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Faculty Senate

(to be considered for approval at 11/13/01 meeting of the Faculty Senate)
FACULTY SENATE

UM-ST. LOUIS
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
3 p.m. 118 SSB

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Lawrence Barton.   He reminded Senate members of the invitation from Jean Tucker, of the Public Policy Research Center, to view artworks and enjoy refreshments at 362 SSB immediately upon adjournment.

Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting (held September 18, 2001) were approved as submitted. 

Report from the Chairperson – Dr. Lawrence Barton

The Chair began by reviewing the membership of the Faculty Senate and University Assembly Steering Committee.  He and Dr. Lois Pierce, the Faculty Senate Secretary, are ex officio members, as is the Chancellor.  Other members include Drs. Gary Burger, R. Rocco Cottone, and Gail Ratcliff.  Senators were encouraged to share comments or concerns with any member of the Steering Committee. 

Changes to the UM-St. Louis Faculty Senate and University Assembly Bylaws, which were proposed by the Committee on Bylaws and Rules, accepted by the
Faculty Senate, and endorsed by the Faculty during the last academic year,  were approved by the Curators at their recent meeting, the Chair reported.

Turning to the legislative hearing concerning the underfunding of Missouri educational institutions, the Chair commented that Chancellor Touhill did a superb job of making our case.  Unfortunately, the Chair’s own presentation was cut short.  Disappointment was expressed that local news media failed to print the story.  There is hope, however, that the press will pick up on the final report of the Interim Subcommittee on Funding Equity in Higher Education.

Referring to revisions recommended to Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion guidelines by the Joint Task Force, the Chair noted that never in the past has the Faculty voted on such procedures.  He clarified that the ATP Committee generated logistical procedures, which were adopted.  At the last Senate meeting, the minutes reflect the Chair’s intention to bring a proposal to the Faculty Meeting that included his perception of the sentiment expressed by the Faculty at

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its May meeting.  The Chair did so, but the Faculty was unable to come to agreement.  There was criticism about the way the issue was handled.  Materials on the web were posted quite late, a problem that was unavoidable due to the Chair’s personal circumstances and also his grounding in Europe after the World Trade Center attacks.  At the Fall Faculty Meeting, the issue was left that the Chair would appoint a faculty committee to work on a resolution.  The Chair announced that he has appointed the faculty members who serve on the Steering Committee to fill this role, and they have agreed.  The matter will be handled the same way as the Task Force on Faculty Governance handled amendments to the penultimate document.  There will be a deadline for receipt of comments and amendments, and then the Steering Committee will present those at a special meeting of the Faculty, which will be held in January.

Chair Barton noted that there is no report from the Intercampus Faculty Council on the agenda but directed Senate members to the web, where the report he could not present at the Faculty Meeting (due to time constraints) is posted. 

The Chair reminded those present that he previously had served as chair of his department (Chemistry) for many years.  One of the department’s major concerns was the ability to attract enough good graduate students.  Chemistry felt hampered by not being able to provide competitive stipends to teaching assistants, which is the way beginning graduate students are funded on this campus.  They included something in the Five-Year Plan on this topic every year.  For about five years, this item was at the top of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Five-Year Plan, and a portion of those fees were remitted when former Graduate Dean Wartzok was here.  The process was accelerated when Mission Enhancement funds became available, which has been a major boost to graduate and research programs on the campus.  The Chair commented that the policy was a little “loose,” but it worked.  The current department chair in Chemistry has informed Chair Barton that the Interim Graduate Dean has suggested that we renege on the promises made to students by cutting some of the fee remission next semester.  That, the Chair said, is wrong.  It is not clear that the money is the Interim Graduate Dean’s to do with as he pleases, and, furthermore, many students were issued contracts that are binding for one year. 

The Chair remarked that a hearing on the proposed new intellectual property rights policy will be scheduled for November 7 at 2 p.m. in 229 J. C. Penney.  He commented that the new guidelines are very faculty-friendly, but the System wants all faculty members to have their say on these important policy changes.

Finally, the Chair announced that the Academic Advisory Committee has been meeting with Vice Chancellor Durham and will be asked to report at the November meeting.

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At the close of his report, the Chair invited questions and comments from the floor.  There were many, and most focused on the need to continue tuition remission for graduate students.  Dr. Raymond Balbes opened the discussion with this sentiment.  Chiming in were Drs. Gary Burger, Charles Korr , Van Reidhead, and Teresa Thiel.  Dr. Burger commented on the strong negative impact discontinuing tuition remission would have on his department’s doctoral students;  Dr. Korr remarked that we have made commitments which are ethically and legally binding; Dr. Reidhead spoke of his department’s agreement with donors; and Dr. Thiel noted that graduate fellowships are also affected.  One student, who was recruited with a fellowship, now can’t have it, she said.  Interim Graduate Dean Arshadi defended his position, pointing out that the campus did not get new Mission Enhancement money, and vowing not to engage in deficit spending.

Dr. E. Terrence Jones requested the views of the Chancellor on this subject.  Chancellor Touhill said she would take the issue to the Budget and Planning Committee within the next several weeks.   The Chancellor reported that she told the Academic Officers in Fall of 2000 that we would be unable to count on the fourth year of Mission Enhancement money.  Dr. Long inquired if the Chancellor, as chief officer of this institution, was comfortable in reneging on our commitments.  The Chancellor said that depended on who made the commitments.  Dr. Joseph Martinich noted that the Chancellor’s message to her Academic Officers didn’t filter down to faculty.  Couldn’t, he asked, the money come from the deans rather than the units?  Vice Chancellor Durham said he would prepare a report, and Dr. Korr demanded to know which students (by name) are affected.

Report from the Chancellor – Chancellor Blanche Touhill

The Chancellor opened her report by announcing two appointments that have been approved by President Pacheco.  Dr. Connie Koch has been named Interim Dean of the Barnes College of Nursing and Health Studies, and Mr. Curtis Coonrod has been appointed Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. 

Chancellor Touhill noted that several inquiries have been made concerning emergency planning on campus, in light of recent incidents in the U.S.A. and around the world.  She reported that UM-St. Louis has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan, which is currently being updated by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety in conjunction with the UMSL Police Department.  Meetings with several campus organizations and functions have occurred to coordinate development of the plan.  As with any plan of this nature, the Chancellor said, the primary focus is preservation of life, protection of property, and restoration of essential functions.  The plan is designed to work within the framework of the St. Louis County and State of Missouri Emergency Plans.  We can expect extensive support and assistance from all levels of

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government, based on the scope of any emergency on campus.  Conversely, the Chancellor continued, the University would respond to requests for assistance off-campus within the capabilities and availability of our resources.  The UMSL Police Department is the focal point for responding to emergency events on campus.  Members of the campus community can call 911 or 5155 to report any suspicious activity, unusual events, or to make inquiries about any situation on campus that seems out of the ordinary.  The level of response by the Department is contingent on the situation being reported.  Questions concerning emergency planning or safety on the campus may be directed to the Police Department at 5155.

In closing, the Chancellor thanked Senate members for the support shown at the hearing held by the Interim Committee on Equity Funding on our campus last week.  The Committee held five hearings to discuss the issue of funding equity among Missouri’s four-year colleges and universities.  The Chancellor said she was told that no other institution produced as large a crowd or a better collection of speakers.  Over the next few months, the Chancellor indicated that we will share our message with elected officials and other local leaders to see if changes can be enacted to ensure that state funding is distributed more equitably among Missouri colleges and universities.  This is an important issue to this region and, most importantly, it is an important issue to our students, who, as the Chancellor reported to the Committee, bear the heaviest financial burden in the State of Missouri.

Dr. William Long asked if Chancellor Touhill had discussed the formation of the College of Fine Arts and Communication with the Budget and Planning Committee.  The Chancellor said this was purely an administrative decision.  Dr. Long read aloud the charge of the Budget and Planning Committee.  The decision to form a new college was discussed with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who, in turn, discussed it with the deans and chairs, the Chancellor said.

Chancellor Touhill speculated briefly on the outcome of the legislative hearing. 

She noted that President Pacheco is awaiting our list of new programs.  He will, she said, support new funding for us.  There are new forms to be completed, and the bureaucracy will get lengthier, the Chancellor predicted.  The President will leave in September 2003, so we should make our list this year.  Vice Chancellor Durham is working now with the Academic Officers.  President Pacheco has assured Chancellor Touhill that he will share with the incoming President details of the kind of agreement Pacheco will make with us.  We have 89 degree programs, and we need another 35 or so.  The Chancellor added that it is clear that 12 percent of the UM budget is insufficient to develop this campus and to develop the economic region. 

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Dr. Gail Ratcliff inquired if Budget and Planning could talk about prioritizing the list.  The Chancellor remarked that technology and finance, health and life sciences, education, and diversity are our key areas. 

Vice Chancellor Durham commented that intercampus cooperation is being emphasized.  New programs will have to be prioritized around a theme, he said.

In response to questions from the Chair concerning the four-year Nursing program and Optometry, the Chancellor said we have not been successful in getting the money to eliminate the Nursing surcharge for the four-year program, and she reported that under President Russell, we doubled our fees for Optometry.  We have a lot of Optometry students from out of state, and we have the most expensive Optometry program in the nation.  We asked President Russell to freeze Optometry fees at a certain level, but he was disinclined to do so, fearing that he would have to make similar commitments to the medical schools. 

Report from the Committee on Committees – Dr. E. Terrence Jones

Drs. Eric Baumer and Gail Ratcliff were elected by acclamation to the Committee on Bylaws and Rules and to the Budget and Planning Committee, respectively.  Dr. Baumer replaces Dr. Gary Burger, and Dr. Ratcliff replaces Dr. Teresa Thiel.

Drs. Burger and Thiel have resigned from their committees. 

Report on Recruitment – Acting Vice Chancellor Curtis Coonrod

Vice Chancellor Coonrod presented a report on recruitment efforts. Completing the business at hand, the Senate adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lois Pierce

Faculty Senate Secretary

(Minutes written by Ms. Joan M. Arban,

Faculty Senate Assistant)