Senators present: B. Atkinson, P. Blanchard, S. Chew, J. Dohoney, S. Epley, G. Frost, J. Hiles, M. Ponder, D. Shipley, S. Willis, J. Boockholdt, F. Hendon, B. Raabe, D. Little, R. King, A. Brewer, R. Richardson, T. Tibbs, J. Bourrand, G. McDaniel, R. Warr, K. Benner, R. DeHart, R. Lander, B. Hutto

Committee chairs present:  T. Banks, D. Dedo, T. Duffey, R. Gold

Senators absent with notification: D. Sandley, T. Berg

Senators absent without notification: L. Drummond, K. Matthews, A. Bolla, D. Young, C. Steil, E. Wells

Visitor present: J. Harris

Devotional -- David Little opened the meeting with prayer.

Report on gender issues

Sandra Willis gave an update on gender issues.  She reported that faculty women show clear and strong interest in reactivation of the Women's Advisory council and would like this group to have a twofold purpose.

1)     Examine concerns about campus "climate" for both women students and faculty: visibility, acknowledgment, of women's activities, and more opportunities for leadership.

2)     Although there is no presumption of widespread and consistent inequity across campus, there are concerns about pockets of inequity in tenure status and salary, and it is important to monitor these statistics annually.  Statistics should include:

a)      average salary by gender and rank between and within schools/colleges

b)      average salary by gender and rank between departments

c)      tenure status by gender and rank between and within schools/colleges.

The Senate Executive Council will work with the Provost to obtain the appropriate data.

A parallel concern is the possible need for more benchmark comparisons with other universities of similar size and mission with respect to salaries, number of faculty within departments, and annual salary increases.  This concern should be addressed by the Committee on Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare.

1.  Committee on University Curriculum

There was no business before the Senate.  The committee meets the second  Friday of each month; the next meeting is on March 9.

2. Committee on Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare

David Little brought a request from Dr. Corts to honor retiring faculty with a picture and nameplate, presumably in a building where they taught.  Some guidelines, length of service, for example, were suggested in the request.  A motion was made and seconded to approve this request.  A question was raised as to whether faculty would determine the specific guidelines for display.  David’s sense was that the academic Deans would resolve the details of display.  The requested policy would move the recognition of retiring faculty members away from the Student Affairs, Religious Life, and University Relations Committee and into the Human Resources department.   A suggestion was made that staff members should also be recognized (who served at least 20 years).  The motion was withdrawn and referred back to committee for writing specific guidelines.  David reported that the entire faculty will be notified before the committee’s next meeting for comment on the request.

3.  Committee on University Learning Resources

Tim Banks reported that the committee will meet to consider some proposals from Alan Hargrave.  Tim also announced that he is the ex officio representative on the Web advisory board.  A question was raised regarding the blocking of hate speech web sites.  Tim said that he will inquire into the reasons for the blocking.

4.  Committee on Elections

Tina Duffey reported that she has sent a list of faculty officer needs to each school and that three schools have submitted slates of officers.  There will be a meeting on March15 to nominate executive officers of the Faculty Senate.  Tina asked whether faculty should be notified of meeting.  The Faculty Handbook lists no such requirement or prohibition of faculty notification, but Tina said she will e-mail faculty to solicit nominations for office.

5.  Committee on Athletics

Ralph Gold reported that the committee met on March 1, primarily to consider the elimination of Thursday night football games.  Currently, there is only one Thursday evening game scheduled for the fall.  The committee will meet again on April 5.  One topic for consideration will be a possible change in the registration of athletes so they can schedule sections of some classes that will not conflict with their athletic schedules.

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

Steve Chew reported that the committee minutes are on the web site.  The primary issue they considered was the recognition of retiring faculty members (see above).  A question was raised about the status of seeking student diversity in admissions.  Steve reported that the Senate’s concerns made known to Phil Kimrey, and there has been no further word.

7.  Committee on University Writing

David Dedo reported that the committee will meet March 8.  Information regarding the National Peer Review of communication-related programs on campus (April 9-11) will be considered.  The peer review will consider all programs that affect students in general, rather than major classes.  Writing proficiency exams will be administered on March 8-9; students should know their results by March 20.

8. Committee on Academic Affairs

Steve Epley presented a course repeat policy.  Acceptance of the policy was moved and seconded.  Discussion centered on the number of times a student could use the policy and whether the policy is clear enough that the last grade counts in the calculation of GPA.  A question was also raised as to whether the policy would apply for courses taken pass/fail.  Another question concerned the process if the advisor failed to recommend a student for the policy.  Steve stated that the student could appeal to the Committee on Academic Affairs in that case, and both the student and advisor would then have to submit their reasons.  Steve also clarified that a student could repeat a course as often as he/she wants, but that the policy would only apply to three courses or 12 hours maximum.  Other Senators questioned whether there might be an incentive to get a D or F in a course to take advantage of this policy.  Steve reminded the Senate that the original grade would be on the transcript, even though only the last grade would figure into the GPA.  Another Senator questioned why this policy was needed, since a similar policy was discontinued a few years ago.  Steve said that most of Samford’s benchmark institutions had some sort of course repeat policy. 

An amendment was made and seconded to limit the number of courses covered in the policy to two and the number of hours to eight.  The amendment passed.  The policy was passed by hand vote.  The text of the approved policy follows. 

PETITION TO REPEAT A COURSE IN WHICH A “D” OR “F” GRADE WAS EARNED

Upon the recommendation of the advisor and with the approval of the Dean of Academic Services, an undergraduate student may repeat a course for credit in which she or he received a D+ or lower to improve her or his grade and cumulative grade-point average, as well as her or his understanding of course content. 

When a course grade of D+ or lower is repeated at Samford, only the last grade, even if it is lower, will count in the calculation of the cumulative average. The credits count only once. Both courses and both grades remain on the transcript with an indication of which course is counted in the computation of the cumulative-grade point average. The repeated course must be exactly the same course that was originally taken.  Courses repeated at other institutions do not change the Samford cumulative grade-point average.

Repeating a course may influence a student's financial aid or sports eligibility.  Courses repeated after graduation will not change the graduation GPA.

The deadline for submitting this completed form is the last day to add a course in the semester the repeated course is being taken again.

A course can be repeated only once.  A student may take advantage of this policy for no more than two courses or more than 8 credits.

1.     Changes to faculty handbook

Bill Raabe reported on the Faculty Handbook Review Task Force.  The committee moved the changes to the Faculty Handbook listed below.  Changes #1, #2 and #3 involve revision of the numbers needed for a quorum at regularly scheduled and called faculty meetings.  The motion containing all three changes passed.

A separate motion was made and seconded to correct typographical errors in the Faculty Handbook.  That motion passed.

A final motion was made to change the policy on executive officer election and succession (changes #4 and #5).  Two options were considered: one (#5A) allows the Vice Chair to succeed the Chair unopposed if the Chair does not stand for re-election.  The second option (#5B) mandates a one-year term for the Faculty Chair.  Option #5A was moved and seconded.  The motion passed.

1.7.3 Faculty Senate  Section 3. Meetings

The Faculty Senate shall meet monthly during the academic year.  A quorum will consist of a majority of the Senate.  An agenda prepared by an elected Faculty Chair …

1.7.3 Faculty Senate  Section 4. Quorum (new)

At a regular meeting of the Faculty Senate, a quorum consists of those in attendance.  At a special meeting of the Faculty Senate, a quorum consists of a majority of Senate membership.

Section 4  5. Recall

1.7.4 University Faculty Meetings  Section 1. Purpose and Schedule of Meetings

…Special meetings of the Faculty may be called by the President at any time.  A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Faculty.

Section 2. Quorum (new)

At a regular meeting of the Faculty, a quorum consists of those in attendance.  At a special meeting of the Faculty, a quorum consists of a majority of the members of the Faculty.

Section 2  3.  Attendance

1.7.5 Faculty Officers and the Executive Council  Section 1. Functions and Composition

The University Faculty shall elect a Chair a Vice Chair (and chair elect), and a Secretary …

Recommended Change #5A

Section 2.  Election of Officers  [Inserts in bold]

An officer may be reelected once, after which that person shall be ineligible for election to the same office for one year.  If the Chair does not stand for re-election, the Vice Chair shall stand unopposed as candidate for Chair.

Section 2.  Election of Officers  [Inserts in bold]

An officer may be reelected once, after which that person shall be ineligible for election to the same office for one year. 

2.    A question was raised about the status of family leave policy.  It was reported that Betsy Dobbins is working with Marilyn Gavin to obtain a workable compromise.  A question was asked whether the policy will go to the entire faculty.  The policy appears to be a university policy, not a faculty policy.  However, the Faculty Senate should be able to vote on the compromise to re-approve or disapprove it.

New Business -- There was no new business for consideration.