University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
April 6, 2011
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on April 6, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. in the Chao Auditorium in the Ekstrom Library, on Belknap Campus, Robert Staat presiding.
Senators Registering Attendance
A&S –Annette Allen, Elizabeth Bradley, Martin Klotz, Mary Makris, Joseph Steffen, Elaine Wise, Tamara Yohannes CoB – Bruce Kemelgor, Robert Myers DENTISTRY - Ricardo Caicedo, Donald DeMuth, Robert Staat, Dave Willis EDUCATION –Rod Githens, Tom Simmons KENT – Sharon Bowland LAW – Kurt Metzmeier LIBRARIES – Gail Gilbert, Terri Holtze, Margo Smith MEDICINE –Moataz El-Ghamry, Lawrence Hunt, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, John Nyland MUSIC – Daniel Weeks NURSING – Diane Chlebowy, Sandra Holmes PART-TIME – Judy Heitzman PUBLIC HEALTH – Ray Austin SPEED – Suraj Alexander, Roger Bradshaw, Hollace Cox
Also Attending -
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Shirley Willihnganz, Virginia Brown, Kurtis Frizzell
Others: Beth Boehm, Mike Curtin, Susan Ingram Howarth, Blaine Hudson, Diane Nichols, Melissa Laning, Susan Duncan, Bob Stenger, Sally Molsberger, Scott Schukwecht, Mike Riclin Gretchen Henry, recording secretary
Press: Janene Zaccone (U of L Today)
Senators Not Registering Attendance -
A&S –Jasmine Farrier, Elizabeth Grossi, Dennis Hall, Cynthia Negrey CoB – Rob Barker, Carrie Donald EDUCATION – Peter Alter, Kathleen Rudasil KENT – Seana Golder LAW – David Ensign, Enid-Trucios-Haynes MEDICINE – Forest Arnold, David Cunningham, Richard Downs, Pamela Feldhoff, Saeed Jortani, Sham Kakar, Steven Myers, Jeanie Roberts MUSIC – Seow-Chin Ong, Krista Wallace-Boaz PART-TIME – Charlie Baker, Brian Barnes, Rose Mills, Susan Peacock, Dana Seay PUBLIC HEALTH –Ruth Carrico SPEED – Nageshwar Bhaskar
ACTION: Consideration of the Minutes
The minutes of the March 2, 2011 meeting were approved as distributed.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Kurtis Frizzell
Mr. Frizzell reported that he had been elected as the next Student government President. He introduced Jody Heil, the new Academic Vice President and representative to the Faculty Senate.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Virginia Brown
The Staff Senate report was available online.
ACTION ITEM: Approval of the Center for Arts and Culture Partnerships – DeMuth
Senator DeMuth introduced Peter Moorin, from A&S, who will direct the Center. The proposal formalizes an initiative started in 2007 between UofL and 18 partners. Funding for the Center comes from A&S for the first three years and by grants or inclusion in the Capital Campaign in the future. Mr. Moorin gave The Crane House as an example of a current partnership. The proposal comes before the Senate approved by the Academic Programs Committee, so no second is required. After a brief discussion, the proposal passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Second reading of CEHD Documents – Willis
The REDBOOK Committee reviewed the revised bylaws from Education and made recommendations for change. The recommended changes were made and were approved by the REDBOOK Committee. Senator Githens, from Education, said that the unit’s faculty thought they would get to vote on the recommendations before the document came before the Senate. Senator Klotz made a motion to table the motion to approve until the Education faculty voted. Senator Wise seconded his motion. The motion to table the motion until the Education faculty had voted passed unanimously.
REPORT: HEOA Policy and the bookstores – Molsberger
Ms. Molsberger reported to the Senate that the HEOA policy (Higher Education Opportunity Act) had been in place since July 1, 2010. This policy is linked to the registrar’s course information and gives students an early opportunity to know what materials are required for their classes. Students are given the ISBN and book price so they may purchase wherever they wish. The policy is slowly being implemented as more units become aware of it.
REPORT: Summary of the Ombud’s first 6 months – Belak
In his first six months, Mr. Belak has had 30 inquiries. He will begin tracking the information to measure usage. In February he held the first 40 hour training program and taught listening and communicating skills. It was very successful and he is now is in the process of developing a mediation training program. He will take certification training in the fall. There are less than 40 certified ombuds in the country. Asked if he sees emerging themes in his discussions, he said it was still too early to have a strong feeling but that most issues stem from poor communication.
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
President Ramsey reported that no cuts will be made to us in the state budget, which allows us to move forward with our own budget process. We are looking at a potential tuition increase of 6%; however, it appears the student fee for the new student recreation facility will not be counted toward the cost of tuition. The decision to include the fee for all new, but not current students was passed by a vote of the student body. Provost Willihnganz commented that four other state universities are exempting student driven fees from the tuition formula, though it has not been approved by the CPE. The CPE says it will be difficult to raise tuition by 6% while offering a 3% salary increase to employees. But the salary increase funds are from our cost saving efforts and not paid from tuition income. President Ramsey then reported on the Phi Beta Kappa site visit and said that it went very well. The exit interview he had with the visiting team revealed a concern with the amount of classes taught through distance education. The provost pointed out that the concern was not with the program, but with its delivery system - online instead of class time. Dr. Ramsey then reported on the capital campaign and the goal to reach $750M by the summer of 2013. He is confident the goal will be reached. The hospital merger will go before the Board of Trustees in June. He said there are many boards that will need to approve before it is final. Reporting on administrative searches, President Ramsey said that both the Vice President for Research and Innovation and Vice President for Health Affairs have 3 strong candidates and those search committees will make recommendations soon. The contract for the Speed School dean is in final negotiations and the candidates for dean of the College of Education will return next week to speak with him.
REPORT: University Provost – Dr. Shirley Willihnganz
Provost Willihnganz said that President Ramsey had covered most everything. She added that the Phi Beta Kappa team really liked the Ideas to Action initiative and that the third annual Ideas2Action seminar will be held later in May. Touching on the subject of conflict of interest, she said that in order for everyone to understand the issue, she will be working on increasing awareness as to what is considered COI. An online form is under development that will be required for notification of potential conflicts of interest. There will also be sanctions for violations or non-notification. Reporting on SACS, the Provost said that its rules had changed and now required a 5 year review instead of the 10 year. She is preparing now for that review coming in 2012. In the next round of Leadership Workshops, President Ramsey will present the budget process and she will cover fraud and systems abuse.
Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC) - This committee met last month and approved the General Education documents. These documents are available online.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC) - No report made. Elections will be held next month.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL) - This committee met last week but no report is available.
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC) - will make its report next month.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B) - Members of this committee met with the Executive Committee for a budget presentation.
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB) - This committee did not meet.
Executive Committee (XC) - This report was available online.
Other Reports
Academic Technology Committee (ATC) – This report was available online.
Bookstore Advisory Committee – This report was available online and Senator Makris thanked Chair Staat for inviting the bookstore reps to today’s meeting.
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) – This report was available online.
Coalition of Staff & Faculty Leadership (COSFL) – COSFL will meet on April 11th in Frankfort.
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) – There was no report.
Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) – There was no report.
Student Care Team – This report was available online.
University Librarian Report – There was no report.
Chair’s Report – Robert Staat
The Chair’s report was available online.
Old Business
None
New Business
Senator Martin Klotz (A&S) will be leaving the University and thanked the Senate.
Announcements
Senate elections will be held at next month’s meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 P.M.
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary