Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting

March 10, 1998

Agenda Items of Business

  1. Approval of Minutes (Attachment A) and Treasurer’s Report. President Howard called the March 10, 1998, meeting to order at 3:30 PM. The minutes of the February 10, meeting were approved. The secretary reported that the senate had $4097.45 in its account. Tim Brown and Clyde Stahnke were absent.
  2. Arthur Award Candidates Vote (three candidates). The senate selected

    3. Larry Margolis

    Sara Tyler

    Rose Ann Kincannon

  3. Approval of Arthur Awards Selection Committee Members from Senate. The following members were approved:

    4. COAS Pat Zelman

    COAT Randy Rosiere

    COBA Bill Beaty

    COEFA Sophia Park

    COGS Flo Reven

  4. Degree Plan Task Force Report (Attachment B). The senate discussed the report circulated at Academic Council. The committee, chaired by Joe Cude with senate representation by Charles Howard, held numerous discussions on issues associated with graduate school. First, stipends for graduate assistants are very low, particularly in the math and science areas. For example, 50 percent increases are probably necessary. Howard asked the senate to look at the report and consider what it would recommend: for example, fewer graduate positions at more money?.
  5. Report from Charles Howard and Holly Lamb on Texas Council of Faculty Senates meeting. Howard and Lamb reported that the February meeting in Austin was a productive meeting. Chancellor Thompson gave a presentation. Charles Howard was elected vice-president for the Western Region.
  6. Discussion of senate office space, work-study student help, and release time for secretary. Holly Lamb talked about the justification for these requests. A motion passed to go forward with the requests.
  7. Announcements. Budget hearings continue through this week. Charles Howard and Art Low have covered the hearings. Howard emphasized the importance of having a senate presence there. He added that it gives you a broader perspective on the university. Alice Cushman is resigning her position. Charles Howard has asked VPAA Alexander to put a senate representative on the hiring committee. The senate was reminded that it would elect a president-elect and secretary at the May meeting.
  8. New Business. Nick Lilly talked about the TAMUS FAC--Distance Learning meeting in College Station. The committee is looking at the feasibility of a system-wide virtual campus. Howard reported that Dr. Alexander responded favorably to the concerns about students being scheduled to work during class.