I.
Call to Order
Mr. Harris called the August 23, 2002 meeting of the Academic Senate to order at 1:45
p.m. in the SETB 3rd Floor Conference Room.
Members of the Senate in attendance included: Dr. Iliana Alanis, Mr. Steve Benton, Dr.
Betsy Boze, Dr. Steve Chamberlain, Ms. Carol Collinsworth, Mr. Roberto Cortina, Mr.
Doug Ferrier, Mr. Victor Fuhro, Mr. Wiiliam Harris, Ms. Mabel Hockaday, Dr. Deborah
Huerta, Dr. Edward Hymson, Dr. Farhat Iftekharuddin, Dr. Anthony Knopp, Mr. Joe
Lacher, Ms. Julie Larson, Dr. Jose Martin, Mr. Domingo Molina, Ms. Kim MorrisGarcia, Dr. Eldon Nelson, Dr. Sylvia Pena, Mr. Jay Phillips, Dr. Rey Ramirez, Dr. Ruth
Ann Ragland, Dr. Dimitrios Sotiropoulos, and Mr. Tom Welther.
II.
Approval of the Minutes from the June 28, 2002 Academic Senate Meeting
Mr. Harris reported that no minutes were available at this meeting to be approved. The
minutes will be available for the next meeting.
III.
Introduction of New Senators
Mr. Harris asked Ms. Larson to introduce the new senators. Ms. Larson introduced Dr.
Deborah Huerta from the Professional Staff, Mr. Tom Welther (reelected) from the
College of Liberal Arts, Mr. Pat Wade from the College of Science, Math, and
Technology, Mr. Warren Anderson from the College of Science, Math, and Technology,
and Ms. Kim Morris-Garcia from the School of Health Sciences.
IV.
Discussion of Faculty General Assembly Meeting Charges
Mr. Harris reported that the Faculty General Assembly Meeting was held on Wednesday,
August 21, 2002 in the SETB Lecture Hall. Mr. Harris reported that the faculty asked the
Senate to bring forward two charges- gated parking and an ombudsman.
Mr. Harris said that the faculty endorsed the following resolution: “Resolved that the
Senate support gated parking within reasonable proximity for faculty and with adequate
reserved parking spaces to meet faculty parking needs.” The faculty asked that the
Senate forward this resolution to the Provost. A discussion of the resolution followed
after the resolution was read in the Senate. This discussion produced the following
amended version of the resolution as proposed by Dr. Hymson: “because enforcement of
parking has been historically laxed at UTB/TSC, the Senate supports gated parking
within reasonable proximity for faculty and with adequate reserved parking to meet
faculty parking needs.” Mr. Welther seconded the resolution as proposed. The resolution
passed as amended and will be forwarded to the Provost.
Mr. Harris also reported that the faculty asked the Senate to consider the notion of an
ombudsman. Mr. Harris said this idea of an ombudsman was not only brought up in the
faculty assembly but at the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) as well. Mr. Harris said at
present UTB/TSC does not have an ombudsman, although several faculty members have
served in this position in previous years (both Dr. Dameron and Mr. Phillips). Mr. Harris
said the creation of this position would allow problems with faculty and administration to
be addressed before they get out of hand. A discussion of the matter followed, with the
Senate agreeing to refer the matter to the Welfare Committee.
Mr. Harris then addressed several other issues of interest to the faculty. Dr. Knopp
voiced his concern over salary comparisons. He wondered if we were making any
progress in reaching what other institutions are paying faculty. He also wanted to make
sure that the institutions used for comparison include UT System component institutions,
minus Austin, Dallas, and Arlington and that technical rank is compared to the top
quartile of community colleges. Dr. Knopp also asked if joint appointments would be
possible.
Dr. Martin responded to Dr. Knopp by saying that the notion of joint appointments is a
loaded one. He said we are employees of the same institution and we need to be a
consolidated entity.
V.
Other Business
There were six items of “other business”.

Mr. Harris reported that three committees are in need of members: Graduate
Committee, Human Subjects Research Committee, and the Budget Review
Committee.
Mr. Harris said that two names have been forwarded to him for inclusion on the
Graduate Committee: Edward Hymson from the School of Business and Paul
Hermann-Zieschang from the College of Science, Math, and Technology. Mr.
Harris asked the Senators for their approval of the nominees. The Senate
concurred and the names will be forwarded to the Executive Council.
Mr. Harris also reported that both the Human Subjects Research Committee and
the Budget Review Committee are in need of members.

Mr. Benton voiced his concern over email addresses and passwords. Mr. Benton
said he was told by Mr. Sledd (who retired) that Mr. Sledd’s email address at
UTB/TSC would be deleted one week after he left the university. Mr. Ferrier said
a faculty member has thirty days to keep his/her email address after he/she leaves.
Mr. Ferrier said he would straighten out the matter.
Mr. Benton also voiced his concern over email passwords. Mr. Benton said he
was concerned because the passwords for emails need to be changed every
semester but the passwords for the Colleague system are assigned. Mr. Ferrier
said the State of Texas mandates the change of email passwords every semester
for security reasons. Mr. Ferrier also reminded the Senate that a person’s
university email is not private.

Mr. Molina expressed his concern over the summer final exam schedule. He said
that some exams were scheduled on Friday evening and grades were due on
Monday at 10:00 a.m. He said facilities with a Scantron reader were closed over
the weekend so he had to grade the exams by hand. He asked how this problem
could be remedied. Mr. Welther suggested putting a Scantron reader in the
Library. Mr. Ferrier said he would look into the matter.

Dr. Boze expressed concern over scheduling. She pointed out that the online
schedule says the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is a holiday but the paper
schedule shows that it is not. Mr. Harris asked Dr. Martin to clarify this matter.

Mr. Wade brought up the resolution proposed by Mr. Boster at a previous Senate
meeting regarding the renaming of technical rank. Mr. Wade reminded the Senate
that Mr. Boster’s proposal involved changing the title “instructor” to “professor”.
Mr. Wade said Mr. Boster surveyed the faculty and most faculty were in favor the
change.
Mr. Harris responded that in order to accomplish this change, Regents’ Rules
would have to be changed. Mr. Harris noted that we need to think about this
change before we jump into it.

Last, Mr. Welther recommended to the Senate that Ms. Kathleen VandersliceCarter be added to the Academic Standards and Student Records Committee. Mr.
Cortina moved to accept this nomination, with a second from Dr. Hymson. The
motion carried.
Senate President’s Report
VI.
Mr. Harris had three items in his report.

Mr. Harris reported that a faculty member approached him after the General
Faculty Assembly to express his/her unhappiness with Arena Registration.
He/she felt that there should not have to be arena registration.

Mr. Harris reported that he and Dr. Knopp will talk to Amanda Fuhro about
phrased retirement.

Last, Mr. Harris reported that a faculty member expressed to Mr. Harris his/her
disappointment with the Portfolio Workshop. This particular faculty member told
Mr. Harris that before he/she went to the workshop he/she felt qualified for
exceptional merit but after attending the workshop he/she felt totally unqualified.
Dr. Hymson responded to that criticism by saying that our “long-haired” friend
(Mr. Phillips) and Dr. Ragland conducted a very good and informative portfolio
workshop.
VII.
Provost’s Report
Dr. Martin had eleven items in his report.


Dr. Martin congratulated faculty and staff service award recipients.

Dr. Martin discussed the bond election. He said each person has the right to vote.
He said voters should exercise this right.

Dr. Martin reported that the new Student Union building will be dedicated on
Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 12:00 p.m.

Dr. Martin informed the Senate that the search for the Vice President of Student
Affairs has been completed. Dr. Hilda Silva has been named to this position.

Dr. Martin reported that the search for a new Graduate Dean and Associate Vice
President for Enrollment Services is underway. He also noted that the search for
a new Dean of Education is also underway. Dr. Martin thanked Dr. Sylvia Pena
for continuing to serve in this position until a suitable replacement is found.

Dr. Martin briefly talked about technical rank. He said often words are
misinterpreted and mean different things to different people. He said technical
rank opens up a career path for those who choose it. Dr. Martin said that this
allows for a system where people can do their best. He said technical rank and
academic rank are not designed to produce a chaste system.

Dr. Martin talked about peer institutions for parity. Dr. Martin said credit goes to
Mr. Fuhro because the information about peer institutions changes every year. He
said salary ranges and adjustments are very much on his mind. Dr. Martin also
said that the average salary increase for this year (2001-2002) was 4.1% and
nobody received less than $1200.00.

Dr. Martin reported that the institution has made a commitment to hire more
faculty.

Dr. Martin responded to the parking resolution. He said UTB/TSC continues to
work on adding more parking spaces. He said bids and contracts have gone out
and hopefully in another month the campus will add 380 parking spaces. He also
reminded the Senate that neither he nor the President have reserved parking.

Last, Dr. Martin reported that the School of Business and the School of Education
Complex groundbreaking will be held in October 2002.
VIII.
Caucus for Welfare Committee
Mr. Harris asked the senators to caucus and elect representatives to serve on the Welfare
Committee. The following senators were elected to the Welfare Committee:
Dr. Knopp- College of Liberal Arts,
Dr. Hymson- School of Business,
Dr. Chamberlain- School of Education,
Mr. Benton- College of Science, Math, and Technology, and
Mr. Lacher- School of Health Sciences.
IX.
Adjournment
Mr. Harris entertained a motion to adjourn. Mr. Cortina so moved, with a second by
acclamation. The meeting stood adjourned at 4:00 p.m.