MI
S 11143, FACULTY SENATE
May 5, 1993
The Faculty Senate met on W dnesday, May 5, 1993, at 3:15 p.m. in the
Senate Room of the Universi y Center with Benjamin H. Newcomb presiding.
Senators present were Benso , Bradley, Burnett, Couch, Coulter, Curzer,
Daghistany, DraggL, Dunn, D oracek, Fedler, Hensley, Higdon, Hopkins,
Huffman, D. Mason, Meek, Mi ler, Payne, Trost, Troub, Urban, Wagner,
Weber, Zanglein and Zartman. Senators Aranha, Dunne, Elbow, Freeman,
Goebel, Green, HaLgler, Joni sh, Kiecker, J. Mason, Mitra, Pen, Roy,
Shroyer, Stoune, Lnd Strawde rman were absent because of University
business. Senators Bliese, Cismaru and Morrow were absent with
notification.
President Newcomb called th meeting to order at 3:23 p.m. and
recognized the foLlowing gu sts: Donald R. Haragan, Executive Vice
President and Provost; Len insworth, Vice Provost; Virginia Sowell,
Associate Vice President; J es E. Brink, Director, SACS; Denise
Jackson, Office of Developm nt; David Proctor and Mary Ann Higdon,
Library; Steve Huffman, New and Publications; and Sandra Pulley,
University Daily. Also present were Harley D. Oberhelman, Caryl Heintz,
Verna Sanchez, Kenneth W. Davis, Neale Pearson, Jaime F. Cardenas, Alwyn
Barr and Terry Morrow all slenators-elect.
Professor Clarke E. Cochran, Political Science, served as
Parliamentarian.
I. CONSIDERATION
OF THE MINUTES
Senator Weber regLested tha the capitalization in the resolution
congratulating the, women's asketball team be corrected to read
"National BasketbEal Champi nship." This request was accepted and the
minutes were approved.
II.
INTRODUCTION
OF NEW SENATORS
Senator Newcomb introduced tic, the body those newly elected senators who
were present.
III. REPORT ON SACS SELF-S'IlUDY
Professor James E. Brink, c air of the SACS self-study committee
oth TTU and HSC are being reviewed, and a
reported on its piogress.
steering committee has coor mated the work of nine parallel committees
at each instituticn; studen s have been included on each committee.
Committee reports will be finished by the first of June, then a
penultimate report will be th1ished in the early fall. This report
will be available in the Se ate office, the library, and dean's offices
for faculty review, comment, and suggestions. A final draft will be
completed in the late fall for submission to SACS. A SACS on site team
chaired by E. Roger Sayer of the University of Alabama will be on campus
April 11-14, 1994. Brink r ported that he hoped for " a clean bill of
health," but expects to rec ive some queries that will need responses.
All committees ark. the Facu ty Senate will be informed of the outcome of
this work; all committee re ommendations and the responses to them will
be published.
On inquiry, Professor Brink noted that the survey of TTU faculty done by
UCLA had been received by th e SACS committee. It indicated that faculty
morale around the country wa s low and that morale at TTU was lower than
Page 2.
411
that of compariso
analyzed, but whe
office.
groups. This data has not yet been comple ely
it is, itj will be made available at the Se ate
IV. REMARKS OF P R OVOST HARAGAN
Provost Haragan a
forwarded to his
Senate advis
the Senate could
that the informat
Committee. He ha
Senate Budget Stu
budget process.
each college work
taken up separate
Due date for
that grades for b
following commenc
On the Fees
one committee tha
fees. Tuition is
function virtuall
incidental fees m
laboratory fees a
Texas institution
charging course f
an effort to rais
option for the ti
of Houston, but h
attorneys felt su
included in gener
charging or desig
to pay for librar
State budget
in conference co
act on the budget
bill; a number of
schools and conti
Depending on the
cut or a large hi
Service Plus
across the campus
Plus committee is
composition of wh
might be included
successful. The
Service Plus a cr
students, but the
deal with people
New universi
appointment of an
issues.
Recommendati
Haragan reported
President Lawless
issues such as mi
Commencement
and explained tha
dressed a number of matters that the Senate
ffice.
ry role ill preparation of budget: Haragan
ave a representative in the initial budget
on could he provided the Senate Budget Stud
asked Don Cosby and Len Ainsworth to meet
y committ e to "establish some interchange"
n partici ation at the college level, he no
d differe tly and that this issue would hay
y with ea h dean.
grades:
aragan accepted the Senate's reco
th fall a d spring semesters be due on the
ment.
ommittee: Provost Haragan explained that t
dealt with fees because there were so many
controlled at the state level; fees (some o
as tuiticn) are controlled locally. To be
st be audiltable and must go to specific use
d the comriuter access fee in place at TTU a
are ex ples of this. Some universities
es (rangi g from $6 to $400) in addition to
revenues. TTU has considered but rejected
e being. A library fee is in place at the
s been re'ected at Texas A & M where univer
h a fee w s not legal since library monies
1 revenue appropriations. Some have discus
ating par of the computer access fee to th
had
tated that
earings or
ith the
on the
ed that
to be
endat ion
onday
ere was no
different
which
legal,
d most
re
tuition in
this
niversity
ity
ere
ed
library
automation.
issues: Funding bills for higher education are still
ittee and are still unsettled. The legisla ure may
despite tie failure of the Robin Hood schoo financing
legislators have suggested putting aside mo ey for
uing with the rest of the appropriation bil
ompromise made in conference, TTU may tak a small
111
Service Plus has trained approximately 40
While f- culty has so far been exempt, the
consideri g meeting with a small group of f
ch is unk own at this point) to decide how
in its tr ining program. Haragan deemed th
nly probl m had been that some had incorrec
ticism of their performance. Students, he
were "ou customers as well" and we shoul
ffectivel and change things that aren't wo
y committ es: Haragan will notify the Sena
new comm ttee involving academic or curric
0 people
Service
culty (the
aculty
program
ly deemed
oted, were
learn to
king well.
e of the
lar
n for cre 4ting a "high level steering commi tee":
hat he ha discussed this recommendation wi
he expec ed to create such a committee to iscuss
sion and urpose in the Fall.
Provost Haragan urged faculty to attend c mmencement
commencement speaker was a resul of a
lack of
shortaae of funds to pay fo a speaker of national reputation
4
Page 3.
•
Faculty Club Provost
and use had been declining
administration had given fi
period, it could not contin
such as a smaller faculty 1
faculty suggestions.
V.
Haragan noted that faculty club mmbership
ver the last four years. While t e
ancial support to the club duringlthis
e to do so. Haragan suggested alternatives
unge without food service and asked for
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Senator Newcomb drew the Senate's attention to the letter (included with
the agenda) from former regent Gulley supporting the Senate's
resolutions on the academic standards expected of athletes.
•
VI. REPORTS FROM UNIVERSITY COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES;
Provost Council--N. Catherine Miller (on file in the Senate office)
President Lawless attended a part of the Provost Council meeting where
he discussed the state budget situation and the capital campaign. J.
Brunjes reported on Service Plus. (This report was summarized by
Provost Haragan ir. his remarks above.) The report's emphasis Dn the
success of Service Plus provoked some discussion from the deans. A
number of the dears pointed out that the problems that really aeeded to
be corrected were systemic, centering on "hot spots" such as the
financial aid office, the b rsar's office, and registration. Mese
problems could on]y be solv d with more staff and better computer
systems. Another urged the committee to move slowly and to involve
faculty members ir planning any expansion of the program to tha entire
faculty. There was also a iscussion of the SACS self-study aad of the
survey on faculty morale. awless commented that he did not uaderstand
why faculty morals should b lower at TTU than at other Texas ::ampuses
since TTU faculty had gotte a larger raise than most and since TTU's
administrative costs were 1 wer than those of other campuses. Provost
Haragan expanded en this re ort to note that President Lawless did
understand why faculty mora e was low but that he had worked to get
salaries up and ccntinued t make salaries a number one priori-.7.y.
Academic Council--Candace Haligler (report distributed to senators and on
file in Senate office)
Noting that the Academic Coulncil had not discussed the proposed Academic
Bankruptcy Policy, Senator curzer inquired about the status of this
recommendation. Baragan responded that the proposal would be -:.aken up
in the fall after the grade replacement policy was in place. The impact
of academic bankruptcy on gr.de replacement would be adjusted at that
point.
Senator Dunn disagreed with
advisors' signatures might
the departments and programs
registration procedures were
read the catalog and did not
enrollment.
he Academic Council's suggestion -..hat
done away with. Haragan suggested that
could probably retain this requirement as
modernized, but that many students could
need advising at all stages of their
Development Council--Richard E. Zartman (distributed to senators and on
file in Senate office) The evelopment Council will meet in July and
Senator Zartman will attend hat meeting.
University Library Committee--Senator Curzer, who serves on the Library
Committee, introduced its proposed resolution. The following resolution
was adopted by the Senate with no dissent.
Whereas the library is woefully underfunded to the extent
that the teaching and research mission of Texas Tech is
Page 4.
being a
Whereas ther
funding
researc
the lib
We resolve 1
and cri
be dive
Tech, a
to supp
user fe
By budget committ
Senate Budget Stu
versely a
may be r
which do
mission
ary,
that the
ically ex
ted to su
d in part
rt the li
designat
e, the re
y Committ
budget committee list all such
mine them to see which of them
port the teaching and research
cular, which of them should be
rary; and 2) that there should
d to support the library.
olution was understood to mean
e.
Senator Payne mov
be used to suppor
generated from th
essential computi
have to be increa
lack of adequate
pointed out that
the senate had al
access fee. Sena
since it had only
fees.
d hat a s
the libr
s fee wer
g service
ed. Sena
nformatio
n adoptin
eady endo
or Newco
determine
gnificant portion of the computer access fee
ry. Provost Haragan noted that if the money
simply diverted to the library, cther
would be cut; to prevent this the fee would
or Coulter moved to table Payne's motion for
. This motion was tabled. Senatcr Curzer
the resolution proposing a student user fee
sed a possible increase in the conputer
agreed that the resolution allowed this
that the increased funds come frcm student
There was a brief
Library Committee
the idea that the
librarians, he fe
these suggestion
brainstorming ses
discussio of some suggestions included witr the
s propose resolution. Senator Trost disagreed with
faculty a one would determine cuts in journals;
t, should have some say. Curzer pointed out that
ere just deas that had been thrown out during a
ion.
VII. REPORTS FRO
AD HOC
fected, and
asonably large sources of extramural
ot presently support the teaching and
f Tech and which could be diverted to
sources
shculd
miesion of
diverted
be a student
the Faculty
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE FACUtTY SENATE
Committee on Comm ttees
The committee rec mmended committee assignments for next year. Senator
Newcomb noted tha new assignments were given with attention to
balancing factor such as experience, college, and gender. The report
was approved.
ttee-- Mu ray w. Coulter (abridged report distributed
Budget Study Comm
to senators and c mplete re ort on file in Senate office)
The Budget Study ommittee ndertook three studies, one comparing
faculty salaries t TTU wit those in Texas and the nation, a second
assessing the rep esentatio and salaries of female and minority
faculty, and a th rd lookin at administrative costs.
The salary s rvey indi ated that TTU average salaries are below
average for all c mparable roups. Using the salary figures in the
1992-93 budget, t e average salaries for all ranks compare as follows:
all Ph.D. grantin institut ons--$52,450; national average--$46,270; all
Texas public univ rsities-- 37,924; TTU--$36,186. From 1991/$2 to
1992/93 budgeted igures, t e average salary for the top three ranks at
TTU increased by .2%, whil the average increase for all Texe.s public
universities was .2%. The rate of inflation was 2.9%. Subsequent to
the publication o the 1992 93 budget, TTU was granted a 2% ir.crease for
merit raises and 11 state •tmployees received a statutory 3% increase.
These increases r verse the i salary erosion of the earlier year, but
since the increas s were relatively uniform and statewide, they did not
4 rwrIf im rPlAtiVP alaries. In general faculty salaries in Texas are low
Page 5.
(9th among the 10 most populous states). TTU is the fourth largest
university in Tex s, but ranks 6th in average salary and last of any
major Ph.D. grant ng institution in the state. This relationship is
consistent for al academic ranks.
In examining gender an ethnic equity, the committee looked at the
graduate faculty n an effo t to control factors such as job description
and productivity hat legit mately influence salary levels.
Administrators, e dowed cha rs, and Horn professors were excluded. The
group studied n
ered 587 ssistant, associate, and full professors.
Of these, 118 wer female, 7% of whom were in the colleges of Arts &
Sciences, Human S iences, a d Education, 12 were Hispanic, and 3 Black.
One college had n women, H spanics, or Blacks in these ranks, In
general the highe the rank the lower the proportion of women, Blacks
and Hispanics. S nce 1988- 9 when a similar study was done, the number
of female faculty has incre sed, mostly at the assistant professor
level; the percen age of wo en has increases as well, but at the top
ranks this is the result of a decrease in the number of male faculty,
not an increase i the number of females. The examination of salaries
showed a salary g p between women and white men that increases with
rank, from less t an 5% for assistant professors to 15% for full
professors. The ap varies by college, with the greatest difference
being in Arts & S iences.
ince 1988-89, the salary gap has narrowed
for assistant pro essors an widened for associates and fulls. The
study also summar zed salar by race and ethnicity, but showed no
generalizable pat ern becau e of the small number of minority faculty.
The committee rec mmended that this comparative study be repeated on a
regular basis and that proc dures be implemented to compare TTU with
other institution , to reco d job and salary offers and the responses
to them, and to f nd other rays to make "like" comparisons.
The budget s udy commi tee compared administrative costs at TTU
with those in thr e categor es of universities--all those in Texas,
those in the 10 m 41 St populo s states, and those in a nationwide survey.
These studies corn are the f nds expended on instruction and research as
a percent of tota E & G ov r the period FY85-FY89. Figures f pr TTU
were included for FY90-FY921though no comparison figures were available.
In addition, an a justed fiOre was provided for TTU that removed all
non-teaching and on-research expenditures from the instructioaal
portion of the bu get; this calculation (which lowers spending on
instruction) may rovide a more accurate measure of the administrative
cost, but it cann t be comp red with other institutions. Overhead was
also calculated s parately 4ccording to the nationally comparable
formula. Without consideri g the adjusted figure, the committee found
that TTU allocate a lower ercentage of total expenditures on
instruction and a lower percentage on research than is average in Texas,
in the 10 surveye states, and in the nation. The 5-year averages for
spending on instr ction and research were as follows: Texas--55.2%; 10state--53.7%; nat on--53%; TTU--46.9%. Since 1985, TTU has increased
the percentage sp nt on instruction and research, but it still lags
behind the propor ion Spent in all other surveys; in even the best years
figures for TTU a e below the average comparison data.
II
Study Committee B
This committee's
university commit
considering the p
taken up next yea
amended report on
the Senate as pre
indication of agr
-Robert isTber
ssignment to consider the role of senators on
ees could not be completed due to the time Spent
oposed re olution on athletics. This charge will be
. Senator Weber requested that the committee's
athletics be removed from the table and accepted by
ented. He suggested that this did not require any
ement but would recognize the committee's hard work.
Page 6.
On suggestion from Senator Newcomb the motion was modified to state that
the Senate receive the repo-t. The motion passed with some di$sent.
411
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
Senator Newcomb moved that the Senate officers be authorized t o discuss
with the Student Association the seeking of additional fundinc
including additional fees, to support the library. This motic n was
approved with no dissent.
Professor Neale Pearson, re resenting the Texas Tech Legal Act ion
Association which was estab ished in 1985-86 to defend academi c freedom
and tenure at Texas Tech, p esented Robert Sterken with a schc larship
given for the bes -. essay on academic freedom. Sterken is a gr aduate
student in the field of pol tical science.
IX. REMARKS OF OUTGOING PRESIDENT NEWCOMB
President Newcomb expressed
mailed all senate materials
parliamentarian, to the oth
and their chairpersons, and
work and attention to Senat
and be recognized. Preside
optimistic than he had last
need for continued prepared
Faculty Senate's .:_nsistence
that faculty will have a ro
the adoption of the Resolut
has since become provost's
policy. TTU, Newcomb felt,
Senate had open communicati
points clearly.
thanks to Grace Frazior, who produced and
to Clarke Cochran, who served as
3 officers, and to the Senate's committees
to the senators themselves for their hard
tasks. He asked retiring senators to stand
t Newcomb commented that he felt more
May when first taking office. Noting the
ess and vigilance, Newcomb felt that the
on elected faculty participation bad assured
e in future decision making. He also noted
on on Academic and Artistic FreedOm which
olicy and hopefully would become University
had a degree of shared governance; the
n with the administration and had made its
X. REMARKS OF INCOMING PRE IDENT SUE COUCH
Senator Couch expressed her appreciation at being given the opportunity
to serve the faculty. Noting that she looked forward to working with
the faculty, with Provost Horagan, and with the university, Senator
Couch hoped to continue to ltrenthen the role of the faculty in
governance of the universit .
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The Senate adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
t.-A;ittr
M. Catherine Miller
Secretary 1992/93