September 16, 2005

 

Call to Order:  Michael Patton called the meeting to order at 2:06 pm.

 

Members Present:  Casey Bassett, Misty Bennett, Jason Cooper, Charlotte Daughhetee, Michelle Duran-McClure, Sherry Ford, Michael Patton, Elizabeth Thrower, Cindy Tidwell, Samantha Webb, Jill Wicknick

 

Approval of September 2, 2005 Minutes:   Elizabeth Thrower moved that the minutes be approved after corrections, Cindy Tidwell seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

President’s Report:  Michael Patton reported on the following items

• The College of Business does not have a representative on the Faculty Senate.  The senate discussed ways to encourage more involvement.
• The presidential search committee will be appointed soon.  Concern was expressed about the low number of faculty representatives on the committee.   The senate would like to see proportional representation from the four colleges or at least two faculty members appointed from each college.

 

Committee Assignments: 

• Faculty Survey- Jason Cooper
• Faculty Salary Administration- Michael Patton, Charlotte Daughhetee
• Bookstore Committee-Charlotte Daughhetee, M.E. Spencer
• Student Activities Center- Eric Vaccarella

 

Additional committee assignments will be made at the September 30, 2005 meeting.

 

Liaison Assignments:  Appointments will be made at the September 30, 2005 meeting.  Senators were asked to consider liaison appointments for IITC, OSP, and SGA.  Charlotte Daughhetee will ask Hollie Cost if she would be willing to serve as the faculty liaison with the Montevallo City Council.

 

Old Business:

• Concerns have been expressed about changes to the dependent tuition waiver benefit.  Charlotte Daughhetee is gathering information on this issue and will report back to the senate at a later date.
• The senate is working on an executive summary of the faculty survey results. 
• Michael Patton is examining the proposed faculty handbook revisions and will keep the senate informed. 

 

New Business:

• The Higher Education Partnership (HEP) has a faculty senate membership designation.  The senate discussed the merits of this membership and decided to pursue joining the HEP.
• The agenda for this year was discussed. Senators reported concerns that have been expressed by faculty members in their colleges.  Specific concerns discussed included:
  • The policies regulating on campus workshops and conferences, particularly those workshops that are sponsored by University of Montevallo faculty members.
  • The need for more flexibility in web page design for individual faculty members and departments and the cumbersome process of making changes to web pages. 
  • Concerns about the university’s stance on international faculty.
  • Commuter students who have been ticketed for parking at the SAC during the day when commuter parking is full.  This issue has been referred to SGA. 
  • The feasibility of a fall break.
  • Having the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off to allow for travel. It was noted that K-12 schools have this day off for travel purposes. 

 

Announcements:  The faculty assembly will be on September 21^st at 3:30 in Wills Hall room 201.  Michael Patton will send out an email announcement to all faculty members.  The next Faculty Senate meeting will be on September 30, 2005 at 2:00 pm in the Merrill Room.

 

Adjournment:  Samantha Webb moved that we adjourn, Sherry Ford seconded and the motion passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 3:14 pm.

 

Charlotte Daughhetee, Faculty Senate Secretary