MINUTES OF THE UT MARTIN SENATE MEETING

March 19, 1996

CALL TO ORDER
The second meeting of the 1996 Spring Semester was called to order at 3:15 p.m. by President Charles Harding in the Room 206 University Center. Present were 34 Senators, 3 substitutes, and 8 visitors.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
There were no additions or corrections to the minutes of February 13, 1996. Minutes stand approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Because of a tie in the votes received by mail, ballots were distributed at the meeting and a vote taken to elect the Faculty Senate secretary for the 1996-1997 academic year. Anna Clark was elected secretary. Linda Ramsey had been elected Vice President/President Elect through the mail ballot.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Executive Committee
Harding gave a report of the March 5 meeting of the Executive Committee.

Vice Chancellor Kendall Blanchard gave a report on budget reallocation, stating that a report is being prepared but that the planning process is running late this year. The School of Education was being reviewed by NCATE during the next academic year. This is very important for the entire campus, not only for the School of Education. He also told the senators that a new Dean of the School of Education had been hired (Dr. Linda Murphy). There will be changes in the Fall Faculty Meeting this year. It will be held on the last Friday of Freshman Studies Week, with a morning meeting, a luncheon and presentations in the afternoon.

Harding asked the senators to consider the list of senate committee assignments which was distributed in the senate packets to be tentative, with a corrected list to be distributed in the next packet. Due to problems with distribution of classes in the senate membership, some committee assignments need to be reconsidered.

The new members of the Faculty Relations Committee are Lynn Alexander, Frank Black, Polly Glover, Nell Gullett, and Helmut Wenz.

The question of having or discontinuing the December graduation ceremony has been raised during Fall term. Harding agreed with the Chancellor's comments (sent by e-mail on Campus-L), stating that we should continue to have both December and May graduation.

The senate will look at the academic calendar next year, especially with respect to the ending of summer semester and the beginning of fall semester.

The SGA has proposed a Grace Day before final exams. No tests could be given on that day. Harding informed the senate that this matter would be presented to the Instruction Committee for consideration.

A Task Force has been selected to study the process of evaluation of administrators. This task force will be meeting on April 1. They will be looking at the entire process, including the instrument and how it is used.

Budget and Economic Concerns
Mary Ruth Gibbons said there was no report to come before the Senate at this time.

Undergraduate Council
Doug Cook stated that the committee wished to express appreciation to the Cultural Diversity Requirement Development Team for their work on the pilot project. He presented as a motion from the council that the implementation of the Cultural Diversity Requirement be delayed until Fall of 1997. Motion seconded. In discussion, it was clarified that this was a three-hour requirement, not a course. Motion carried.

He then presented and moved approval for the curriculum changes as approved by the council at their Februaryÿ27 meeting, with the packet coming from the committee as a motion and second. Motion carried.

Graduate Council
K. Paul Jones, representing Robert Erk, presented and moved approval for the curriculum changes as approved in their February 29 meeting, with the packet coming as a motion and second. Motion carried. He also called the senators attention to other items discussed, as listed in the minutes.

Instruction Committee
Nell Gullett stated that there were no items to come before the Senate at this time. It was noted, however, that there were scheduling problems for the proposed Conference Day, with conflicts with lab courses. A memo will be sent to chairs of departments with lab courses for their input.

Library Committee
There was no report from the Library Committee.

Personnel Policies
Sandra Gossum stated that there were no items to come before the Senate at this time.

NEW BUSINESS
Harding stated that he, along with Bill Zachry and Cile Grasfeder, would be meeting with Dr. Joe Johnson as faculty advisors to the president on April 1.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made and seconded; the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Charles Harding, President

Daniel F. Pigg, Secretary