University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
December 7, 2011
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on December 7, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. in Chao Auditorium in the Ekstrom Library, on Belknap Campus, Robert Staat presiding.
Senators Registering Attendance
A&S – Annette Allen, Beth Bradley, Jasmine Farrier, Elizabeth Grossi, Dennis Hall, John McLeod, Joseph Steffen, Elaine Wise, Wendy Yoder, Tamara Yohannes CoB – Ben Foster, Bruce Kemelgor DENTISTRY – Ricardo Caicedo, Don Demuth, Robert Staat, Dave Willis EDUCATION –Roger Buskill, Marion Hambrick, Daya Sandhu, Tom Simmons LAW – David Ensign, Kurt Metzmeier, Enid Trucios-Haynes LIBRARIES – Gail Gilbert, Terri Holtze, Margo Smith MEDICINE – Richard Downs, Moataz El-Ghamry, Pamela Feldhoff, Lawrence Hunt, Saeed Jortani, Jeannie Roberts MUSIC – Ansyn Banks PART-TIME – Charles Baker, Joe Gutmann, Susan Peacock PUBLIC HEALTH – Ray Austin SPEED - Bruce Alphenaar, Nageshwar Bhaskar, Roger Bradshaw
Also Attending -
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Shirley Willihnganz, Brent Fryrear, Jody Heil
Others: Beth Boehm, Sam Connally, Blaine Hudson, Melissa Laning, Therese Rayack-Tully, Robert Stenger, Mordean Taylor-Archer, Diane Whitlock, Chris Davis, Patricia Benson, Darrell Griffith, Gretchen Henry, recording secretary
Press: Janene Zaccone (U of L Today)
Senators Not Registering Attendance -
A&S – Ron Sahoo CoB – Robert Barker, Robert Myers KENT – Sharon Bowland, Seana Golder, Wanda Lott Collins MEDICINE – Forest Arnold, Sham Kakar, Brad Keller, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Steven Myers, Steven Nakajima MUSIC – Daniel Weeks, Krista Wallace-Boaz NURSING – Diane Chlebowy, Sandra Holmes, Celeste Shawler PART-TIME – Brian Barnes, Rose Mills PUBLIC HEALTH – Ruth Carrico SPEED – Suraj Alexander
ACTION: Consideration of the Minutes
The minutes of the November 2, 2011 meeting were unanimously approved as distributed.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Jody Heil
Mr. Heil reported that the SGA has been very busy this semester with constitution and election revisions. The revisions have been sent to individual councils for approval. The SGA is developing a course evaluation video and is preparing for the annual Rally for Higher Education in Frankfort on February 7th.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Brent Fryrear
At the Staff Senate meeting in November, the Disease Management Program made a presentation on how to save money on medications. The SHARE program is working with families in need this holiday season and if anyone is interested in adopting a family, they can contact Tammy Lawson. The Staff Senate committees are working on the RIF policy.
ACTION ITEM: Readings of Documents – Willis
- Second reading of the School of Dentistry’s bylaws- Senator Willis reported that the entire bylaws were rewritten from the original (1987) to bring them up to date. As the proposal came from committee it needed no second and passed unanimously.
- First reading of REDBOOK 4.3.3 – this had been tabled at last month’s meeting and the motion to untable passed unanimously. The language concerning work outside the University was changed for clarification and will be discussed at the January 11, 2012 meeting.
ACTION ITEM: Proposed Ph.D. degree in Pan-African Studies – DeMuth
The proposal is presented today by the Academic Programs Committee and is generated by student interest. The program takes advantage of existing courses and would be the only offering in the state and one of ten in the country, making competition for good students very low. What would distinguish this program, and make graduates more competitive in the job market, is the specialization requirement, in either Black Studies or History. There is much international and private corporate interest in this program. The proposal has been approved by both the Academic Programs and the Planning & Budget committees. After a brief discussion of the employability of graduates, the proposal passed with one dissention.
REPORT: New Diversity Plan – Taylor-Archer
Dean Taylor-Archer presented the University’s new Diversity Plan in a Power point (available on the Senate’s web site). The state’s plan focused mainly on African-Americans and UofL’s plan is more inclusive of other groups (i.e., Hispanics, Asians). Other areas of concentration in the new plan include workforce diversity, improving the campus climate, promoting globalization and sustainability.
REPORT: Salary Equity Study – Connally
Vice President for Human Resources, Sam Connally, gave a very brief overview, including a Power Point presentation, on the most recent salary equity study (available on the Senate’s web site). He reported on the membership of the committee reviewing the information, as well as the scope and methodology of the study. He requested feedback from the Senate.
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
President Ramsey gave his report using a Power Point presentation (available on the Senate’s web site). He thanked the Senate for all the work it does on behalf of the University. He then went on to report on Frankfort and the state’s bleak economic outlook, the accomplishments that the University achieved this past academic year, as well as the challenges. He said the upcoming legislative session will most likely be dominated by budget discussions.
REPORT: University Provost – Dr. Shirley Willihnganz
The Provost thanked the Senate for passing the Ph.D. in Pan African Studies, as she felt it was the right thing to do even in this economic atmosphere. As we abide by the state’s mandate to increase these degrees, we struggle with budget issues to pay for them. She is combing the units’ budgets and asking deans to verify open faculty/staff lines and the plans for them. She is also looking at zero based budgets, whereby each unit’s budget returns to zero each academic year and the dean must then present proof for budget requests. To move forward we need to think differently about what works and what does not. UofL has done its part, but the state has fallen short on its commitment. But, Kentucky is not the only state with budget problems. Dr. Willihnganz reported that three administrative reviews will begin for Vice President Larry Owsley, President Ramsey and Dean Edward Halperin. As far as the SACS 15 week requirement, we are not changing our class schedules at this time. She thanked the Faculty Senate and mentioned the Distinguished Teachers ceremony held the night before.
REPORT: Proposal for Employee Wellness Center – Davis
The objective of this proposal is to secure a location for a state-of-the-art wellness center for employees on campus that will address issues that drive healthcare costs; obesity, stress and lack of physical activity. The Crawford Gym is at capacity and lacks the space for needed growth. The SAC space will give the Get Healthy Now a place of its own to allow the idea of focusing on the whole person to take shape. Ms. Davis made a Power Point presentation to the Senate and requested senators encourage their constituents to take the Wellness Survey when it becomes available. As an ambassador of good health and Special Assistant to President Ramsey, Darrell Griffith spoke on behalf of the Get Healthy Now program and the need for a facility dedicated to faculty and staff. He also encouraged senators to take the survey seriously.
Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC), Don Demuth, Chair- Did not meet in November.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC), Terri Holtze, Chair- No report was made.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL), Daniel Weeks, Chair- No report was made.
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC), Susan Peacock, Chair- No report was made.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B), Pam Feldhoff, Chair- This report was available online.
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB)- Readings above.
Executive Committee (XC), Joe Steffen, Chair- This report was available online.
Other Reports
Academic Technology Committee (ATC) – This committee did not meet.
Bookstore Advisory Committee – This committee has no more meetings this semester.
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) – This report was available online.
Dining Services Committee – This committee did not meet.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –This committee needs a rep.
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) – This report was available online.
Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) – This report was available online.
Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) – This committee did not meet.
Student Care Team – No report was made.
Chair’s Report – Robert Staat
This report was available online.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Announcements
None
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 P.M.
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary