October 8, 2018
Printable Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2018
3:15pm
Rudder 601
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu
CALL TO ORDER
Speaker Harlin called the meeting to order at 3:15pm.
INSTALLATION OF NEW SENATORS
New Senators were sworn in and welcomed to the Faculty Senate.
GUEST SPEAKER
Guest speaker Charles W. Schwartz, Chairman, Board of Regents, was introduced by Speaker Harlin.
Charles W. Schwartz, Chairman, Board of Regents
Chairman Schwartz has been on the board for five years with eight months remaining. He determined faculty wanted to hear about the University’s finances.
- Tuition is a large part of the budget. Chairman Schwartz gave comparisons between Texas A&M University and our peer state institutions in U.S., concluding our tuition is on the low end. At an enrollment of 68,000 we are the largest and fastest growing institution of these. The tuition increases are tied to the inflation rate.
- The second major component of the budget is State financial aid. The percentage of aid is between 15%-20%, however, the more research we do, the lower the percentage. Adjusted for research and operating expenses, the state support of the cost of instruction is 38% to 40%. Chairman Schwartz believes those numbers will continue to grow as the population of the State of Texas continues to grow.
- Chairman Schwartz believes the Permanent University Fund (PUF) is greatly misunderstood; he explained what constitutes the fund.
- The University of Texas has two-thirds of the PUF benefits and TAMU has one-third of the benefits.
- TAMU System’s budget is about $5 billion, with about $350 million of that coming from the PUF.
- The lands portion of the PUF includes 2.1 million acres in West Texas used for grazing to create income, hunting leases, solar power, possible water rights, oil wells producing royalty income, all of which goes into the PUF, governed by UTIMCO – the investment management company for UT and TAMU.
- From the approximately $300 million disbursed to us with about a 300% leverage, we sell $900 million worth of bonds, with an AAA rating.
- Last year Chairman Schwartz lobbied against a State bill attempting to redistribute the PUF amongst all of the State Universities.
- The State Legislature meets this year and the BOR will fight to maintain formula funding. They will also fight to maintain the Special Items in the budget, as losing these would be devastating to our regional Universities.
- Tuition Revenue Bond (TRB) – Two years ago the State of Texas used their AAA bond rating to sell bonds on our behalf and gave us $800 million.
- The Hazlewood Exemption provides benefits and tuition waivers for veterans and their families, amounting to a subsidy from the University of $200 per student per semester. This is an obligation of the State of Texas and Chairman Schwartz believes the State needs to pay for the Exemption, not the individual universities.
Chairman Schwartz then opened the floor for questions.
Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering
Referring to population growth, Senator Alvarado asked Chairman Schwartz which he thought was the best option: growing the central campus or the smaller regional campuses? Chairman Schwartz replied that in spite of the strategic plan to limit growth, in its first year of implementation the University still grew 3%. In College Station we would like to grow the Rellis campus: in eight to ten years there will be 15,000 students at Rellis. In this opening semester the BOR expected 400 students but it has been closer to 1500. Over time, the majority of our enrollment growth will be in our regional campuses.
Adam Kolasinski, Mays Business School
Senator Kolasinski asked if Chairman Schwartz could explain the logic behind faculty not being allowed to have an advisory vote in the revised Dean & Department Head rules, as he didn’t see any conflict between the rules.
Chairman Schwartz replied he did not think the Board did anything to prohibit an advisory vote.
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Senator Hill Price expressed faculty concern that the Rellis campus will draw funds from the main campus. Chairman Schwartz asserted the desire to maintain the excellence of this University, while reminding the Senate that we are a System of 165,000 students, not just a University of 69,000 students, with an obligation to the entire State of Texas. The intent is to draw students to the System that would otherwise go to other State universities. He thinks it will be the model that the Legislature wants us to implement, improving graduation rates at regional universities.
Senator Hill Price stated, as the Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee, that if there is anything that the Committee can do to support the Board of Regents with the Legislature, to please let them know.
Speaker Harlin thanked Chairman Schwartz for taking the time to address the Senate, and for inviting the Executive Committee to watch a football game from the Regents’ box.
SPEAKER COMMENTS
Speaker Harlin acknowledged the recent loss of several faculty members, some of who were Faculty Senators at some point in their career, including John McDermott who was the founder of the TAMU Faculty Senate. Angie Hill Price, as recent former Speaker and convener of the Order of the Broken Gavel of all former speakers, put together a tribute from the Senate to Dr. McDermott. Speaker Harlin proceeded to read the tribute, followed by a moment of silence to recognize Dr. McDermott and the other faculty recently lost at our institution (the text of the tribute can be found below the Consent Agenda).
Speaker Harlin then provided an update on the issues being addressed by the Executive Committee as well as updates on joining committee meetings remotely.
- Joint Resolution with UT-Austin on the Higher Education Coordinating Board implementation of the Fields of Study Requirement. This will be addressed later in the Agenda.
- Dean of Faculty Dr. John August recently announced his retirement in February; the Senate applauded his service to the institution. We provided names to the Search Committee and two Senators were selected to serve: Speaker Harlin and Former Speaker/Current Senator Jim Woosley. Senators were encouraged to reach out with concerns or recommendations.
- Speaker Harlin is also serving on the Title IX Sanctions Committee for faculty and staff. The committee has an aggressive timeline.
- A group has been constituted from EC members and Caucus Leaders to look at the EnMed program, which will be on our November Agenda. There has been a conference call and will be a meeting tomorrow to learn more about the program to get questions answered and concerns addressed prior to it showing up on the Agenda.
- At the September meeting, the Entrepreneurship Minor was tabled, and an ad hoc group has been convened led by Ann Kenimer, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies, with members from the EC and faculty members who have been developing the program. That will be on our Agenda soon.
- There have been issues with technology for those Senators joining our committees remotely via WebEx, in spite of having IT in the room multiple times. We are committed to having all of our Senators participate, and as a back-up plan have set up a conference call number for those meetings.
- Thank you again to Senators who were able to attend the Chancellor’s Viewing Party for the game against Alabama.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion passed to approve the September 10, 2018 minutes as distributed.
CONSENT AGENDA
The motion passed to approve the consent agenda as presented. (Consent Agenda
is found below Adjournment.)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Proposed Revisions to Dean and Department Head Rules – Attachment HH
Speaker Harlin briefly recapped the background on these revisions:
- The System rule change meant the University rule change was in conflict
- The primary change was that any vote taken on Deans and Department Heads is non-binding and is now advisory
- As the Rules come from the Provost’s office and were not drafted by the Senate, we would be voting on them as presented.
Following the motion for approval, a robust discussion ensued. The following Senators participated in the discussion: Adam Kolasinski, Mays Business School; Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering;
Ben Wilhite, College of Engineering; Lou Tassinary, College of Architecture; Joan Wolf, College of Liberal Arts; Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering; Bob Strawser, Mays Business School;
Claire Katz, College of Liberal Arts; Jorge Alvarado, College of Engineering; Speaker-Elect Andrew Klein, College of Science; Eric Rowell, College of Science;
as well as Michael Benedik, Vice Provost and Chief International Officer.
The motion to call the question on Attachment HH, requiring two-thirds vote of those present, failed to pass.
The motion passed to table Attachment HH.
Draft of Proposed 2019-2020 University Academic Calendar and Abbreviated Projection of the 2020-2021 University Academic Calendar –
Attachment LL – Passed – FS.36.142
The motion was passed to approve Attachment LL as presented.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Report – Attachment II – Passed – FS.36.139
Paul Batista, Faculty Athletics Representative, Associate Professor of Sport Management
The motion was passed to approve Attachment II as presented. (Approved FAR Report can be found below
Consent Agenda.)
Core Curriculum Council
The Core Curriculum Council courses (Attachments JJ and KK) were approved as presented. (Approved Core Curriculum Council courses can be found below
Consent Agenda.)
No further committees reported.
NEW BUSINESS
EC Resolution on Fields of Study (FOS) – Attachment MM – Passed – FS.36.143
The motion was passed to approve Attachment MM as presented.
Proposed Revisions to Student Rules –
Attachment NN – Passed – FS.36.144
Rule 28 Student Conduct Files and Reports
The motion was passed to approve Attachment NN as presented.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Speaker-Elect Klein had two announcements:
- February 5 is Orange & Maroon Day in Austin and we will be looking for Faculty Senate participation
- The Joint Meeting between our Faculty Senate and UT’s Faculty Council will be on March 4; please mark that on your calendar.
Speaker-Elect Klein then asked if there was any business.
Angie Hill Price, College of Engineering
Senator Hill Price spoke about the Transportation Services Advisory Committee, giving a heads up that there has been discussion about changing Business Permits due to abuses from some users. Any concerns can be given to her or other committee members Speaker Harlin, Speaker-Elect Klein, and Senator Magill.
With no further business the meeting was returned to Speaker Harlin.
ADJOURNMENT
Speaker Harlin adjourned the meeting at 5:25pm
ATTACHMENTS BELOW: Consent Agenda, Core Curriculum Council, Dr. John McDermott’s Memorial Tribute
CONSENT AGENDA
GRADUATE COUNCIL
New Courses – Attachment B – Passed – FS.36.107
OMFP 630 Directed Readings I
OMFP 631 Directed Readings II
OMFP 632 Directed Readings III
OMFP 639 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Service VIII
OMFP 640 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Service IX
OMFP 650 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Seminar VIII
OMFP 651 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Seminar IX
VTMI 631 Wildlife Diseases
Change in Courses – Attachment C – Passed – FS.36.108
CHEN 681 Seminar
ECEN 749 Microprocessor Systems Design
HLTH 645 Health Education Research and Program Evaluation
HPCH 684 Practicum
HPCH 791 Doctoral Capstone
PHEB 684 Practicum
PHEB 791 Doctoral Capstone
PHEO 684 Practicum
Change in Courses - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment D – Passed – FS.36.109
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
WFSC 632 Ethology
Change in Programs – Attachment E – Passed – FS.36.110
Bush School of Government & Public Service
Department of International Affairs
CERT-CAIA Advanced International Affairs – Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment F – Passed – FS.36.111
Bush School of Government & Public Service
Department of Public Service & Administration
CERT-CHLS Homeland Security– Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment G – Passed – FS.36.112
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences
MNR-NRDV Master of Natural Resources Development in Natural Resources Development
Change in Programs – Attachment H – Passed – FS.36.113
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
MS-BAEN Master of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Change in Programs – Attachment I – Passed – FS.36.114
College of Education & Human Development
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture
MS-EDCI Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction
Change in Programs – Attachment J – Passed – FS.36.115
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Science
MWS-WISC Master of Wildlife Science in Wildlife Science
Change in Programs - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment K – Passed – FS.36.116
School of Public Health
Department of Public Health
DRPH-EPIE Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology and Environmental Health
Change in Programs - Inactivation Proposal – Attachment L – Passed – FS.36.117
School of Public Health
Department of Public Health
DRPH-HPCH Doctor of Public Health in Health Promotion and Community Health Services
Special Consideration Item – Attachment M – Passed – FS.36.118
College of Engineering
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
CERT-AMIC Analog and Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design
Special Consideration Item – Attachment N – Passed – FS.36.119
School of Public Health
Department of Public Health
DRPH-PHLS Doctor of Public Health in Public Health Sciences
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
New Courses – Attachment O – Passed – FS.36.120
NURS 307 Foundations of Nursing Practice Clinical
VTPB 411 One Health and Tropical Ecology
VTPP 420 Applied Pharmacology
Change in Courses – Attachment P – Passed – FS.36.121
AERS 201 Evolution of Air and Space Power
ARTS 339 Themes in Contemporary Art
BIMS 491 Research
CSCE 416 Hardware Design Verification
MEEN 406 Energy Management in Industry
MEEN 421 Thermal-Fluids Analysis and Design
NURS 306 Foundations of Nursing Practice Theory
SENG 310 Industrial Hygiene Engineering
VTPP 434 Physiology for Bioengineers I
VTPP 435 Physiology for Bioengineers II
Change in Programs – Attachment Q – Passed – FS.36.122
College of Science
Department of Biology – BA
BA-BIOL Biology
Change in Programs – Attachment R – Passed – FS.36.123
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-BIOL Biology – BS
Change in Programs – Attachment S – Passed – FS.36.124
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-BIOL Biology Undergraduate Program
Change in Programs – Attachment T – Passed – FS.36.125
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-BIOL Biology Undergraduate Program-Department Requirements
Change in Programs – Attachment U – Passed – FS.36.126
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-BMCB Molecular and Cell Biology – BS
Change in Programs – Attachment V – Passed – FS.36.127
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Ecosystem Science & Management
BS-FORS Forestry – BS
Change in Programs – Attachment W – Passed – FS.36.128
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-MBIO Microbiology – BS
Change in Programs – Attachment X – Passed – FS.36.129
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
BS-RPTS Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences – BS with Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment Y – Passed – FS.36.130
College of Science
Department of Biology
BS-ZOOL Zoology – BS
Change in Programs – Attachment Z – Passed – FS.36.131
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
CERT-CU9 Community Recreation and Park Administration – Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment AA – Passed – FS.36.132
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
CERT-CU42 Parks and Conservation – Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment BB – Passed – FS.36.133
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
CERT-CU45 Professional Event Manager – Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment CC – Passed – FS.36.134
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
CERT-CU60 Youth Development – Certificate
Change in Programs – Attachment DD – Passed – FS.36.135
College of Science
Department of Science
MINOR-NRSC Neuroscience – Minor
Special Consideration Item – Attachment EE – Passed – FS.36.136
TAMU – Galveston
College of Engineering
Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution
BS-MXET-ELM Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology – BS, Electro Marine Engineering Technology Track
W&C COURSES
New Core Component Proposal – Attachment FF – Passed – FS.36.137
Courses Submitted for C Certification:
MATH 482-C Research Seminar
PERF 481-C Capstone Seminar-Performance as Research
New Core Component Proposal – Attachment GG – Passed – FS.36.138
Courses Submitted for W Certification:
AGCJ 313-W Agricultural Media Writing I
INTS 410-W Gender and the Global Modern
KINE 407-W Motor Control and Learning
PERF 101-W Introduction to Performance Studies
WFSC 413-W Problem Solving in Wildlife and Fisheries
______________________________End of Consent Agenda____________________________________
Core Curriculum Council
New Courses Submitted for Cultural Discourse – Attachment JJ – Passed – FS.36.140
ANTH 301-CD Indians of North America
NURS 421-CD Care of Community Health Clients
NURS 464-CD Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN
SOCI 207-CD Introduction to Gender and Society
New Courses Submitted for International and Cultural Diversity Designation – Attachment KK – Passed – FS.36.141
AGEC 452-ICD International Trade & Agriculture
AGEC 453-ICD International Agribusiness Marketing
ARAB 201-ICD Intermediate Arabic I
ARAB 202-ICD Intermediate Arabic II
ARCH 458-ICD Cultural and Ethical Considerations for Global Practice
ARTS 149-ICD Art History Survey I
ENGL 232-ICD Survey of English Literature II
ENGL 339-ICD African-American Literature Post-1930
ENGL 340-ICD Modern and Contemporary Drama
ENGL 374-ICD Women Writers
ENGL 376-ICD The American Novel Since 1900
ENGL 401-ICD Contemporary Literary Theory
GEOG 323-ICD Geography of Latin America
HLTH 236-ICD Race, Ethnicity, and Health
HORT 335-ICD Sociohorticulture
INTS 211-ICD Foundations in Cultural Studies
INTS 301-ICD Theories of Globalization
ITAL 201-ICD Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 202-ICD Intermediate Italian II
LAND 240-ICD History of Landscape Architecture
NURS 466-ICD Community Health for the RN
SPMT 337-ICD International Sport Business