UNIVERSITYOFSOUTHALABAMA
FacultySenate
________________________________________________________________ October21st,2015–FacultyClub-3:00pm
APPROVEDMINUTES
Present:Gordon-Hickey,Phlmann,Kennedy,Morgan,D.Smith,Carr,Fisher,Freed,Harrington,Kozelsky,Marin,
Marhsall,Mata,Moor,NiChadhain,Poston,Reichert,Schulze,Smith,Bourrie,Campbell,McDonald,Gecewicz,
Whiston,Broach,Davidson-Shivers,Fregeau,Norrell,West,Yazdani,Bauer,Bennett-Baldwin,Chinkers,Cioffi,
Falkos,Gillespie,Omar,Ponnambalam,Rich,Richards,Richter,Taylor,Gillis,Grant,Woodford,Buckner,Dolan,
Huey,Minchew,Riley,Vandawaa,Palle,Piazza
Absent:Culler,Lindeman,Stutsman,Glover,Phan,Clanton,Wilson,Audia,Bolton,Rachek,Noland,Varner,
Scalici
Calltoorder-K.West3:02withquorum
Approvalofminutes:Septembermeeting–motionmade;2d;approved
Approvalofrevisedagenda–motionmade;2dapproved
President’sReport
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InstitutionalPriorityTownHalls/StrategicPlan
GoodturnoutandgoodfeedbackattheTownHalls.Feedbackwillgotothecommittee(University
CommitteeonPlanning,Assessment&Finance–K.WestandS.Fisheraremembers).Committee
formulatedactionitemsandmetrics.Thecommitteewantedfeedbackandhavereceivedalotfrom
faculty,clinicalfaculty,andstaff.ManyparticipantsintheTownHallsrequestedanactionitemon
faculty.Facultyisinterwoveninallfivepriorities,butifstrategicplanisguidingwhereresourcesgo,
theofficersthoughtthatfacultyshouldbespecificallyenunciatedintheplan.Nextmeetingis
November3.EllenHarringtonhaswrittenanicetexttouseasjustificationforincludingaspecific
itemonfaculty.OfficerswouldliketopresentEllen’ssuggestionsformodificationofessential
activitiesoftheUniversityfoundinthepreambletotheStrategicPlan.Theessentialactivitysection
includesabulletpointlistofthingsthatareimportanttotheUniversityanditsstrategicobjectives
butdonot“fit”withinaspecificpriority.WewouldliketheSenatetoconsideradding“improving
facultyengagementandmorale”tothe“essentialactivities”oftheUniversity.AngelaColeman
suggestedslightmodification:“engagingfacultyandrecognizingtheireffortstoadvancethe
university’spriorities.”
K.Westaskedthememberspresenttoconsidera“SenseoftheSenate”toauthorizetheofficersto
pursuelanguagespecifyingfacultyintheessentialactivitiessectionofthestrategicplan.Friendly
amendmenttoadoptAngelaColeman’ssuggestedlanguage:“engagingfacultyandrecognizingtheir
effortstoadvancetheuniversity’spriorities.”KWestindicatedthatthewordingisnotthe
importantpartbecausethatwouldbechanged.A“SenseoftheSenate”resolutionwouldserveto
authorizeK.WesttoSFishertosayatthenextstrategicplanmeetingthatfacultyshouldbe
specificallyincluded.LookingforsenseoftheSenate.Discussionensuedonlanguageofthe
motion,particularlymeaningof“morale”
EllenBuckner–motion–SenseoftheSenate-Thatspecificreferencetofaculty/facultyresources
beaddedtotheessentialactivitiesinthestrategicplan.
Motion2dandapproved.
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Upward&OnwardCampaign
Thisisareallyinterestingcampaign,butwehavereceivednegativefeedbackregardingthe
monetarybreakdownforthe$150milliontoberaised.Pleasehelpfacultyunderstandweare
startingwith$72million,mostlyfromAbeMitchell.Ifyoulookatthepercentagebreakdownofthe
remainder(whatisgoingtoberaised),thepercentagesarenotthatofffromthebreakdownsone
wouldexpect.ReiteratingJoshCogswell’sstatementfromlastmeeting–needhelpfromfaculty
particularlyininformingalumniaboutthecampaignandoptionsalumnihaveforinvolvement(e.g.,
Classof19___scholarship).Joshwouldliketocometodepartmentmeetingsonrequesttotalk
aboutthecampaignandroleoffaculty.
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Dean’sEvaluationProcess
Committeeformedandchargedwith360degreereviewofthedeans.Engineeringevaluatedlast
year.Senatehadsomeinputoncommitteecomposition.PhilCarrmetwiththeengineeringcaucus
todiscussthoughtsonprocess.TheofficershavesincemetwithAngelaColemanandshehasbeen
veryreceptivetofeedback.Oneexampleisdeanfeedback.Whenadministrationwasaskedabout
feedback,weweretoldnobecauseitwasapersonnelreview.Sowe’vesuggestedthatpartofthe
processwouldbereviewofthestateofthecollegewithactionitemstowhichthedeanwould
respond.
DeanSteadman,withoutprompting,didgivefacultyresponsestosomeoftheitemsinhis
evaluation.
TheofficersaretryingtoworkwithAngelaColemantotweaktheprocess,particularlysometypeof
feedbacktothecollegesoparticipantsknowsomethinghashappened.
WhentheExecutiveCommitteemetwithTonyduringthePresidentialinterviewprocess,wespent
10orsominutestalkingaboutevaluationandhewasanadvocateformeaningfulevaluationsof
administratorswithafeedbackloop.
Q:Isthereascheduleonlineonwhoisnext?A:Johnsonsaidheknowswhowillbeevaluatednext
butthedeandoesnotknowyet;sohedidnottellus.
Q:Why5yearperiod?A:Myguessisanegotiatedtruce.CentralFloridauses3years,Ithink.
Someunitsdoyearlysurveyofthedeansandthatsurveywillcontinue.Butthecomprehensive
reviewwillbeevery5.Ourhopeisthattheannualsurveywillbecomedatausedinthe5year
process.
Anotherbigpointwasthemakeupofthecommittee.Queriedwhetheritwasoptimaltohavea
deanchairingevaluationofanotherdean.
Announcements
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Mid-termgrades–availability–K.West
K.WesttoldtheSenateatitslastmeetingthatmidtermgradeswouldbeavailableforadvisingand
theyweren’t.K.Westhasbeeninmultiplemeetingsaboutthis.Duringvariousmeetings,the
officersaskedfortheformalregistrationdatetobeshiftedsoadviserswouldhavethegradesfor
advising,andtheystillweren’tthere.K.WesthassentmessagetoKellyOsterbindaboutit.
Studentscanseeitbutadvisorscannot.TheExecutiveCommitteewillcontinuetopushforadviser
access.
Q:Whydidstudentswhodroppedhavetohaveagradeentered?A:Wewillpointthatoutbecause
WDshouldbeanoptionorpre-populated.
Q:Canathleticsstartgettingthissowedon’thavetodoseparateformsforathletics?A:Once
advisorshaveit,thereisapotentialforotheruses,butathleticsisaskingforinformationnotinthe
midtermgradereport.
Q:Studentsgetonegradeformidtermbutdropdateisseveralweekslaterandgradecouldbe
muchhigher/lower?A:Themidtermdateisforfinancialaid;dropdateisseparate.Professors
needtoletstudentsknowthatmidtermgradeisasnapshot;Sakaigradebookiswhatisuptodate.
CouldalsobeasyllabusissueorannouncementonSakaicoursepages.
M.Campbell–ifyouareusingmidtermgradeinSakaigradebook–ifyouusecategories,evena
singlegradeinacategory,Sakaiwillusethatgradeforfullcategory.KWest–wehadtalkedto
administrationaboutbeingabletorollgradesdirectlyfromSakaiintoBannerbuttodothatthe
issueshavetobeworkedoutfirst.MatthasbeentalkingtoJeffDavidsonaboutthegradebook
calculation.
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Maymester–FinancialAid/StudyAbroad–K.West
LastmonthsomeoneraisedquestionaboutMaymesterissues.Additionalinquiriesweremade
aboutimpacton12monthfaculty–willitcountasasummercourseorasoverload.TheExecutive
CommitteehasaskedJohnsontoformulatepolicy;hopefullybynextmonthK.Westwillhavesome
answers.
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SyllabusPolicyRevisions–DougMarshall
BackwhenIwaspresident,Iwantedtochampionmajorsyllabusreformtogetridofallthe“stuff.”
BroughtuptheissuewiththePIC,whichcreatedawholenewcommittee.Theideaistohavea
webpagethathasallthepolicies(disruption,disabilityservice,dishonesty)onasinglewebpageand
facultywillincludethelinktothosepolicies.WehavetoyedwithapageonUSAonlinethatwould
requirestudentstoclickonpolicypage.Hopingthatsoonwewillhaveawaytomakeashorter
syllabus.Onecaveat–whilemessingwiththesyllabustemplate,AngelaColemanwouldliketo
change“coursegoals/objectives”to“courselearningoutcomes”thatcouldbeuseddowntheroad
forassessment.“They”wanta“SenseoftheSenate”onthesechanges.
SenseofSenate1–compilingstandardpoliciesontoonepagethatislinkedonthatislinkedon
syllabi–2d–approved
SenseofSenate2–syllabustemplatechangedtoinclude“outcomes”insteadof“objectives”
subjecttoconstraintsofindividualdisciplines–discussionheld,mostnegative.Novotetaken.
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SearchUpdates–DeanEducation,DeanAlliedHealth,VPFA,VPMA
Education–PhilSmith–37credentialsreviewed.Willinterview11atBattleHousenextweek.Onehas
bowedout.Hopetoget3-4tocampuswithrecommendationbeforeThanksgiving.
AHP–supposedtoseebyNovember.BattleHousein1stofDecemberwithinterviewsinJanuary.
VPMA–M.Gillespie–“inprogress”.HopefullywewillgothroughCVsinDecemberorJanuary.
VPFA–K.West–ScottWeldonhasbeenappointed.Weinvitedhimtocomethismonthbutconflicted
withathleticscouncilmeeting.HeiscominginNovember.Hewantstomeetwithus.Heunderstands
theneedforchangeandwantsfacultytoknowwhatisgoingon.SteveSimmonshadatimelinefor
convertingareastorealbudgeting.Planwastodoacademicaffairslast.Scottwantstostartwith
academicaffairs.
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HomecomingUpdate–B.Gillis
November7.Donotknowgametimeyet.Lookingforvolunteersforhalfhourorso.Have
Naman’scatering.
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FacultySenateAwards–B.Gillis–awardswillbegivenafterNovembermeetingwithreception.
SemoonandYoungshinChangHumanitarianAward
CommitteeSelection:Ms.ShawnaMayo-Yokey
DirectorofRapeCrisisCenter
OutstandingResearchPartner-
CommitteeSelection:(MobileCountyPublicSchoolSystem)
MarthaPeek,Superintendent,MCPSS
OutstandingTeachingPartner
CommitteeSelection:InfirmaryHealthSystem(IHS)
KarenSmithColicchio,Director
OutstandingCommunityPartner
CommitteeSelection:Mob.Co.RecyclingCenteroperatedbyGoodwillEasterSeals
SaraBoccardo,DirectorofSustainability
*AwardswillbegivenatareceptionaftertheNovemberFacultySenatemeeting.
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MobileBotanicalGardens–GayleDavidson-Shivers–plantsalethisweekend.Fridayand
Saturday.Profitsgotosupportthebotanicalgarden.Canbuybulbsonlineaswell.
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ActiveShooterTrainingAvailability–K.West
Universitypolicecontacttoarrangetraining–KeithWest.
DaleSmithraisedthisquestion.KeithWestdoestraininguponrequest.Heusesavideoanditis
reallywelldone.Helpsyouthinkthroughwhattodo.Takesbetween45minutestoonehour.
OctoberFandango-E.Buckner–thankstoSamFisherforhelping.Mentorsandmentees.
Thankthosewithdisplays.
OldBusiness
None
NewBusiness
None
SpecialBusiness
Nominations&ElectionsforChairofEvaluationCommittee
PhilCarrwasevaluationchairhastakenonroleofPastPresident.Needanewevaluationcommittee
chair.LauraMoorehasbeennominated.Shewaschairofthatcommitteebefore.
Nominations
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LauraMoore–A&S
Others-none
Motiontoclosenominations.2d.
Election
Approvedbyvoicevote
Guest:TreyDavis,SGARepresentative.HighereddayisFebruary25.Wanttogetasmanystudentsas
possibleinMontgomery.
Motiontoadjourn.4:01.
Fandangoimmediatelyfollowingmeeting.
CaucusReports
CollegeofAlliedHealthProfessionals–E.Kennedy
TheCOAHPCaucushadaregularlyscheduledmeetingwithDeanTalbottonOct16,2015.A
topicofdiscussionincludedthecreationofadditionaltenurefacultytracts.Thequestionhad
arisenasmorefacultyarereceivingpost-graduateresearchdegreesinprogramsthathave
traditionallynotestablishedtenureacademictracks.Thejustificationisthattenuretracksfor
facultywithpost-professionaldegreeswouldservetopromotethemissionforacademic
excellenceatUSA;alongwithrecruitmentandretentionofvaluablefaculty.Othertopics
includedschedulingtoaddresstheneedsof12monthfaculty,interdisciplinaryservicelearning
opportunities,andtheestablishmentofcentralizedmanagementofclinicalcontractsthrough
theDean’soffice.SearchescontinueforDeanandChairofBMD.ThesearchfortheChairofOT
isinthefinalstages.Dr.CharlesNewell,Radiology,isretiringinJunewithasearchforthis
positiontobescheduled.CongratulationstoDr.DianeAbercrombieforreceivingcontinuation
fundingtosupportYear4of“PhysicianAssistantTraininginPrimaryCare”.
MitchellCollegeofBusiness–T.Noland
TheMitchellCollegeofBusinessrecentlyinstalled12BloombergTerminals.TheBloomberg
TerminalisacomputersystemprovidedbyBloombergL.P.thatenablesprofessionalsin
financeandotherindustriestoaccesstheBloombergProfessionalservicethroughwhichusers
canmonitorandanalyzereal-timefinancialmarketdataandplacetradesontheelectronic
tradingplatform.
CollegeofEngineering–S.Yazdani
TheCollegeofEngineeringhiredDr.SumitAroraasanInstructorfortheCollege.
Dr.BretWebb,AssociateProfessorofCivilEngineeringwasrecentlyawardedacertificationfor
ofD.CE(DiplomatofCoastEngineering).
TherearecurrentlymultiplefacultypositionopeningsintheCollegeofEngineering.Thereare
alsochairpositionopeningsintheDepartmentofChemicalandBimolecularEngineeringand
ElectricalandComputerEngineering.
SchoolofComputing–ToddMcDonald
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TheSchoolofComputinghostedanewfacultygettogether/socialtowelcomenewfacultymembers
lastmonth.
CaptainWestfromtheUSAPoliceDepartmenthostedanactiveshootertrainingforSoCandCollege
ofEngineeringfacultyinShelbyHallonOctober8th.Therewasagoodturnoutforthepresentation
withmanyquestionsfromthefacultyregardingproceduresandresponseforsuchevents.
Asofthisfall,SoChas7undergraduatestudentsparticipatinginitsComputingUndergraduate
ResearchExperience(CURE)program.Theprogramprovidesstipendstosupportparttimeresearch
workforstudentsalongsidementoringfacultytohelpfurtherfacultyresearchgoals.
SoChasbeenactiveinpromotingundergraduaterecruitingforitsgraduateprogramwithseveral
activitiesthissemester.Thefacultyhasparticipatedintargetedclassroompresentationsand
informationseminars.ResearchfacultyinComputerSciencehaveprovidedoverviewbriefingsof
theirinterestareasandtheSoCgraduatedirectorhasprovidedinformationbriefsonhowtoapply
forgraduateschoolalongwithopportunitiesforscholarshipsandgraduateassistantprograms.
SoCcontinuestohosttailgateseventsforJAGfootball:theSoCalumnaeprovideconsistentsupport
andparticipationintheseeventsandarewellattendedbyfacultyandstaff.
Dr.ToddMcDonaldgaveabriefingtotheUSASGAthismonthregardingthestatusoftheJagTran
Trackerapplication.Theprojectinvolvessoftwareanddevicestoallowanyoneoncampustotrack
currentlocationsofJagTranbusesandstopsonabrowser-basedmap.Theprojecthasbeen
predominantlyfurtheredbystudentsoverthepastthreeyearsaspartofcourseprojectandsenior
capstoneprojectspartoftheSoCcurriculum.Theapplicationiscurrentlyinbetatestingthis
semesterwithComputerServicesandTransportationsupportandhaspotentialtobereleasedfor
fullcampususeinthespring.TheUSAmobileappwillallowaccesstothetrackerwhenitisfully
released.
USACyberScholarsprogramcurrentlyhas14studentsinvariousstagesofundergraduateand
master’sdegreeprograms.CyberScholarsisafull-ridescholarshipprogramfundedbytheNational
ScienceFoundationandisintendedtoproducehighlyqualifiedprofessionalswhowillenterthe
federalcyberworkforceupongraduation.Theprograminvolvesacademictracksandresearchin
cybersecurity,professionaldevelopment,andrecruitingactivitiesforthecohortstudents.
TheCenterforForensics,InformationTechnology,Security(CFITS)participatedthismonthwith
severalkickoffmeetingsformagnateprogramspartoftheMobileCountySchoolSystem.CFITS
directorLesBarnettandassociatedfacultyarecurrentlyontheadvisoryboardforthreelocal
schools(Davidson,Vigor,andBaker)andtheCFITSK-12STEMoutreachprogramcontinuestobring
studentsfrom7differentpartnerschoolstofieldtripsandhands-on-learningactivitiesinShelby
Hall.
CommitteeReports
UniversityCommitteeReports