Senators Present: Bible, Conroy, Gillis, Gordon, Hays, Irvin, Sawey, Skerpan,
Stimmel and Winek.
Senators Absent: Pascoe, McGee, Renick, and Anderson
Guests: Beverly Penn (Art), Carol Hazlewood (Comp Sci), Everett Swinney
(History), Gaye Krampitz (Faculty Contracts), Mike Moore.
CONTENTS
FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
ACADEMIC COMPUTING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
SALARY DATA BASE DISCUSSION
EVALUATION OF CHAIRS AND DEANS
APPOINTMENT OF PRES EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NEW BUSINESS
MINUTES OF 12-2-98
Chair Bible called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Beverly Penn, Chair of the Faculty Research Committee, presented the
committee recommendations. Because this was the second request for proposals
there was only $92,386.18 to be awarded; therefore, although there were many
excellent proposals only 14 could be funded. The committee suggests that all
applicants who were not funded contact the school committee chair for specific
feedback. It was moved and seconded that the recommendations of the committee
be accepted. The motion passed with 1 nay and 2 abstentions.
Prof. Penn then presented committee recommendations for revisions to the
Research Enhancement Grant Guidelines and Application. After some preliminary
discussion the Senate decided to consider these recommendations at the first
meeting in January.
ACADEMIC COMPUTING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Carol Hazelwood, chair of the Academic Computing Committee, reported that
the need for additional band width for internet access is being addressed by
Computer Services. In addition, the committee strongly recommends that the
University institute a policy for centralized login authentication for all SWT
computer users on all major platforms. It was moved and seconded that the
Senate accept the report and recommendations. The motion passed 9-0.
SALARY DATA BASE DISCUSSION
Ev Swinney proposed that the Senate request from the VPAA's office a fairly
extensive list of pay variables for faculty that would establish a base for
systematic tracking of salaries which would allow us to put in perspective
decisions regarding promotions, performance, merit, bonuses, etc. This data
collection would begin with Fall 1998 and would be repeated each fall
hereafter. Gaye Krampitz from Faculty Contracts assured the Senate that the
data collection could be done and that the first print could be available this
Spring (after the SACS visit has been completed). Dr. Swinney agreed to help
with the initial analysis of the data. It was moved and seconded to begin this
process with a service request to Ms. Krampitz. The motion passed unanimously.
EVALUATION OF CHAIRS AND DEANS
Sen. Sawey gave a brief hisory of the development of the draft doccuments
for systematic evaluation of chairs and deans. After some discussion the
Senate recomended changing the language in the draft for evaluation of chairs,
item 4.c to read as follows:
After receiving information from faculty, staff, and students, the dean
will meet with, at a minimum, the personnel committee in the chair's/director's
department to discuss the chair's/director's performance. The chair will not
be present at this meeting.
The Senate recommended that the language in the draft for evaluation of
deans, item 4.a, read as follows:
This review will be based upon a comprehensive written evaluation of the
dean's work to be completed by a review committee composed of:
Sen. Stimmel noted that the word outline in item 4.g should be outlined.
The Senate then determined to direct the VPAA to cause to be developed the
common core of items to be included as part of the evaluation instruments which
are mentioned in the draft PPS documents. Further, the Senate recommends that
these core items be made up based on input from the President, VPAA, deans and
chairs for the deans' evaluations and input from the VPAA, deans, chairs and
departmental faculty for the chairs' evaluations.
This recommendation was passed unanimously.
APPOINTMENT OF PRES. EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Senate unanimously accepted the appointment of Sens. Hays, Gillis and
Skerpan to serve on the Presidential Excellence in Teaching Award Selection
Committee.
NEW BUSINESS
The Senate expressed a keen interest in looking at the results of the
Customer Satisfaction survey made about the services of the ORSP.
MINUTES OF 12-2-98
The minutes of the 12-2-98 meeting were approved as presented.
The Senate adjourned at 6.10 p.m.
