President Howard called the January 13, 1998, meeting to order at 3:30 PM. The minutes of the November 11, 1997, meeting were approved with the following correction: Bill Chandler's term also ends in the spring of 1998. The secretary reported that the senate had $4332.80 in its account. Tim Brown, Karen DeFranchi, John Rhoades, and Brian Whitecotton were absent. The agenda sequence was rearranged to allow VPAA Alexander to address the senate first (see item 5).
Awards Information
. Holly Lamb outlined the selection process for the Regents' Professor Award and and the Arthur Award. Senators should get copies of the nomination forms for their department nominees to Holly Lamb (Box T-0290) by 5:00PM, Friday, February 27. She will need 19 copies of the Arthur Award forms. The senate will make its recommendations at the March meeting.
Bookstore
. Jerry Norris and Cathy Whiteman addressed the senate concerning the Campus Bookstore's general operating procedures. They discussed the problems students had in getting books in the fall semester, pointing to the UPS strike and late orders as the primary causes. They pointed out that the spring semester had no where near the same kinds of problems. The senate asked them what their procedures were for keeping up with enrollment, why the deadlines for orders had to be so early, and how much, if at all, did they reduce orders placed. They stated that they are not currently online so they cannot keep up electronically with enrollment. They also stated that deadlines are early so they can find used books and that they have no policy for reducing orders.
Fall Break Discussion
. After some discussion about the logistics of a fall break or a three-day weekend, the senate decided to contact departments and report at the February meeting.
Policy Changes in Handbook.
Dr. Alexander stated he was seeking the senate's assistance is revising and cleaning up policies concerning the promotion process. His proposed revisions, based on recommendations to him from TAMUS lawyers, involve both "housekeeping" and substantive changes to the promotion process. The first change concerns the Handbook language that "the department head evaluates . . . ." He stated that the language needs to be modified to include "or immediate supervisor." The second change he recommended requires changing the promotion process so that the process does not terminate in the case of two negatives. He asked the senate to support a change that would bring the promotion process in line with the tenure process where two negative do not stop the process. In both the promotion and tenure processes, if his recommendations are approved, all levels would be able to make their recommendations. Charles Howard brought up broader issues concerning promotion and tenure, pointing out ambiguities that currently exist. A motion passed to inform our departments of Dr. Alexander's proposed changes, get feedback, and see if faculty have other areas of concern about Handbook policies.
Announcements.
Charles Howard informed the senate about the upcoming evaluation of department heads process.