MINUTES 

Faculty Senate Meeting

October 6, 2000, 3:00 p.m., DBH 216

Dr. Hugh Floyd, presiding

The meeting was opened with prayer by Hugh Floyd.

 

Senators present: B. Atkinson, P. Blanchard, S. Chew, J. Dohoney, S. Epley, G. Frost, J. Hiles, M. Ponder, D. Sandley, S. Willis, F. Hendon, W. Raabe, D. Little, R. King, T. Berg, A. Bolla, A. Brewer, D. Young, R. Richardson, T. Tibbs, J. Bourrand, G. McDaniel, R. Warr, R. DeHart, R. Lander, C. Steil, B. Hutto, and E. Wells.

 

Committee chairs present: E. Marshall

 

Senators absent with notification: J. Boockholdt and K. Benner

 

Senators absent without notification: D. Shipley, L. Drummond, and K. Mathews.

 

Faculty Senate Website

Bill Raabe gave a short report about the new Faculty Senate web site and its contents (http://www.samford.edu/groups/facsen).  There are links to each Committee and Senator as well as minutes, reports, and agendas from the Senate and Committees.  The Senate now also has its own email address, faculty.senate@samford.edu .

A discussion followed about whether minutes and agendas should be e-mailed to all faculty and staff or whether they should be provided with a link to the Faculty Senate web site.  There was some concern expressed that faculty/staff members may not want to, or remember to, visit the site each month to get the minutes.  Other Senators felt that sending the link to web site in lieu of the minutes would encourage faculty/staff members to visit the site more frequently.  Minutes from the Senate and each Committee will be e-mailed to the faculty/staff list.

 

Committee Reports

1.  Committee on University Curriculum -- There was no business requiring Senate action.

 

2.  Committee on Academic Affairs

Steven Epley reported that the committee has reconsidered its proposal on academic integrity and has obtained help from the Law School concerning their policy and will draft a statement on mediation.  Steven predicted that a proposal requiring Senate action will be presented at the November meeting.

 

3.  Committee on University Learning Resources -- No report.

 

4.  Committee on Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare

David Little reported that most of the committee meeting concerned the ad hoc committee on faculty leave policy.  A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to problems with parking, both faculty and student.  David said that a family leave policy requiring Senate action would be forthcoming.

 

5.  Committee on Athletics -- No report.

 

6.  Committee on Students Affairs, Religious Life, and University Relations

Elaine Marshall reported that the committee met with the new director of student ministries.  The priorities to be examined including minority student recruitment, Rush policy, qualifications of off campus ministers, and athletic scheduling.

 

7.  Committee on University Writing -- No report

 

8.  Committee on Elections -- No report

 

Old Business

None

 

New Business

1.  Provost search

A resolution was introduced by the executive council concerning the ongoing search for a provost.  The existing committee met with candidates, solicited by Dr. Corts, for about an hour and then the committee discussed each candidate several days later.  Concern was expressed that no representatives from the Faculty Senate were on this committee, and that the committee was not established before the search process.  A motion was made to accept the following resolution, and the motion passed unanimously:

 

Whereas, The Faculty Senate comprises the representatives of the faculty; and

 

Whereas, The Provost is responsible to the President for the academic life of the University; therefore be it

 

Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that the President include active members of the Faculty Senate, including the chair of the senate, in the ongoing search process for the Provost.

 

2.  Faculty parking

The Faculty Committee on Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare will consider aspects of this issue in its November meeting and may have action for the Senate at that time. 

 

 

3.  Faculty survey on gender issues

Paul Blanchard reported that an original report on the Status of Women published in 1992 recommended that there should be an annual review of gender issues, including faculty salaries, rates of promotion and tenure, and hiring practices. Ellen McLaughlin reported that the last data collected was in the 1995-96 academic year.  She suggested that current data should be acquired to determine what progress has been made since the last report.  Concern was expressed that the Women’s Advisory Council hasn’t met for several years and that its existence isn’t widely known.   A motion was made to have the executive council meet with the provost to discuss reconsideration of the issue.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Next meeting

November 3, 2000, DBH 216, 3:00 p.m.