UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
                                                                                 Faculty Senate 2007-08
________________________________________________________________   

University of South Alabama
Faculty Senate
2007-2008
March 19, 2008
University Library, Rm.110

Unapproved Minutes

Present:        Aliabadi, Baggett, Bru, Burnham, Byrne, Carnahan, Crumb, Doran, Douglass, Engin, Estis, Fresne, Hamilton, Johnsten, I. Khan, Z. Khan, King, Kinniburgh, Li, Loomis, Morris, Perez-Pineda, Porter, Prendergast, Prescott, Robinson, Romey, Sachs, Simpson, Tate, Vrettos, Woodford, Tootie Wright.

Excused:      Britt, Falkos, Haas, Irion, Pettyjohn, Santoli, Tony Wright.

Unexcused: Allison, Amare, Aucoin, Brown, Carter, Dardeau, Green, Heins, Lauderdale, Major, McNair, Meyer, Phelan, Prokhorov, Rowell, Sherman, Teplick.

1.  The meeting was called to order at 3:02 P.M. by Chair Tate.  A quorum was present at 3:10.

2. Lacking a quorum, consideration of the minutes was temporarily tabled and Chair Tate proceeded to the Chair’s report (Agenda item #3).

Chair Tate summarized points from the written report provided to the Senate and available online. Highlights of the report included:

• Dr. Semoon Chang (MCOB) and his wife have endowed a humanitarian award for service through the USA Development Office to be presented to a member of the USA faculty/staff/student/alumni and requested that the senate manage and make the award. Further negotiations will need to be made with Dr. Chang and his wife before a final decision is made.

• The USA Campaign Leadership is close (86%) to meeting their goal of $75,000,000 for the university’s first comprehensive fund-raising campaign. Most of the colleges have either reached their goals or are well along their way. The Faculty/Staff Annual Fund Drive has started up.  The Development Office has already started receiving inquiries regarding donations to the new football program.  The Budweiser-Busch Distributing has made the first corporate pledge of $50,000 in unrestricted funds for the new USA football team. 

• The new USA Long-Range Planning Goals and Objectives (2008-2013) have been finalized and will be presented at the general board meeting.  Both the university’s mission statement and vision statement are shorter, more concise and include an acknowledgement that we are in a “global community”.  A new goal has been added, which is “to promote research and scholarly activities.”

• The USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital requested that the university initiate the necessary planning and engineering studies to expand and improve C&WH.  Alpha South Building needs to be renovated so the Army ROTC can relocate there to allow their old site near the Mitchell Center to be used for the Bell Tower.  A bid for the cost of the renovation will be submitted to the board for approval.  There was also a bid for the construction of the Central Energy Plant Satellite Facility, to be built near the College of Medicine, in preparation of the need for additional energy for the new student recreation center and as a backup energy facility for the new Allied Health/Nursing building.

• USA Board of Trustees, General meeting, March 13, 2008 started out with a review of the university’s receipt of federally funded programs and earmarks.  Over the past 11 fiscal years, the university has received $155,426,796 in federal funds for various programs.  Prior to FY 98 the university had received no federal funds. There was also a resolution passed honoring this past year’s achievements of men’s basketball Coach Ronnie Arrow.  The new football coach, Joey Jones, was introduced. A new PhD program for Combined Clinical and Counseling Psychology, offered jointly by the Dept of Psychology (A&S) and Professional Studies Dept (Educ) is well on its way for approval by the Commission on Higher Education.  No opposition is expected. The university will be increasing the stipends for graduate assistantships.  Also, thanks to additional funding by the USA Foundation, more than 20 new research fellowships have been created.

• The Executive Committee brought two issues to the President during their March 17 meeting:  the campus gun bills in the Alabama Senate and the campus security plan.  Pres. Moulton does not believe either gun bill has a chance of making it out of committee, but they are watching the issue.  As for campus security, the administration is working with the new Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Smith, and the university police in revising and updating the current policy.  One simple measure would be to post emergency phone numbers in the classrooms. Pres. Moulton also discussed the latest USA Foundation Board’s distribution of funds. It remains the university’s position that the Foundation should contribute more funds for the University’s use.  The national average of university foundation giving is around 4.6% of their endowments, but the USA Foundations gives on the average between 2%-2.5% of their endowment. 

Following the formal report, Ali posed a question regarding the state of Foundation - University relations. In response, Chair Tate noted that the Foundation only funds what they choose to fund rather than allowing the administration to decide how to distribute funds; that they also establish limits. Sachs added that he is hopeful that things would change, though noting that the market is not good.

The chair was also asked about the installment of more cameras on campus. She noted, in response, that these were being added in buildings and outside and that the executive committee also discussed the issue of campus lighting.

Chair Tate announced that she had 10 free tickets to the Baseball game on Saturday, April 5 for anyone interested.

Finally, Chair Tate announced the names of the Senators whose terms are expiring, thanking them for the service.

3. With a quorum now present, the minutes from the February meeting were discussed. Following friendly changes two minor changes, and upon a motion by Loomis and seconded by Z. Khan, the minutes were unanimously approved.  

4. Old Business: Student Evaluations.
Chair Tate announced that this matter remains in the Evaluation Committee. She noted that she is still receiving the evaluation forms from the various colleges and collecting articles on the topic. The Chair asked that comments or suggestions be sent to her or the chair of the Evaluation Committee.

Chair Tate took the opportunity to remind committee chairs to submit their year-end reports for the next meeting.

5. New Business: Elections.
Chair Tate asked that if anyone is interested in running for an office or chairing a committee to let her know by email. A brief review indicated that all colleges except Arts and Sciences were in the process of conducting elections for new senators. Chair Tate noted that the election results are due on March 31 for new senators. She indicated that the Executive Committee would create a slate of candidates.

6.  Committee Reports.

• Academic Development and Mentoring (Steve Morris): no report
• Environmental Quality (Smoot Major): no report
• Evaluation (Tom Johnsten): Johnsten reported that 369 surveys had been completed and that the committee will put together the report. Though the deadline for completing the survey has passed, people can still submit the survey this week, according to Johnsten. Chair Tate suggested sending one final notice.
• Planning and Development (John Sachs): Sachs reported on a meeting with Davis and director of facilities presenting the blue-print of the university club. He noted that they were in the process of making some revisions. Sachs agreed to share the plans with the Senate once he obtains a copy.
• Policies and Faculty Handbook (Eric Loomis): no report. Chair Tate reported that Dr. Covey had advised her that the Deans are looking at the Senate resolution on non-renewable appointments, but still have not sent the matter to the Academic Affairs Policy Committee.
• Salary and Benefits (Jean Irion): -- no report
• Technology Utilization (Jie Li): -- no report

7.  Caucus Leader Reports.

• Allied Health (Zari Aliabadi): Aliabadi reported on completed and on-going searches in the college.
• Arts and Sciences (Tony Wright): not present
• Continuing Education (Elliott Lauderdale): not present
• Computer and Information Sciences (Michael Doran): Doran noted that the new dean is visiting every week, facilitating a smooth transition. The new dean officially starts June 1. Doran also reported that 2 faculty searches are being conducted.
• Education (Leah Kinniburgh):-- no report
• Engineering (Ali Engin): -- no report
• Library (Amy Prendergast): -- no report
• Mitchell College of Business (Greg Prescott): Prescott noted that at least 3 or 4 faculty searches were being conducted. 
• Medicine (Sheryl Falkos): In the process of electing 5 new senators. –
• Nursing (Karen Hamilton): no report

A question was raised regarding the problem of students parking in faculty designated areas, particularly between MCOB and the Physical Education building. Senators mentioned the difficulties of trying to get the administration to issue tickets. One noted that the administration has indicated that they do not want to take an aggressive stance, while another noted the ease by which students can have tickets waived. Chair Tate agreed to talk to the administration and maybe the police regarding the matter. Chair-elect Sachs also agreed to look into the matter.

8.  Adjourn. With no further business, Crumb’s move to adjourn, seconded by Loomis, enjoyed unanimous support. The meeting was adjourned at 3:44.  

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Last date changed: April 18 , 2008
URL: http://www.usouthal.edu/usa/fsenate/records/minutes/20070718.html