MINUTES FROM JOINT MEETING OF
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
UNIVERSITY ASSEMBLY AND FACULTY SENATE
September 4, 2007
3 p.m. 126 J. C. Penney
University Assembly
The University Assembly portion of the meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Assembly Chairman Timothy Farmer.
Minutes from the second organizational meeting of the Assembly and Senate (held May 1, 2007) were accepted as submitted.
Report from the Chairperson - Dr. Timothy Farmer
Dr. Farmer welcomed everyone to the first regular meeting of the 2007-08 University Assembly and commended those present for attending. He reported the identity of the Assembly and Senate committee chairpersons for the year (see list attached), introduced Assembly and Senate Secretary Fred Willman and Parliamentarian Jeanne Morgan Zarucchi, and noted the presence of his Executive Assistant, Ms. Joan M. Arban, and the Senate/Assembly Office Assistant, Ms. Marcia E. Blackburn. The remainder of Dr. Farmer's report is attached.
Report from the Chancellor - Chancellor Thomas George
The Chancellor reported that Roxana Contreras, the graduate student in Physics who was detained and arrested in Russia for unknowingly breaking the law by exporting Soviet-era war medals and bank notes, has been freed and is returning to UMSL.
Turning to other matters, Chancellor George reported that enrollment is nearly flat. We are up about 10 percent in new freshmen and transfers, but we are also graduating more students than before, balancing the numbers out.
The Benton Hall chiller failed over the past weekend, causing high temperatures in the Molecular Science/Benton Hall buildings. Facilities Services is working to provide cooling from the Research Building chiller.
Two students have filed a lawsuit calling into question the legality of taking MOHELA funds. At the direction of the Governor's Office, we are continuing to march along. There is language in the bill providing for construction, and we are looking to build a new space in which to house people. At this writing, it is unclear if we will have to raise money on our own for the building, or if MOHELA will cover it all.
The Chancellor noted that it is time to redo the Action Plan. He indicated that he will consult with the Budget and Planning Committee on how to proceed.
We continue to prepare for the review team for accreditation. The Administration met recently with staff to ensure that we are all onboard with the goal of student learning.
For faculty, the Board of Curators is looking at a 4 percent increase, with 1 percent coming from our budget. We will be considering our plan to fulfill this commitment.
At the close of his report, the Chancellor responded to a question from a student Assembly member by offering the information that Benton/Stadler renovations hopefully will begin sometime in the next fiscal year. An attempt will be made to hold disruptions to a minimum.
Report from the President of the Student Government Association - Mr. Bryan Goers
(see attached)
Report from the Steering Committee - Dr. Timothy Farmer
On behalf of the Committee, Dr. Farmer presented a draft mission statement for the University Assembly and Faculty Senate. Following several amendments, the attached document was adopted.
The SSO Chairman, Mr. Mark Bacon, reported that plans are underway for the organization to host a banquet on Monday, September 24th for committee chairpersons and others. More information will be forthcoming.
New Business: Draft Resolution Regarding Name Designation for UMC - Dr. Christopher Spilling
Dr. Spilling read a draft resolution protesting the subsuming of the term "University of Missouri" to apply only to the Columbia campus. Following discussion and friendly amendments, the attached document was approved unanimously.
Dr. Lloyd Richardson moved to form a study committee to look at UMSL seceding from the UM System. The motion died for lack of a second.
Completing the Assembly business at hand, the meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m.
Faculty Senate
Following a short break, the Faculty Senate portion of the meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.m.
The Chancellor reported that in the budget request that the Board of Curators has sent to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education there is a line-item for $6 million in an equity adjustment for UMSL.
Dr. Farmer reminded members of the Committee on Committees that they would meet immediately upon adjournment of the Faculty Senate portion of the meeting.
The Faculty Senate then met in Executive Session to consider a candidate proposed to receive an honorary award.
Completing the business at hand, the Faculty Senate adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Willman
University Assembly/Faculty Senate Secretary
(minutes written by
Ms. Joan M. Arban,
Executive Assistant to the
University Assembly and Faculty Senate Chairman)
