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MINUTES #137, FACULTY SENATE
NOvember 11, 1992
The Faculty
the Senate R
President pr
Burnett, Cis
Dvoracek, El
Hensley, Hig
Miller, Mitr
Troub, Urban
Dragga were
Payne and St
I.
enate met on Wednesday, November 11, 1992, at 3:15 p.m. in
om of the University Center with Benjamin H. Newcomb,
siding. Senator* present were Aranha, Bliese, Bradley,
aru, °ouch, Coulter, Curzer, Daghistany, Dunn, Dunae,
ow, Fedler, Fre*an, Goebel, Green, Haigler, Henry,
on, Hqpkins, Huainan, Kiecker, D. Mason, J. Mason, Meek,
Morrow, Pen, 1teynolds, Roy, Shroyer, Stoune, Trpst,
Wagner, Weber, Zanglein, and Zartman. Senators Benson and
bsent because of University business. Senators Jonish,
awdernan were absent with cause. Senator Davis was absent.
INTRODUC ION OF GUESTS
President Necomb called the meeting to order at 3:20 and welccmed the
following guests: Donald R. Haragan, Executive Vice President and
Provost; Len Ainsworth, Vice Provost; Robert M. Sweazy, Vice Provost for
Research; Denise Jackson, Off ice of Development; Steve Kauffman, News
and Publications; Mary Ann H. gdon, Library; Gina Augustini, Avalanche
Journal; and other news media
Professor Clarke E. Cochran, Political Science, served as
Parliamentarian.
II.
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTE
Minutes of 14 Octo per 1992 meting were approved.
III. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sue Couch was nominated to represent the Faculty Senate on the
president's committee to study the TTU fee structure.
CoFGO--Benjamin H. Newcomb (report distributed to Senators and on file
in Senate office.)
Senator Newomb ncted that the message that higher education was
deserving w s not getting through. All Texas universities are facing
funding pro lems. The only suggestion from this meeting was that
CoFGO
universitie act locally to improve their individual situations.
will consid r broader issues relating to the downsizing of higher
eduction at its February meeting.
IV. REPORT FROM UNIVERSI
COUNCILS
Provost's C uncil-- Benjami Newcomb (report distributed to Senators and
on file in the Senate offic .)
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Academic C uncil--M. Cather ne Miller (report distributed to Senators
and on fil in Seaate offic .)
Senator We er expressed co4ern about the proposal to require a minimum
GPA of 2.5 for stadents entering the General Studies program; he was
concerned about wtat major Students lacking a 2.5 GPA could pursue. It
was pointe4 out that the General Studies program was originalLy
conceived t.o servn the needa of non-traditional students. It was
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intended t
individual
students.
the minim
return the
allow hose who ere self-motivated to create an
ed, in erdiscipl nary major not as a catch-all for undecided
he prc ram had g own dramatically over the last ye r , and
GPA wa proposed in an effort to limit its size and o
rogram to its original purpose.
Graduate C ncil-- . Catherine Miller (report distributed to S n tors
and on file in Ser te office )
Strategic P anninc Task Forc --Benjamin H. Newcomb
The provost
faculty rep
One reason
be released
elected fac
discu ed with t
esent ion on th
oted i • 3 having
as a
suit of r
lty w • id be par
e Task Force the matter of having ,e ected
college strategic planning commit es.
uch representation was that if flu ty must
duced funding and program adjustm n
icipating in the decision on such, r leases.
Various pro edure
advocated 1 ttle
Provost vol teer
voiced, and prese
were sugg sted by members of the Task Forcer Some
culty par icipation at the collegiate level The
• to compi e a draft procedure from the suggestions
it to th Task Force at its next meeting.
Research Co nciland on file in Se
red P. Wa iiner, Jr. (report distributed to Senators
te office 4)
The Researc. Coun I I passed
resolution to modify TTU's Inter_ectual
Property Po icy ( • • 51.20, v 1. I. Section 7, p. 9.)
Language th t wou • allow TT to recover the indirect costs associated
with resear h wil be insert d. Senator Hensley expressed concern that
this modifi ation f the OP ould be detrimental. Vice President Sweazy
e propose change applied only when an invest-gator
pointed out that
had asked f raw - ver or lo ering of indirect costs. If such a waiver
were given, the u versity s ould later be able to recoup its costs.
t apply t grants from corporations that had policies
The policy ould
against pay ng in SI rect cost or that placed caps on indirect costs.
t affect he distribution of royalties &mon; coThe policy ould
invest igato s (TT considers this issue to be between the inv4-t.gators
at the use of university funds to absorb
Swe y noted
themselves)
money a y from other areas of the universLt7.
indirect co ts to
Further dis ussio and ques ons will be directed to the Intellectual
which m 4t still consider the proposed chalges.
Property committe
Since the Faculty enate ha approved the original policy, it is
y amendm nt would then come to the Senate fDr its
anticipated that
formal approval.
The Research Coun 1 also pr
research projects ith the c
costs would prob ly be incl
materials. Sugge ions and
the Research Coun
Student Senate
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posed to study the question of c r ing
St of disposing of hazardous was s These
ded in the purchase costs of such
I to
oncerns about this should be dir e td
• n Higdon
the U Can Share food drit e and
4sc
The Student Senat meeting ussed
tions
recnizing
distinguished alumni.
passed four resol
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III
V. REPORTS ROM SCANDING COMMITTEES OF FACULTY SENATE
Stud Commit ee C--Sunanda Mitra (report distributed to Senators and on
file in Sena e office.)
This committ e considered the classification of research associates.
The committe reviewed current policy and contacted personnel director
Jay Hodges, ho assured the Committee that no action was being taken to
change the c rrent status of research associates. President Lawless did
appear to desire such a new policy. However, the issue is complex, and
Study Commi tee C did not feel it had the expertise to develop such a
classification pol:_cy. Instead it recommended the formation of an ad
hoc committee to re-evaluate the status of research associates; this
committee should include Kathleen Harris, Jay Hodges, representatives of
the Faculty Senate, and other faculty who currently employ research
associates. This recommendation was accepted by the Senate fot
submission to the 2rovost.
Study Commi tee C also considered the possibility of a Faculty Senate
environment 1 impact study. It recommended formation of a Senate ad hoc
committee t inves-Agate the issue. This recommendation was adopted by
the Senate. The Committee on Committees is charged with appoiLting such
a committee , which should inClude a minimum of five members. if
possible th ad hoc committee on environmental impact should ir.clude
John Bliese who o.riginally raised the issue, and other volunteers with
an interest in this issue.
III
VI. OLD BU INESS
Senator New
Senate conc
been circul
was towed u
recommended
park in oth
filled all
taken.
omb pointed out that Vice President Haragan had responded to
ms over parking in a letter of 26 October 1992, which had
ted wirh the Senate agenda. Haragan reported that no car
less a complaint was received from a faculty member. He
that after 3:30 p.m. faculty with such complaints simply
r slots. So far it does not appear that students have
lots; if this occurs some further action might need to be
VII. NEW BLISINESS
Teaching, Research, and Atta ks on Higher Education:
In a memo o 19 October 1992,, Provost Haragan requested that the Senate
consider th z impact of the ciirrent calls for educational reform. In
particular, he askad the Senate to consider if tenure and promotion
qualificati ns should be changed as a result of the renewed emhasis on
undergradua e education and if it would be in TTU's interest to hire
"special fa ulty for teachin and research." At the Senate meeting,
Haragan not d that he was no really suggesting that anything :oe
changed, bu was concerned w 'th the ongoing criticism of higher
education. Critics continue to assert that faculty are not doing their
jobs, that hey are overpaid, and that research does not serve the
nation's in erests, which lip instead with better teaching. Such
411 criticism w 11 not simply fade away but needs to be addressed. Haragan
wanted to u derstand how these issues were being discussed in various
academic diSciplires and wanted help in arriving at an answer to such
criticisms. Among the questions that needed consideration were many
involving hiring policies. For example, should TTU have separate
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teaching a
teaching/re
should bala
individuals
option were
policies mi
considering
available.
rese
earch
ce be
empha
to be
ht be
the b
ch facult
ervice be
ought rat
zing teac
ollowed,
eeded? H
ance of t
es? Should the old balance of
met by each individual faculty me
er at the department level, with
ing and others research? If this
hat modification of tenure and pr
noted that he had a copy of a St
aching and research that he would
Senator Elb
initiate su
Senate to a
in a reacti
on teaching
Ainsworth
being taken
resolution
issue will
goal that a
w mov
h as
t in
e man
and r
inted
for t
o tak
e sen
repor
that the
dy. Hen
tic ipatio
r. Senat
earch sho
ut that t
self -stu
up the qu
to the Fa
be ready
Senate accept Haragan's request a
ted that this was an opportunity
of a problem, in a proactive rat
3 Newcomb noted that recent Senat
ld be utilized in this study. Vi
e ongoing national faculty survey
y committee might also be of use.
stions raised by Haragan was adop
ulty Status and Welfare Committee
or consideration at the March mee
Resolution
The Senate
and
tion
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the
than
eports
Provost
at was
he
The
ith the
g.
Rac t Activit es:
dopte. the folio ing resolution:
The Faculty Senate in an ef ort to enhance understanding of d
cultures an to de er racial y motivated acts, offers to the
administrat on of
the fo lowing recommendations:
1) The Off ce of
program tha will
pluralism a d mul
ensuring th t St
respect, bu also
organizatio S.
2) The dea
that the cu
unacceptabi
to consider
more effect
pluralism a
Haley and t
Diversity"
Perspective
r or
s of
ricul
ity o
what
ve in
d mu]..
e Col
emina.
tudent Affairs should be commended for deve
ise the cOnsciousness of student groups con
culturaliOm in American society, with a vie
ent orgalzations not only treat diverse pe
diverse groups to join their
ncourage hose
,
e College, who recognize in their joint s
may not e adequate to make evident the
such actiOns, are encouraged to direct thei
rricular dditions--new or revamped courses
resenting the importance of the acceptance
culturali m. The Senate commends Dean Eliz
n Sciences for implementing its "
ge of H
and a co rse, Development in Cross-Cultura
3) The off ce of he Provosft is encouraged to continue promot
vigorously, with - propriat financing, the goal of increasing
norit. faculty aird high-ranking staff.
number of
The origina prop.
provisions hat w,
organizatio s engdiscussion hen c.
interpretat ons o
that the un versi,
and plurali -m pro
stated the ollow
The of ice o
Commit ee to
al from tl/ie agenda committee contained two
e not ad O ted. A statement calling for pu
ing in ra ist practices was dropped with n
cern was aised that it might violate rece
the Firs Amendment. On the other hand, t
develop curriculum requirement in multi
ked a gra t deal of debate. The original
g:
requested to ask the General Ed
Provost
evelop an appropriate course requirement a
rse
ing a
ning
es with
•
ent
olleges
ight be
th
racing
more
er
ent of
roposal
uralism
on
ion
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additi nal part of the Current requirement designated "C.
Unders anding Societies and Cultures," which will particu1arly
encour ge student underatanding of faculty and
plural sin in 7.oday's world.
Many at the meeting were conCerned that there were already too many
General Edu ation requirements and that this addition would be
burdensome o the atudents unless something else were dropped. Some
wondered wh would teach such a course and suggested that no course
could chang behavor. A fe* doubted the need for the proposet.
requirement, suggeating that the "lack of intelligence" of a small group
of students did no mean everyone needed a course. Others felt the need
for more ca eful ccnsideratiCn of the proposal. As a result, the
proposal to Modify the GE requirements was rejected. However, many felt
that change was necessary and that priority needed to be given to
multiculturalism and pluralinm. As a result it was decided to send the
proposal to change the GE requirements to a Senate committee for further
study.
The third point of the resolution as adopted also provoked some
discussion Concerning TTU's Current support and funding of affirmative
action. Vise President Haragan noted that TTU's current policies
require tha when i minority is in the top group of those being
considered br a ficulty position, that person must be offered the job.
He felt tha the lick of money was a serious problem in recruiting
minority fa ulty: minority faculty were in demand and often could
command hig er saliries than 1 TTU could offer. While some senators felt
the Univers ty was doing all that was possible to hire minority faculty,
others did ot, nozing that affirmative action guidelines could be
evaded and hat the money pr blem was a "diversion." New facuLty
(including hite men) were often hired at differentially high salary
levels when the position was'given priority. This was especiaLly true
when hiring in fieLds such aS banking. If the TTU's administration
placed a re -1 priority on hiring minority faculty, it would pay what was
necessary.
3% Raise:
Senator Dunre askei Provost Haragan to comment on reports in the
University ail taat state employees might receive a 3% raise. Haragan
noted that 4uch a raise would be across the board effective 1 December
1992, and would inzlude college faculty, but that it was not then a
"done deal.'
College PRER.program:
The Coordinating Board staff has recommended a new college pre- .) program
for high school students; some 18 1/2 hours of high school courses would
be required for admission to college. The impact of these pro-Dosed
changes on TTU will be referred to committee for study.
Optional Retirement:
Senator Coulter reported tha the staff of the Sunset Advisory Committee
nt of the Optional Retirement system.
had recommended the abolis
Currently the states' colleg presidents have come out in opposition to
this proposal, and he reques ed that the Faculty Senate go on record as
opposing this staff recommendation.
The Senate resolved that the Sunset Advisory Committee be advised that
the Texas Tech Faculty Senate opposed any effort to eliminate the
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Optional R tiremeat System. This resolution was passed unaninously with
no dissent
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The Senate adjouraed at 5:1i p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
4. aid.e.o.1_1-4.06
M. Catherine Miller
Secretary 1992-93
ANNOUNCEMErT:
Items for the Senite agenda should be submitted before
n November 30, 1992 and January 1
AGENDA COMMITTEE meetings
1993.
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