CALL TO ORDER
The last meeting of the 1998 Fall Semester was called to order at 3:18 p.m. by President Jerald Ogg in Room 36 Business Administration Building.  Present were 40 senators and officers, 2 substitutes, and 11 guests.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President Ogg gave a report from the Executive Committee, beginning with a reminder about the dutch treat luncheons for faculty.  These will begin again next semester, and place and time will be announced.

December 2 is the deadline for sending nominations for senate officers.  The Nominating Committee will be Ogg, Linda Ramsey, Jim Byford, and Maurice Field.  The names of the top two nominees will be brought before the senate at the February meeting, with nominations also being accepted from the floor at that time.  Ballots will be sent out after that meeting.

Ogg brought a request from the athletics department for consideration.  This item was sent to the Instruction Committee for further study and a recommendation, however a decision needed to be made on this issue today for scheduling purposes.  A request was made from the Athletic Director for Fall Break to be moved from its normal Thursday and Friday, October 14 and 15, to Monday and Tuesday, October 11-12, for Fall 99 only, to accommodate a football game scheduling problem.  A motion was made and seconded to discuss this today.  Motion carried.  After some discussion on the impact on classes and labs, a motion was made and seconded to move fall break.  Motion carried.

Emily Knudsen reminded the senators that moving fall break would necessitate a change in the date mid-term grades were due.  A motion was made and seconded to discuss this change.  Motion carried.

A motion was made and seconded that mid-term grades would due on Friday by the close of business before Fall break. Motion carried.

BUDGET AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS
Jenna Wright brought a report from the Budget and Economic Concerns Committee.  Items discussed at the committee meeting were the distribution of affinity card revenue, the library budget, and the reduction in the number of adjunct sections for Spring semester.  A resolution was brought before the senate from the committee regarding Cashability of Pension Funds.  This resolution comes as a motion and second from the committee.  During discussion it was noted that this resolution does not carry any legislative weight, we are simply asking the legislature to vote it in.  It is not a requirement, faculty can draw it out or leave it in. This is done is virtually all other states. Motion carried.

UNDERGRADUATE COUNCIL
Doug Sterrett brought the curriculum proposals from the November 3 meeting as a motion and second for approval.  Motion carried.  There was a special called meeting on November 24.    It was noted that Bill Duffy is working on the final draft of the dual credit proposal.

GRADUATE COUNCIL
Marti Herndon presented the curriculum proposals as a unit for approval.  Motion carried.

INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
Dan McDonough gave a report from the Instruction Committee.   The issue of mass finals was again discussed, and the following was brought from the committee to the senate as a motion and second:
 
 Requests from departments to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for mass examinations must be periodically reviewed and rejustified.  Such rejustification and review shall be effective for fall 1999 and every three years thereafter.

One of the primary reasons for this is to free up mass exam times if they are not being used by the departments.  A motion was made to delete the word "periodically".  Motion defeated.  The vote on the original motion was called, and the motion carried.

It was reported that the Memorial Day sub-committee plans to run an e-mail survey to obtain the views of the faculty.  After receipt of the data, subsequent action will be considered.
 
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
There was no report from the Library Committee.

PERSONNEL POLICIES
Roger Fisher brought a report from this committee. The report from the Academic Council regarding tenure review was expected soon.  The plan is to have open hearings on this.   There were no action items at this time.

Ogg stated that he would like to vote on the tenure review at the second meeting in the spring.

AD-HOC COMMITTEES
The ad-hoc committee for a faculty club has a survey out by e-mail.  A report will be brought at a later date.

NEW BUSINESS
The senators were reminded that Dr. Blanchard would be leaving at the end of January.

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m.
 
 
 

Original signed by:
E. Jerald Ogg, President
Robert Nanney, Secretary