CALL TO ORDER
The first meeting of the 1995 Fall Semester was called to order at 3:20 p.m. by President Charles Harding in the Ballroom of the Boling University Center. Present were 38 Senators, two substitutes, and 14 visitors.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
There were no additions or corrections to the minutes of April 18, 1995. Minutes stand approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chancellor Margaret Perry approved all faculty senate recommendations from the previous meeting.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Executive Committee
Harding reviewed the minutes of the September 12 meeting of the Executive Committee, bringing several items in particular to the attention of the Senate. There was a change in the Faculty Relations Committee for this year. Because Margrethe Ahlschwede is not tenured, Richard Chesteen will be serving instead. There continues to be a conflict, albeit infrequent, in teaching assignments and Senate meetings. Harding reminded the Senators that it was their responsibility to remind their department chairs or deans of the necessity to have Tuesday afternoons clear. It will be necessary this year to complete the process of bringing the number of Senators in each class into closer balance, by voting to stagger the terms of some incoming Senators. This will be coming before the Senate in the near future. Harding talked with other UT system faculty senate presidents last week and they have agreed that they are ready to look again at getting approval for representation on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

In preparation for last year s general fall faculty meeting, memos were sent asking all faculty for suggestions for items for discussion. Harding asked the Senators for direction regarding this process, since some faculty expressed a preference for no agenda at all at this meeting, stating that it was supposed to be an open discussion with no agenda. A motion was made that the Senate should develop a short agenda for the open faculty meetings. The motion was seconded. There was discussion regarding time limits and it was agreed that it would be up to the moderator to keep the discussion going. The vote was called and the motion passed.

Non-traditional families, in regards to insurance and benefits, were discussed last year. Harding has checked on this with the UT system, finding that the Law School was already looking into this. There will be no changes at present in policy. Harding told the Senators that this is not an item for the Faculty Senate to decide, and that he would be bringing up at a meeting of the Counselors to the President later.

Budget and Economic Concerns
Mary Ruth Gibbons stated that there was nothing from this committee to come before the Senate at this time.

Undergraduate Council
Doug Cook presented and moved approval for the curriculum changes and other items as approved by the council at their September 5 meeting. The curriculum changes were from the School of Business Administration and the other items were the assignment of letter grades for the Cultural Diversity/Freshman Studies pilot course and the need for similar interpretation of rules regarding high school units, English proficiency, and A&S foreign language requirement for international students/resident aliens. There was a question regarding Management 430, and a motion was made and seconded to remove that course from the packet until further clarification. Motion to remove the course from consideration passed. The motion on the remainder of the items from the council passed.

Graduate Council
Robert Erk presented and moved approval for one nonstandard course format from Educational Studies and for Graduate Faculty Applications as approved by the council at their September 7 meeting. All passed.

Instruction Committee
Nell Gullett stated that there was nothing from this committee to come before the Senate at this time.

Personnel Policies
Sandra Gossum brought a report from this committee, stating that there was nothing for the Senate to vote on at this time. There is, however, a survey on evaluation of administrators by faculty in process at this time, and a report will be brought before the Senate at a later date.

NEW BUSINESS
Chancellor Perry gave a short report to the Senators about numerous items. She said that Dr. Blanchard's seminar on technology on Monday, September 25, was well attended.

Student enrollment is up, while enrollment at most schools is down, right now. The ACT scores for incoming freshmen are down very slightly from last year, but still higher than the year before.

The recommendation from the Faculty Senate regarding Faculty Evaluations was approved by Chancellor Perry in the previous academic year, with the stipulation that she wanted to seek approval by legal council. This has now been done and the changes in the Faculty Handbook will be distributed in the near future.

The proposed changes in the Engineering Technology and Engineering program were approved by the Board of Trustees. However, there is a freeze by THEC on new programs, so this has not yet been acted on.

Systems Improvement is in process. More will be seen regarding changes in procedures in various departments, soon.

Dr. Joe Johnson will be on campus on November 3 to give the State of the System address. This is an open meeting and all faculty and staff are invited to attend.

The Chancellor reminded the Senators that input is being requested on financial savings and budget. Some input has been received from administrators, deans and chairs, but not much from faculty.

Harding asked if there was other new business; there was none.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Charles E. Harding, President

Daniel F. Pigg, Secretary