May 3, 2002

Unapproved Faculty Senate Committee Meeting

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM

 

The May 3, 2002 meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 2:00 PM in Stafford 108 with FS President Les Crall presiding.  The following members were present: 

Ric Baugher, David Bessinger, Les Crall, Tommye Davis, Bob Dorlac, Sylvia Esjornson,  Cynthia Foust, Mark Gales, Jeff Gentry, FS Pres. Hayden Hayden, Faye Henson, Robin Jones, Debbie Keasler, Kelley Logan, Don McGurk, Gus Ortega, Nelson Perkins, Shelly Prince, Stan Robertson, Ken Rose, Ronna Vanderslice, Ben Welch, and Mollie Priest.

 

II.                CERTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTES

 

The following substitute was certified:  Jon Coren for Steven O’Neal.

 

III.      INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: President John Hays and Tom Fagan.

                       

President Hays discussed budget information.  The following notes were taken:  A 2.5 % cut, or approximately 500 thousand dollars is expected for the current year.  This will depend, however, on some issues that have yet to be resolved, one of which is a supplemental appropriation from the legislature of 14 million dollars.  Budget surpluses in various departments (due mostly to unfilled personnel vacancies) will absorb some of the cut.

 

The 350 million-dollar short fall in state revenues certified for next year will affect this university substantially. General pay raises are very unlikely.  However, all promotion pay increases will be honored.  As of now, the best case scenario being discussed at the state level for FY ’03 is a possible cut of 1.7% in state allocations, which translates to an approximate loss of 375 thousand dollars to Southwestern.  Mandatory cost increases are expected to be approximately 400 thousand dollars for next year. These cost increases are expected for property and liability insurance, fringe benefits (health insurance), Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement administrative fee, utilities, and some other areas. A probable tuition increase to the maximum of 7% for residents and 9% for out-of -state students will net approximately one-half million dollars.  After fall enrollment, the budget will be reexamined.  President Hays then answered questions.

               

IV.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The April 19, 2002 minutes were approved with the following correction:  omit the “e” in Traci Thiessen’s first name.

 

V.      ANNOUNCEMENTS

                        A.            FS President: Les Crall

1.            Council of Dean’s minutes – have been distributed.  They are working on the timeline for the Tenure & Promotion process.  Dr. Becker has FS information.

2.                  The FS University Policies Committee will work on the Grievance Policy this fall.

3.      Administrative Council and Executive Council did not meet.

                        B.            FS Past President Faye Henson – no report.

C.            Secretary/Treasurer:  Cindy Foust

1.            The roll sheet was distributed for signatures.  New senators were asked to sign by the name of the person they are replacing.

2.            Treasurer’s Report – BancFirst balance- $1,409.83.  Two checks were written- one to DD Awards ($76.00) for plaques to outgoing FS officers, and one to Marion Prichard ($31.21) for retirement reception expenses.  The university account has $ 523.62.  Two expenditures-one for postage ($1.70) and one for flyers ($20.00) for retirement reception were from this account.

D.            President Elect:  John Hayden—no report.

E.                 Student Government Representative: Mollie Priest reported that SGA did discuss ML King, Jr. holiday, and that students may not want to go the extra days suggested.  No decisions have been made.

F.         Bob Dorlac: Results from election for Committee on Dismissal of Tenured Faculty.  He had the ballots and left with another FS to count them.

VI.       Old Business

A.                Motion to select Department Chairs every 3 years tabled from April meeting:

            The following motion was make and seconded.

“Every three years academic departments will hold elections for the position of chair of the department.  The incumbent chair may run for re-appointment, and if any other qualified members of the department want to be considered for the position, their names will be added to the ballot.  If a position is being advertised in the department, external applicants for chair may also be included.   If there are no faculty members who elect to run, the Dean of the School will handle the appointment.”

A vote was taken.  Division of the House was requested.  The motion passed.  This will be sent to the Deans Council.

B.         FS President Crall thanked the committee members who planned and implemented the Retirement Reception held on April 30th and the fine job they did.  The members were:  Marion Prichard, Chair, Nina Morris, Denise Hamburger, and Viki Craig.

C.        Recognition of retiring senators— FS President Crall distributed certificates to senators who are leaving FS committee.

D.        With no further business before him, FS President Crall turned over the leadership to new FS President Dr. Hayden, and retiring senators left.

 

VII.     New Business

A.                FS Pres. Hayden presented plaques to Cynthia Foust and to Les Crall for their outstanding FS work this past year.

B.                 Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee appointment

The following motion was made and seconded:

FS 2002-05-01.  Les Crall will continue to serve on the Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee this year.

Discussion was held. While this appointment is done this month in the past, and the committee has met in June, administration moved this meeting to May.  Les has already attended the meeting held last week.  The motion passed.

C.                FS Pres. Hayden recognized the new senators—Andrew Marvick, Nina Morris, Terry Goforth, Bill Swartwood,  Karen Travis, Fred Alsberg, Marion Prichard, Eithel Simpson, Todd Helton, and those continuing-Nancy Buddy-Penner, Les Crall, Gus Ortega.

D.        Senate Audit Committee appointment

            The following motion was made and seconded:

FS Motion 2002-05-02 that Nancy Buddy Penner, Kelley Logan, and Ken Rose serve as the Audit Committee for the FS Treasurer's books.

                        The motion carried.

 

E.         Senate Archivist appointment—Faye Henson volunteered to continue to serve as FS archivist for one more year.

            The following motion was made and seconded:

FS Motion 2002-05-03 that Faye Henson serve as FS Archivist for 2002-2003.

            The motion carried.

 

F.         Parliamentarian appointment—

            The following motion was made and seconded:

FS Motion 2002-05-04 that Ric Baugher serve as FS Parliamentarian for 2002-2003.

                        The motion carried.

 

G.        Next year’s meeting dates—June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 22, December 6, January 31, 2003, February 28, March 28, April 18, and

May 2.

H.        Faculty Senate Committee sign-up sheets—FS Pres. Hayden distributed FS committees for senators  to select their committee assignment for next year.  Please return these to

FS Pres. Hayden before the next FS meeting.

I.            Other

1.      The results of the election for the Appellate Committee on Dismissal of Tenured Faculty Members-Viki Craig, Jill Jones, Blake Sonobe, and Ann Russell.

2.      The following motion was made and seconded:

FS 2002-05-05.  Dr. Kelley Logan be appointed to the FS Scholarship Committee.

            The motion passed.

 

VIII.        ADJOURNMENT

 

With no other business before it, FS adjourned at 3:08 PM.

 

Next Faculty Senate meeting: June 28, 2002 in STF 104, at 2:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

__________________________                                            __________________________

Les Crall                                                                                  Cynthia Foust

 

__________________________

John Hayden