Present: D. Adams, J. Adamski for L. Adams, Baird, Barker, Basden, Buddo, Chinn, Davis, Edwards, Farris, Fox, C. Hanks for Garner, Hillman, Jensen, K. Johnson, P. Johnson, Knudson, Longfellow, Losey, McGee, Miller, M. Madlem for Pippin, Robinson, Rolf, Stone, Wallace, Wiley, Willis, Yelderman, Youngdale
Absent: Conyers, Gordon
The invocation was led by Duane Knudson.
II. Announcements
Chair Basden reported that approximately $200 plus a number of toys had been collected at the previous Senate meeting for Santa's Workshop and indicated that contributions were still welcome.
Senator Losey announced that the latest Senate newsletter had recently been mailed.
III. Approval of November 19 Minutes
The minutes of the November 19 meeting were approved as distributed.
IV. Items from Council of Deans/Vice President Schmeltekopf
The Council of Deans had not met since the previous Senate meeting, but were scheduled to meet on December 4. Among the topics to be discussed at that meeting is the Calendar Committee's recommended changes to the university calendar for the 1997-98 academic year.
Chair Basden reported to the Senate on a meeting of the Big Twelve Senate Chairs and Provosts which he had attended on December 1-2. The Senate Chairs shared copies of their constitutions and bylaws. Much of the discussion dealt with post-tenure review, which is affecting many of the schools represented at the meeting.
V. Report from November 19 resolutions
Chair Basden reported that in response to the Senate's expression of concern to President Sloan regarding the composition of the Journalism Department chair search committee, Basden had received a preliminary response from the president's office on November 26 and an indication that a more detailed response would be forthcoming. Additionally, Senator Baird spoke to the Senate about his meeting with President Sloan, indicating his (Baird's) feeling that President Sloan would take a hard look at the committee composition and possibly make some changes.
B. Summer School Employment
With regard to the Resolution on Summer School Employment adopted by the Senate at the November meeting, it was reported that President Sloan has encouraged deans and department chairs to continue to look at the issue of summer school employment. The president indicated in a memo sent to all department chairs in the College of Arts and Sciences that he is willing to look again at departments that had taken summer school cuts.
C. Role of University Tenure Committee
At the November 19 meeting, the Senate adopted a recommendation regarding the role of the Tenure Committee in the dismissal of faculty. The recommendation was sent forward to the administration. No response had been received as of the December 3 Senate meeting.
D. University Calendar
At the November 19 meeting, the Senate voted in favor of a resolution presented by the Faculty Committee on Student Life and Services recommending specific changes to the university calendar. In response, President Sloan has indicated that the administration would move forward on the issues; Vice President Hillis responded positively to the resolution.
E. Honorary Degree
It was reported that President Sloan has stated that the Board of Regents will be considering the recommendation to grant an honorary degree to Professor Robert Reid.
The committee has not met since the last Senate meeting. No report.
B. Faculty Committee on Enrollment Management - Howard Rolf, Chair
No report.
C. Faculty Committee on Physical Facilities - Joe Yelderman, Chair
No report.
D. Faculty Committee on Student Life and Services - Patricia Wallace, Chair
(At the November 19 meeting, the Senate had voted to table a resolution recommending the addition of student representatives to all university committees except those dealing with tenure, compensation, benefits, and personnel.) Wallace made a motion to bring the resolution off the table. She then brought forth a substitute motion, recommending the addition of student representatives to specific committees. (A copy of the committee's resolution is attached to the file copy of the minutes.) The Senate voted in favor of the substitute motion, which will be forwarded to the University Committee on Committees.
E. University Committee on Committees
Senator Hillman, acting for committee chair John Wilson, presented a recommendation that the following statement be included in committee guidelines: "Within the university governance system faculty provide leadership through university committees. Therefore, faculty who also serve as administrators: the President, Vice-Presidents, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Vice-Provosts, and Academic Deans are not included on committee assignments, and may serve only on a committee in an ex-officio status." This has been established practice but has not previously been written into committee guidelines.
Following a short period of discussion, the Senate voted in favor of the recommendation, which will be sent on to the Committee on Committees.
F. Staff Council Liaison
No report.
A brief report was given by Senator K. Johnson on the rate of return on Baylor's endowment in relation to the national average. A recent report issued by the Chronicle of Higher Education indicated that the earnings of college endowments were 17.2% for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996. Baylor's endowment earnings for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1996 were 14.8%. Baylor receives a check from the Baptist Foundation equal to 5.75% of the average market value of the endowment portion managed by the foundation over the preceding sixteen quarters; this 5.75% is referred to as the university's spending policy and is not the same as the university's endowment earnings.
B. Faculty/Course Evaluations
Last year the Senate conveyed to the Provost concern about the possible manipulation of evaluation results by faculty and/or students and asked that the matter be examined. Although there has been no response from the administration to date, the issue is on the agenda for the Council of Deans meeting December 4.
C. Possible Division of BU-PPM into Separate Faculty and Staff Manuals
Senator Edwards reported that he had discussed with Claude Ervin the question raised by the Senate last year regarding splitting the BU-PPM into separate manuals for faculty and staff. Ervin did not think the effort would be worthwhile and indicated that the matter would have to go through the University Counsel's office. In discussion, it was decided that the Senate should look further at the issue. Chair Basden stated that the Senate Executive Committee would discuss the matter in further detail.
D. Question About Uses of Student Lab Fees
Senator Stone raised the issue of students paying fees required for certain courses when the fees apparently do not go to maintain the facilities used by the classes. Physical education classes such as racquetball and tennis were given as examples. Chair Basden asked the Faculty Committee on Physical Facilities to examine the issue and bring back a report.
E. Question About Student Absences for Athletic Events
Senator Barker raised the issue of athletes missing numerous classes due to traveling to athletic events. Several senators stated that this had been a problem for students in their classes. The concern expressed by those senators is that the absences required by athletic schedules are putting many students at risk academically.
During a period of discussion, questions were raised regarding what would be the "right group" to address this problem. The Senate took no action on this matter. Chair Basden will bring the issue before the Council of Deans.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Johnson, Secretary