Faculty Senate Minutes 4-29-09
1.) The meeting was called to order by Dr. Clint Atchley, President
Present: Clint Atchley, Mitzi Bass, James Duke, David Evans, Maralea Gourley, Martin Halpern, Brett Serviss, James Ingman (alternate for Michael Taylor), Kevin Durand, Linda Evans, Vickie Faust, Rhonda Harrington, Paul Huo, Catherine Leach, Patti Miley, Michael Miller, Rochelle Moss, Allison Vetter, Dusty Schmid (Staff Senate Representative)
2.) Dr. Vernon Miles, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, attended the meeting and discussed several subjects as well as answered questions posed by senators.
A. Contracts will go out a few days later than the usual date due to some incorrect wording in some staff contracts. B. HSU may be involved in a voluntary self study initiative that is a forthcoming part of the Higher Learning Commission visit. Our campus visit should take place during the Fall 2011 or the Sping 2012 semester. C. Dr. Miles should be notified soon concerning his application to be a Peer Reviewer. D. HSU financial information will not be printed in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) report because, by mistake, no information was sent forward. E. Contact David Epperhart with questions about on line assessment.
3.) The April 1, 2009, minutes were approved.
4.) Clint Atchley distributed the following:
President’s Report
29 April 2009
Meeting with President Chuck Welch—
I met with Dr. Welch on 27 April 2009 to discuss the issues. Dr. Welch and I didn’t go into too much discussion about the budget since he has two forums planned for Thursday, 30 April—one at 10.00 a.m. and another at 3.00 p.m. He asked me to encourage all of you to attend. He will discuss and explain the budget for approximately 45 mins. and will then open the floor for questions. He indicated that he will stay and answer any and all questions for as long as people want. What we are looking at in a nutshell is a 3.6% increase in tuition with no mandatory fee increases with no raises and no increases in any existing budgets. Some budgets will see a 5% decrease. HSU will receive 430K in new money, which is also one-time money. Upon the recommendation of the Fringe Benefits Committee, the amount HSU will budget for benefits will be the same as last year even though our health insurance premium is going down. It may go back up in the future, and the extra money will go toward the increase so that it will not have to come out of the employees’ pockets. Dr. Welch also mentioned the possibility of a one-time merit bonus but indicated that there would not be enough of the one-time money to give across-the-board bonuses. An across-the-board bonus would amount to less than 1%. This idea is in the early stages of discussion and nothing has been decided. If it happens at all, it will probably be next fall.
The bill prohibiting use of tobacco products on campus has been signed into law, so there will be discussion on where people will be allowed to smoke and how to enforce the law. The bill stipulates a $100-500 fine. Dr. Welch intends to assemble a group of faculty and staff to make recommendations about smoking and also look at methods and programs of helping people who want to quit smoking.
Dr. Welch is definitely going to convert the old workout room in Garrison into a workout facility for faculty and staff only. No students will be allowed to utilize this facility now that the Recreation Center has opened. Tim Jones is collecting bids on new equipment for this facility. It will be funded by private donations and possibly some of the one-time money since there will be no extended upkeep on the room or the equipment.
The Strategic Planning Committee is up and rolling. Sub-committees have been formed and chairs have been contacted in anticipation of a summer retreat probably sometime in August.
Following up on the overhaul of our webpage, I asked Dr. Welch about the plans. We will hire a national company to redesign our webpage, but the plans are on hold until the budget is set and Dr. Welch has secured the private monies for this project. This will be paid for with private money and by suspending advertising on cable television. We will continue to advertise locally in theaters. The company will survey faculty, students, staff, etc. to determine our needs and start implementing changes in the fall.
5.) Reports of Committees
A. Academics Committee: The Online Course Compensation Proposal will be presented during the Fall 2009 semester.
B. Building and Grounds Committee: No report
C. Finance Committee: No report
D. Procedures Committee: Hearing Committee ballots will be distributed during the Fall 2009 semester
E. Ad hoc Committee on Promotion/Tenure and Salary Study
Resolution Concerning Promotion and Tenure
Whereas the tenure and promotion difficulty is a symptom of, and was implemented as a response to, the inequitable salary structure,
Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate urges the university to address the salary inequities prior to further discussion of the best way of reforming the tenure and promotion process.
This resolution passed.
Resolution Concerning Data on Faculty Compensation
Be it resolved that the data on faculty salaries, as summarized in the April 1, 2009, Faculty Senate minutes, (AAUP rankings, COPLAC peer rankings, and Regional Institution peer rankings) be forwarded to the Board of Trustees.
This resolution passed.
Resolution Concerning the Sense of the Senate regarding the Financial Situation of the University
The financial situation of the university being what it is, it is the sense of the Faculty Senate of Henderson State University that a thorough and overdue reevaluation of the auxiliary spending, particularly spending on athletics, should be conducted by the administration in conjunction with the Faculty Senate; and the Senate shall establish an ad hoc committee, appointed by the president of the Senate, that will be tasked to prepare a list of recommendations for cost savings.
This resolution passed.
F. Executive Committee: A resolution concerning a Tenure/Promotion and Salary Committee resolution was withdrawn.
6. Old Business: None
7. New Business: None
8. Adjourn
Respectfully submitted,
Mitzi Bass, Secretary