University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
January 13, 2010
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on January 13, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. in the Ekstrom Library, Chao Auditorium, Belknap Campus, Melissa Laning presiding.
Senators Registering Attendance
A&S – Annette Allen, Elizabeth Bradley, Jasmine Farrier, Elizabeth Grossi, Dennis Hall, Martin Klotz, Mary Makris, Cynthia Negrey, Joseph Steffen, Elaine Wise, Tamara Yohannes CoB – Robert Barker, Carrie Donald, Bruce Kemelgor, Robert Myers DENTISTRY – Ricardo Caicedo, Don DeMuth, Robert Staat, Dave Willis EDUCATION – Thaddeus Dumas, Diane Kyle, Kathleen Rudasil KENT – Seana Golder, Ruth Huber LAW – Susan Duncan, David Ensign, Enid Trucios-Haynes LIBRARIES – Gail Gilbert, Melissa Laning, Margo Smith MEDICINE – Forest Arnold, Richard Downs, Pamela Feldhoff, Lawrence Hunt, Saeed Jortani, Nobuyuki Kuwabara MUSIC – Daniel Weeks NURSING – Diane Chlebowy, Peggy El-Mallakh PART-TIME – Brian Barnes, Judy Heitzman, Karen McKinney, Susan Peacock PUBLIC HEALTH – Raymond Austin SPEED – Nageshwar Bhaskar, Hollace Cox, James Graham
Also Attending -
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Shirley Willihnganz, Diane Nichols, Virginia Brown, Michael Rolf
Others: Beth Boehm, Mr. Barber, Mr. Brooks (Athletics)
Press: Brandy Warren (Inside U of L)
Senators Not Registering Attendance -
EDUCATION – Anita Moorman KENT – Sharon Bowland MEDICINE – David Cunningham, Douglas Dean, Brad Keller, Steven Myers, Steven Nakajima, John Nyland, Jeannie Roberts, Wayne Zundel MUSIC – Greg Byrne, Seow-Chin Ong NURSING – Ermalynn Kiehl PART-TIME – John Baumann, Dana Seay PUBLIC HEALTH – Ruth Carrico SPEED – Roger Bradshaw
ACTION: Consideration of the Minutes
The minutes of the December 2, 2009 meeting were approved as distributed.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Michael Rolf
Mr. Rolf started by updating the Senate on the SGA’s activities. It has prepared its own 2020 Plan. The SGA surveyed approximately 1000 students and has distilled that information into its plan. He and SGA President OJ are willing to present it to the Senate, if necessary. Concerns for student safety have created an idea to have street signs on campus to make locations easier to find. At exam time, 1000 blue books and pencils were passed out to students. The SGA “Town Hall Forums” brought speakers to campus to address issues important to students. The State of the Student Body address will be on February 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Chao Auditorium.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Virginia Brown
This report was available online. The Staff Senate meets next on February 8th in the Chao Auditorium.
INFORMATION ITEM: Faculty seating in the new Arena – Barber/Brooks
Mr. Brad Barber and Mr. Zachary Brooks from Athletics explained the new faculty seating arrangements and ticket pricing for the new arena. Faculty tickets are still discounted and there will continue to a non-donation section for faculty and staff in a comparable area as the one in Freedom Hall. The biggest change to the current seating arrangements is that there will now be an additional faculty/staff section available for a discounted yearly donation in addition to the price of the tickets. Seat selection will be based on the number of years in the system and the amount of donations. The selection process will begin in February. The Power Point they wanted to show the Senate will be posted on the Senate’s web site tomorrow.
INFORMATION ITEM: First Reading of SOD Personnel Document , Speed School Bylaws & Redbook Amendment – Willis
The REDBOOK Committee met in December and approved the School of Dentistry’s Personnel Document and the Speed School bylaws. It also approved the proposed amendment to The REDBOOK requiring that all changes to unit bylaws be approved by the Faculty Senate. As this was a first reading for these documents, no discussion was held. Any questions or concerns may be addressed at the February 3rd Senate meeting.
REPORT: University Provost – Dr. Shirley Willihnganz
The Provost said that the 2% one-time cuts made last year have now become permanent. She is starting to do some worst-case scenario planning as well as looking for way to replace the 2% cut taken last year. She has not heard of any further cuts and thinks that may be all for this fiscal year. The governor cut higher education by $12M and paid it back with federal stimulus funds. There is concern that he will not have the permanent funds to pay that back. Last year, she reinstituted the University Budget Committee and it meets monthly. A subcommittee from that group developed a list of possible revenue-generating ideas. The 2020 Plan has many areas of concentration that will move the University forward despite the economic downturn. The university must continue to make a focused investment in strategic initiatives. Though there are many challenges, the Provost presented some possible new revenue sources. Among them are: substantial strategic enrollment growth; targeted tuition increases; entrepreneurial budget models for Colleges/Schools/Programs; major culture change/paradigm shift; and increased philanthropy for operations. The Provost’s report was accompanied by a Power Point presentation which is posted on the senate website.
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
Dr. Ramsey began his report with an update on Frankfort. He reported that 2/3 of the $1.1B revenue shortfall has been covered by the federal stimulus funds. The remainder of approximately $300M has to be used in the first year of the next biennium, 2011. This may ease the financial woes somewhat for that year, but 2012 will be very difficult. He anticipated that the new legislative session will be a long sixty days, with most actions being taken towards the end (This session runs from January 5th to April 15th, 2010). President Ramsey is unsure what the CPE will do regarding tuition. It will most likely wait to see what comes out to this legislative session. He has asked Mike Curtin, Vice President for Finance, to run various budget scenarios with a worst-case being a 6.5% cut. He believes higher education will be playing defense on some of the legislative results. Then Dr. Ramsey addresses HB160 concerning the transfer credit issue before the House. He feels this is a political bill and will not take a vocal role. If it passes the Senate, he believes it would be in a different form than the present bill. President Ramsey reported on changes in his lobbying staff and how he will take a more active role this spring. He is looking forward to focusing on increasing fundraising to $150M a year. The search for the Vice President of Research has started. The new title will be Vice President of Research and Innovation as it will include the development of commercial research ideas. The Board of trustees meets tomorrow. A brief discussion took place on the following topics: the hiring of a new Vice President of Humans Resources; the filing of the Phi Beta Kappa application; and, issues surrounding Medicaid.
Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC) – This report was available online.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC) - This report was available online.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL) - This report was available online.
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC) - This report was available online.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B) - This report was available online.
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB) - This report was available online.
Executive Committee (XC) - This report was available online.
Other Reports
Academic Technology Committee (ATC) – This report was available online.
Bookstore Advisory Committee – No report was made.
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) – This report was available online.
Coalition of Staff & Faculty Leadership (COSFL) -
Dining Services Committee – No report was made.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – No report was made.
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) - This report was available online.
Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) – This report was available online.
Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) – This report was available online.
Student Care Team - No report was made.
University Librarian Report – This report was available online.
Chair’s Report – Melissa Laning
Chair Laning announced that Senator Enid Trucios-Haynes (Law) had been selected as the new Faculty Grievance Officer.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Announcements
The Faculty Senate will meet again on February 3, 2010 in the Chao Auditorium in Ekstrom Library.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 P.M.
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary