MINUTES 0
FACULTY SENATE MEETING #112
The Faculty Senate met on Wed esday, January 17, 1990 at 3:30 p.m. in he Senate
room of the University Center with President Julia Whitsitt presiding. Senators
eckner, Brink, Burnett, Couch, Dometrius
Ervin,
present were Andrews, Barr,
ennessey, Hildebrand, Howe, Hurst, Kim* 1, Lee,
Finn, Fish, Hall, Hartwell,
Long, McClendon, Mann, Meh a, Nathan, O'Callaghan, Owens, Pearson
Peters,
Peterson, Piatt, Richardson, Rinehart, J. Smith, R. Smith, Thomps on, Took,
Trost, Vann, Waver, Wilson, and Williams. Senators Curry, Hayes, Harp, Hill,
Strauss, Tallent, Troyansky, rid Westney were absent with reason.
I. Introduction of Guests
President Whitsiit called th meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. and recog
Robert L wless, President; Donald Haragan, Execu
following guests:
President and Prcvost; Len Ainsworth, Vice Provost; Virginia Sowell,
Vice President for Academic A fairs,; Joe Goodin, Dean, Arts & Science
Jackson, Director of Annual iving, Office of Development; Doug Birds
Duffy, and Davic Murrah f om the Library; Jim Barlow, Lubbock
fly; and Nick Federspiel, Studen
Journal; Connie Swinney, Unix
ized the
ive Vice
Associate
; Denise
11, Suzi
Avalanche
Senate.
Professor John Bliese served s Parliamentarian for the meeting.
II. Consideratior of the mint.tes of the December 6, 1989 meeting.
Secretary Wagner roted that t e first line in item X C should read as follows:
"The next meeting of the Facul ty Senate will be on the third Wednesday,
Dr. Stanley Fowler requested that his telephone number listed in an attachment
to the minutes be changed to 742-3013. Senator Long requested that the
(See
resolution passec by the F ulty Senate be presented in the minutes.
attachment)
With no further ccrrections o additions the minutes were approved.
III. Remarks by Fresident Ro ert Lawless
President Lawless made the fol lowing comments:
A. We have made very little p ogress on assessment of the university programs.
ster.
We will begin in the spring s
B. He looks forwErd to workirg with Senator Fish and the budget committee. We
are almost parallel with Norti Texas University in faculty salaries. There is
only $6,500 difference betweer Texas Tech and North Texas in faculty salaries.
The two universities were also similar in semester credit hours. Texas Tech
reported 1170 F7E's; North 1exas had 1167. The composition of the FTE's was
different, however. North Tex s reported that 59 percent of their FTE't were in
the first three ranks, Lecturer, Instructor, and Teaching Assistants. Tech had
70 percent in the lower ranks.I
C. President Lawless coninentec on the recent NCAA meeting that he attehded:
1. Pell grant eligibility f r student athletes was increased from $1,400 to
$1,700. This and lhe athletic scholarships are the only sources of aid available
to the student athlete.
2. Beginning in :992 the bas etball season will be reduced; the first game may
not be played pr'or to Decenter 1. The number of games per season wa reduced
from 28 to 25. A team may ply in a tournament only once in every four years.
3. Spring footba 1 season wa modified. There will be 21 days in whic
a team
may practice 15 times; no practice times may be on Sunday. Ten o
the 15
practice times ma involve co tact.
4. The NCAA agree to a polic of year-round drug testing.
5. The admission and graduation rates must now be disclosed. Statis ics must
be given by race.
IV. Remarks by Ex cutive Vice President and Provost Donald R. Haragan
A. As of 3:00
number represents
1050 students who
545 (51.9%) re-re
4,575 (20%).
.m. January 17th the registration was 22,773 stude S. This
a gain of 32 students over the spring semester, 198 . Of the
e registration was cancelled, most due to non-paymen of fees,
istered. StUdents going through the add/drop process totalled
B. The January 0th Well St eet journal reported a Supreme Court ru
colleges and univ rsities that are subject to Job discrimination compl
be required to tu n over tenur votes to the court.
rig that
nts may
C. Commencement
r the spri
semester will return to one central c
ceremony. Follow
this cere ny each college will conduct its own
exercise which wi I include di tributing diplomas. General convocatio
conducted at 9:00
folio d immediately with concurrent college c
vocation
aduation
will be
emonies.
D. The Joint Co ittee on Evtation has submitted its report to the
office.
The Stu nt Senate, s well as the Faculty Senate, will be
comments.
rovost's
ked for
E. House Bill 63
of higher educa
become proficien
to ensure that al
Senator R. Smit
provide recommend
distributed them
asked to respond
of the last
on establis
in the use
1 our facult
Director
ions. The
the deans
the initia
legislative session requires that each
a program to assist certain faculty
f the English language. We must submit
are proficient in English by September
f the Intensive English Program, was
rovost's office compiled the recommenda
f each college. The Faculty Senate wil
plan.
nstitute
era to
program
, 1990.
sked to
ons and
also be
F. Statistics fr
from the test du
percent of the r
10% will take the
to the basement of
the freshmen who
rate for Hispanic
the TASP t
to college
ining fres
ASP this sp
Holden Hall
ok the TASP
was 74.5%.
at reveal that 70% of Tech freshmen we
redits earned prior to September 1, 198
n took the test in the fall semester;
ing. TASP coordinator, Don Garnett will
in the area that the Tech Press now occ
85.8% passed; pass rate for blacks was
verall pass rate for all Tech students
exempt
Twenty
another
oon move
ies. Of
%; pass
s 84.3%.
V.
Reports from acuity Sena e Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Commit es
Senator Meht
A.
following names f
officers: Senat
Electrical Engin
Senator Mehta the
Senator Bri
B.
proposed by the c
• chairpers
r considera
s Burnett,
ring. Meht
requested v
n of the committee on committees, submi
ion as the nominating committee for nex
Political Science; Finn, Accounting; a
moved acceptance of this slate; motio
lunteers for the homecoming and committ
convener o f Study Committee C, read the following
ittee for Senate consideration:
2
ed the
year's
Trost,
passed.
S.
solution
"In the inte eat in stud nt progress in undergraduate courses the
Faculty Sen te encour es every faculty member administering
grades to gi e some evali.ation of the student's work before the
official dro deadline".
Senator Brink pro sed the acceptance of this resolution; motion passed.
VI. Reports on C uncils
President Whitsi
last Faculty Se
Academic Council,
on the Research
reporting for Se
Library Memorial
these travel gran
semester.
t reported that the Provost's Council has not met since the
ate meeti reports from Vice-President Peterson on the
Secretary W ner on the Operations Council, and SenaiDr Peters
Council w re distributed with the agenda. Senat pr Couch
ator Harp, culty Senate Representative to the Gloria Lyerla
Fund Resea h Travel Grants, reminded faculty to apply for
s. It is polssible that two grants will be awarded this spring
VII. Old Business
A.
President
itsitt anno nced that approximately 140 Teaching; asistants
attended the work
p for new teachers sponsored by Executive Vice Pre ident and
Provost Ainsworth.
B.
President
Coordinator, Stu
the Faculty Sena
campus. Faculty
to him.
itsitt rea
a letter from Thomas McGinnity, kssistant
nt Organize ion Services, University Center, which aupported
resolution regarding advertising the sale of term papers on
era were u ged to remove unauthorized posters and and them
Responses
the Facult y Senate communication with the Provost 3 office
C.
include the follo ng:
1. Vice Pr ident Ains orth stated that the recommendation t at late
registration and add/dr p close at the end of the fourth class day will
take effect
1991 with he publication of the new catalog.
2. Provost
aragan res nded to the Faculty Senate report or, writing
intensive co ses with th following comments:
unts of
a. Writ 'ng intensi e does not necessarily mean great
ich must b graded by the faculty.
writing
b. Cla
sizes will have to be studied, but not all classes vill need
to be s 11.
c. The rogram need the support of the faculty for several tears to
affirm
hi value
f thine comm. in pnantaii higher 4066Miim
perfor
cc
D. The Faculty Se ate resofut on supportihethe academit freedom of
Dr. John Orem dr
both posit vs and negative responats. President
Whitsitt received ne inteftse Aegative "hate" letter. On the other
hand, the Gradu e Council p ssed a motion supporting the Facultyl
Senate resolution.
E. Senator Cou
librarians and a
stated that the
recognizing the g
campus. The co
uniformity of pro
, reporting for Study Committee A regarding the r
hivists for membership representation on the Facult
committee recommended that this request be deni
at contribu tion of librarians to the intellectual 1
ttee polled other universities on this matter and
ure. Sena tor Wilson pointed out that full members
3
Jest of
Senate,
d, while
Fe of the
Found no
tp would
require a constit tion change. Guests representing the library were irvited to
speak.
Senator Howe moved that the librarians and archivists be irvited to
elect a non-voti
represent tive to the Faculty Senate. With a secord motion
passed. Senator B rr introduc d a resolution expressing support for th goals of
the librarians
nd archivi ts and suggesting that they be consioered for
committee appoint nts, (See Attachment 2 for resolution.) Motion passed.
Senator Hennesse
moved that the Faculty Senate ask the Provost's office to
consider full f cultv statO for librarians and archivists. After a second
the motion fai ed.
VIII. New Busines
A. Whitsitt re
February meeting
Senate have asked
professional mee
by-laws do not
regarding the des
inded the S
and elect
about casti
ings during
permit abse
re to amend
nate that new officers will be nominated at the
at the March meeting. Several members of the
an absentee ballot since they will be attending
the election. Whitwitt replied that the current
tee ballots. Whitsitt asked for a show Df hands
the by-laws. Opinion was evenly divided
Senator Rine art offered the following resolution:
"In the wak of recent vliolence at the University of Montreal,
and in the nowledge thaft the freedom to learn cannot co-exist
with fear, resolved that the Faculty Senate of Texas Tech
plores all forms of violence against women."
University
After a second th resolution Carried.
B.
C.
Senator Hal stated that it had cone to her attention that inappropriate
administrative i terference in the grading practices of faculty members had
occurred in the ollege of Arts and Sciences. Senator Hall moved tiat this
situation be re erred to the Faculty Status and Welfare Committee. With a
second the motion assed.
D.
Senator He essey moved that the Faculty Senate study the ne J for a
university wide set of criteria for evaluation of research eff rts with
second motion failed,
relevance for mer t pay. With
e
IX. Announcement
President Wh' sitt reminded Faculty Senate members to turn in the'r spring
A.
schedules.
Whitsitt sta
B.
due.
C.
The next age
The meeting adiou
that the OFGO two-week summer fellowship applica ions are
a meeting is Tuesday, February 6, 3:30 p.m.
ed at 5:10
• m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Wagner,
Secretary, 1989-1990
4
Attachment #1, Agenda item II.
WHEREAS Dr. John Orem's laboratory was recently viciously
vandalized, resulting in valuable research material and
equipment being destroyed or ruined, and
WHEREAS Dr. Orem has for the past several months been the
target of a vicious campaign of threats against himself an
his family, and
WHEREAS Professor John Orem, Department of Physiology, Tex
Tech University Health SCiences Center, has recently been
strongly commended by national professional regulatory
bodies about the exemplary nature of his research, and
WHEREAS these unlawful and immoral activities directed
against Dr. Orem by persdn or persons unknown constitute a
serious threat to his personal safety, well being, and
academic freedcm,
NOW THEREFORE 1E IT RESOLVED:
THAT it is the sense of the Faculty Senate of Texas Tech
University that the University and the Health Sciences
Center should strongly support the furtherance of
intellectual py rsuits in the sciences, humanities and arts,
and
THAT the University and the Health Sciences Center should
continue in the most vigokous manner possible to preserve
and defend Dr. Orem's academic freedom.
Enacted by the Faculty Senate of Texas Tech University,
December 6, 1989, and
Transmitted to the President of Texas Tech University and
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center by means of a
letter from the President of the Faculty Senate conveying
the resolution.
Attachment
, Agenda item VII. D
WHEREAS the
indicated in
participate
including "c
planning for
Texas Tech University librarians and archiv sts have
a request to the Faculty Senate that they w sh "to
ully in the intellectual life of the campus. . .
rriculum changes, new programs, and long-rage
the University, it and
WHEREAS the report of Study Committee A expresses suppo t for
this goal; ad
WHEREAS the Faculty Senate recognizes that library staf
interacts wi h all disciplines and all levels of teachin
research and scholarship;
BE IT THEREF
request of 1
appointment
involved in
long-range p
be encourage
appropriate
RE RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate endors
brarians and archivists that they be consid
o appropriate university and college commit
ew academic programs, curriculum developmen
anning, and that college and university adm
to seek from the library staff nominations
ommittee appointments.
the
red for
ees
, and
nistrators
for