MINUTES, Faculty Senate Meeting

September 1, 2000, DBH 216

Senators absent: Fred Hendon, Lewis Drummond, Raymond King, Ted Tibbs, Gretchen McDaniel, Roger Lander

Committee chairs absent: Maurice Persall, Dennis Clark, Elaine Marshall, David Dedo

The meeting was opened with prayer by George Keller.

1.  Committee on University Curriculum

Elizabeth Wells reported that the Curriculum committee had not met but was planning to meet on the third Friday of each month at 2:30.

2.  Committee on Academic Affairs

Stephen Epley presented its report including a proposed addition to the Faculty Handbook regarding academic integrity.  Questions were raised regarding the meaning of the phrase “must respect knowledge” and the definition of the word “cheat”.  A suggestion was made that the faculty could adopt a policy similar to that used by Cumberland Law School.  The Law School honor code is currently student administered, and faculty can deal with situations or refer them to honor court.  Stephen reported that the sanctions for students would remain the same; the proposal allows the option of having individual faculty members deal with situation themselves or allowing the current judicial process to work.  Also included in the proposal was the desire for an honor code to be implemented in the future.  Though there was some reservation expressed about a student-run honor system, the sense of the senate was that an honor code would be beneficial to the academic environment at Samford.

Discussion also centered on whether this change in procedure is necessary.  Stephen reported that a faculty survey indicated that many faculty were disenchanted with the current judicial process.  Some senators expressed concern that failure to follow policy could forfeit the legal protection afforded by the university.                          

Additional concerns about the current process were raised as well.  Some senators felt that the Values Council was being asked to function as lawyers without appropriate training.  Others felt that the standard of proof for deciding guilt or innocence was not clearly defined.  One senator asked whether this would be a university-wide policy (if adopted) or whether individual schools could implement their own judicial system.

The senate voted to refer the recommendation back to committee asking them to shorten the statement somewhat and to consider the questions and concerns raised.  Stephen stated that he would e-mail senators to get their opinions on changes to the policy and would make the law school honor code guidelines available.                            

3.  Committee on University Learning Resources -- There was no report.

4.  Committee on Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare

David Little announced that the committee will meet the last Thursday of September, when they will consider a  family leave policy and the mandatory retirement age requirement for administrators.

5.  Committee on Athletics

Bill Raabe announced that Ed Felton has agreed to replace him as chair of the committee and represent the School of Business.

6.  Committee on Students Affairs, Religious Life, and University Relations -- There was no report.

7.  Committee on University Writing -- There was no report.

8.  Committee on Elections -- There was no report.

Committee chairs were asked to provide time, date, and place of meetings to the Faculty Senate Chair.

1.  Becky Hutto and Sandy Willis were nominated and elected to the executive council.

2.  Chairman Floyd announced that the faculty mentoring program is now in place.

1.  Bill Raabe discussed forming a Faculty Senate web page that would include a  list of members with links to e-mail, agendas, minutes, archives of previous meetings.  There will also be a page for each committee containing a list of members, a calendar of meeting dates, and minutes of meetings.             

2.  There was a request from the library staff to provide minutes from committee meetings for archives.

3.  Chairman Floyd announced that the format of Faculty Senate minutes will reflect content rather than individual opinions.

4.  The Senate was asked to review policy on political activity, to refine promotion and tenure policies in Faculty Handbook, to request more faculty involvement in search for provost, and to consider requesting that one hour per week be dedicated solely for committee meetings.  These issues will be considered during future Senate meetings.

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

Respectfully submitted,                                                                                                              George Keller