing attention to this issue causing universities and institutions to review and develop policies to cover such situations. UA’s revised policy was composed in meetings with Vice President for Research and Development Russell Mumper, President Rona Donahoe and the Faculty Senate Research and Service Committee. The original policy applied to research faculty only. The revised policy will apply to all faculty. John Vincent and the Research an Service Committee reviewed the policy and recommended a couple of revisions since the policy interfaces with the Faculty Handbook. The divisions into regular, part-time and adjunct faculty complicates the implementation of the policy to all faculty. The revision would apply to regular faculty if they are involved in a research grant. The question was would this apply to part-time faculty only if involved in research. Faculty in Fine Arts doing performances and summer stock could be a problem. There is a form now in place to be filled out and submitted to the dean of the college. The proposed policy would be one form for all faculty. The Faculty Handbook will have to be revised if this policy is approved. The Handbook states each college has their own form to be submitted. Wording would need to be changed to a campus wide form and a link provided. The intent of the proposed policy is to enable the University with complete oversight and documentation of all research activity. Clarification of part-time faculty group status and having one form for all faculty will be finalized in a meeting with Dr. Mumper before bringing the proposal to the Faculty Senate for a vote.
Academic Affairs –(John Vincent & Andre Dunham) The Academic Affairs Committee has monitored the progress of the tenure clock extension policy. The grandfathering clause in the requirements for promotion from associate professor to professor is waiting for a response from the full Council of Deans.
Community & Legislative Affairs – (Steven Yates &. ) The Brewer Porch luncheon of appreciation for eighty faculty and staff members will be held. Food will be delivered to the facility with table decorations provided
Faculty & Senate Governance – (Ibrahim Cemen & Janie Hubbard) Three elections will be conducted- Faculty Senate officers elected unanimously President Rona Donahoe, Vice President Chapman Greer, Secretary Barb Dahlbach. The tenure clock extension passed. The Mediation Committee vote should have been held in March to replace Alan Tidwell. This vote will be held at the April meeting.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – (Mirit Eyal-Cohen & Ignacio Rodeno) The anti-Semitic episode in Huntsville during Passover week was sprayed expletives on a Synagogue. There have been some Zoom bombing slur episodes which were racially based.
Financial Affairs – (Rainer Schad & Christopher Lynn) The Financial Affairs Committee will be focusing on the financial impact the Covid19 virus is having on the financial status of the University. Much is not known including if and when students will return to campus, enrollment and revenue stream. Bama Bound orientation will be conducted online. Focus has been on providing any assistance needed by students including international students. UA has an opportunity to apply for emergency funding through FEMA. The Department of Education Higher Education Relief Fund is being pursued by the University. The question will be asked in the Steering Committee meeting with the Provost on Thursday. Extensive revenue is being lost since all summer camps has been cancelled.
Student Life – (Amy Traylor & Kane Moen) The scheduled meeting with Kathleen Cramer was cancelled. The committee will explore setting up a Zoom meeting with Cramer and the new Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Dr. Tonjanita Johnson. Everyone was reminded that student emergency funds are available through “Tide Together” through filling out a form on the Student Care “Well Being” web site. A group is being formed to support the needs of graduate students. Concern was expressed about international students not being able to go home due to travel restrictions and being unable to work. This issue will be addressed in the meeting with the Provost on Thursday.
Amy Traylor is stepping down as co-chair of the Student Life Committee. Andre Denham and Andrea Glenn are stepping down as co-chairs of Faculty Life Committee. Janie Hubbard will not return to the Faculty & Senate Governance Committee. Dan Meissner is retiring on August 1, 2020.
Paid parental leave will continue to be a priority issue.
The next Steering Committee meeting will be May 12, 2020.
Meeting adjourned 4:50 P.M.
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Contact: Sarah Miesse, semiesse@culverhouse.ua.edu