FACULTY SENATE MEETING

Minutes

September 10, 2007

3:15 p.m., 601 Rudder Tower

http://facultysenate.tamu.edu

Retiring Present: Hassan Bazzi, John Fike, Anat Geva, John Valasek,

Retiring Absent: Esther Carrigan, Sila Centikaya, Greg Cobb, Richard Curry, Christopher Ellis, Joselito Estrada, Timothy Hall, Edward Harris, Phil Hobson, Nancy Ing, Curtis Lard, Martha Loudder, William Merrell, Richard Stadelmann, Emil Straube, Arnie Vedlitz, Jane Welsh, Richard Woodman

Present: Louise Abbott, Derya Akleman, Carisa Armstrong, Wolfgang Bangerth, Guy Battle, Robert Bednarz, Michael Benedik, Tom Blasingame, Charles Bollfrass, James Boyd, Richard Carlson, Gwendolyn Carroll, Antonio Cepeda- Benito, Ifte Choudhury, Walter Daugherity, Janice Epstein (sub for Karl Aufderheide), John Fackler, Richard Feldman, Holly Gaede, Melinda Grant, Michael Greenwald, Mike Hanik, Paul Harms, James Heilman, Arthur Hobbs, Joe Jaros, Eluned Jones, Guido Kanschat, Larry Kelly, Ann Kenimer, Andrew Kirkendall, Andrew Klein, Andre Landry, Thomas Linton, Robyn Lints, Carol Loopstra, Clinton Machann, Clint Magill, R.N. Mahapatra, Sam Mannan, Lanny Martindale, Robert McGeachin, Mary Meagher, Rosana Moreira, Ramona Paetzold, Fredric Pearl, David Peterson, Angie Hill Price, Khalid Qaraqe, Cynthia Riccio, Elisabeth Rich, Roger Schultz, H. Morgan Scott, Robin Smith, Kathleen Speed, Susan Stabile, John Stallone, William Stein, Robert Stewart, Bob Strawser, Winfred Teizer, Frank Thomas, Douglas Thornton, Ellen Toby, Theodore Turocy , Jyotsna Vaid, John Valasek, Tom Vogel, Nancy Volkman, Robert Warden, Gwendolyn Webb-Johnson, William West, Kirk Winemiller, Gary Wingenbach, Tom Woodfin, Jim Woosley

Absent: Wendi Arant-Kaspar, James Aune, Tahir Cagin, Keith Chaffin, Ranier Fink, Kishore Gawande, Richard Hise, Antonio La-Pastina, Alessandra Luiselli, Peter McIntyre, Michael Messina, Sanjay Reddy, Roger Reese, Doug Slack, Hamid Toliyat, Hank Walker, Michael Ward, Matthew Whiteacre

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 3:15 by Speaker Angie Hill Price.

Faculty Senate Aggie Spirit Awards Presentation:

Speaker Price presented Faculty Senate Aggie Spirit Awards to two students chosen to show outstanding courage and determination in the face of adversity while attending A&M University. The recipients, each receiving a certificate and a $450 award, were Bradley Bertrand and Alonso Fierro.

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Eddie J. Davis, Interim President of Texas A&M University was the guest speaker. President Davis discussed several campus-wide issues and then answered questions. The main topics discussed by President Davis were (a) the history and status of the CDC investigation into the handling of Select Agents, (b) some issues surrounding the VPR and Graduate Dean search, (c) space needs and the fact that all building and major enhancement projects are under funded, (d) Code Maroon, (e) university efforts to help the lower paid staff positions with the increased parking rates and increase in the cost of benefits, and (f) the formation of several university-wide councils. President Davis also expressed appreciation for the Faculty Senate and indicated that he felt that the general trend of the university was extremely positive.

Speaker Comments and Installation of Senators:

Speaker Price welcomed the Galveston and Qatar caucuses joining the meeting by videoconference. She noted that Interim Provost Strawser sends his regrets as he would like to attend the Senate meeting this semester, but has a class at this time. Speaker Price announced the installation of re-elected and newly elected senators as well as the departure of the retiring senators. The new senators took the oath of office.

The August 13, 2007 Minutes were approved as submitted. Motion Passed F.S. 25.38

Attachment A

Consent Agenda

All consent agenda items were accepted as presented: Motion Passed F.S. 25.39

Attachment B

W Courses

Courses submitted for certification:

HORT 225 Horticulture Learning Community

Courses submitted for recertification

ANSC 311 Equine Behavior and Training

SEFB 320 Education and Employment Issues in Secondary Special Education

Committee Reports

Executive Committee

Committee item accepted as presented: Motion Passed F.S. 25.40

Attachment C

Approval of Standing Committee Appointments

Old Business

There was no old business.

New Business

The Senate went into Executive Session.

Committee of the Whole

Robert McGeachin expressed displeasure with the timing of the University Convocation. He pointed out that Texas heat in early September makes wearing academic regalia unwise in the middle of the afternoon.

Speaker Price asked that Former Speaker Fike be recognized. Former Speaker Fike indicated that the Chancellor has removed the hidden $1.75 fee that had been used to support the system HR office.

Robin Smith spoke on behalf of the Liberal Arts Caucus. Richard Stadelmann has been a long time member of the Faculty Senate and a very strong supporter and is currently on leave as he undergoes treatment for cancer. The Caucus requests that the Executive Committee consider ways in which Senator Stadelmann could be recognized for his long-standing support of the Faculty Senate. One possibility is that perhaps some award for service to the senate could be established in his honor. Because of his efforts at encouraging faculty to participate who had not yet been involved, an award to freshman senators may be especially appropriate.

Mike Greenwald requested, on behalf of a member of his department, that the Faculty Senate consider requiring all departments to list the year and semester(s) in which graduate courses are normally taught in the Graduate Catalog. It should be easy to list in some manner whether the course is taught in the Spring, Summer, Fall, or combinations of those times, and the year (i.e., designate every year, every even year, or every odd year). Since graduate programs cross departments, it should be mandatory that all departments do this. Senator Greenwald also expressed concern that there is no university incentive for faculty members to direct 485 projects. He suggested that some form of incentive should be established.

Roger Schultz indicated concern about the proper procedure in taking test results to MARS and grade reports to the general services building. Because this now requires driving for many departments, the issue was raised as to who was responsible in case of an accident.

Rich Feldman indicated concern regarding the change in procedure for the payment of tuition and fees. A few years ago, the deadline for the payment of tuition and fees was changed from the Friday before classes started to the Wednesday before classes started for those students who pre-registered. His concern was that this was harder for students and could encourage some to not pre-register. Feldman also pointed out that the fiscal office mailed some refund checks to students who had dropped hours before classes started. He felt this caused confusion for students who were still in the middle of deciding on their appropriate class schedule.

Tom Blasingame asked for a report on the presidential search process and expressed concern for the lack of information. He also expressed support for Interim President Davis. Dean of Faculties Watson indicated that the faculty were well represented on the search committee and were strong supporters of shared governance. In the absence of information, it was important for faculty to remember and trust their faculty representatives.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.