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Sept 8, 1999 Minutes


Senators Present: Bible, Conroy, Early, Gordon, Hays, Irvin,
McKinney, McGee, Renick, Skerpan-Wheeler,
Stimmel and Winek.

Absent: Gillis, Peeler

Liaisons Present: None

Guests: Wilbon Davis, Computer Science
Mike Moore, Frustrated Voyeur

CONTENTS

CLASSROOM SPACE PROBLEMS (Davis)
FACULTY ADVISOR LIABILITY (Bible)
FACULTY SENATE (WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE) ON THE INTERNET (Moore)
ELECTRONIC SURVEY OF FACULTY ISSUES (Gordon)
SENATE GOALS FOR 99-00 (Hays)
98-99 ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Hays)
WATCHFUL WAITING ISSUES (Hays)
NEW BUSINESS (Hays)

The meeting was called to order by Chair Hays at 4:05 p.m.

CLASSROOM SPACE PROBLEMS (Davis)

Davis noted that some departments are in dire need of classroom space.
For example, the Computer Science Department uses all 3 of its first
call classrooms from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and
8 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Davis requests that the Senate:

1. Determine the extent of the problem.
2. Determine the cause(s) of the problem -- policy, lack of policy, etc.
a. New initiatives that require space often commandeer classrooms.
b. How do THECB standards relate to the problem?
c. The first call system cannot be abandoned, but should be made more
flexible.
d. How do grants/contracts impact the space problem?
e. How should we handle someone who gets a grant requiring a dozen
or so rooms, but who has not identified those space needs during
the grant process?
f. Even though grantees might not require additional space, the person
who fills grantees' teaching functions do need space.

3. Initiate a dialogue with administrators to solve the problem or, at
least, stave off Armageddon.

Motion to charge the Facilities and Environment Committee to investigate
the issue and to define its scope. Ask Davis to serve as liaison to the
Committee as it discharges this responsibility.

Bible/Skerpan-Wheeler 11-0.

FACULTY ADVISOR LIABILITY (Bible)

Faculty advisors to student organizations certainly seem to have some
exposure to liability in their roles as advisors. How might this exposure
be mitigated?

1. The State of Texas covers damages up to $100,000.
2. Texas Faculty Association insurance might provide coverage in those
instance where the advisory function is closely related to academics.
3. Perhaps supervisory responsibilities could be delegated to an alternate
advisor if the primary advisor could not attend a particular function.
4. Require that organizations (or their parent organizations) purchase
some liability coverage for their advisors.
5. The University should more precisely delineate advisory functions.
6. Perhaps Student Affairs could provide blanket liability insurance
coverage for the entire University.
7. Above all, ensure that advisors are aware of their liability.

Bible will pursue the issue. Hays will write a memo to VPSA Jim Studer
concerning a general liability policy and to initiate discussion about
the expectations of faculty supervision.

FACULTY SENATE (WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE) ON THE INTERNET (Moore)

Moore detailed the pros and cons of televising and/or electronic recording of
Senate meetings. Motion to decline. Skerpan-Wheeler 9-0-2.

ELECTRONIC SURVEY OF FACULTY ISSUES (Gordon)

Motion to appoint a subcommittee of the Senate to design and administer
an electronic survey of faculty opinion on issues to be pursued by
the Senate. Gordon/Stimmel 10-1-0.

Hays appointed Gordon (chair), Bible, and Irvin to this Issues Subcommittee.

SENATE GOALS FOR 99-00 (Hays)

1. We desperately need data to counter mis-, mal-, and non-information
produced by rumor, innuendo, and administrative misdirection.
2. We need to review Senate committee charges to ensure that all committees
are functioning in a meaningful way to provide, where possible, data
to the Senate.
3. We will pursue the space issue raised by Davis.
4. We will await issues produced by the Issues Subcommittee.

98-99 ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Hays)

Hays will arrange a combing of past minutes to compile a list of recent
Senate accomplishments.

Meanwhile, the secretary will maintain a running list of things done ...

WATCHFUL WAITING ISSUES (Hays)

... and of things yet undone.

E.g., 1. Completion of the Faculty Handbook project.
2. Monitor the relationship between the Study Abroad directors
and Correspondence/Extension.
3. Monitor Post-Tenure Review: Its use and abuse.

NEW BUSINESS (Hays)

1. Replace Jack Gravitz with Ann Marie Ellis on the Academic Standards
Committee. By consensus.

2. Replace Gene Martin with Stanley Israel on the Academic Governance
Committee. By consensus.

[Ed. Note: The above action is void. Turns out that we'd
already appointed Dean Beck to replace former Dean Martin.]

3. Renick reported that the Council of Chairs had some reservations about
monetary awards made by the Academic Computing Committee. Renick noted
that we fully support the Academic Computing Committee, but we are,
of course, perfectly willing to entertain suggestions for modifications.

4. 1 September 1999 minutes. Conroy, et al, will communicate various
wording changes via email to Early who will incorporate them into
the minutes.

Motion to insert the following explanation of the deletion of the
motion to appoint John Beck to replace Mike Willoughby on the
Grievance Committee.

"The second vote was taken to avoid an overabundance of School of
Education personnel on the Grievance Committee."

The minutes were then approved by consensus.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

cheerfully submitted

grady

sen.19990908