Tennessee Technological University
Staff Advisory Committee to the President
President's Conference Room
May 5, 2005 at 1:30 p.m.
Present: Anderson, Bussell, Dedmon, Glasscock, Carol Holley, Magdalena, McNeal, David Walker, Debbie Walker, Wassom
Others Present: President Bell, Ms. Pogue and Ms. Watson
President’s
Comments
President Bell informed the committee of the events taking place with TTU’s proposed STEM Center. Tech has launched a new effort to improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and math via the STEM Center for K-12 students. The project includes the development of the best learning and teaching methods using research and study already happening on the Tech campus. The University has already received $1.3 million in federal grants for the building project, and private donations are being solicited to support the project. The total cost for the STEM Center is expected to be about $6 million.
Recent Tech Ambassadors include April Ambassador Ricky Cartwright from the Post Office, and Jeff Holmes from Civil and Environmental Engineering was the May Ambassador.
President Bell announced the following Tech employees who have retired or announced their retirement:
Joseph Anderson, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Janis Bulow, Financial Aid
Prit Chowdhuri, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ken Cook, Facilities and Business Services
Terry Eugene Gilliam, Facilities and Business Services
Mike Hahnert, Fitness Center
Ray Holbrook, Financial Aid
Paul Isbell, University Advancement
Jeannine Lynn, Photographic Services
Della Mathis, Facilities and Business Services
Gloria McGee, Curriculum and Instruction
Janet Rogers McKinley, Honors Program
Bobby Mitchell, Facilities and Business Services
Dave Narrie, Agriculture
Terry Rector, Business Office
Jeff Riemer, Sociology and Political Science
Steven Williams, Sociology and Political Science
The recipient of this year’s Derryberry Award is Stephanie Ward. Stephanie also was selected by THEC as a student recipient of the Harold Love Outstanding Community Involvement Award. Professor of Earth Sciences Wayne Leimer received the Love Award in the professional category.
Congratulations to John Smith, assistant director of Advancement Services, for being selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Professional Award for 2004-05.
Congratulations to Dr. Bonita Barger and Dr. Dan Swartling, recipients of the 2004-05 Outstanding Faculty Teaching Awards; Dr. Eugene Kline is the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Service Award.
On May 12, Tech will host TBR administrators, several TBR board members and region three school representatives for a strategic planning presentation session. Each school will present long-range planning proposals for 2005-2010.
President Bell briefly addressed the budget expectations. Until the guidelines for TennCare are resolved, the status of the state budget remains unclear. Anticipated salary increases include a 1% across-the-board and a 1% bonus, however, it will be late June before the budget is finalized.
President Bell stated that the University has had a great year, and he expressed his appreciation to everyone for all the efforts made on behalf of the students and the University.
Other Such Matters
Chairman Holley called for nominations for a committee chair and co-chair for 2005-06. Ms. Walker nominated Ms. Sheila McNeal to serve as chair, Ms. Anderson seconded. Ms. McNeal was elected by acclamation. A motion to nominate Ms. Brooke Dedmon as co-chair was made by Ms. Bussell, and seconded by Ms. Walker. Ms. Dedmon was elected by acclamation.
The committee reviewed the following suggestions and responses:
Follow-up from two suggestions at March 3 meeting:
Suggestion: Put up more bicycle parking stations on campus.
Response: According to Dr. Nivens, director of Facilities and Business Services, the bicycle racks were checked a few months ago and it was found that the racks had
available space. If anyone knows of a specific area they would like monitored again, please forward to Dr. Nivens. Racks are added when the need is evident.
Suggestion: Why not put faculty and staff on the Student Traffic Appeals Committee.
Response: According to Mr. Rector, vice president for Business and Fiscal Affairs, he presented the idea of combining the two committees to the President’s Executive Advisory Committee and the decision was to leave the committees’ makeup the same. The feeling was that they should not tamper with the long-standing committee membership. There were discussions about the students being able to maintain and police their own. Vice President for Student Affairs Mr. Burnett feels that the students are pretty tough on their peers. They also discussed the need to vigorously patrol the lots particularly on rainy days. Mr. Rector will ask Chief Shepherd to follow through with this.
Suggestions in the boxes for April and May are as follows:
Suggestion: Interim housing for Spring Break (no RAs on duty).
Response: Mr. Dickson, director of Residential Life, stated that Residential Life and the residence halls are open during Spring Break at no additional charge to students. Resident Assistants are on duty during this week, but the Help Desk is not open.
Suggestions: (1) Perhaps more fun activities on the weekends to help keep students in Cookeville on the weekend. (2) Local band night coincides with other activities. (3) Local band night – invite bands to play in the UC.
Response: Mr. Ochsenbein, director of Student Activities, replied that all these suggestions are possible. They have a University Programming Council (UPC) that is run by the students. The UPC has a budget that they operate under for the entire year. Students bring ideas to the council and then the council votes on what they would like to do. They have had good bands in the past perform in the UC, and it was a total flop. The concept sounds good, but history shows us it is not worth the money or effort. Students just do not show up for the event. However, the UPC is always open to try something new. An important fact is that the students must provide the manpower to pull off these events. The UPC will organize again next fall and workout the schedule for the school year. Typically they meet on Tuesday or Thursday during dead hour.
Suggestions: (1) More landscaping around campus. (2) Fountain in South Patio. (3) Have swings on campus. They could count as a service project to build and would enhance campus and the atmosphere. (4) Need more flowers – once again could count as some kind of service project for some group. (5) Bird feeders and birdbaths would also enhance the campus. (6) More seating area outside and better landscaping.
Response: According to Dr. Nivens, they are presently looking at areas to add new flowerbeds through maintenance sources. Additional landscaping areas are also being reviewed. For example, funding from the Snelgrove family for new landscaping in front of the Volpe Library is currently being surveyed for the best options. However, any specific projects such as fountains and new seeding areas would need to be reviewed and approved by the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Such requests being sent to the committee should contain plans and funding sources.
Suggestion: Food services open later on weekends. People who stay need a better variety and more incentive to stay.
Response: Mr. John Ruppert, director of Dining Services with Chartwells, responded that he would see if Chartwells is able to work with the University to provide the service people are looking for. Also, Mr. Jimmy Crabtree, director of Auxiliaries in the Business Office, says that he has discussed the hours of service with Chartwells. They try to balance what people want with the actual traffic (sales). If the sales are there, then the hours are easier to adjust. Chartwells will be making some renovations to the cafeteria this summer and will be closed for a short period. They will look at adding more hours this fall as a test and see how the sales go.
Suggestion: Huge trampoline in Fitness Center and Trampoline Day.
Response: Mr. Burnett, vice president for Student Affairs, referred the request to Mr. David Mullinax, director of the Fitness Center, to review the liability issue this presents.
The meeting adjourned at 2:11 p.m.
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Last Updated: August 30, 2005
For more information, contact TWatson@tntech.edu
