INUTES OF FACULTY SENATE MEETING 41 111
The Faculty Senate m
room of the Universi
present were
Andrew
Finn,
Fish,
Harp,
Hurst, Kimmel, Long,
Richardson,
Rinehar
Wagner,
Wilson,
an
Tallent, Thompson, V
t on Wednesday, December 6, 1989 at 3:30 p.m. in the
S
y Center with President Julia Whitsitt presiding.
Barr,
Beckner, Brink, Burnett, Couch, Dometrius,
HartWell,
Hayes, Hennessey, Hildebrand, Hill ,
Hall,
Mann, Nathan, O'Callaghan, Owens, Pearson, Peterson,
,
J.
Smitb,
R.
Smith,
Strauss, lock, Trost, Tro
Williams. ! Senators Curry, Lee, McKClendon, Mehta,
nn, and Westney were absent with reason.
I.
uests
Introduction o
President Whitsitt
following guests:
President and Provos
Vice President for
Margaret Simon, Dir
Journal; and Cortchi
ailed the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. and recogni ed the
obert LawleSs, President; Donald R. Haragan, Executive Vice
; Len AinsWorth, Vice Provost; Virginia Sowell, Associate
cademic Affairs; Denise Jackson, Office of Devellpment;
ctor, News and Publications; Jim Barlow, Lubbock Ava,anche
Welch, University Daily.
Professor John Blies
served as Parliamentarian for the meeting.
II.
the Minute of the November 8, 1989 meeting
Consideration o
Senate
nators
Ervin,
Howe,
Piatt,
ansky,
eters,
Senator Fish offere
the following correction to the minutes: The word this,
on the last line of
he first paip should be replaced by Budget Study C smittee
salary study. Senato
Brink movee the adoption of the minutes as correct J. With
no further objection the minutes, were accepted.
,
President Whi
President Lawless'
made the following
T
faculty salaries.
that for the first t
seventh
in Texas.
North
Texas
U
and
superior
in quality
work
faculty
size,
Lawless
President
be done to in
could
category,
pa
fifth
University of Housto
recommended the Budg
of faculty salaries
sitt announCed a departure from the agenda to acc mmodate
t ime scheduie. Whitsitt introduced President Lawl ss who
emarks: the administration is concerned with the level of
e Faculty Wary Report from the Coordinating Board reveals
ree professbrial ranks average Texas Tech Universi y ranks
Those who rank sixth and fifth ahead of us,
UniverSity
of
iversity
oiF Texas at Arlington
could
not
be
considered
The reasons for this state are not
to Texas TeCh.
simple;
load,
factors contribute
other
and
to the
si uatidn.
ndicated his Intention to study the question to
se what
;
We should be in the fobrth
rease the faculty salaries.
or
sibly behind the University of Texas at Austin,
Tekas A&M,
,
and perhaps, the University of Texas at Dallas.
hitsitt
t Study Comeittee as the starting point for the
di cussion
ith President Lawless.
IV. Reports from Fa
lty Senate Standing Committees
Senator Kimmel resorted for Senator Mehta, chairperson of the Commitee on
Committees. Kimmel moved the recommendations as listed on attachment. Motion
passed.
cademic
Senator Mann subs Ituted for Professor McGlone, chairperson of the in the presentation of the committee's report on Writing
Programs Committee
across the Curricul m. The comMittee found no difficulty with the goals of the
program, but expre sed concern with the added work load on individual faculty
members. There appiars to be ineufficient incentive to teach writing i
courses in view if the tenure and promotion requirements. See att
Senator Hennessey !uggested thalt lower student evaluation may also be
with writing intensive courses, and that the Teacher Evaluation Committe
make note of this iroblem. Hennesey moved that the report be forwarded
Provost's office for comment. With a second the motion passed.
t sive
c ment.
c upled
might
te the
Senator Couch reperted for Study Committee A on the librarians reque
they be included ir Faculty Senate representation. Although the commit
unable to reach coniensus, the members wanted to go on record as suppor
librarians request to participate fully in the intellectual life
university. The committee expressed reservations because the pa
interests expressec by the librarians are not addressed by the Faculty
Senator Couch suggasted that Senators read the report and vote on it at
date. President Wtitsitt suggested that the vote be delayed until
Senator Wilson
Copies are to be sert to librarians for their response. a friendly amendment to the repOrt. The Constitution, rather than the
would need to be changed in order to incorporate librarians into the
Senate. Constituti nal changed must be approved the Board of Regen
amendment was accepted.
t that
Senator Hildebrand reported for Study Committee B regarding the pro
getting class roll s to faculty members early in the semester, especia
large classes. Thi s committee ' recommended that add/drop and late regi
be ended at the er d of the +mirth class day rather than the fifth cl
Senator Hildebrand c oved the aceptance of this report. The motion pass
lem of
ly for
tat ion
s day.
V. Reports on Counc
was
the
g
o the
t cular
Sciite.
a later
a uary.
o fered
BY-Laws
Faculty
• The
us
oencil,
nt and
quested
3 this
ors for
'M the
President Whitsitt pointed out 'that in the report from the Provost's
previously mailed, that a comeittee will be appointed to study assess
Whitsitt
accreditation, incl uding a 'metier of the Faculty Senate. any senator inter' sted in serving on this committee to notify her af
The namc s will be Sent to Dr. Ainsworth for his considers
meeting.
A fl w copies of the Junction White Papers, mentioned
appointment.
Provost's Council r port, are a4ai1able from the Faculty Senate office.
President Whitsitt
eported in writing from the Provost's Council.
Vice-President An
December.
n Peterson Oeported that the Academic Council has n
t in
in
Secretar y • Betty Wdqner reported that the Operations Council did not
November.
Senator Peters is
Senate.
▪
Faculty
eting with the Research Council concurrent with th
It
Senator J. Smith relorted Development Council proceedings in an attach
Senator Smith als reported that several faculty members from the Co le e of
Engineering interp eted the mites from Faculty Senate meeting 110 as is lying
were
that the Affirmat ve Action re ommendetions, read by Senator R. Sm
as
a
recommendations fr m the Facult Senate. Whitsitt emphasized that thi
She
te
report of the Affirmative Action Committee read to the Faculty Sen
referred the report to a Faculty Senate committee for study.
411/1
VI. Report on Confer nce of Faculty Governance (COFGO) Organizations
President Whitsitt.
Conference was compo
of Higher Education
universities, unive
editor of Academe
"Faculty Responsibi
that faculty respon
should include part
Faculty participatio
routine, but less c
of the three main
faculty.
The system
ho attended from November 29 to December 1, 1989 rep rted.
ed of Texas faculty senate leaders, the State Cocci Isioner
leveral
members of the Coordinating Board, regents from
sity presidents and other administrators, and Paul F:trohm,
who gave the keynote speech. The topic address d was
ities in University Governance." Most speakers emp asized
ibility for governance should be major, multi-leve), and
cipating in essential decisions about all academic m tters.
in decision-making at the department and college level are
mmon at higher levels.
Communication is crucial ambng all
administration, regent, and
roups involVed in policy:
is predicated upon trust and mutual respect.
Implementation of t is system includes the nurturing of strong, indep endent,
issue-oriented facu ty senates; establishing regular, formal commun :cation
between faculty an regents at the university level; and establishment of a
faculty advisory bo rd statewide that would confer with the Coordinating Board.
Representatives dis
campuses. Whitsitt
At Texas Tech sin
upper-level adminis
communication with
president and/or pro
issues remain impo
department chair a
raises as opposed t
and temporary facult
1
ussed current issues and conditions on their re ,ective
eported that we are better off than many of our col;?agues.
e we study bedrock issues and maintain communicati 1 with
ration. However, we do not have regular, 1 formal
our board of regents or meet regularly with the university
ost to discuss issues of faculty concern. These ps-ennial
tant:
(1) i evaluation of administrators at the level of
d above,
(2 ) merit pay policies, (3) administrative pay
faculty raises,
(4) class size,
and (5) use of pt-time
COFGO and the Coord nating Board supports three two-week summer fellowships for
work with the Coord nating Board in Austin. Applications are due January 15.
President Whitsitt o fered to help any senator who is interested.
VII. Old Business
President
Whitsitt
hiringsitermination
tendency to hire mo
Ainsworth pointed
time, whereas all th
that information is available
stated
on
faculty
from May, 1988 to September,
1989. The data reveal the
Dr.
e temporary faculty and fewer tenure track facult . t that some of the temporary faculty appointments a e parttenure-tralck appointments
are full-time.
VIII New Business
om the
President Whitsitt called attention to an attachment to the agenda
journal
Committee
regarding
increases
in
prices
of
Librar
University
35.
in
average
cdst
of
a
journal
subscription
rose
from
Th
subscriptions.
ose
from
1975 to $105. in 19 7. However, the average price of foreign journals r
This problem appears to be the worst in
$82.
to nearl y $15( . in three years.
and technical journals.
scientific, medical
President Whitsitt ailed attention to an event at the University of Te
American which ap ears to inVolve discharging two tenured faculty
13
as, Pan
members
without due process.
Senatorliennessey moved that the Texas Tech Uni ve say
offer an expression of concern and support to the Faculty Senate at Uni ve 1 sity
of Texas, Pan Ameri:an to r esoltf e this issue in an appropriate manner.
If er a
second discussion fodlowed. Mot tin passed.
Senator Fish proposel a resolutipn regarding academic freedom citing the -a e of
Dr. John Orem, Teas Tech Unitversity Health Sciences Center. With a
cond
discussion ensued.
Fish
0 • Callahan, proposed a friendly amendment whi
accepted. . Question was called add the motion passed.
IX. Remarks by Executive Vice President and Provost Donald Haragan
Provost Haragan made the followidg comments;
A. He had questions about the specific recommendations from the Affirm tive
Action Committee. The spirit 0 the report is acceptable, but more detmil are
needed.
D. In the matter od dual careefr couples the advice of the Faculty Senate ill
be sought.
C. The Student Evaliation Committee will soon be reporting; this report wi I be
submitted to the Student Senate And the Faculty Senate.
D. The executive summaries from the Junction retreat are available; ten c pies
were sent to the Fac_ilty Senate. Faculty members are encouraged to read e e
and react to them.
•
E. Provost Haragan mall provide the Faculty Senate with a copy of the remar $ he
made to the Board of Regents. .
F. Of the 101 readiest; from faculty members regarding academic progres of
football players only 36 were returned. Tutoring was provided for the 36 pl yens
for whom reports were obtained.; Of the 36 players tutored, 25 improved 10
remained the same, and one decreased his performance. The faculty is encou aged
to return reports.
G. The issues of the number of temporary faculty hired and faculty sala iel are
related. The University of Texms at Austin has 25% temporary faculty; T x A&M
has 27%; Texas Tech University has 30%; and the University of Texas at A lihgton
the
Hying temporary faculty is one way to ra s
has 407. temporary faculty. tenure-track faculty members. Other ways iril olve
salaries of full-time, increasing student-leacher ratios, class size, and/or teaching loads.
X.
Announcements
A. President Whitsitt urged Senetors to attend commencement.
B. Whitsitt called attention ta a Texas Faculty Association meeting in
Februar y 23-24. women's canference addresses the place of women in
education.
C. The next meeting of the FOculty Senate will be on the third Wedneri
January 17; the agelda committee will meet Thursday 9, at 2:00 p.m.
The meeting adiournid at 5:07
p.im.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Wagner,
Secretary, 1989, 1990
tin,
gher
in