SEPTEMBER 8, 1998

Agenda Items:

1. Approval of Minutes and Treasurer’s Report. The Senate assembled at 3:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Dick Smith Library with seventeen members present. On the motion of Charles Howard, the minutes of the May 12 meeting were approved as distributed earlier. The Treasurer’s Report showed a balance of $920.09 in the Senate account with the current year’s finances yet to be credited.

2. Introduction of New Senators. President Holly Lamb presented Ms. Amy McKay, representing Health and Physical Education; Mr. Rusty Freed from Management, Marketing and Administrative Systems; and Mr. Charles Walker from the new Department of Nursing.

3. Report of Food Services contract negotiations. President Lamb reported that ARAMARK and Marriott corporations were the first to be asked to bid on food service at Tarleton in some twenty-one years. ARAMARK won the bid primarily on the grounds that Marrriott would have been too expensive. The company will undertake remodeling in the Dining Hall and has already made other changes. Both companies were informed that bids will be opened again in five years; students and faculty should observe changes and services in anticipation.

4. Report on Campus Store contract and oversight committee. Charles Howard reported that Wallace, Follett and Hastings presented bids to operate the campus store. Wallace offered a poor presentation with no changes; the others made better offers. All agreed on book markup rates based upon some industry standard, and so far Hastings appears to be honoring the percentages.

The transition from Wallace to Hastings was indeed bad and for multiple reasons. Both companies contributed to the problems as did the university, which had little experience with such changes. But an oversight committee will monitor text prices. If problems persist, the contract may be terminated. Recommendations may be forthcoming on notification of new sections, need for additional books, e-mail procedures and forms for order, and so forth. Much oversight work remains to be done.

5. Report on Academic Council topics, summer, 1998. President Lamb announced that the hours for the core curriculum have not been set; so no progress has been made. The new TASP requirements have brought very much confusion. Discussions continue on holding three or four graduation ceremonies in a single day--or on several days. McKay raised a question as to which faculty are required to attend which ceremony, and President Lamb will seek an answer from the Convocation Committee. Meetings continue on the proposed Central Texas merger. The Board of Regents and the Coordinating Board still must approve, and the Legislature in January will be asked for money to finance the move. Many questions and obstacles remain, but a Senate Committee on "Concerns" to consist of Lamb, Cude, Duncan and Hall will suggest questions that need answers.

6. Report on Calendar Committee and Fall Break. The calendar for 1999-2000 is nearly complete, lacking only Homecoming information. President Lamb observed that the Calendar Committee involves much cross-purposes and disagreements, with interests of the faculty very much in the minority position. Few are enthusiastic about the calendar as it stands but changes involve the shift from "counting hours" to "counting weeks," coordination with other universities for Distance Learning arrangements, disagreement over Academic versus a University Calendar, observance of holidays, and definitions of Restricted Activities. Senator Duncan moved that a committee be appointed to gather suggestions and comments prior to the calendar’s being presented to the October meeting for Senate approval. The motion passed, and Senators Duncan, Howard, Low McKay and Robitaille will solicit comments. The Calendar committee has made no recommendations regarding the summer semesters of 1999.

7. Texas Council of Faculty Senates Meeting, Austin. On the motion of Joe Cude, Tarleton will join the council with other universities and provide funds for President Lamb to attend the session in Austin. Motion passed.

8. Nominations for Faculty Advisory Committee. Howard observed that the nominations made to the Faculty Advisory Committee needed changes. One nominee was part-time teaching and part-time administration. Cude noted that the two nominees were from the same department. After some discussion and confusion, Howard moved to table the nominations. Motion passed.

9. Announcements. Charles Howard reported as a member of the search committee that three finalists for the full-time director of grants would be coming on campus, on September 16, 22, and 30. After a brief review of the candidates, Howard suggested that senators and other interested faculty plan to attend receptions on these three dates. He will share information on credentials with interested parties.

Vice-President Alexander informed President Lamb that department heads might indeed designate a representative to the Curriculum Committee. He stressed the importance of the committee this year with core requirements in flux. Department head representatives apparently may still be blocked by the college deans, upon their individual responsibilities.

The fall semester faculty luncheon will be October 14 in the Travis Room. Speaker will be Richard Hull of the Texas Council on the Humanities.

10. New Business. The Senate has an office in the Tarleton Center. It must be cleaned and made otherwise ready with filing cabinets. It should provide a convenient central location for documents currently scattered about campus.

Tim Brown moved adjournment. Motion passed. The Senate adjourned at 4:56p.m.