Present: Bible, Conroy, Hunter, Irvin, McGee, Oliver, Pascoe, Sawey,
Simpson, and Stimmel.
Absent: Bechtol, Bourgeois, Deduck-Evans, Hays, Winek
Guests: Kim Folse (Soc), Ev Swinney (Hist), Michael Nowicki (Health
Prof), Mimi Tangum (ORPS) and Mike Moore.
CONTENTS:
- NORTH AUSTIN INITIATIVE REPORT
- SUMMER SCHEDULE
- RESEARCH COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE REP0RT
- SENATE SECRETARY
- GRIEVANCE OF PROMOTION DENIALS
- NEW BUSINESS
- KOLBE GIFT TO SWT FROM E. SWINNEY
- MINUTES 4-30-97 (including corrections)
- MINUTES 5-7-97 (including corrections)
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bible at 2:05 pm.
NORTH AUSTIN INITIATIVE REPORT
Chair Bible distributed the North Austin Initiative Report from Graduate
Dean Willoughby which discusses project costs and benefits. Senator
Pascoe noted that this project is part of the SWT Core Goals.
SUMMER SCHEDULE
The Faculty Senate meets once a month during the summer. The schedule
for this summer is as follows:
Wednesday, June 18
Wednesday, July 16
Wednesday, August 27
Meetings will be from 3-5 pm in the Senate Conference Room, JCK 880.
RESEARCH COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE REP0RT
Under current policy, faculty may receive no more than three Faculty
Research Enhancement grants in five years. Some confusion regarding the
meaning of this policy has arisen. It was decided that the intent is to
limit faculty to three grants in the five years prior to the year in
which they apply for a grant.
Other revisions to the guidelines were discussed, but final approval of
the new guidelines will occur later this summer. The subject was RTA'd
until the June meeting.
The Research Subcommittee's proposal to do "research on the research"
was discussed at length. The subcommittee noted needed improvements to
the grant application process and outlined a plan to accomplish some
improvements using unspent funds from the last cycle. The Senate had
understood that unused funds had to be spent or they would be returned
to the State. With that in mind, the subcommittee advised the Senate
that a good use of the funds would be to examine and improve the entire
process. The major concerns are the lack of interest in applying for
grants and the lack of organization of the files at ORSP.
Assoc.VP Tangum expressed the opinion that no funds should be spent on
anything other than research and also stated that Bill Nance had assured
her that unused funds could be rolled over for next year. She said that
her office has limited resources to be used but also assured the Senate
that they would be able to do more in the future.
It was moved that in the event the funds must be spent by 8-31-97, the
Research Committee, including Assoc.VP Tangum, would explore research
options for the remaining funds and bring a prioritized list to the
Senate for consideration. The motion also allowed for up to $2,500 of
the funds to be allotted to hire a research assistant to organize the
ORSP files. It was also moved that if the funds can be rolled over for
next year, up to $2,500 should be allotted for administrative support of
the reorganization of the research files at ORSP. Both motions passed.
SENATE SECRETARY
RTA'd until the June 18 meeting.
GRIEVANCE OF PROMOTION DENIALS
Chair Bible met with President Supple, VPAA Gratz and SWT Attorney Fly
last week to discuss the promotion grievance policy. The purpose was to
determine if the administration would support the Senate in asking for a
change of the Regents Rules regarding the right of faculty to grieve a
promotion denial. President Supple feels that the system is working
well and would not support a change in the Regents Rules. A suggested
goal is to have fair, clear criteria by which the promotion decision is
made and to have that criteria applied across the board. Chair Bible
will contact the System Attorney, Gomez and will also contact other
senates in our system to determine their position on this issue.
NEW BUSINESS
GIFT OF KOLBE ORIGINAL TO SWT BY EV SWINNEY
Prof. Ev Swinney gave SWT the Kolbe original water-color painting which
hangs in the Senate Office. The painting has been donated to SWT with
the stipulation that it belong to the Senate in perpetuity. Bill Kolbe,
an extraordinary artist and long-time friend of Prof. Swinney, was a
Faculty Senator in the 1980's and is credited with the design of several
Faculty Handbooks. Dr. Swinney intends for this gift to symbolize his
gratitude to Senators, past and present, for the collegiality afforded
him during his tenure on the Senate and as a sign of confidence that the
Senate will continue to mature as an effective component of governance
at SWT. Prof. Swinney also presented the Senate with a commemorative
brass plate which will be attached to the water-color painting.
MINUTES OF 4-30-97 and 5-7-97
The Minutes were corrected and approved.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30.
Shirley Pilus
Administrative Assistant
