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MINUTES #136, FACULTY SENATE
October 14, 1992
The Faculty S nate mat on Wednesday, October 14, 1992, at 3:15 p.m. in the
Senate Room o the Uaiversity Center with Benjamin H. Newcomb, President
presiding. S nators present were Benson, Bliese, Bradley, Burnett,
Cismaru, Couc Coul:er, Curzer, Daghistany, Dragga, Dunne, DvorLdek,
Elbow, Fedler Freeman, Goebel Green, Haigler, Henry, Hensley, Hopkins
Huffman, Joniah, D. Aason, J. Mason, Meek, Miller, Mitra, Morrow, Payne,
Pen, Roy, Shroyer, 5toune, Strawderman, Trost, Troub, Urban, Wagner,
Weber, Zanglein, and Zartman. Senators Aranha and Dunn were absent because
of University busineas. Senators Davis, Duran, Higdon, Kiecker Lnd
Reynolds were absent.
I.
INTRODUCT1ON OF GUESTS
President Newdomb called the meeting to order at 3:20 and welcomed the
following guests: Donald R. Haragan, Executive Vice President and Provost;
Virginia Sowell, Associate Vice President; Karen Selim, Assistant Vice
President for Development; Mary Ann Higdon, Library and Julie Ann Andres,
University Daily.
Professor Clarke E. Cochran, Political Science, served as Parliamentarian.
II. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
of 9 September 1992 meeting were approved.
40 Minutes
III. ANNOUNC
Announcements f tasks assigned to Senate committees were included in the
agenda. In ad4ition, senators were reminded that applications fcr CoFGO
summer fellows ips a=e available in the Senate office. CoFGO summer
fellows work with the Coordinating Board.
IV. REPORTS FROM UN=VERSITY COUNCILS
Provost's Cou il-- Benjamin Nsewcomb (report distributed to Senators and on
file in the Se ate o=fice)
Provost Haraga
Coordinating B
doctoral progr
of Tech's gra
master's; the
varies from un
Houston. If t
would be affec
across campus
number of diss
addressed the issue of the funding of graduate hcurs. The
ard had initially recommended limiting state funding of
s to 80 hours beyond the master's degree. Currently 12-15%
ate students accumulate more than 160 credit hours past the
ercent of graduate students affected by a 160-houx limit
er lO ss at UT AuStin to over one-third at the University of
e 80-hour limit were adopted, almost all doctoral students
ed. The minimuM hours after the master's varies widely
nd according to discipline, particularly with regard to the
rtation hours.
'Academic Counc '1--Candace Haigler (report distributed to Senators and on
411 file in Senate office)
The Academic C ouncil addressed thegrade-repeat policy. The 1992-94
catalog includes a statement that students may repeat any course in which a
grade of D or F was received. It goes on to announce that when calculating
the GPA, "only the grade made at the last registration is used." This
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change in th atalj was made without prior approval or consider
the Faculty
ate. The Acadeflhic Council discussed another polic
the transcri woul carry both an adjusted GPA that averaged in
most recent
de f a repeat d course and a cumulative GPA tha
the grades r ived n all coujtses attempted. The Faculty Senat
to comment o his, nd the diOcussion evoked a wide range of opi
While the pol y of ounting o ly the last grade makes a student
competitive i appl ng for pr fessional schools, there was conc
was deceptive ince dmissions officers often look only at GPA a
entire transc pts. It did not serve the community or the taxpa
it encouraged poo investment of funds. Senator Haigler did n
both A&M and
Aus n, all gr des for repeated courses were inc
the GPA.
Others were c cerne that inc uding all grades for repeated cou
penalized stu nts o simply ad a bad freshman year. Students
returned afte some ears were being penalized for youthful prob
though now ea ing A s and B's. It was pointed out that students
repeated cour S and improved heir grades had demonstrated mast
knowledge and kills of the co rse. They had the ability to do
the time they ere a plying foprofessional programs. The new
removing the rst g ade also night be better at motivating stud
Associate Vic Presi ent Sowell noted that the policy of includi
adjusted and cumul tive GPA had been developed to implement th
statement pri ed in the 1993-94 catalog. The use of two GPAs w
the student's ventu 1 mastery of material without misleading an
It was moved d sec nded that the Senate indicate its desire to
present polic of in luding all grades for repeated courses in t
that the Sena reje t the poli y in the 1993-94 catalog. The m
defeated (14 s/24 o).
A motion that he ne policy be committed to the appropriate sen
committee for tudy nd futurei eport was adopted. The question
submitted to e Sen te's A9ad ic Programs committee.
Senator Elbow fthen a ked how th s policy got into the 1993-94 ca
before the Se te ha addresse l it. This was the second or thir
the last few ears t at a poli appeared in the catalog without
discussion. enator Newcomb p0 nted out that last year the drop
changed withoullt Sena e approva1 the change was rescinded after (
perhaps becau ) the Senate re cted the change. Provost Haraga
that he agreed that he Senate hould have been consulted and co
explain what biad hap ened. At he request of the Senate, Presid
will sent a formal 1 tter to th Academic Affairs office protest
adoption of change w thout Senate recommendation.
Graduate Council--Ca herine Miller
The last Graduate Co cil meeting was brief. Students were admi
candidacy; new facul y were pla ed on the graduate faculty.
Research Council--Fr d P. Wagni, Jr. (report distributed to Sen
on file in Senate of ice)
The Research Council discussed the distribution of royalties fro
intellectual propert an issue raised because of the University
to recoup on the ind rect cost$ it contributed to such developme
meaning and intentio s of this preliminary discussion were not c
Senators expressed c ncern that the discussion implied changes t
:ion by
in which
lly the
averaged Ali
was asked qm,
_ons.
re
n that it
, not
rs since
0 that at
ded in
es
ho
s, even
ho
of the
work at
icy of
S.
both an
olicy
d show
e.
tamn the
PA and 410
n was
I be
9
e in
ate
es were
sponded
not
Newcomb
its
esire
The
, but
could
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be detrimental to developing r search applications in commercial fields.
It was noted t at any change ir current policy on intellectual property
Am,would be subje t to Senate recommendation and that the Senate must be alert
lipto development in this situation.
V. REPORTS FR M STANDING COMMTTEES OF FACULTY SENATE
Committee on C
Senator Dunne
committee or s
no liaison to
chosen at rand
assignments we
liaisons were
Research
Universit
Student S
New assignment
Academic
Study Co
Study Co
mmittees
eported that all members of the Faculty Senate were on a
rving as a liaison to a university committee. There is yet
he Internationa Affairs Council; this liaison will be
m, if no volunt er is forthcoming. Some adjustments in
e made due to t e election of new senators. Changes is
oted as follows:
ounci]--Wagner
Center Board—Hrost
nate--Higdon
to Senate Committees were announced as follows:
rograms--Huffman
ittee B--Weber
ittee C--Zartmanl
Academic Progr s Committee--HOward Curzer (report distributed to Senators
and on file in Senate office) I
The Academic P
proposed name
departments ha
dllfound that the
change. The m
recommended th
change. Many
and significan
other departme
its recommenda
ograme Committe
hange of the Co
not keen consu
College had giv
joritl decided
t the Senate ma
enatozs continu
e of koth the n
ts and faculty.
ion.
was asked to consider the issue of the
lege of Home Economics. While most
ted about the name change, the committee
n a great deal of thought to the name
hat this process had been reasonable, and
e no recommendation on the proposed name
to express misgivings about the meaning
name and the lack of consultation with
However, the Senate accepted the report and
Study Committe A--Ruth Morrow (report distributed to Senators and on file
in Senate offi el
Study Committ
It reported
reserved space
only be ticket
initiated at p
The report was
A-examined the parking problem, especially that Of lot R7.
t curzent policy was to tow cars parked illegally in
on request. Th e committee recommended that faculty cars
d and not towed from reserved spaces and that patrols be
ak prcblem times (prior to 4:30 and 6 pm evening classes).
accepted without dissent.
Stud Committe B wtich was as signed to consider the situation of
athletics, rep rted that it had met twice and had planned a third meeting.
The committee as receiving exc ellent cooperation from all offices,
including the thletic departme nt, and hoped to have recommendations by
November.
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VI. OLD BUSIN SS
1No old busines was ;resented or discussion.
VII. NEW BUSI ESS
Academic Freed m: Tle Statemen t of Academic Freedom and Artistic
Expression was distributed to t he Senate. This statement was submitted by
the Fine Arts octoral Committe e for the Senate's consideration and
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recommendatio
committee for
administr tion. The statement was committ
d future eport.
Strategic Pla ing:
members be ad d to
discussion.
nator
that he and o er me
the recommend ion i
duties. The
mmitt
consuming, an no mo
asked the dea
to i
Defenders of
e str
faculty on it ere n
in recruiting acult
will continue
less
Curzer, Daghi any,
that they wer not i
committee, bu that
representatio and e
philosophical isagr
faculty repres ntati
and the Senate and m
accomplished t rough
noted that man facu
represented in the s
what was being done
last year did not p
liaisons to ot Ler un
deliberations rere n
recommen
e Strateg
oebel too
ers of th
lied that
was larg
faculty
orporate
egic plan
"yes men
to serve
his work
bow and o
ugning th
ere was a
cted repr
nt betw
can be a
t faculty
n electiv
y felt th
ategic pl
why. Se
sent form
ersity co
generall
ation that additional elected fac
c Planning task force provoked he
exception to the suggestion. He
Faculty Senate served on this c
they were incompetent or derelict
its work was difficult and t
ere needed on it. Haragan, he no
he faculty in college level pla
ing task force's structure noted
" Senator Dunne remarked on the
n university committees, a diffic
s rewarded and meaningful. Senat'
ers argued for elected input.
work of individual faculty on t
fundamental difference between a
sentation. The problem was a lo
en the administration, which feel
hieved by appointment and dean's
which feel representation can o
process. Bolstering this argume
t their voices were not properly
ing process and that they did
ators who also served on the tas
1 reports to the Senate as did Se
ttees, and minutes of task forc
circulated.
After the firs-. peni
its own strate4ic pl
strategic planaing c
discussion of he pr
cooperation in such
approved that curren
planning task .orce
Senate. Senator New
force, will report o
of discu
ning comm
'ttee ap
lems of r
measure,
senators
esent fori
mb, who h
task forc
sion, it was moved that the Senat
ttee that would operate parallel
ointed by the administration. Af
dundancy and the need for adminis
he motion was defeated. A motio
ho are also serving on the strate
al reports on task force meeting
s recently been appointed to the
meetings.
Prof esso
Bliese requested that the Senate,
Environmental _ mpact:
investigate the envi
consider whether suc
might entail. The m
lty
ted
noted
ttee;
in their
el, had
ng.
bat the
ifficulty
lty that
t9
ey noted
oLnted
-4term
that
eLection,
y be
t, others
t know
force
ae
set up
q the
e: some
ration
WAS
iC
o the
ask
nmental i pact of TTU. It was moved that a committee
an invest gation should be initiated and w
ion was a proved.
t it
University governanc
to various Universit
served on comm_ttees.
university committee
monitored the proces
and service function
Faculty Senate He
being made elsewhere.
: Senator
committee
He had o
and a se
s that de
. He was
w it oper
Hensley noted that the Senate had l*aisons
and that individually Senators ol t'sn
served a great deal of redundancyl
ctually
ing absence of a faculty body tha
arch,
ermined the faculty's teaching, rl
ot clear about the real power of 4
ns
ting in a liaison role, with decil
A motion was o-ifered
participation _n uni
Senate standing comm
Senate's active role
limited role a; liai
hat the
rsity-wid
tee for s
nd its mo
n. The c
estion of the Faculty Senate's
te
committees be sent to the approp
he
udy. The committee should examin
itoring function at all levels, n ti its
mmittee should be instructed to b i fig back
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recommendation about how thi more active, monitoring role might be
accomplished. The mction was pproved.
Discussion of
he issue contin ed after the adoption of the moticia. Once
again the prob em of getting f culty to serve on existing university
committees was pointed out. 0 ers responded that the more important
projects under aken, the more ople would want to be involved. Another
pointed to the lack et continui y and consistency in these efforts to
monitor what w s goirg on. At his point, Provost Haragan comme :ed on
Senator Hensle 's earlier question about the faculty's role on unlversity
committees. T ere had never be -n faculty representation to these council,
he observed, u til "we decided o do this about five years ago." The
appointment of senatcrs to the ouncils seemed the best way to communicate
with the facul y. Ncw the pres dent appoints committees, and the Senate
makes nominati ns for appointme t to these committees. If the study just
initiated loca ed a university Committee that the Senate was not
represented on and that it wished to be represented on, this probably could
be accommodate . Haragan said that the tone of the discussion iMplied that
there was "something sinister gbing on and that the administration is out
to get the fac lty again," a vi wd he felt "had been put to rest some time
ago." Haragan stated that he s upported "shared governance," but it did not
mean the facul y ran the univer ity. The faculty needed to be consulted on
academic matte s. The administ ation did "a pretty good job of this" and
would be happy to hear suggesti ns on how to improve. When Senator Hensley
interjected th t he thought the faculty did run the university, Haragan
insisted that t did not. The oard of Regents sets policies. The faculty
is to teach, o do research, a d to be in charge of academic programs, and
nothing done i regard to this s done without consulting (with the one
*exception ment oned aDove). He sley called for a strong role for the
mw Senate in moni oring the admini tration and for a study of how goivernance
currently occu s and aow to imp ove the process to get shared governance.
VIII. ADJOU
The Senate adj urned at 5:04 pm
Respectfully submitted,
a41.;,4,_
M. Catherine Miller
Secretary 1992-93
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Items for the Senate agenda should be submitted before
AGENDA COMMITTEE meetings on November 2,
November 30, 192 and January 11, 1993.
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