Present: Bible, Bourgeois, Caverly, Deduck-Evans, Ford, Hays, Horne,
Hunter, McGee, Pascoe, Sawey, Simpson, Stimmel, Weller, and Winek.
Guests: VPAA Gratz and VPFSS Nance; Prof. Habengreither (Tech); Mike
Moore, Dylan Sides (University Star), Shirley Pilus.
CONTENTS:
REVIEW OF CAD ITEMS (Prof. Bible)
REPLACEMENT FOR SEN. HAYS ON EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING COM.
NOMINATION OF TWO SENATORS FOR UNIVERSITY AD HOC COM. ON GENERAL STUDIES
NEW BUSINESS
MINUTES OF 2/19/97
CHANGES IN PPS 8.08 FACULTY GRIEVANCE COM. (Ombudsman John McGee)
DISCUSSION WITH VPs NANCE AND GRATZ
(1) GROUP BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(2) OPTIONAL TERM LIFE INSURANCE (Letter Prof. Ruth Taylor)
(3) PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY-ART COMBINED BUILDING
(4) NEW ITEM: PEPPER'S SITUATION
The meeting was called to order at 4:05, Chair Bible presiding.
REVIEW OF CAD ITEMS (Prof. Bible)
(1) Chair and Dean reviews--no comment on renewable terms. A
statement on three year reviews for chairs was forthcoming, but not what
would happen with unfavorable reviews, except that Pres. Supple (in a
letter to VPAA Gratz) indicated that this could serve as the basis of the
performance expectations for the subsequent three years." A review of
deans on a five-year cycle was proposed in the same letter. [If you have
not received an e-mail copy of the Pres.' interesting suggestions, contact
Prof. Sawey at RS01.]
(2) Development leave reports were discussed by CAD. The
Faculty Research Committee has already tightened reporting on outcomes, so
perhaps this is a moot point.
(3) A chart outlining the top 25 enrollment courses and their
D, F, and W percentages (noted as failures) from Fall 1995 through Summer
1996 was discussed. The table the Senate received was not
self-explanatory, so a number of questions were raised which were not
answered.
(4) North Austin initiative was discussed. Dean Willoughby is
collecting data and Prof. Northcutt (Budget Com.) will assist.
(5) School weather closings this year. No make-up days required.
(6) Bonus (what to do with the $360,000 faculty salary pool):
CAD RTA'd.
REPLACEMENT FOR SEN. HAYS ON EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING COM.
Prof. Bill Bechtol was appointed by unanimous vote to replace Prof.
Hays, who is up for the award.
NOMINATION OF TWO SENATORS FOR UNIVERSITY AD HOC COM. ON GENERAL STUDIES
The University is reviewing the mission and fulfillment of General
Studies, apparently for the coming SACS review. Senators Winek and McGee
were appointed by unanimous vote.
NEW BUSINESS
(1) Prof. Swinney is working on the faculty index list to get
everyone on it in the right place. Some have been left off because of
quasi-administrative posts, although they are paid out of faculty funds.
(2) The Senate resolution last week regarding the proposed
Tech/Art building proposal was a little out-of-order since we forgot to
suspend the rules on passing judgement on new business. This reminder
produced a little mirth, since the resolution was unanimous. Presumably, a
resolution to suspend the rules for a vote would have been the same.
(3) How are programs treated? What kind of representation in
departmental decision making, why no independent program library budgets?
RTA'd for more information.
MINUTES OF 2/19/97
The minutes were approved as read.
CHANGES IN PPS 8.08 FACULTY GRIEVANCE COM. (Ombudsman John McGee)
Ombudsman McGee presented a draft of AAPPS 8.08 which has been
rewritten to clarify wording and conform to PPS format. Substantive
changes are as follows: (1) It broadens the definition of "grievance" to
include any aspect of the employment relationship; (2) A paragraph on
mediation has been added to encourage its use; (3) It requires
administrators to include the Ombudsman in settlement negotiations; (4) It
allows the Ombudsman to refuse a hearing if he determines that the
grievance is frivolous; (5) It allows the Ombudsman to consolidate
grievances against the same person; and (6) It discourages the use of
lawyers.
After discussion on the above, the Senate asked Ombudsman McGee to
(1) Discuss faculty versus faculty complaints regarding employment with
former Ombudsman Laird and draft a possible statement on how these are
handled, (2) Incorporate that grievances found frivolous by the Ombudsman
be examined by the Chair of the Grievance Committee, and (3) Dr. Bible
suggested adding the following as section 3.09 (moving the current 3.09 to
3.10:
"Communication with Committee. After the hearing is concluded and
before the president has acted on the committee's recommendations, neither
party to the grievance, his or her agent, or any faculty member(s) acting
on behalf of the party, shall initiate any direct communication with any
committee member or with the president regarding any issue raised in the
hearing."
A motion passed to endorse the draft, with direction for
incorporation of the above suggestions. The new draft will return to the
Senate agenda.
DISCUSSION WITH VPs NANCE AND GRATZ
(1) GROUP BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The State has a 26 member Uniform Group Insurance Committee to
advise TRS. VPSS Nance represent the TSUS (SWT and our sister schools) on
this committee. HMOs are governed by federal laws and GBAC and ERS cannot
prescribe benefits. We are, however, prevailing upon HMOs to give clients
a 90-day notice when benefits change, so that individuals can shift to
other plans if necessary.
(2) OPTIONAL TERM LIFE INSURANCE (Letter Prof. Ruth Taylor)
It was mentioned that a GBAC subcommittee is looking at the policy
which now limits term life to $10,000 for retirees. Also, a workshop on
insurance will be held for faculty and staff in about six weeks. RTA'd.
(3) PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY-ART COMBINED BUILDING
Last week's Senate resolution on the seemingly undue haste of this
proposal created a flurry of correspondence from some administrators.
VPFSS Nance distributed a chronology of events, starting with the November
22, 1996 Regents appointing JPJ Architects to design the new Art Building,
but first investigating the feasibility of renovating the current Art Bldg.
and LBJ Student Center for a new Art Building and also reviewing the site
selections for new Art and Technology buildings in the master plan (because
of the superconductor which Physics and Technology will be working on).
JPJ found the renovation idea to be impractical and on January 21, 1997
chairs and deans and other involved parties met with JPJ. The question of
co-location of the two buildings was raised. Four subsequent meetings have
been held with JPJ et al. to pursue concerns by both departments.
So far, "JPJ has been told they have until the June 6, 1997 Regents
meeting to work with Art, Technology, and Physics to determine if a complex
of buildings can be designed which will alleviate the concerns expressed."
Prof. Habengreither and Profs. Weller and Winek seemed marginally
persuaded that their departments' concerns were now being taken into
consideration. All concerned are very wary regarding their input and what
is presented to the Regents in June.
(4) PEPPER'S
A question was raised concerning the losses of about $20,000 a
month since August. VPFSS Nance explained that initially we could not hire
a for-profit manager since the purchase of Aquarena was done with
tax-exempt bonds and the IRS has not changed this ruling that we had
expected. However, a reevaluation has been done regarding Aquarena
(including water rights) and since Pepper's is now less than 10% of the
value of the total property, we can take bids in March from for-profit
managers.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Ramona Ford
Secretary
