University of Louisville
Faculty Senate Meeting
May 2, 2012
The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was held on May 2, 2012 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, Dennis Hall, Mary Makris, John McLeod, Ron Sahoo, Joe Steffen, Elaine Wise CoB – Robert Barker, Bruce Kemelgor, Robert Myers DENTISTRY – Ricardo Caicedo, Donald Demuth, Robert Staat, Dave Willis EDUCATION – Daya Sandhu Tom Simmons KENT – Seana Golder, Wanda Lott Collins LAW – Kurt Metzmeier, Luke Milligan, Enid Trucios-Haynes LIBRARIES – Gail Gilbert, Terri Holtze, Margo Smith MEDICINE – Forest Arnold, Richard Downs, Pam Feldhoff, Lawrence Hunt, Saeed Jortani, Sham Kakar, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Steven Nakajima MUSIC – Daniel Weeks NURSING – Diane Chlebowy, Celeste Shawler PART-TIME – Charlie Baker, Rose Mills, Susan Peacock PUBLIC HEALTH – Ray Austin SPEED – Suraj Alexander, Bruce Alphenaar, Nageshwar Bhaskar, Roger Bradshaw
Also Attending -
Ex Officio: James Ramsey, Shirley Willihnganz, Brent Fryrear
Others: Sam Connally, Tracy Eells, Beth Boehm, Melissa Laning, Robert Stenger, David Brown, Gretchen Henry, recording secretary
Press: Janene Zaccone (U of L Today)
Senators Not Registering Attendance -
A&S – Wendy Yoder CoB – Ben Foster EDUCATION – Roger Buskill, Marion Hambrick KENT - Sharon Bowland MEDICINE – Moataz el-Ghamry, Brad Keller, Steven Myers MUSIC – Ansyn Banks, Krista Wallace-Boaz PART-TIME – Brian Barnes, Joe Gutmann, Michael Wade PUBLIC HEALTH – Ruth Carrico
MEETING ONE: ANNUAL ELECTION MEETING
The annual election meeting was conducted by Senator Terri Holtze from the Committee on Committees and Credentials. Ballots were distributed to all eligible senators. Senator Holtze had prepared a Power Point on the process that would be followed for the election. An open comment period generated a lively discussion of the tradition and process of the election. Though no endorsements were allowed, each candidate for the officer positions was given five minutes to speak. Calling for floor nominations for Chair, and receiving none, Senator Holtze began the election with the candidates’ statements. After his speech, standing Chair Staat removed his name from the ballot. Vice Chair Steffen made his comments, and then Senator Hall nominated Senator Pam Feldhoff for Vice Chair from the floor. The candidates for Vice Chair, senators Robert Barker (CoB), Saeed Jortani (Medicine) and Pam Feldhoff (Medicine), each gave a brief statement. For each ballot, Senator Holtze read the list of candidates. After all the ballots were filled in, they were collected for tabulation. Election results were reported during the regular senate meeting which followed.
The Annual Election Meeting ended and the Regular Monthly meeting began.
ACTION: Consideration of the Minutes
The minutes of the April 4, 2012 meeting were unanimously approved as distributed.
REPORT: Student Government Association – Jody Heil
No report was made.
REPORT: Staff Senate – Brent Fryrear
The Staff Senate is working with Human Resources on staff reduction as a result of the budget situation.
ACTION ITEM: First Reading of Library Personnel Documents - Willis
As this was the first reading on the revisions to the Libraries personnel document, there was no discussion.
ACTION ITEM: Approval of the Certificate in Prosthodontics – Demuth
This proposal come to the Senate from the Academic Programs Committee, and therefore, needs no second. Senator Demuth gave some background on the proposal. This would be the only program in the state. There are eighteen prosthodontists in Kentucky and 9 of them are academics. This is the only dental program with no supplemental certificate. With no discussion, the proposal passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Approval of the Excused Absence Policy – Wise
Senator Wise gave a brief overview of the revisions made to the existing Excused Absence Policy, as it had not been posted online in time for this meeting. The new wording in the letter of agreement is stronger and covers all students attending University-sanctioned events, not just student-athletes. The revised policy will be posted on the Senate web site and discussed at next month’s meeting.
REPORT: University Provost – Dr. Shirley Willihnganz
Provost Willihnganz opened her report by sharing how much she respects the Faculty Senate and how much she enjoys working with its leadership. Going into a new academic year will be difficult to keep up the progress we have made so far. We are doing more than any other university in the state while being cut to such a severe degree. She would like to form a group to look at the challenges to higher education and how and when we should change what we do. The last version of the budget was approved and will mean a 2% cut to units and about 15 RIFs. Regarding administrative searches, Dr. Willihnganz reported that the committees for Business and Graduate Studies have been charged. The committee for the Law School dean search is being populated; the search for the School of Medicine will begin in the fall; the interim dean of the College of Education has two years left on his three year position; and, the committee for the Public Health search was formed and charged and meeting tomorrow.
REPORT: Election Results – Holtze
Reporting on the election results, Senator Holtze announced the following:
Chair – Joe Steffen
Vice Chair – Pam Feldhoff
Executive Committee – Ray Austin and Elaine Wise
Academic Programs Committee – Chin Ng
Committee on Committee and Credentials – Gail Gilbert, Ron Sahoo and Ben Foster
Committee on Libraries – Yuki Kuwabara and Bruce Alphenaar
Part-time Faculty – Nageshwar Bhaskar and Diane Chlebowy
REDBOOK Committee – Kurt Metzmeier, Forest Arnold, Krista Wallace-Boaz
Parking Appeals Committee – Katherine Burger Johnson, Allen Ashman, Jill Sherman
REPORT: University President – Dr. James Ramsey
President Ramsey stated that he would like to take a different approach today and open the floor up to questions and concerns in an effort to improve communication. He is also planning on being more visible on Belknap Campus to interact with faculty and students. He met with the A&S faculty to discuss various issues, including the transparency of the budgeting process; the UofL Foundation; the funding of new programs; and, how the budget cuts have affected faculty morale. Senators made suggestions to improve communication by using methods other than the online UofL Today and being more proactive about releasing information. A brief discussion took place on the value faculty put on communication.
Committee Reports
Academic Programs Committee (APC) - This report was online.
Committee on Committees and Credentials (CCC) - This committee conducted today’s election.
Libraries Committee (FSCOL) - This committee did not meet.
Part-time Faculty Committee (PTFC) - This report was online.
Planning & Budget Committee (P&B) - This report was online.
Redbook & Bylaws Committee (RB)- This committee worked on the Libraries personnel document.
Executive Committee (XC) - This report was online.
Other Reports
Academic Technology Committee (ATC) – No report was made.
Alternate Transportation Committee - No report was made.
Bookstore Advisory Committee – No report was made.
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) – No report was made.
Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality (CODRE) - No report was made.
Dining Services Committee – This report was online.
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) - This report was online.
Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) – This report was online.
Ideas2Action (i2A) - This report was online.
Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) – This report was online.
Student Care Team - No report was made.
Chair’s Report – Robert Staat
This report was online.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Announcements
The Faculty Senate will meet again on June 6, 2012 at 3 p.m. in the Dental School, Room 131.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5P.M.
Gretchen Stein Henry
Faculty Senate Secretary