University Faculty Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2004

President Bell called the spring general faculty meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in Derryberry Hall Auditorium. Copies of the Flower and Gift Fund report and ballots for Council elections were distributed at the door.

President Bell began the meeting by thanking the faculty for a good year and for helping our students accomplish so much. The President presented the faculty with two brief updates on budget matters. It appears that the Governor’s proposed capital project matching program will be enacted, which means that construction on the new Nursing building could be accelerated by several years. Also, the Governor’s pay package includes a 2 per cent pay increase and a one-time 1 percent bonus. Also, President Bell congratulated the Outstanding Faculty Award winners: Jann Cupp and Joseph Rasmussen for teaching and Sue Bailey for service.

The agenda was modified to move the recognition of retirees and the presentation of retirement gifts to this point in the program. Those recognized were Mary Ayers, Curriculum and Instruction; Whewon Cho, Economics, Finance, and Marketing; Larry Click, Agriculture; Eston Evans, Foreign Languages; Gilbert Fernandez, History; Ed Griggs, Mechanical Engineering; Wesley Henry, Sociology and Philosophy; Andrew Thomas, Counseling and Psychology; and Carolyn Zolg, Learning Resources Center

Council Elections

Academic Council

Gretta Stanger, Sociology and Philosophy, was nominated by petition, and Chris Brown in Biology was nominated from the floor for the two open at-large positions on the Academic Council. Wesley Henry moved that nominations cease and the two nominees be elected by acclamation. The motion was duly seconded and carried. Dr. Stanger and Dr. Brown will be the new members-at-large on the Academic Council.

Administrative Council

Nominated by petition for one of the three at-large positions on the Administrative Council was Jeff Marquis, Mechanical Engineering; nominated from the floor were Melanie Earles, Accounting; Peter Li, Earth Sciences; and Zach Wilcox, Counseling and Psychology.

Committee and Council Reports

Flower and Gift Fund Report

Copies of the Flower and Gift Fund report were distributed at the door. After expenditures/adjustments of $3,253.68, the balance on hand on April 30, 2004, was $2,082.52.

Academic Council

Jann Cupp, chairperson of the Academic Council, reported that the Council met three times during the spring semester. The Council approved a change to the Honors Charter to create a thesis option; approved the M.S. in Nursing RODP degree program; approved additions to the drop/add regulations; approved a commendation for the Graduation Office staff for their high quality of service; approved an amendment to the Faculty Handbook regarding the academic misconduct policy recommended by the subcommittee on plagiarism; approved annual reports; and elected Jeff Roberts as chairperson of the Academic Council for 2004-05.

Administrative Council

Allan Mills, chairperson of the Administrative Council, reported that the Council at the January 28 meeting approved the Constitution of the Society for Human Resource Management. The Council approved recommendations from the Buildings and Grounds Committee, which included the creation of an arboretum at the south end of Henderson Hall in memory of Dr. Robert Bode; the provision for benches or picnic tables at the northeast end of Sherlock Park; the placement of signs behind Matthews-Daniel Hall; the addition of two faculty/staff parking spaces at the University Services Building; the re-designation of a handicapped parking space at Pennebaker Hall; and the elimination of loading and unloading spaces on the Quadrangle. On February 25 the Council approved the Constitution of the “Trombones at Tech” organization; approved recommendations from the Safety and Environmental Committee to prohibit the use of candles and open flames in all University buildings; approved revisions to the Athletics Policies/Procedures manual; approved annual reports from committees reporting to the Administrative Council; received an update from Glenn James, chair of an ad hoc committee to study reforms to the ITC purchasing form and related purchasing issues. At the April 7 meeting the Council approved an information request from a Law Officer Policy/Procedure; tabled a motion to adopt language concerning the U.S.A. Patriot Act; approved a resolution to enhance TTU’s non-discrimination policy; approved the subcommittee’s proposed revisions to the ITC purchase approval procedures and related issues; approved annual reports; and elected Linda Giesbrecht-Bettoli as chairperson of the Administrative Council for 2004-05.

Faculty Senate

Linda Null, President of the Faculty Senate, reported that the Senate this semester has been communicating with TBR on tenure, promotion, appointments, and responsibilities documents. A university-wide committee is being formed to bring our current procedures into line with the new TBR documents. The Senate approved a motion not to support the transition to on-line faculty evaluations; approved a motion that all regular full-time faculty will receive a pay check at the end of August if their appointments allow for 12-month checks; rejected the concept of having the university publish the evaluations of faculty; approved a resolution to join the Association of Tennessee University Faculty Senates; approved a resolution honoring the memory of Judy Rohr, the first woman to serve as president of the Faculty Senate; approved a resolution honoring Ken Hunter’s work on the Faculty Senate; and presented a certificate for service to Whewon Cho, charter member of the Faculty Senate. At the faculty meeting Dr. Null recognized Wesley Henry as the first Faculty Senate President. She announced that the Faculty Senate will meet immediately following the faculty meeting.

University Assembly

President Bell reported that the University Assembly met on April 21 and approved Academic and Administrative Council reports and also reports from the ITC Committee and the International Affairs Committee.

Results of Council Elections

Being elected by acclamation, Gretta Stanger and Chris Brown will be the two members-at-large on the Academic Council. In the Administrative Council elections, Jeff Marquis, Melanie Earles, and Peter Li were elected to serve as members-at-large. S. Deivanayagam, Glenn James, Roy Loutzenheiser, Leo McGee, Rebecca Tolbert, and Rubye Torrey served as tellers for the election.

Such Other Matters

There were no Such Other Matters.

Announcements

President Bell announced that the new Athletics Director is Mark Wilson. Commencement will be Saturday, May 15, and the speaker will be Rear Admiral Vincent Smith, an alumnus of the School of Agriculture. The fall semester will open with new faculty orientation on Tuesday, August 24, and the opening faculty meeting on Wednesday, August 25. President Bell expressed thanks to the faculty for an outstanding spring semester and congratulated those faculty members who are retiring.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m.

Pat Gilbreath , Recorder

< Back to TTU Home | University Faculty Home