MINUTES OF THE UT MARTIN FACULTY SENATE MEETING
December 2, 1997

CALL TO ORDER

The third meeting of the 1997 Fall Semester was called to order at 3:18 p.m. by President Linda Ramsey in the Boling University Center, Room 201-2-3. Present were 39 senators and officers, 3 substitutes and 4 guests.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Ramsey brought a report from the Executive Committee, November 18, highlighting some of the items in the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting.

The ad hoc Committee on Technology has continued discussion on the Technology Fee, and what this fee will be used for. This Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice Chancellor and they have been looking closely at the SQE Team recommendations and the model they recommended. Faculty are encouraged to provide input to this committee. The Committee will be reporting frequently to the Senate. Members of this committee are Glenn Everett, David McBeth, Doug Sterrett, David Loebbaka, Mike Abney, and Otha Britton. President Ramsey is chairing the committee.

The senators were reminded of the general reception on December 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. for Chancellor Margaret Perry. Students, staff and faculty are invited to this reception. System President Joe Johnson will be on campus that day for a search committee meeting and will be attending this reception, also.

Another item discussed at Executive Committee was the 1997 student survey which was given in Spring semester to students in 9:00 a.m. classes. This will probably be given to the Instruction Committee to look at and see if there are some things there that should be addressed.

There will be a Scholar Presentation on April 2, and assignments were give to several different people to cover panel discussion for the open hearing. Dan McDonough was asked to do teaching aspect, Catherine Carls and Maurice Field to do research, and Jerald Ogg and Robert Nanney to do service. These three categories will be discussed.

President Ramsey said that she is asking several faculty members to serve on the ad hoc committee to investigate the possibility of adding the rank of Professor II, and just needs to talk with them about being on the committee.

BUDGET AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS

Phil Dane brought a report from the Budget and Economic Concerns Committee in Robert Nanney's absence. Neal Wormsley attended the last meeting of BEC to discuss the problems with the dental insurance. By state law, the University can pay part of the premium for health insurance only, so all dental insurance premiums must be paid by the employee. This, and the fact that there are no local dentists participating in the plan, make it not affordable for most employees.

Mr. Dane did encourage the employees to participate in the flexible benefits plan, which allows the employee to have part of her/his salary deducted to pay for medical expenses during the year. This reduces the amount of taxable income for the employee.

UNDERGRADUATE COUNCIL

Alice Catherine Carls brought the entire packet from the council as a motion and second. The entire packet was approved as presented.

GRADUATE COUNCIL

Maurice Field brought the curriculum proposals as a motion and a second. Motion carried.

INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

Dan McDonough stated that there was nothing from the Instruction Committee to come before the senate for action at this time.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE

No report at this time.

PERSONNEL POLICIES COMMITTEE

Roger Fisher brought the following as a motion and second from the committee.

Be it moved that (after the evaluation of each chair, dean/director, or vice chancellor), the Office of Academic Affairs place on reserve in the library the computer print-outs with the numerical data and their analysis.

During discussion of the motion, a question was raised about why written comments were not going to be placed on reserve also. It was felt that this might violate the confidentiality or privacy of the person submitting the comments.

Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

President Ramsey said that the Chancellor's Search Committee will be meeting on December 4 to narrow the candidates down to five, and that these will be asked to visit the campus and interview.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion and second to adjourn 3:40 p.m.


Linda Ramsey, President

Steve Rogers, Secretary