University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
January 12, 2011
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on January 12, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. in the Chao Auditorium in the Ekstrom Library, on Belknap Campus, Robert Staat presiding.
ATTENDANCE:
Senators Registering Attendance
A&S – Annette Allen, Beth Bradley, Jasmine Farrier, Elizabeth Grossi, Dennis Hall, Martin Klotz, Mary Makris, Joseph Steffen, Elaine Wise, Tamara Yohannes CoB – Rob Barker, Carrie Donald, Bruce Kemelgor DENTISTRY – Ricardo Caicedo, Donald DeMuth, Robert Staat EDUCATION – Rod Githens, Tom Simmons LAW – Kurt Metzmeier LIBRARIES – Gail Gilbert, Terri Holtze, Margo Smith MEDICINE – Forest Arnold, Richard Downs, Moataz El-Ghamry, Pamela Feldhoff, Lawrence Hunt, Sham Kakar, Brad Keller, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Steven Nakajima, Jeannie Roberts MUSIC – Seow-Chin Ong, Daniel Weeks NURSING – Diane Chlebowy, Sandra Holmes PART-TIME – Judy Heitzman, Rose Mills, Susan Peacock PUBLIC HEALTH – Ray Austin SPEED – Suraj Alexander, Nageshwar Bhaskar, Hollace Cox
Also Attending -
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Shirley Willihnganz, Virginia Brown
Others: Mike Curtin, Beth Boehm, Melissa Laning, Susan Duncan, Robert Stenger, Gretchen Henry, recording secretary
Press: Janene Zaccone (Inside U of L)
Senators Not Registering Attendance
A&S – Cynthia Negrey CoB – Robert Myers DENTISTRY – Dave Willis EDUCATION – Peter Alter, Kathleen Rudasil KENT – Sharon Bowland, Seana Golder, Wanda Lott Collins LAW – David Ensign, Enid Trucios-HaynesMEDICINE – David Cunningham, Saeed Jortani, Steven Myers, John Nyland MUSIC – NURSING – PART-TIME – PUBLIC HEALTH – SPEED
ACTION: Consideration of the Minutes
The minutes of the December 1, 2010 meeting were approved as distributed.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Kurtis Frizzell
Mr. Frizzell reported that the SGA is happy with last semester’s achievements and is moving forward with a new project to work with local businesses willing to sponsor scholarships for middle-class income students. These are students that may not qualify for academic scholarships or need-based financial assistance.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Virginia Brown
This report was available online. Its next meeting is February 14, 2011.
REPORT: UofL Foundation - VPF Curtin
Vice President for Finance, Mike Curtin, came to the Senate today to make a presentation on the UofL Foundation’s budget. He said there is some confusion about the Foundation and he would like to change that and dispel any negative feelings by offering this information. He said that all financial statements, meeting minutes and other information are available on the Foundation’s web site. The Foundation is trying hard to be transparent. Mr. Curtin then showed a Power Point presentation. In the University’s seven strategy design to move forward with its 2020 Plan goals, the Foundation is one strategy. As part of that plan, the Foundation’s support of the University had increased over the last five years by 41%. There are several sources of income for the Foundation: fundraising; unrestricted funds; business operations; and, gifts. He then explained how the funds are distributed and how the state budget cuts have necessitated the development of business ventures to create a long term income source. He then reported on the medical and real estate businesses being developed.
REPORT: University Provost – Dr. Shirley Willihnganz
Provost Willihnganz reminded senators of the snow policy and explained how she makes decisions concerning school and office closings. Reporting on administrative searches, she said that Robert Fox, from Georgia Tech has been hired as the Dean of Libraries. He will start on February 15th. The five year review of Charlie Moyer, Dean of the College of Business, was very positive. This will go before the Board of Trustees and it will be recommended that he continue as dean. In the ongoing struggle to balance the budget, changes to the current benefits package are possible, though nothing has been decided. To dispel rumors, the Provost said that several ideas are being discussed, but no decisions for implementation have been made. They include: a decrease in the benefits package to free up funds that would go to salary increases; extending the retirement program’s vesting period (for new employees only); eliminating the insurance waiver matching funds; decreasing the University’s input for retired health care benefits; limiting the hours for dependents’ tuition remission; and, possibly requiring students to be in good academic standing to retain the tuition remission benefit.
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
President Ramsey reported to the Senate on the initiatives he is most interested in advancing: Phi Beta Kappa is a very important designation for the University; he is doing his due diligence on the merger with Jewish and CHI; with 2.5 years left on its 5 year goal of reaching $750M, the Capital Campaign is over halfway there; and, the continuation of the ever-increasing high level of academic and research work of the University’s faculty. He reported on the development trips he has made across the country. Various faculty members make the trips and hold “Weekend College” for alumni living in the area. This will hopefully engage more alumni. Dr. Ramsey reported that the next legislative session will be a short one and, possibly, very political. He said that, again, it will be tough biennium regarding the state budget. His first priority is increasing salaries. Now is the time for hard decisions to be made and he is deciding what tradeoffs can be made while keeping the University moving towards its goals.
Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC) - This committee did not meet.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC) - No report was made.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL) - This committee did not meet.
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC) – This report was available online. Additionally, this committee is partnering with the Delphi Center on several projects: classroom development; improving communication; electronic newsletter; and, a listing of part-time faculty accomplishments.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B) - This committee did not meet.
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB) - This report was available online.
Executive Committee (XC) - This report was available online.
Other Reports
Academic Technology Committee (ATC) – This committee did not meet.
Bookstore Advisory Committee – This committee did not meet.
Coalition of Staff & Faculty Leadership (COSFL) – This report was embedded in the Chair’s report.
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) – This report was available online. Additionally, Ms. Duncan reported on the current availability of federally-mandated lactation rooms (4) for students and employees and the addition of three more on Belknap Campus.
Dining Services Committee – This report was available online.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –This committee did not meet.
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) - This report was available online.
Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) – This report was available online and will meet tomorrow.
Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) – No report was made.
Student Care Team – This report was available online.
University Librarian Report – No report was made.
Chair’s Report – Robert Staat
This report was available online.
Old Business
None
New Business
Annual elections will be held on May. Senators are reminded to communicate with their department chairs if they intend to seek reelection from their unit. As a reminder, on the attendance sheet, senators’ with terms expiring this year have an asterisk next to their names.
Announcements
None
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 P.M.
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary