CALL TO ORDER
The second meeting of the 1999 Spring Semester was called to order at 3:20 p.m. by President Jerald Ogg in Room 36 Business Administration Building.  Present were 35 senators and officers, 1 substitute, and 6 guests.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President Ogg asked Senator Wheeler to give a report on the search for a vice chancellor for academic affairs.  Wheeler stated that there were 35 candidates at present and that the committee hopes to have the job filled by July 1.  They would like to have the interviews during the spring semester while the faculty are still here.

Ogg said that there was no news on the search for a UT President.

Dr. Joe Johnson will be here in April for the meeting of the Counselors to the President.  He will also be here in May for the system to campus visit.

Ogg informed the senators that the senate officers for the 1999-2000 year are Vice President/President-Elect, Doug Sterrett, and Senate Secretary, Robert Nanney.

Proposed amendments to the Faculty Senate Bylaws were handed out to the senators and Ogg stated that these amendments would be voted on at the April 27 senate meeting.  The changes proposed are regarding the beginning date of senate terms, schedule of senate meetings, and the beginning date of senate officer and committee terms.  The change to the schedule of senate meetings is to reflect current practice, the other changes are proposed so that the current senate president would be attending the Board of Trustees meeting in June, rather than the incoming president

The senators were reminded about the changes in Freshman Studies for this year.  Registration will be on August 13 and it will be a one-hour class rather than a two-hour class.

BUDGET AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS
Jenna Wright brought a report from the Budget and Economic Concerns Committee.  The topic of book buyers was discussed, and the committee decided to ask the senators to ask their faculty what they thought about this issue, and report back to Jenna.  The book buyers have been considered solicitors, and the University has a policy against solicitors on campus.  The book buyers have been asked to leave, if they are reported to campus security.

The topics of banking teaching hours and the equity concerns are being researched and will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

A recommendation was brought before the senate as a motion and a second to change book order forms to allow the faculty member to request that he/she be notified if the book price will be increasing by more than 10% and that the form be modified to remind the faculty that changes must be made by a certain date.  Motion carried.

UNDERGRADUATE COUNCIL
Doug Sterrett brought the curriculum proposals from the February 23 and March 9 meetings as a motion and second for approval.   A motion for amendment was made as follows: Ask that the chemistry pre-requisite be clarified.  If more than clarification, include 360 or 460 as an option.  Motion to amend carried.

A motion was made to pull out Engineering 315 to vote on separately from the remainder of the packet.  Motion carried.  There was discussion on dropping the differential equations as a pre-requisite for the Engineering 315.  The motion and second to approve Engineering 315 carried.  All other items in the packet were voted on.  Motion carried.

Sterrett reported on the remainder of the undergraduate council meeting.  After general discussion on the core curriculum recommendations brought by the Task Force, the council decided to have a called meeting on March 9, take recommendations to the faculty and bring back suggestions.  At the March 9 meeting it was decided that the proposal should be refined and will be brought back to the undergraduate council.

GRADUATE COUNCIL
Marti Herndon presented the curriculum proposals from the February 25 meeting for approval, including the stipulation on Chemistry 630 as on 430.  Motion carried.

INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
Dan McDonough gave a report from the Instruction Committee.  He again emphasized the importance of faculty monitoring the attendance of students who are accepting federal financial aid.  The senators were reminded that the last date of attendance must be noted on the final grade sheet for any student who receives a failing or incomplete grade.

A question was previously raised about the possibility of establishing a free day for Memorial Day and a survey was sent to the faculty.  David Cooper reported that he had received a relatively small response to the survey.  It was decided by consensus of the committee that the issue would be dropped for the present.
 
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Marti Herndon reported (for Lisa LeBleu) that Carel Wolk had been elected chair of the committee for next year.   There was discussion about the integration of the computer center and the library at the meeting.

PERSONNEL POLICIES
Roger Fisher brought a report from this committee.  Tenure revisions have been made and copies will be sent out to academic units tomorrow.  An open hearing on the revisions to the tenure policy will be held on March 31 in Gooch Auditorium, at 3:30 p.m.

A question was raised regarding the changes in the division of Fine and Performing Arts.  Chancellor Conn stated that a study had been in progress for 6 months on the structure of the division and the status was pending, waiting on final recommendations from Bob Smith and K. Paul Jones.  The recommendation and decision are expected before the end of the week.

AD-HOC COMMITTEES
None at this time.

NEW BUSINESS
None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 5:34 p.m.
 
 
 

 
E. Jerald Ogg, President     Robert Nanney, Secretary