PRESENT:

Bernhard Abrahamsson, Karen Bahnick, David Buhl, Judy Dwyer, Clyde Ekbom, Jeff Engstrom, Beth Gilbert, Barbara Johnson, James Lane, Ron Mershart, Deane Minahan, Stewart Platner, Kenneth Redding, Gloria Toivola, Greg Trudeau, Richard Walker, Dr. Bertilson Guests: Barbara Erickson, Joni Tauzell

Excused: Paul Doty

Absent: Ron Harshman, Vaughn Russom

CALL TO ORDER:

Chair called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion to approve the March 11, 1997 minutes (Platner s/Engstrom) motion carried.

CHANCELLOR*S REPORT:

None

PROVOST'S REPORT:

The Provost had an announcement about an alumni dinner cruise for July 11, 1997 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The faculty and staff are invited to attend. Next he passed around the phone numbers of the planning committee of the assembly. This is to facilitate faculty support for system budget for those who wish to do so.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Stewart Platner reported the Student Activities Coordinator was looking for input for ways to get faculty and students together. Your input is encouraged.

REPORTS:

Chair-

The Chair clarified the quorum count from the last meeting. He indicated that in the future, if the number of senators present dropped below 12 and it was brought to his attention, the secretary would take a count and if the number was less than 12, the meeting would be adjourned. He indicated he was passing to the Academic Affairs Council a memo from Diane Grosomke who represents a committee of the department chairs regarding the scheduling of Tuesday and Thursday classes. He mentioned a memo out of Dr. Bartilson's office on the deadline coming out of the Chancellor's office regarding promotion and tenure had a deadline of April 10, 1977. Since the Chancellor was out of town, it was the Chancellor's desire that the deadline be extended to April 26, 1997. Discussion followed which indicated this was problematic in that it hindered the appeal process to any negative decisions that might take place.

The Chair moved the new business up on the agenda. Jodi appeared representing Campus Safety. She was looking for input from those present how best to deal with the recent break-ins. She indicated the Office was trying to determine the best to secure an area. The suggestion that the rooms be locked and require someone with a pass key met with some strong reservations.

IITC - Bob Carmack presented the draft campus plan for technology to the Senate. He indicated the system required a final plan due to Madison by April 15, 1997. He indicated the method used to draft the plan was based, at least in part, on the model used by the Strategic CORE Planning Committee. This satisfied the System requirement of any campus plan being linked to the Strategic Plan that exists on the given campus. He went on to say the document was on the web for faculty examination. He felt that this document would be subject to additional scrutiny . He then received questions. Senator Toivola indicated she had brought the report up informally during a recent Planning, Budgeting and Review Council meeting where some concerns were expressed. According to her, those concerns were: 1) was the report an attempt to, some way, get additional funding or was the report asking for funds that would come out of local funds? Ans. Two things - The System plan is used for budgeting purposes and planning purposes. What we send in from this University would, in theory, be included in the budgeting of resources at the System level. At the local level it would be the same thing as with the Strategic Plan . If re-allocations were to take place, then the assumptions made in the plan presented would be included. The question to be asked is " what is the importance of IITC on the campus?" 2) Another concern was the funding of IITC at the expense of other areas. Ans.: This quite frankly is an institutional decision. 3)Another concern was that faculty input was limited. Ans.: IITC is sensitive to this issue. More discussion followed about adequate support. Senator Platner questioned what was considered "adequate?" Ans.: that you have enough power to run programs that are available on line. Senator Toivola returned to concern number 4) Would this plan result in possible increased charge-backs. Ans.: we are trying to guard against things that are costly. Senator Johnson asked what was meant by instructional development. Ans.: That is to help the faculty use the technology in their classroom… to use distance education and instructional enhancement items. Senator Walker has a question about the use of technology by the faculty. Ans.: IITC hopes to get external funding to help faculty integrate technology into the classroom, i.e., into the curricula. The presentation ended with Senate members offering some general ideas and comments. Bob Carmack thanked the Senate for their time and indicated again that they would see this document again.

Secretary-

He urged everyone to vote. Elections for at-large senators are being held. He indicated the following departments would be holding elections for their senators: HPS, Math and Comp Sci , Music, Visual Arts, Lang & Lit, Acct, Fin &Econ. In addition two at-large senator positions are up for election, one of them due to the resignation of Senator Bahnick . Once elected, the two electees will draw lots to see which one has the term ending on May, 1998.

Faculty Representative - Karen Bahnick

She indicated she had attended a faculty representative's meeting on April 4, 1997. The major agenda item was the budget. Some discussion centered around lobbying for the budget. It was noted that critical for the 4 % pay increase was getting the tuition flexibility of 105%. Without it, only 2 to 2.5% was possible. In order to get the additional 2 %, tuition will have to go up some 7 %. She mentioned that the flexibility issue was very divisive. It pits faculty against students. She indicated that everyone wants a pay raise, but no one felt this was the way to go about it. The Joint Finance Committee will vote on the budget. The System needs 9 committee votes and presently it feels there are 6 votes. She urged all present that if they talked to their legislator, to personalize their appeal, i.e., make the point that there is only one way to hold good faculty - pay them. Also, if you decide to write them, do not use University stationary or e-mail to do so.

Planning , Budgeting and Review Council - Gloria Toivola

She mentioned the program reviews are on track.

Personnel Council - Ron Mershart

He mentioned a document entitled "Memo of Understanding" was given the Senators earlier under separate cover. He indicated the document contained one glaring error that he wanted to set straight. The original document referred to the "University Senate" when in fact it should have been "Faculty Senate." He passed around a corrected document. He indicated this document was an attempt to clarify the role of the department chairs, i.e., they are essentially peers and colleagues. The Council recognized that not everyone feels the same way on the issue. In the end, however, it was felt this memo was necessary to prevent having to make frequent changes to the personnel document. Motion was made to approve the document (Mershart) The motion passed.

Academic Affairs Council - Bernhard Abrahamsson

He noted that of the action items listed on the Agenda for academic affairs, the transition of Math 101 to New Math 099 item should be omitted because the item had been tabled and referred to the general education sub-committee. With that correction, the motion was made to all actions items the minutes of February 28, 1997 which include :

New Professional and Personal Communications Minor

General Education Committee recommendations on six (6) courses:

Anthropology 315 (Cultural Anthropology) as a non-western

course.

Sociology 460 (Social Class) as a diversity course.

History/Anthropology 306 (African Archaeology) as a non - western course.

History/Anthropology/Women's Studies 404 (Voices of Arab

Women) as a western and diversity course.

Chemistry 103 as a new general education course which would

meet the physical sciences with a lab requirement.

(Abrahamsson)

After extended discussion about what courses were contained the communication minor, a motion was made by Senator Johnson to amend the motion by striking "two business courses", and to say " business communication 235 plus one other business course". The motion to amend failed for the lack of a second. Further discussion between senators and the registrar resulted in the entire math action item being omitted. The main motion passed.

Academic Staff Representative-

None

Student Senate Representative-

None

.

OLD BUSINESS:

None

NEW BUSINESS:

1. The item concerned a memo from the Vice-Chancellor regarding a policy on advice from the Office of the General Counsel. The administration is asking for input on this issue. One concern was that the list of individuals who could make calls did not contain a faculty member. Another concern was from the Personnel Council. Senator Mershart noted the Council must deal with complaints or grievances, on occasion, and have need of the System counsel's opinion. It was noted that while the query could be routed through the individuals listed, it would be more convenient if the contact could be made direct. The recommendation was made to include the Senate Chair. The Provost said the point was well taken. He added that the Academic Staff Council recommended that the Chairs of the Academic Staff Council and Faculty Senate have access. No vote was taken since none was required.
2. Appointment of Extended Degree Program Advisory Committee - Tabled.

ADJOURNMENT:

Respectfully submitted,

Kenneth Redding

Faculty Senate Secretary