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June 8, 2005 Minutes

Faculty Senate Minutes 06/08/05

Members present:

Chair Stone, Senators Brennan,  Gillis, Hazlewood,  Hindson, James,  McKinney,  Rao,  Shah, Sorensen, Warms

Guests: Vedaraman Sriraman, Engr & Tech, Steven Beebe, Comm. Studies, Margaret Vavaerek, Library, Selene Hinojosa, Library, Beth Erhart, Anthro, Micky Henry, Provost�s Office, Jon McGee, Anthro

Meeting called to order at 4:00.

 

Curriculum Committee Recommendations:

The Senate considered the following recommendations from the University Curriculum Committee:

  1. Change the Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Studies
  2. Change the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies majors in International Studies
  3. Add a Bachelor of Science major in Anthropology
  4. Delete the Bachelor of Science in Technology major in Information Systems Management
  5. Delete the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science major in Biology-Marine Biology

The rules were suspended and the recommendations were approved.

 

Curriculum Committee Appointments:

The Senate made the following appointments to the Curriculum Committee:

  1. S. Rao, Mass Comm 2008
  2. R. Mooney, Health Admin 2006
  3. Sally Hill-Jones, Social Work 2008
  4. D East, Comp Sci 2008
  5. S. Hinojosa, Library 2006

Again, the rules were suspended and the appointments approved.

 

Senate Survey Data to be Used in Reappointment of Chairs:

Dean Cheatham has requested early release of the Faculty Senate data on the evaluation of chairs so that he might use the results in the reappointment process of chairs in his college.  Normally, the data would not be released until the fall semester, but the sense of the Senate was that if the data could support the reappointment process, then it should be made available.

 

Librarian/Curator Enhanced Status:

A group from the Library is requesting that curators be afforded the same enhanced status as librarians with regard to membership on faculty committees.  The argument forwarded is that librarians and curators have equivalent degree requirements  for appointment and the same career ladder for advancement.  Although librarians are not considered faculty at Tex State, they are given the enhanced status of being able to serve on faculty committees.  Their request is curators be given the same enhanced status.  Some questions were raised regarding the teaching component of a curator�s appointment.  The discussion expanded the issue of the possible inclusion of art curators and lab instructors and whether such enhanced status was appropriate.  The issue will be considered at a later date.

 

Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) Requests Representation on Faculty Committees:

The Senate considered a memorandum from Provost Moore to various administrators: V. Wyatt, N. Nusbaum, J. Smith, J. Studer, C. Fleuriet, requesting that staff members from

RRHEC be placed on the Academic Computing Committee, the Library Committee and several other university committees.  V. Wyatt pointed out that the Academic Computing Committee was a Senate committee and any appointment to Senate committees should go through the Senate.  A Senator remarked that the phrase, �two campuses � one faculty,� was used to refer to RRHEC in the past, but it is not clear how many faculty appointments are designated solely to the RRHEC: Tex State faculty are automatically considered for committee appointments.  The Senate  discussion concluded that consideration of the role of each faculty committee  should be re-examined  and a determination made as to whether RRHEC needed representation.  The Director of RRHEC, Edna Rehbein,  will be invited to the Senate for clarification.

 

Nepotism and Related Employment:

The Senate considered the new UPPS 04.04.07 Nepotism and Related Employment which includes changes in Regents� Rules to allow the president of the university to approve the employment of any person related within the second degree of affinity or the third degree of consanguinity to another employee even  if such employment causes one relative to have a direct supervisory relationship over the other relative or such employment causes one relative to have authority over the salary or other terms of employment of the other.  Previously,  such employment was not allowed by Regents� Rules.  In the subsequent discussion the Senate agreed with most of the revision although apprehension about possible violation of nepotism laws was expressed.  Debate centered on the particular phrase on page 2 of the revision:

all subsequent actions with regard to appointment,  reappointment, promotion, or salary shall be the responsibility of the next highest administrative supervisor. 

This particular clause, if a chair was employed  with a spousal faculty member in the same department, the dean to become a voting member of the college review group.  Also, problems could arise for a personnel committee  to discuss reappointment, promotion and merit/performance issues for a chair�s spouse.   The Senate will express its concern regarding the UPPS and will monitor the issue.

 

Governance and the Right to Grieve:

The Senate discussed a grievance filed last year by two faculty members in the College of Health Professions that was featured in the May 5, 2005, vol. 1 issue 1 article of the Texas Faculty Association.  At issue are not the particular merits of the case, but how it was handled by the then Tex State hearing officer, John Bible, who ruled that grievants  must have legal bases for their complaints, i.e., a violation of law or policy.  On that basis, their grievance was denied and the denial was endorsed by President Trauth.  Subsequently, the Texas Faculty Association has filed a Texas Public Information Act request on behalf of the faculty members to examine the documentation surrounding this change  in grievance procedures at Tex State.  Article 1. Of PPS 8.08 states:

Section 4.42 of Chapter V of the Regents' Rules permits a faculty member to present a grievance, in person, to the President or his designee, on an issue related to wages, hours of employment, conditions of work, promotion denial, or the non-renewal or termination of employment.

At question is whether Bible�s interpretation was appropriate.  The current hearing officer, David Spencer, Criminal Justice, will be invited to discuss the issue with the Senate.

 

New Business:

  1. Results of Tenure/Promotion and CUPA:  The Senate will ask for data by departments and colleges regarding both tenure/promotion and salary adjustments based on CUPA data.
  2. Also, Associated with Tenure/Promotion:  Results for tenure/promotion decisions were to be announced April 1st.  This seems to have changed. Now, when are those results to be announced?  The Senate will ask.
  3. Legislative Session:  The Senate will ask Provost Moore to discuss the recent legislative session, particularly with regard to HEAF funds and Tuition/Revenue bonds.
  4. Blue Cross Blue Shield:  Agreement was finally reached between BCBS and Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC).  The question was raised as to how this agreement will affect our co-pay, insurance premiums, etc.  The new rate are posted on the BCBS web site: http://www.bcbstx.com