(to be considered for approval at December 11, 2001, meeting of the Faculty Senate)
UM-ST. LOUIS
Student Government Chamber, Millennium Student Center
The meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m. by the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Lawrence Barton.
Minutes from the previous meeting (held October 16, 2001) were approved as submitted.
The Chair opened his report by acknowledging Ms. Jean Tucker and Professor Alan Artibise, of the Public Policy Research Centers, who hosted the reception following the last Senate meeting. Chair Barton encouraged everyone to visit PPRC and view the gallery of photographs on display there.
It was announced that Dr. Thomas Eyssell has been elected to replace Dr. Nasser Arshadi as the representative from Finance and Legal in the College of Business Administration.
The Chair reported that the hearing to discuss the new copyright policy has taken place. The document is available on the web at: http://www.system.missouri.edu/vpacad/copyright/intprop.html
Comments may be sent to Ms. Kandis Smith, from the System Office, or to Dr. Vicki Sauter, our representative on the Committee.
The Chair reminded Senate members that the procedures we are currently following in cases of Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion are on the web. This was announced in a general message to all faculty, as was the fact that the committee appointed by the Chair to resolve disagreements with the procedures consists of the faculty members on the Faculty Senate/University Assembly Steering Committee. The Chair urged Senators to send comments to Ms. Joan M. Arban or to himself. At the Faculty Meeting last spring, there were three areas that caused the most trouble. One related to who wrote the recommendation which leaves the department or area. Another was how to deal with senior faculty members with tenure from a comparable or better institution. The third was the way the departmental/area votes are counted. The Chair reported that he tried to simplify matters by suggesting changes which conformed to these items, but it appeared to cause confusion and consternation. The committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, December 4, at 1:30 p.m. in 126 J. C. Penney, where amendments suggested to that point will be made available and questions will be answered. Amendments will be placed on the web a few days prior to the meeting. Amendments will be accepted up to December 15, and a meeting of the Faculty will take place in late-January or early-March.
The Chair reported that there are several initiatives in draft form that Vice Chancellor Durham is circulating. Chair Barton heard about these from the Vice Chancellor and from department chairs and others. Some have been discussed with the Academic Advisory Committee. The Chair commented that he indicated to Vice Chancellor Durham his hope that the Vice Chancellor will make sure there really is a problem before he tries to correct one that doesn’t exist, thereby creating a problem. The four drafts involve office hours, final examination policy and commencement, use of the web (Gateway) in teaching (not yet circulated), and department chairs as unit managers instead of scholars and researchers (not yet circulated).
At the last meeting, the Chair brought up the issue of remission of graduate teaching assistant fees. What appears to be a good solution seems to have emerged from the Graduate School. One of the features derives from a requirement described on the Research Office website for the past couple of years but not recently enforced. Anyway, the Chair reported that the end result is a good one and said he is pleased with it and pleased that the Senate brought the issue up.
The Chair said he attended a reception for long-serving faculty members a week ago and found it “pretty crummy.” He remarked that the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shared his view.
There have been questions about why the Budget and Planning Committee has not met. The Chair said he understands that two meetings are planned for next month.
In closing, the Chair announced that the Committee on Research would report to the Senate later in the meeting.
Report from the Chancellor – Vice Chancellor Jerry Durham for the Chancellor
(who is out of the country)
The Curators approved our master plan in 1993. This plan suggested the placement of new buildings, road realignments, and property purchases. Among the most important acquisitions mentioned by the master plan’s consultants was the Normandy Hospital property. The University purchased that property October 31st for $2.6 million.
Over the next 12-18 months, Vice Chancellor Durham will work with academic and community leaders to determine the best uses for this property and to determine potential funding sources to effectively renovate the facility for campus use. If a funding source is not identified, Chancellor Touhill has told the Curators that the facility could be razed to make way for parking or some other purpose.
Late last month, Vice Chancellor Durham announced that Dr. Joel Glassman, Director of the Center for International Studies, has been given the additional title of Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Vice Chancellor publicly congratulated Dr. Glassman and thanked him for his contributions to the campus.
The title change reflects the importance of his current and future responsibilities to help internationalize the UM-St. Louis campus.
Vice Chancellor Durham announced another important academic appointment, namely, that of Dr. John Hylton as Interim Dean of the new College of Fine Arts and Communications. His appointment is effective immediately; however, Dr. Hylton will continue to serve in a part-time capacity as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs during the next several months. Vice Chancellor Durham reported that he will be working with the Chancellor to form a search committee to appoint a permanent dean of the new Fine Arts College, and that he hopes to have that process completed before the fall term. Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor will be looking at the organization of the Office of Academic Affairs to determine how best to fill the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor position.
A committee under the leadership of Dean Mark Burkholder and Dr. Nancy Gleason is determining how the campus should implement a CBHE-mandated plan to conform general education courses at all Missouri colleges and universities. Assembly members were invited to contact Dean Burkholder or Dr. Gleason with any questions or concerns about this process.
Course renumbering in the units is under way.
Vice Chancellor Durham ended his report on a note of caution. He said he met last week with President Pacheco and other academic leaders from the four UM campuses to discuss, among other things, the condition of Missouri’s economy and its probable impact on our budget. The outlook is not good. There is a strong likelihood that the 5 percent withholding in our budget this fiscal year will become a permanent cut and that an additional 5 percent will be withheld from next fiscal year’s state allocation on top of that cut. Given this scenario, the Curators might vote on student fee increases in March or May, instead of the traditional January date. It is felt the delay is needed so that the Curators can gather more accurate budget numbers from the state before setting new fee guidelines. Also, there is a possibility that state agencies, including colleges and universities, could be notified of a mid-year withholding in January 2002. The Vice Chancellor encouraged individuals and units to consider how they would handle these budget cut scenarios.
Searches are underway for the Dean of the Barnes College of Nursing and Health Studies, Dean of the School of Optometry, and Vice Chancellor for Student Services. Information will be available shortly regarding two Associate Vice Chancellors in Academic Affairs and the Dean of the Graduate School/Associate Vice Chancellor for Research.
Dr. Raymond Balbes inquired about the source of the $2.6 million that was used to purchase the Normandy Hospital property. Vice Chancellor Durham deferred to Deputy to the Chancellor Donald Driemeier, who explained that the money came to us as a loan from System Administration. Dr. Balbes asked how we will pay this off. Dr. Driemeier said it will be paid back as we receive our master planning money. The Chair asked if we pay interest on such loans. Dr. Driemeier replied in the affirmative.
Report from the Intercampus Faculty Council – Dr. Lois Pierce
(see attached)
Some data were circulated by Vice President Lehmkuhle at the last Board meeting, the Chair said, that gave the last five years’ enrollment in new programs. A sort through the data revealed that our enrollments were much better than the new program enrollments on the other campuses. President Pacheco admitted that we are a developing campus but pointed out that Columbia had 19 new programs in the same period when we had 17 new programs.
Report from the Academic Advisory Committee –Dr. David Ronen
Dr. Ronen reported that the Committee has met twice so far this semester and discussed five topics: residency requirement for undergraduate degrees, a policy concerning faculty participation in commencement, general education, a campus-wide honor system administered by students, and the erosion of financial support for academic departments.
At the close of his report, Dr. Ronen was asked by Dr. Joseph Martinich about the honor system. Dr. Ronen reported that the subject was raised by a member of the Committee. Vice Chancellor Durham clarified that “honor system”translates to academic integrity.
Report from the Committee on Committees – Dr. E. Terrence Jones
Dr. Paul Speck was elected by acclamation to replace Dr. Nasser Arshadi on the Budget and Planning Committee.
Report from the Committee on Research –Dr. Patricia Jamerson
Dr. Jamerson reported that 18 applications for research awards were submitted, and 13 were funded, for a total of $82,636. Ten out of 13 were fully funded. There were 23 requests for small grants, and 21 were funded, for a total of $17,789. Eighteen out of 21 received full funding. Nominations for the President’s Award for Research and Creativity are due in the Office of Research Administration by December 3. The form is available on the ORA’s web page.
Next, the Senate met in Executive Session to consider candidates proposed to receive honorary awards.
Completing the business at hand, the Faculty Senate adjourned at 4:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois Pierce
Faculty Senate Secretary
(minutes written by Ms. Joan M. Arban, Faculty Senate Assistant)