MINUTES OF THE UT MARTIN FACULTY SENATE MEETING

February 11, 1997

CALL TO ORDER
The first meeting of the 1997 Spring Semester was called to order at 3:20 p.m. by President Stan Sieber in the Boling Center Rooms 201-2-3. Present were 42 senators, 3 substitutes and 6 visitors.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the December 3, 1996, meeting were approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Executive Committee
President Sieber reported that he thought the Board of Trustees meeting, held on our campus February 6-7, went well. The Board did pass the Technology Fee.

Sieber also called the senators' attention to the memo in their packets regarding the election of senate officers. He stated that Kevin Lambert and Jerald Ogg have been nominated for Vice President/President-Elect and asked if there were any further nominations from the floor. A motion was made and seconded to close nominations. Motion passed. Sieber stated that Robert Nanney and Steve Rogers were nominated for Secretary and asked if there were any further nominations from the floor. A motion was made and seconded to close nominations. Motion passed. Ballots will be sent to the senators in the next few days and Sieber asked that they be returned to Kristy by February 19.

It was also reported to the senators that letters would be going out soon to the newly elected senators inviting them to the April senate meeting and asking that they indicate their preferences for committee assignments.

Budget and Economic Concerns Committee
Robert Nanney brought a report from the January 14 meeting of this committee and stated that budget hearings would begin soon. He turned the floor over to Phil Dane, who reported on the governor's proposed budget and how that should affect us. The governor recommended a $40 million (4.26%) reduction. THEC held a strong stand to use the formula; since we had a decrease in FTE last fall, we would be looking at a large decrease in budget, probably around $520 thousand. We need to get FTE back up, and we are assuming that there will be a 3% fee increase. Presently, we are looking at a $626 thousand problem at the minimum. However, we do not know what THEC is going to do. The chairs, directors, and deans will find out at the budget hearings what the status should be. By April 1, we should be making decisions about next year. It has been emphasized by Chancellor Perry that this is NOT an across-the-board budget cut.

Undergraduate Council
Helmut Wenz brought a report from the January 21 meeting of the Undergraduate Council, and brought the curriculum change proposals as a motion and a second for approval. A motion was made and seconded to separate the packet by schools for consideration. Motion carried.

Agriculture and Human Environment - Motion carried.

Arts and Sciences - Motion carried.

Business Administration - Kendall Blanchard asked that the Info Sys 361 be sent back until the Computer Science courses which have been sent back have also been settled. (capital funds/equipment issue) A motion was made and seconded to exclude this item at this time. Motion failed. Concern was expressed regarding the name change to Management Information Systems. Courses are currently being taught in Computer Science with this exact name, and this could present a conflict. It was also stated by another senator that "the addition of a certificate program in End-User Computing" looked like a junior college level type course; other senators agreed.

It was noted that if the new program and courses are necessary it seems that the increased faculty load is underestimated, and it was questioned whether it is justified or if staffing needs should be looked at.

A representative of the School of Business Administration said that the reason for the certificate is mostly so it shows up on resumes and transcripts; the courses are one-hour courses.

A question was again raised about the name change to Management Information Systems, and someone else stated that this is still duplication. Dean Gary Young stated that there is not enough enrollment to fight over and that IS 310 is a rewrite of 380, they were simply changing from Mgt 380 to IS 310.

Call for a vote. All in favor as it is (the whole packet from Business Administration) - 23; against - 18. Motion carried.

Education - Motion carried.

Fine and Performing Arts - Motion carried.

Graduate Council
Maurice Field gave a report of the January 23 meeting of the Graduate Council. A recommendation came from this committee as a motion and second for approval as follows:

The last 30 semester hours of a baccalaureate degree will be used to calculate GPA used for admission to the Graduate Program, including all work taken during the semester in which the 30th hour is accumulated. The 30 hours used will be the final hours of a chronological sequence and not the final 30 hours on the transcript. Effective date will be Fall 1997.

Motion carried.

The non-standard course proposals included in the senate packet were brought as a motion and second. Motion carried.

Curriculum proposals from Agriculture and Human Environmental Sciences and Arts and Sciences were brought as a motion and second. Motion carried.

Instruction Committee
Jerald Ogg brought a report from the January 14 meeting of the Instruction Committee. One item being discussed by the committee is the addition of a study day each semester and the institution of a policy of not having tests on the last day of classes. Ogg asked the senators to let him know their viewpoints on this matter. There were no other items to come before the senate at this time.

Library Committee
There was no report from the Library Committee at this time.

Personnel Policies Committee
Frank Black brought a report of the last meeting of the Personnel Policies Committee meeting on February 4, as well as the hearing held on January 21 on the proposed tenure policy. He felt that the hearing went well and that the proposal was generally well received. Some issues are to be discussed with the various departments. The issue of released time for the senate vice president was discussed, but was voted down at this time. Other options are being discussed.

NEW BUSINESS
Sieber asked if there were any items of new business to be discussed. He reminded the senators of the open faculty meeting on March 6. There was no other new business.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made and seconded; the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.




Stan Sieber, President

Anna Clark, Secretary