UEC Final Report to the Faculty Senate, 1999-2000
The UEC enjoyed a year of open wallets and good cheer.
Roster
The full committee consisted of:
John Finney (Ex-officio), David Tinsley (Chair), David Smith (Secretary), Adam Pelatt (ASUPS
representative), Sigrun Bodine, Perry Fizzano, Karl Fields, Martins Linauts, Paul Loeb, Wade
Hands, Paul Huo (Resigned), John Rindo, Rand Worland, Fred Slee
Members of the Travel Subcommittee were Wade Hands, Paul Huo, John Rindo, Fred Slee,
David Smith, David Tinsley, and John Finney.
Members of the Research Subcommittee were Sigrun Bodine, Perry Fizzano, Karl Fields, Martins
Linauts, Paul Loeb, and Rand Worland.
There no charges from the Faculty Senate for the fall of 1999.
Committee Deliberations:
1. Review the status of Travel Grants for presentations on pedagogy. There was discussion but
the UEC declined to take action. The status of the grants remains the same.
2. Discuss the possibility of raising the total expense limit for international travel grants, currently
set at $1280. The UEC wished to assess the impact of the increase in per-diem for regular travel
grants before considering a raise of the international limit.
3. Review the possibility of raising the ceiling for student research grants. Questions concerning
the amount of travel money remaining caused the UEC to table this for the time being. The
committee agreed that an increase would make sense, should funds become available.
4. Closely monitor the status of the travel fund for the year. Because funds were in danger of
being exhausted, the UEC authorized John Finney to draw upon the Research Fund pool in order
to fund all first trips. The UEC will apply to the Budget Task Force in the Fall of 2000 for an
increase in Travel Funding.
Committee Actions
This year UEC awarded 58 student research grants totaling $19,954, including $2500 generously
contributed by ASUPS to the UEC student support pool.
UEC awarded 12 faculty research grants, totaling $10,953. This was a relatively low number of
new faculty research grants, but that happens every so often. This was a good year for this to
happen, given that some faculty research money will likely need to be shifted to support travel
grants.
UEC has so far awarded 74 travel grants, totaling $64,700. An additional $5,000- $10,000 in
grants are likely before the end of the fiscal year. Second Trips are likely to be funded at a very
low level or not at all.
The UEC awarded the Dirk Andrew Phibbs Memorial Award for 1999-2000 to Jim Evans of the
Physics Department, for his book, The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy and for his
article, "The Material Culture of Greek Astronomy" for the Journal for the History of Astronomy.
The UEC reviewed applications for released time for 2000-2001. It awarded a total of six
released units to Heather Douglas, Stuart Smithers, Wayne Rickoll, Nick Kontogeorgopoulos,
Patrick O'Neil, and Jeannine DeLombard.
The UEC solicited nominations for the Regester Lectureship for the fall of 2000. After lengthy
deliberations, Geoff Proehl was named Regester Lecturer for 2000. Geoffrey Block delivered the
Twenty-Seventh Regester Lecture on November 17, 1999, entitled "'Leonore', 'Fidelio', and Three
Connecticut Yankees in the Court of Critical Opinion. Approximately 100 people attended.
At our April 19 Meeting, the committee met with Dean Cooney to review his suggestions for
clarifying the language describing eligibility requirements for sabbatical leaves. After Dean
Cooney's presentation and member questions, Dean Cooney departed. The UEC found the new
language to be an improvement.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of Mammon in service to the liberal arts,
David F. Tinsley