University Faculty Meeting Minutes

April 26, 2006

President Bell called the spring general faculty meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, in Derryberry Hall Auditorium. Copies of the Flower and Gift Fund report and ballots for Council elections were distributed at the door.

SACS and Other Updates

President Bell thanked the faculty for all the work that was done for the SACS visit. The two recommendations that were made by the SACS review committee at the exit interview are procedural issues that are easily fixable with a few statements of policy that we can respond to within a few days after receiving the committee report. The committee will make its official recommendation to SACS in September, and we expect to receive full reaffirmation for 10 years when SACS meets in December. President Bell thanked Leo McGee, Barry Stein, and Glenn James and all the others who did such a fine job with this review.

President Bell said the Legislature is still in session, and at this point it appears that the Governor’s recommended budget will be ratified although things could change within the next two or three weeks. The Governor’s budget calls for a 2 percent across-the-board raise to be paid for from tuition increases but no new operating funds.

Council Elections

Academic Council

Ray Jordan, Biology, and Linda Null, English, were nominated by petition to fill vacant at-large positions on the Academic Council, and Bob Clougherty, English, was nominated from the floor. It was moved and seconded to elect the three nominees by acclamation, and the motion carried.

Administrative Council

S.K. Ballal was nominated by petition, and Larry Peach was nominated from the floor to fill the two vacant positions on the Administrative Council. It was moved and seconded to accept the two nominees by acclamation, and the motion carried.

Committee and Council Reports

Flower and Gift Fund Report
Copies of the Flower and Gift Fund report were distributed at the door. The balance on hand on December 3, 2005, was $7,576.62. After expenditures and adjustments of $1,891.08, the balance on hand on March 31, 2006, was $5,685.54.

Academic Council

Jeff Roberts, chairperson of the Academic Council, reported that the Council met on January 25 and approved a revision to the Faculty Handbook under “Evaluation of Instruction”; approved a revision in the Procedures of the Graduate School Executive Committee; received an update on revising the Academic Misconduct Policy; and approved requiring Sexual Harassment Awareness Training in UNIV 1020. At the February 22 meeting, the Council approved with several negative votes a revised textbook adoption policy; approved with several dissenting votes a proposal from the College of Business to add the ETS score to the transcript; discussed a revision in the Academic Misconduct Policy; and appointed a subcommittee to study a proposed Plagiarism Prevention Policy. The Council met again on March 29 and approved annual reports from committees reporting to the Academic Council. The Council received a report from its Plagiarism Prevention subcommittee. The Council also discussed the revised Academic Misconduct Policy and approved having the subcommittee make suggested revisions and then distribute it to Council members for an e-mail vote prior to the University Assembly meeting. Christine Miller was elected chairperson for 2006-07. The Council thanked retirees Rebecca Tolbert and Pat Gilbreath for their many years of service to the Council. The subcommittee’s revision to the Academic Misconduct Policy was later approved by an e-mail vote but was subsequently tabled after discussions with TBR legal counsel.

Administrative Council

Paula Hinton, chairperson of the Administrative Council, reported that the Administrative Council also met three times during the semester. At the January 25 meeting the Council approved a Constitution for the Lacrosse Club, approved an SGA bill to promote the 2005 Clean Energy Initiative at Tech, and received a SACS update. On February 22 the Council approved a Constitution for Future Elementary Teachers Math/Science Club, approved procedural revisions to the Student Affairs Committee, approved annual reports from committees reporting to the Administrative Council, and received a SACS update. At the March 29 meeting the Council approved with several negative votes the new textbook adoption policy, approved additional annual reports, received a SACS update, and re-elected Paula Hinton as chairperson for 2006-07.

Faculty Senate

David Larimore, President of the Faculty Senate, said that in business sessions this year the Senate discussed a university-wide compensation plan that was later sent to TBR. The plan gives TTU salary discretion with options for equity changes, bonuses, merit increases, and across-the-board increases. President Bell appointed a university-wide committee to make recommendations for making allocations. The Senate also discussed the Academic Misconduct Policy and a code of ethics that will be proposed for action next year. The Senate was actively involved in the SACS QEP process. The Senate also held monthly informational meetings with the President. Dr. Larimore was re-elected as President of the Faculty Senate for 2006-07.

University Assembly

President Bell reported that the University Assembly received reports from the Academic Council, the Administrative Council, the Information Technology Committee, and the International Affairs Committee. President Bell asked for discussion of the committee report from Athletics in regard to the effects that the proposed new textbook policy would have on potential funding in Athletics. Since Athletics is under a spending cap, there is the potential for significant damage to the Athletics budget. President Bell appointed a committee of David Larimore, Marvin Barker, and Mark Wilson to look at the fiscal effects of the policy and to track the impact on the Athletics budget when the textbook policy is implemented this year.

President Bell expressed appreciation for the contributions of retiring faculty members, Rodney Carlson and Wanda Jared, and presented them with gifts. President Bell also recognized two retirees in the Office of Academic Affairs, Rebecca Tolbert, Associate Vice President, and Pat Gilbreath, Administrative Assistant, and presented them with certificates of appreciation.

Announcements

President Bell announced that commencement will be held on Saturday, May 6, with Governor Phil Bredesen as the speaker. The fall semester will open with new faculty orientation on Tuesday, August 22, and the opening faculty meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, August 23, at 10 a.m.

Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Pat Gilbreath, Recorder

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